Chapter 5

I woke up earlier than usual and briskly threw back the curtains. Taking care of that was normally a maid’s job, but today I wanted to do it myself.

Outside the large window lay a sparkling morning sun and a clear, translucent blue sky.

“Even the heavens are on my side.”

If it had been raining, today’s operation couldn’t have gone forward. I was the type of person who acted immediately once I made up my mind, so having my momentum crushed right out of the gate would have been the absolute worst.

To fire myself up, I carefully selected my dress. I looked through the colorful dresses lined up tightly in my closet one by one.

What kind of color did the prince like? Something that would leave a good impression would be best. A dress accented with gold and blue, matching the prince’s colors? No, no, that would definitely be way too heavy. Today I was going to be a friend rather than a lover, so I should go with something easy to move in.

Considering my future operations, I chose a rather simple dress, which earned me doubtful looks from the maids. If they tried to change this dress, I’d be in trouble. Left with no choice, I activated my skill, “Young Lady’s Whim.” To show my resolute stance of absolutely refusing anything other than this dress, I clutched the fabric tightly and declared clearly, “I’m wearing this one.”

When they reluctantly helped me change into it, I was convinced I had won, but they ended up applying my makeup much heavier than usual.

I was already cute just as I was… I just didn’t get it.

Taking three deep breaths, I waited for the prince at the entrance alongside the butlers. Waiting for him right at the doorway was actually a first for me. I usually waited inside the mansion, but today I figured waiting right here would be the most effective way to make the operation succeed. In everything, preemptive strike is the key. Letting out a soft breath, I placed a hand over my chest once more.

I waited for a while, but fidgeting with my hair or peeking at my shoes beneath my dress made it clear I still couldn’t settle down. The closer the time got, the louder my heart pounded.

If the prince ended up hating me, I’d better assume there wouldn’t be a second chance. The number of times he came here would probably drop. Naturally, nobody would want to willingly spend time with someone they disliked.

Thinking that far, I tilted my head. Huh?

Wait, if the prince stopped coming to my estate, he’d be stuck in the royal palace. But his older brother was in the royal palace. I hate my fiancée’s house, but I hate the royal palace too… Caught between a rock and a hard place, he’d end up even more twisted…

My anxieties snowballed like falling dominos. In the end, I had no choice but to make this operation succeed. Nothing would improve and nobody would be happy if things stayed as they were. If that was the case, stumbling forward and trying something might be better than doing nothing.

Bertia, crash head-on into it!

Though I secretly muttered to myself that I’d rather not crash and burn.

While frantically psyching myself up, I heard the rattling sound of a carriage approaching, and hastily straightened my spine. I bowed deeply, just like the butlers waiting at attention.

I heard the door open, signaling that the prince had gotten out. Black shoes stopped right in front of me.

“What’s wrong, Bell? Waiting to welcome me like this is unusual.”

When I looked up, there was the prince, looking genuinely surprised.

“And your dress seems different from usual, too.”

Incredible. As expected of you, Your Highness. To notice even a difference in my dress—you really pay attention.

“Welcome, Your Highness. I thought I might show you around our estate’s garden today.”

“The garden?”

“Yes.”

I smiled, imitating the prince so my intentions wouldn’t be read. I probably pulled it off. For a split second, the prince knitted his brows.

However, it was truly just for a split second, as his expression immediately returned to a smile.

“Is that so? So that’s why you were waiting for me. Thank you. Shall we head out and take a tour, then?”

I couldn’t help but admire the prince’s quick switching speed and his adaptability to the situation. No, let’s just honestly rejoice that things went according to plan. The battle starts now.

“Right this way.”

When I looked at the prince with the absolute best smile I could muster, he was looking back at me. Our eyes met, and we smiled at each other. To an outsider, it would look like a rather heartwarming scene, but the two of us involved were a different story.

The prince was far more on guard than I expected, and I was fully geared up for battle. Sparks must have been flying between our gazes.

The sound of a gong echoed inside my head.

The garden tour proceeded smoothly, and the prince followed along without a single complaint. When I explained the flowers one by one, he shared a bit of trivia, saying, This flower blooms red when spring comes, doesn’t it? But honestly, the response felt a bit lukewarm.

Even if he stopped to look at flowers, it was only for a few seconds. At this rate, the tour would end much faster than expected.

“Your Highness, are you not having fun?”

I called out to him as he gazed at the rose arch. The moment he slowly turned to look at me, his golden hair caught the sunlight, forming an angel’s halo. He was as breathtakingly beautiful as ever.

“Not at all. Look, even these roses are so pretty. They’re very well-maintained.”

With that, he shifted his gaze back to the roses.

Ah, what should I do? At this rate, the status quo wasn’t going to budge. The prince remained on guard, so did I really have no choice but to crash and burn for a breakthrough?

As I pondered, the prince directed his steps toward a certain spot.

“W-Wait please! That area is…!”

When I blurted it out, the prince’s feet came to an abrupt halt. He turned toward me and tilted his head slightly.

“Is that area off-limits?”

“Y-Yes, it is!”

“Heh… Is it something you can’t even tell me about?”

Even though he should have been smiling gently as usual, a strange chill ran down my spine. His narrowed pupils curved in a teasing, mischievous arc… I had kind of suspected it, but I figured the prince actually had the makings of a sadist. Was he a hard-S character type?

Seeing the prince smile in a way that went past a pleasant grin and crossed into something eerie, I realized my guard had lowered. Maybe right now… I could do it. Though I felt like I was being looked down on immensely.

My motto for today was: Crash head-on. Since I’d come this far, I had no choice but to push forward.

“Your Highness, I have a favor to ask.”

“Eh? A favor?”

I tightly clenched my sweaty palms.

“Won’t you become my friend?”

Putting strength into my belly, I looked straight into the prince’s eyes and said it. The prince looked dumbfounded for a moment, then smiled with an intensity of caution I had never seen from him before.

Without flinching, I pressed on.

“I want to get along with you, Your Highness.”

He was smiling, but his eyes weren’t. This wasn’t something that could be brushed off as a joke. This was precisely what you called a point of no return.

Without letting his smile slip, the prince slowly parted his lips.

“Why would you ever think of trying to get along with me?”

This time, his smile vanished entirely as he asked with a deadpan expression. His usual gentle grin was nowhere to be found, and cold pupils locked onto me.

I hadn’t expected him to turn dead serious, and it caught me off guard. My body stiffened under the overwhelming pressure of a gorgeous person’s deadpan stare. If I picked the wrong dialogue choice here, I would die.

“Did you hear about my past and start feeling pity? Or is it just some kind of sympathy?”

His first-person pronoun had changed. This was probably the real prince. It was scary, but I would be alright. I was used to having anger directed at me thanks to my little brother in my past life. Muttering it’s okay, it’s okay to myself, I kept my eyes fixed on him without looking away, making sure not to miss a single move he made.

“Was showing me around the garden today all about that?”

Irritated by the sight of me refusing to cower, his glare grew even sharper. Given his striking looks, that expression and gaze carried immense intimidation.

“If it’s pity, I don’t need it. Don’t make a fool of me.”

Spitting those words out, the prince’s eyes brimmed with contempt toward me.