Chapter 31
Standing in front of Inaila was Shabelle Float.
It looked as if they were fighting.
‘…What’s this? The atmosphere’s strange.’
There was no way that someone like Shabelle Float could measure up to Inaila, the young lady of the Krenberia Duchy.
It seemed like Inaila was appeasing Shabelle, but Shabelle made her voice louder, enough that even Karpel could hear her from this distance.
“Princess, that harassment was intended for all to see. I wasn’t going to attend at first, but you drove me to the point where it seems like I should’ve attended without an invitation…?”
‘What is he doing?’
Radiev suddenly came up and blocked Shabelle. He was one step ahead of Karpel, who also started to rush forward.
But now, Karpel stood in place.
Radiev spoke with a gentle expression.
“Young Lady, I know your wounds are deep, but the Princess seems to truly feel sorry. Why don’t you give her a chance to heal your wounds?”
“Alright, I’ll do that.”
At once, Shabelle answered calmly.
Karpel didn’t think he had it in him to do something like that.
He didn’t know and didn’t want to know how to be kind to people. He even forgot how to laugh.
Radiev, who was smiling, reached out to Inaila.
She met his gaze, as if in a trance, and reached out her hand.
Karpel was the only one allowed to hold that hand—he swooped in and grabbed her hand first.
Inaila was shocked and tried to shake his hold off, but he grabbed it again. This time, when she saw who it was, she stopped struggling.
After seeing her acceptance of him, Karpel returned to his senses.
He turned to Radiev.
“I apologize, Brother, but we have to return now.”
“Is that so? Then, I’ll see you next time.”
In order to leave the premises, permission from the one who had the highest status had to be asked.
If Radiev stopped them because he wanted to talk to Inaila more, then Karpel wouldn’t be able to take her away from there.
The Crown Prince promised to see us next time, so Karpel quickly took Inaila away.
How dreadful.
Inaila kept looking back as if she was curious about what Radiev was about to say.
But Karpel turned her away with a hand over her shoulder so that she couldn’t go back.
Radiev was right.
Radiev was the one who could find an answer to resolve the problems within the Krenberia family. If he were to receive more information, he would definitely help Inaila make the best choice.
Raidev was much more friendly and more gentle than Karpel, who had exerted more effort into distancing himself from Inaila. Radiev would be a better mediator for the family.
But Karpel didn’t want to hand over that role to Radiev.
He led her to the carriage without saying a word, but he felt her taking ahold of his collar.
This could be a sign that it was okay. He plucked his courage and looked at Inaila.
He was being ostracized here, but it was cute to see her stare fiercely at the people around them who stayed away.
While his hand was still on her shoulder, her soft, shiny hair cascaded gently over it.
His light was working so hard to protect him. He wanted this moment to last forever.
Karpel didn’t know when this light would end, so wouldn’t it be alright if he could stay next to Inaila a little longer?
He had such selfish thoughts.
Let it be… for just a little while.
5. Snow flower man
Karpel, the second male lead, was too difficult of an opponent.
In the original, Karpel was the final boss.
Even Radiev, who solved everything through pacifist means with the male lead buff, had no choice but to defeat Karpel through brute force.
I would be lucky to barely survive myself. But how could a novice like me capture Karpel’s heart?
For some reason, the chef hatched up a plan to seduce through the means of food.
What I can do the best is cooking, but the Krenberian young lady cannot cook.
I’ll have to be allowed into the kitchen first so that I can do whatever I want.
Just by going there, the employees flocked around like bees while saying, ‘You can’t do this and that,’ so there was nothing much I could do there.
They kept saying that a person of my stature shouldn’t be concerned with cooking.
They just preferred the chef who served Karpel’s favorite dessert every day.
After I saw Karpel run into Radiev, I felt guilty and depressed.
Obviously, I didn’t want to bother Karpel, so I chose the first place I thought of to refresh myself.
But I met Radiev and eventually did the worst thing I’ve ever done.
These days, whatever I do, I always end up saying sorry to Karpel.
‘Should I target Shabelle instead rather than Karpel?’
Oh! Aren’t I a genius?
If I coax Shabelle into asking Radiev for his cooperation, it’ll be easy to solve the problems that would come in the future.
Shabelle might be more challenging than I expect though, probably upset because she was humiliated during that tea party.
But since she’s only twelve years old, wouldn’t she be an easier target than Karpel?
In addition, it’ll be nice to keep the Crown Prince away.
I can keep an eye on Shabell so that the prince wouldn’t be able to do anything to her until she’s all grown up! I should put this plan to action right away!
I came out of my room. Then, the first person I saw as soon as I stepped out was Stein, Karpel’s aide.
“Stein!”
He was coming out of Karpel’s room right now, surprised by my cheerful voice.
“Huh? Ah, my apologies. What can I do for you, Milady?”
Why did he meet Karpel just now?
Ah, maybe he received an order from him.
Stein was a man who had a calm and quiet demeanor and he usually stayed on the sidelines. The atmosphere he had around him made it seem like he was very reliable, just by looking at him.
It looked like every problem will be solved quickly and precisely if he’s the one put to work. I think he’s a little younger than my father.
Karpel and my father had such striking features that everyone else just fades in comparison, but even the villain’s right-hand man had a handsome face.
Oh, I want a handsome assistant, too.
“Milady?”
“I want to…”
Taken aback, Stein faltered.
I wanted to have him, but I couldn’t take what was Karpel’s.
Pretending that I didn’t say that just now, I went straight to business.
“Send a letter to Lady Float and get her measurements, then place an order for a dress from Pretty Frill Boutique. Make it so that the design is from last spring’s catalogue with a primrose concept. From the shoes to the bonnet, it has to be a full set. I’ll write her a letter as well, so send it along with the dress. And one more thing—please find out the performance schedule of the play, ‘The Young Master’s Hidden Flower’.”
After shooting out rapid-fire instructions like that, I realized that this was something that shouldn’t be said to just any servant.
“…Well, please tell the butler.”
“……”
Stein hesitated.
Since it wasn’t his job, he seemed to be pretending that it’s hard to remember or that he couldn’t do it.
It was impossible to remember and convey all of those instructions.
Whenever I requested stuff from my maids, too, they always missed one or two things.
But as far as I knew, Stein was a competent man.
There’s a reason why he could continue working as Karpel’s secret aide here at the Krenberia estate.
I wanted to say, ‘You’re Karpel’s right hand! I know this is a piece of cake for you!’ But of course, this wasn’t something I could say, so I just repeated my earlier words.
“Just call the butler. Ah, no, never mind. I’ll just find him myself and tell him.”
But this seemed to have hurt his pride.
Stein’s eyebrows furrowed, then he spoke clearly.
“I shall order a dress with a primrose concept, along with a bonnet and a pair of shoes to match, at Pretty Frill Boutique for Lady Shabelle Float, and this shall be sent with an enclosed letter from Milady once the set has been completed. In addition, I shall ask the butler that you would like to know the schedule for the play, ‘The Young Master’s Hidden Flower’.”
Seeing him say all that with his back straightened, I clapped enthusiastically.
“Wow! That’s amazing, Stein! How could you memorize all that? You’re amazing!”
Compliments could make even whales dance, so empty words still had some use to them.
But as he heard my admiration, Stein looked puzzled.
Ah, I made a mistake.
I should’ve just let it go.
“Then, I’ll leave it to you!”
After saying that, I quickly escaped and returned to the room.