TVWD 19

Chapter : 19

As soon as I returned to my seat, Prince Stein approached me with a look of firm resolve.

“Let’s do it. Work with me.”

“Hey, Gades. My dear fiancé. Watch what you say—someone might get the wrong idea.”

“Ahem. It’s just that it’s been so long since I’ve seen a top‑grade blue diamond that I lost myself for a moment… How about doing business with our family, Lady Levian?”

“Very well, Prince. However, the distribution rights within the Empire will belong to our family.”

“What? How could you take that away! Where else consumes as much as the Empire?”

Prince Stein looked to his fiancée for help, but Stella stepped back, clearly indicating she had no intention of getting involved.

“So? Your answer?”

“Haaah… All right. Distribution everywhere except the Empire will be handled by House Stein. Is that correct?”

“Yes. I’ll inform my father, so please send someone over. How long will you be staying in the Empire?”

“I’ve scheduled things quite leisurely to spend time with Stella. I’ll send word soon.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Looking refreshed, as if a long‑aching tooth had been pulled, Prince Stein and Stella soon headed to the dance floor, leaving only the Tower Master and me behind.

It seemed the Duke had stepped away as well—perhaps something had come up.

“It looks like people want to talk to you, Tower Master, but they’re hesitant to approach.”

“That’s because I’ve put up a barrier around us.”

“…You have?”

“Talking to people is annoying.”

I thought he was just good at pretending to be polite—but apparently, it really is a hassle for him.

“By the way, Rosia. Are you close with that man from earlier? The one you danced with.”

We were very close. Extremely so. Repeatedly.

But that couldn’t be the case in this life, and I didn’t want to give the Tower Master any unnecessary leverage, so I brushed it off.

“I wouldn’t say we’re close. The Duke is friendly with my father, and I’ve met him a few times.”

“Hm. Is that so?”

“Why do you ask?”

“If I ever had to kill you, I thought that man might get in the way. But if you’re not close, that’s a relief.”

Just why does this man want to kill me?

He looked like he might explain if I asked, but I knew he never would, so I didn’t press further.

“I’m going to talk with some friends. Will you stay here, Tower Master? Or you can leave if you’d like.”

“Aren’t partners supposed to stay together until the end?”

“You’re busy, Tower Master. No one would say anything if you left early.”

“Then I’ll go.”

As if the only reason he’d stayed in such a boring place until now was because of me, the Tower Master covered his mouth with his sleeve and yawned.

“Goodbye.”

After lightly tapping my hair—decorated with countless ornate pins—the Tower Master unexpectedly walked out through the doors.

Right. The Imperial Palace is covered with barriers, so he can’t use magic freely.

“Roa!”

With the Tower Master gone, the invisible wall that had kept people away seemed to vanish as well, and Pony rushed over.

“I heard about the Duke from Stella, but a Tower Master? That’s even more shocking!”

My friend, who had a strong interest in this sort of thing, was blushing bright red.

“Now, spill everything that happened while I wasn’t around.”

Sorry, Pony. It’s not what you’re imagining.

I said it was nothing, but Pony’s eyes were blazing with determination to uncover everything.

Fortunately, before long, the Emperor and Empress rose from their seats.

“I shall take my leave now. I hope you all continue to enjoy the party.”

If they were standing up, that meant quite some time had passed—yet something that should have happened clearly hadn’t.

“Pony, did His Highness the Crown Prince dance?”

“No, he didn’t dance with anyone. More importantly, Roa—what exactly is your relationship with the Duke?”

Just in case, I glanced at the Crown Prince, but he never once asked Merina to dance.

Ah. It’s because I didn’t clash with Merina, so he had no reason to take an interest in her.

Usually, the male leads’ interest begins when the heroine, Merina, collides with me—the villainess.

Merina suffering because of me. Merina crying because of me. Feeling pity for her—that’s how interest is born.

But even if it’s delayed, the Crown Prince will eventually grow interested in Merina, so there’s no need to worry.

Even when I acted out of character for a “villainess,” the flow of the original story sometimes changed—but the ending was always the same.

“As you can see, we’re nothing.”

“Nothing, and he asks you to dance? Duke Lysianthes?”

“Maybe he was just briefly curious.”

Pony, who didn’t know that the Duke had already asked me to be his partner at a party held at the ducal estate, kept muttering, “That’s strange.”

If she knew about what happened in the Empress’s garden, she’d definitely be convinced the Duke was interested in me.

“Maybe it was just in return for inviting him to a tea party?”

When I cut the conversation short—having no desire to get further entangled with the Duke—Pony nodded as if convinced.

“Roa, did you enjoy the party? We’re heading back now—what would you like to do?”

My parents soon approached, and I chose to go home.

I hadn’t secured a complete guarantee on my life from the Tower Master, but the deal had gone through safely, and I hadn’t clashed with Merina. All things considered, it was a pretty good party.

As soon as I returned home, I handed Ted a pouch of gold coins.

“Here, Ti.”

“What is this?”

“An incentive. Thanks to you, I made it back alive from the Tower Master.”

“Hahaha. If I’m to be your secretary, of course I should gather that kind of information. I’d like to keep receiving my salary, after all.”

Completely immersed in his role as my secretary, Ted shrugged proudly.

“For a marquis’s secretary, this much is basic!”

“Still, take this separately. You need it to support your ‘family,’ don’t you?”

“…Thank you.”

I had hired several members of the information guild and sent them to the territory, but Ted still had people depending on him. And the guild building itself had been destroyed and needed rebuilding.

Information is essential for efficiency—this much is an investment.

“By the way, is it difficult to get information on Blue Bird quickly?”

“Yes. They’re a troublesome opponent.”

“I see. I won’t rush you—just make sure not to put yourself in danger.”

Since Duke Lysianthes keeps entangling himself with me, information on Blue Bird might not even be necessary.

But it’s always better to hold as many cards as possible.

After bowing silently, Ted left my study, and I stared at the vase on my desk.

“What on earth are you thinking?”

Inside were the flowers Duke Lysianthes had sent that morning.

“If you don’t want to send your mother to the execution platform again, be careful, Rosia Levian.”

I pulled the flowers out of the vase.

* * *

“These days, I’m so happy that you attend parties so often, my lady.”

Cathy blushed as she brushed my hair. The other maids beside her looked much the same.

Their devotion to dressing me up—as if it were the sole joy of their lives—was almost frightening.

“You said you’d wear a light‑colored dress today, right?”

“Yes. The blue diamond needs to stand out.”

The maids brought out a pale silver‑gray dress, and I gazed at the dress and jewelry set with satisfaction.

Today’s party would be held at the principality’s embassy.

Prince Stein held a position nearly equivalent to a royal prince, so the party was in celebration of his arrival.

Not long ago, Prince Stein had urgently sent envoys to our family and even personally inspected our territory.

He admired the scale of the mines, the quality of the gems, and then admired the finished jewelry all over again. Signing the contract with him went smoothly.

Since the party was hosted by the prince of a principality—who was both my friend’s fiancé and a major business partner—it was one I absolutely had to attend.

And though it was a bit confusing, this would be where the Crown Prince showed interest in Merina.

Which meant an incident would occur that made it seem as though I were bullying Merina.

Well then, Merina—

You’ll have to serve as a tool to buy me time to find the perfect way to die.

“It’s all done, my lady.”

Cathy stepped back with a deeply satisfied expression.

“You look even more beautiful today, my lady.”

“What if His Highness the Crown Prince falls for you, just like Duke Lysianthes?”

In contrast to the maids’ chatter, the expressionless woman reflected in the mirror gently touched her neck.

“Oh—your necklace. My lady, let me put it on for you.”

Once my neck was covered by the finely crafted necklace, the awful, stinging sensation finally seemed to fade.