Chapter – 30
Everyone saw Asha as a gentle lamb.
But her inner thoughts were neither gentle nor mild.
More accurately, they had never been mild.
It was simply that her nature was more rational than emotional, and there had been far more situations in which she had to endure rather than react.
Ah, of course, that didn’t mean she couldn’t feel emotions, or that her feelings were dry.
There were times when she was swept away by overwhelming emotion and made foolish choices.
It was just that such instances were rare.
Looking at Hilla’s completely stiffened expression, Asha finally thought the sight was much more pleasing.
The bright, clueless smile was gone, replaced by a resentful, simmering look—and somehow, the uncomfortable knot in Asha’s stomach eased.
She’d felt it before in her conversation with Jerold, but was it because Asha Herman was the female lead of this world?
If she put on an innocent face and spoke in a slightly airheaded tone, everyone seemed to look upon her kindly.
Hmm. As expected, the female lead buff is the best. I like it.
There was no need to endure situations like this quietly.
Well, it would be a problem if she acted completely without plausibility, but this much should be fine… right?
Or not?
Was this the kind of scene where she was supposed to be scolded and cry?
Swallowing a sigh, she looked at Hilla—who was glaring at her and was surely destined to be a villainess.
Honestly, talking to Jerold—who’s rude as naturally as breathing—is more comfortable than dealing with someone who pretends to be polite while being subtly disrespectful like this.
Oh?
Come to think of it, Jerold had said something before, hadn’t he?
“In situations like this, just shift the responsibility and tell them to speak to my elder brother since he’s the one who clung to you and started dating you. You’ve got no one to rely on but him, so make good use of that.”
A female lead who applies what she’s learned right away—now that’s perfectly plausible, isn’t it?
Yes. As expected of me. I’m doing well.
Only then did Asha take a relaxed sip of her tea.
It was almost unfair that she hadn’t been able to enjoy such fresh, fragrant tea while it was still warm.
“By the way, Miss Hilla, why are you so curious about His Highness the Crown Prince’s feelings?”
Even as she launched her second attack, Asha made sure to maintain an innocent expression and a voice brimming with apparent sincerity.
Judging by the atmosphere, pretending to be clueless and pure seemed like it would work.
In other words, she was using the same attitude she used when dealing with Jerold.
There are plenty of eyes watching. What good would it do me to look sharp and prickly?
Whether this was inside a book or reality, social maneuvering was necessary anywhere.
But how long would she have to keep pretending to be oblivious?
She had spent her whole life reading the room—her perceptiveness was exceptional.
Of course she had noticed that Hilla liked the Crown Prince.
Every time she opened her mouth, it was “Your Highness, Your Highness.”
How could anyone miss that?
And Asha had another strength.
Subtly provoking someone while pretending not to.
Don’t underestimate a heavy reader of romance fantasy novels.
Did you know how many scenes she’d read of noble ladies smiling sweetly while trading barbed compliments?
Perhaps Hilla sensed that Asha wasn’t as soft as she appeared.
Her spirit somewhat deflated, Hilla answered vaguely.
“…His Highness the Crown Prince is famous for being cold. To hear that he shows interest in someone… I was merely curious.”
At the word she’d been waiting for, Asha widened her eyes as if startled.
“Cold? That’s such a misunderstanding. He’s incredibly kind.”
The surrounding atmosphere stirred at once.
Asha paid it no mind. It was only natural.
As mentioned countless times, Alesto was a notorious candidate for future tyrant.
And yet here she was, some random woman suddenly defending him as gentle—of course people would be shocked.
Smiling brightly, Asha encouraged Hilla to ask His Highness directly next time they met, saying he would kindly answer all her questions.
She embellished slightly—just enough to tease someone who lacked the tact to hide her jealousy.
“Oh! And do you know how cute His Highness is? A few days ago at the ball, I fed him a piece of meat. When he went ‘ah~,’ he looked just like a baby bird. His teeth are so even, and his tongue is round, too! Oh! Was it the day before yesterday? In the carriage, he suddenly asked if he could hold my hand. He’s so thoughtful and polite. And yesterday—oh, you wouldn’t believe how considerate he was! I skipped a meal because something upset me, and he immediately came to find me and—”
Like someone pouring out everything she’d learned from novels, Asha unleashed an endless stream of aristocratic-style chatter.
Then suddenly—
Her words stopped.
Hilla’s gaze, which had been fixed on Asha, slowly lifted—and stopped somewhere behind her.
Judging by her expression, someone who definitely shouldn’t be there… was there.
“……”
The moment Asha clamped her mouth shut, she heard the one voice she absolutely should not have heard behind her.
“And immediately came to find you and…?”
Low and sweet.
Unmistakably Alesto’s voice.
She swallowed dryly.
To have the subject of her gossip appear in person—what an awkward situation.
Where is a mouse hole when you need one?
Her face burned. Not only was she embarrassed to face him, but she’d been bragging about being adored just moments ago.
Her cheeks turned bright red.
Hilla rose from her seat and gave a refined curtsy befitting a proper young lady.
“It is an honor to see you.”
Alesto merely nodded, not sparing her even a glance.
It was as though all his attention was fixed on Asha, with no room for anything else.
***
Alesto had wondered, upon seeing the Saint sitting at a table with a noble lady her age,
Did I come here for nothing?
Caster had said some unnecessary things, but realistically, the chance of the Saint encountering trouble at his mother’s tea party was slim.
She was an unmarried woman invited to the Empress’s gathering—and the Crown Prince’s lover.
If anyone dared attack her openly in such a public setting, he’d recruit them as an owl.
Still, he had come—because there was a small chance she might get hurt.
But what was this?
The Saint seemed to have made a friend and was chatting quite happily.
As far as he knew, it was her first time.
At the last ball, she had spoken to no one but Jerold and Alesto.
This was her first conversation with a noble lady her own age since entering the palace.
He didn’t want to interrupt.
But he couldn’t just turn back either.
If he came all this way and left without even showing his face, idle tongues would wag.
It didn’t matter for him—but the Saint was timid and rather frail…
Well. Not sure.
She just looked like someone who bruised easily.
Clicking his tongue, he resumed walking.
He’d just look at her face and leave.
That had been the plan.
She was chattering nonstop, like a sparrow who’d found a rice mill.
From afar he couldn’t make out her words.
As he approached, her voice grew clearer.
And what she was excitedly babbling about—
“She looked like a baby bird when he went ‘ah~.’ His teeth are so even, and his tongue is round. And in the carriage, he asked if he could hold my hand—so thoughtful and polite—”
She was bragging about her boyfriend.
So enthusiastically that even his face grew warm.
“And yesterday—oh, you wouldn’t believe how considerate he was! I skipped a meal because something upset me, and he immediately came to find me and—”
He intended to hear how far she’d go, but the noble lady across from her failed to manage her expression, and the story abruptly stopped.
No tact whatsoever.
If she had been an owl, she would have been more careful not to alert the Saint.
Just in case the Saint resumed talking, he prompted her.
“And immediately came to find you and…?”
Then he noticed her ears—bright red.
They looked ready to burst, so small and helpless that he couldn’t stop the laughter escaping him.
Perhaps she heard it.
Her tiny red ears twitched.
She stood up abruptly, head bowed.
“W-When did you arrive?”
Seeing her flushed face, all thoughts of not interrupting vanished.
He answered faithfully.
“When I looked like a baby bird.”
“Uwaaa—!”
He hadn’t meant to tease her, but the strange sound she made caused him to laugh again.
Extending his hand, he asked,
“Will you be staying longer?”
She grabbed his hand immediately and shook her head.
“No, I was just about to leave. Let’s go—quickly.”
Asha desperately wanted to escape.
Clutching Alesto’s hand as if it were a lifeline sent from the heavens, she hurried out of the tea hall with him.
