As Rosanne walked, the first thing she was surprised to see was Jenkins and Iwer.
âAhâŠÂ The one Kiehl likedâŠâ
Iwer.
She was sure that Iwer had taught Kiehl love.
âI guess she even followed him to the Imperial Palace.â
As soon as she saw Bella in front of her eyes, she bowed her head. Bellaâs fierce impression was frightening.
âHe, hello.â
This person was probably Bella Cruelle, whom Kiehl had requested.
âI am Rosanne Psilia.â
âNice to meet you. I am Bellatrice Cruelle.â
She didnât feel any welcome from Bellaâs words. Of course, Rosanne knew that she was going to run into her as long as she was next to Kiehl.
âSheâs Maryâs employer.â
On the other hand, Bella somehow felt that she had been robbed of her cherished things by Rosanne. Still, she knew in her head that it was not like that.
Meanwhile, Rosanne moved on to greet Pur, a moving teddy bear she had seen a long time ago under her feet. She was able to travel with Kiehl thanks to this teddy bear.
âOh⊠PuddingâŠâ
âIâm not Pudding! Iâm Pur!â
Purâs eyes sparkle.
It was because she wanted to eat the pink hair like a strawberry dessert that looked delicious. Pur licked her lips and was in Rosanneâs arms, sticking out her tongue as if kissing her.
ââŠPur, what are you doing?â
âTrying it.â
She wouldnât be able to eat it anyway, she just put saliva on it. Seeing that, Rosanne laughed innocently and stroked Purâs hair.
âItâs really cute.â
ââŠThat cute thing was now after your life.â
Bella frowned and grabbed Purâs back, and pulled her off.
What should she do with this bitter feeling? In the end, she tried to end the meeting with Rosanne with the utmost courtesy.
âItâs late at night, so I hope weâll have time to talk at length later.â
âYes. Then see you in the morning, Lady Bella.â
And seeing Rosanne enter her own room, Bella let out a sigh inside.
âNo way⊠Is it the same room?â
âBella seems to be interested in Rosanne, so I tried my best.â
Hearing those words, she glared dejectedly at Rio, who was bragging for a praise.
âKiehl said it will be fine too.â
ââŠ.â
Thinking about who was at the disadvantage, she would bet it on Kiehl.
âWhat can I do?â
Since she had asked him about Rosanne many times, she had nothing to say, even when she looked like she seemed interested.
âI dug my own grave with my feet.â
* * *
As soon as Kiehl entered his room, he looked up at a man waiting for him.
ââŠYour Highness.â
Maybe the uneasy pain he felt foresaw this.
âRohan. Whatâs going on at this hour?â
âWhy?â
Rohan, an assistant to the Emperor and currently serving as an assistant to Kiehl. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he was a powerful member of the Imperial Family. More than half of those who supported Kiehl was also from Rohan.
âIs that that Miss?â
âI donât know what you are talking about.â
âIâve only seen her once, but those scary red eyes will be hard to find anywhere in the Empire.â
Kiehl wanted to retort, but he pretended not to know and averted his gaze.
âYou have been very meticulous.â
ââŠ.â
âWhen I heard that a girl from another world entered the Cruelle family as an adopted daughter, I never thought that she would be related to Your Highness.â
Kiehl walked slowly to the closet and pulled out his nightgown. After Rohan chattered, he should tell him to leave.
âShe canât be the Crown Princess.â
âSo, who did you prepare?â
âMarianne Merken. That should be enough.â
âWasnât it Shuria Cruelle before?â
Rohan snorted.
It was like that at first. However, if Shuria Cruelle sided with Kiehl over Rohan, she was no longer the person. While they obviously were on the same boat, each had different circumstances.
Kiehl answered by simply unbuttoning his buttons one by one.
âIâm tired, so get out.â
âYour Highness. Keep in mind, I will move with the benefit of the imperial family.â
Kiehl didnât even breathe until Rohan left.
âThat girl will never do that.â
That aide was arrogant. There was no doubt about his loyalty to the Imperial Family, and he was too good at his job. Even so, trying to continue it without him was a bit of a problem.
âThere is no one to replace him.â
It would be nice if Rio learned the job quickly, but Rio didnât seem to think that he would become an assistant at all.
Kiehl lay quietly in bed, waiting for Bella to come for revenge.
âCalm down. Itâs going slowly as planned.â
There was a thorny road ahead of him.
While removing them one by one, he hoped that the cat following behind him would not disappear. His chest, which had been cold since before, sometimes felt too bitter as he waited all night. Still, Bella did not come.
* * *
Until the first contest was over, all the ladies were supposed to share a room. Most of the Duchies and Marquises with high self-respect used to share rooms with the families they would treat as ladies-in-waiting.
Perhaps because of that, even after a few days had passed, the ladies who were supposed to be grouped into factions were already tied up.
They would gather in groups of three or five and discuss who should be the Crown Princess.
âIt seems that Duchy Merken and Duchy Bavarian are the most dominant, right?â
âI donât know. It was said that His Highness saw off the adopted daughter from Duchy Cruelle when she came up to the Imperial Palace.â
Weâll have to stand in line. Even while discussing who would be a good political platform for the Duchyâs daughters.
âBy the way, what about the wandering Countyâs Lady who danced with His Highness?â
Everyoneâs eyes turned to envy when the story of Count Psiliaâs daughter came up.
Unlike the raucous young ladies, Bella spent most of her day hanging around needlessly outside because she didnât want to run into Rosanne. Since Bella didnât rest, the demons have reduced their personal time as well.
Jenkins, in particular, was dissatisfied with this situation.
âThe daughter of a certain family takes a walk for three hours.â
Wouldnât it be nice to have friendships with other ladies? All Bella did was take Pur for a walk.
âPur. Youâre a nice and smart bear, so you donât have to wear a leash, right?â
âI want to!â
âMe, too!â
Bella saw the Pur and Iwer, whose eyes were twinkling like a pervert, and split the leash she was holding in half.
âMiss, now itâs time to go into the room. There doesnât seem to be anything to do.â
âI donât want it!â
âIwer doesnât want to.â
When did Bella listen to Iwer? Jenkins only sighed.
âI absolutely hate the girl who shares the room with Miss.â
âI like her! Canât I eat her?â
Was her pink hair going to taste like cotton candy? Every time Pur saw Rosanne, who looked sweet, she actually drooled.
âIf you know, donât ask.â
âI hate her because she looks like heavenly trash.â
âHeavenly trash⊠Are you saying that she looks nice?â
Certainly, when they saw Rosanne during the day, she looked brighter. She really looked like a saint, as if she was a descendant of the heavenly beings.
ââŠIs that why I feel uncomfortable?â
Because Rosanne was an absolutely good character, even if she didnât doesnât want to admit it, Bellaâs blood ran full of demonic power.
âAnyway, I hate her! She was interested in our Young Master!â
âWhat is there to hate so much, Young MasterâŠâ
As Jenkins tried to speak, he caught Bellaâs eyes and shut his mouth.
âWhat about Kiehlâs?â
It was then.
It wasnât even lunch yet, but a young lady dressed in a fancy dress as if going to a dinner party slowly came to Bella with her followers.
âHello, Lady Bellatrice.â
Jenkins quickly hinted from the side to change the topic.
âThis is Marianne Merken.â
âAh, I donât want to argue with kids like this.â
Bella cleared her throat and greeted Marianne.
âI heard that you are the Princess of the Animal Kingdom, so it seems that the Imperial Palace is very cramped.â
âAh, yes. A little.â
âItâs the first time Iâve seen you take a three-hour walk. You look very healthy.â
âAhâŠâ
Bella, like towards the other ladies, tried to answer roughly but tilted her head. Why did it sound sarcastic? Was it just because she was sensitive?
âYou must have been watching me for three hours.â
âHohoâŠÂ Itâs, itâs not thatâŠâ
Marianne blushed slightly and pointed to Purr next to Bella.
âBy the way, I heard this is a pet bear, but pets are not allowed in the Imperial Palace.â
âOh, really?â
âThis is not a playground, this is the Imperial Palace. Shouldnât you obey the law if you entered the Crown Princess contest?â
Saying so, Marianne smiled confidently. It seemed as though she was the Crown Princess herself, and she wanted to teach the laws of this place. Bella twitched her lips. She knew at once what Marianneâs purpose was.
To keep her in check.
âThatâs funny.â
Had they been watching her in her spare time for three hours to tell her that? Rather, it made her laugh.
âI got permission from the Crown Prince. Isnât the law of the Imperial Palace of the Emperor and the Crown Prince?â
ââŠAh, even so, wouldnât there be a special exception for the position to select the Crown Princess?â
âThey said that if I keep my promise, I can stay as long as I like.â
Bella proudly picked up Pur, whose eyes were shining.
âOur Pur, you didnât forget the promise you made with me instead, did you? You have to keep it.â
âOf course! Pur listens carefully to the Princess!â
Bella stroked Purâs hair.
âYes, nice. Iâll give you at least one person as a prize someday, so you have to be patient until then.â
âThen, can I eat that pink-haired girl?â
âNo. Not her.â
Bella said, glancing at Marianne.
Meanwhile, when she talked about Pur eating humans, Marianneâs face clearly showed quite a surprise.
âHow about red instead of pink? I think it will taste spicy.â
âI enjoy eating spicy food!â
Marianne, her face turning pale, slowly stepped back and bid farewell to Bella.
âAs expected, our Miss, the head of the Demon Realm! CoolâŠ!â
âWhat to do if you threaten her like that?â
Iwerâs reaction, who did not follow any manners and laws, and Jenkins, who had stayed in the human world for a while, were very different.
âUgh, I feel sorry for Rosanne, who shares the same room. She seemed like a gentle person. Of course, with the Demon King who has no blood or tearsâŠâ
Bella turned Purâs face to Jenkins.
âThereâs a redhead here, too.â
âUwegh. I hate Jen because he tastes old!â
Jenkins wrapped his arms around his shoulders and glared at Fur with contempt.
âDid you taste me, too?â
âOf course! Jen has the worst taste!â
Bella asked, lowering her gaze.
âWorst? Then, who is the most delicious?â
âThe most delicious is Miss, then the Young MasterâŠ.â
As Jenkinsâ expression became more and more stern, Bella also let go of Pur, whom she was holding in disgust.