Chapter 05
Roselina whispered in a gentle voice, soft like a spring breeze.
âIâm okay, Sir Mortega. I know this wasnât what the Crown Prince wanted.â
Mortega spoke, a little moved. He was happy that Roselina hadnât abandoned the Crown Prince.
Even now, Roselina was the best card for Serden. The sunlight behind her looked like a halo just for her.
Mortega felt she was like a saint, sent to save Serden.
All of Mortegaâs praise and affection for Roselina came from Serden.
âExactly. Thatâs why the Crown Prince called Lady Roselina!â
âIs the Crown Prince in his office now?â
âYes. Iâll take you there.â
Mortega walked with Roselina down the hallway.
She was the kind of woman who drew attention just by being near. Her posture was perfect, her manners flawless. Even the way she tucked her hair behind her ear was delicate and beautiful.
No woman but Roselina, gentle, smart, and perfect, could match Serden.
âThank you, Sir Mortega. Thanks to you, I wasnât bored on the way.â
âNot at all. Please enjoy the conversation.â
Roselina said goodbye to Mortega and entered the office. Serden looked at her with a calm smile.
It was still a smile that hid his true thoughts. His extremely handsome face seemed to slowly release the anger that had built up inside.
Roselina approached Serden and greeted him warmly.
âCrown Prince. Itâs been a long time. Iâm glad to see you safe. I heard you even canceled the victory banquet.â
Her eyes became dreamy as she faced Serden.
He was like a perfect sculpture of her ideal. Only he could be hers.
âIâll get what I can, and lose what I must. I just thought itâs right to mourn the dead first. Youâve done well too, Roselina.â
She smiled shyly.
âThanks to your concern, Your Highness.â
âHm. Looks like many things changed in the palace while I was gone.â
âAhâŚâ
âSo I have a request for you, Lady Roselina.â
There was no mention of their broken engagement, but Roselina smiled as if she knew nothing. If Serden learned her true thoughts, she might be kicked out immediately.
She planned to stay close and wait for the right moment.
âCould it be? Are they really going to make that fool Empress?â
The succession issue was also at stake.
âRequest?â
âI want you to take care of my maid. She has no proper friends or attendants. I heard Duke Spellman sent two maids, but you must be someone I trust most.â
Hearing âsomeone I trust,â Roselina blushed. Should she be angry or laugh?
The person he trusted most? Heâs asking a future Crown Princess to serve as a maid? But maybe itâs an opportunity too.
Roselina nodded.
âIf itâs what Your Highness wants, Iâll do it. I can do anything.â
âThank you, Roselina.â
His smile curved gently, full of warmth. Her eyes became even more dreamy.
âSheâs mine. Iâll have her, no matter what.â
Serden was really an irresistible man.
The maids, who had been struggling with me for the last two days, always frowned when they saw me.
It was the same now. I wouldnât let them leave my side for a moment.
âI-I need to go to the bathroom!â
âThe bathroom is right here. Why not go here? I donât want to be alone with Evelyn.â
âI-I canât take Evelyn to the bathroomâŚâ
âWhy?â
âHuh?â
âWhy?â
Rosy and Cherina stayed by my side until quitting time. Today was the same. When Rosy tried to step away for a moment, I grabbed her skirt and shook it.
âYou donât like me anymore? Then Iâll stay alone. Go home! Go to your father!â
âTh-Thatâs not it, Lady Evelyn.â
âCalling me Lady Evelyn makes it formal! Of course! I like you both! Evelyn likes you!â
So fake.
âThen youâll stay with me, right? Read books, play, eat together?â
âYes, of course.â
Watching their awkward, nervous faces was fun. I didnât know I enjoyed teasing people this much.
It felt like another part of me had awakened. Hehe.
I had a new plan to tease them⌠but before I could, a guest arrived.
It was Roselina, Serdenâs fiancĂŠe.
I had seen Roselina in the novel. She was Serdenâs old friend, and I thought she was just a villain helping the mastermind.
She was experienced in society and had helped Serden after early widowhood.
The heroine sometimes sought her help to adjust in high society.
Why is that great woman here now? She had no connection with Evelyn.
Nervously blinking and clutching her doll, Roselina entered the reception room.
âNice to meet you, Lady Evelyn. I am Roselina of the Count Karma family. By the Crown Princeâs order, I am here to serve you.â
She smiled, but her eyes were sharp.
Serden, this guy.
Sending a spy after candy? Fine, Iâll fool them perfectly.
I smiled brightly at Roselina.
âHi! So now Roselina is my friend too?â
âHuh?â
âWe were about to play hide-and-seek! Letâs all play together!â
I didnât know her intentions, but here, she had to follow my rules. Even a great woman like Roselina was no exception.
âEh? No, Lady Evelyn. We areâŚ.â
Clutching her doll, she jumped to her feet. Roselina looked shocked at me.
âFrom now, Iâll count 30⌠uh, 20! The first one found gets ten flicks! Letâs start!â
âArgh!â
âKya!â
The two maids, tormented by me for two days, ran away like crazy. I had flicked fingers before, but I didnât know I could show that skill here.
Only Roselina was left, stunned.
Good. Now youâll taste my hand skills too.
âOne, two, three!â
Roselina sat down smiling politely, as if she were too noble to play. She would soon change her mind.
Ten minutes laterâŚ
âW-What are you doing, Lady Crown Princess?!â
âGames have rules. Donât you know, Roselina?â
âYes, Lady Evelyn!â
I puffed my cheeks and motioned to Cherina and Rosy. The enraged maids approached with mean faces.
Resisting, Roselinaâs arms were held by the maids and delivered to me as a âsacrifice.â
âKya, kyaaaak!â
Birds in the garden flew away, startled by her screams.
Roselina, pale, blinked in disbelief.
âYou, you just hit meâŚ?â
âIâll count 20 again! Hide-and-seek starts!â
She covered her red-marked forehead with her hand and ran out first.
Watching the three run like rabbits in the spring breeze, I smiled cruelly.
It was a bright, peaceful day.
Cherina and Rosy were still held like prisoners in my garden, and now Roselina joined them.
The plan is to make them so busy they canât think.
I slowly counted and watched them. Serden was probably watching all this too. Every eye here represented someone else.
Serden, Duke Spellman, the EmperorâŚ
âIâm coming to find you now! Hide well, or Iâll see your hair!â
Try it if you dare. I will never lose.






