Today was the day that salon members gathered once more. Additionally, it was the spot where the real villain would eventually be exposed.
I held the book in my arms and prepared to sprint to Lausanneâs garden as soon as the carriage door opened.
The idea of showing Lausanne the book and clearing up our misunderstanding made my feet shaky. As soon as the door swung open, I got ready to flee.
I anticipated that Cheroke would reprimand me later. I stumbled as soon as I started to run.
âIâm gonna fall!â
It would be painful, wouldnât it? But as I was having that thought, my body was grabbed. A recognizable voice then spoke above me.
âI knew this would happen.â
âDemimore?â
âWhatâs the hurry? Why are you running like this?â
Demimoreâs red eyes, which seemed to be full of sunlight, had settled calmly; he held my shoulder and helped me stand up straight.
Cheroke stood behind with a rather complicated expression on his face.
It seems Demimore opened the carriage door himself while waiting for me.
I handed Demimore the book I was holding.
âIs this it?â
Demimore took the book from me, flipped through the pages easily, and smiled softly like a spring breeze.
âShe said sheâs not like that anymore, but her taste is the same. she still doesnât like human men, huh?â
The spring breeze blowing on Demimoreâs face left a playful smile. I was also familiar with that sly fairy-like smile.
It reminded me of Theodoreâs smile when he teased me.
Demimore seemed very excited to think of making fun of Lausanne with this. Demimore is also someoneâs younger brotherâŠâŠ.
âWeâll finally catch the real culprit.â
âOh, Iâm so excited.â
âHave you considered the criminalâs punishment?â
âYes!â
I was questioned by Demimore as she led me to Lausanneâs garden.
Demimore naturally stopped when she heard my response. I also paused and turned to face Demimore.
âWhatâs that?â
âRewrite the book 100 times!â
What do you think? Isnât that cruel?
They will not be permitted to borrow magic. Until they have written it all 100 times, I wonât leave them.
Demimore, however, had a different suggestion.
âIs that it?â
âHuh? What do you mean thatâs it?â
âIs that really sufficient?â
ââŠâŠâŠWell, I donât know. Wonât Princess Lausanne decide on a different punishment?â
âYou. Youâre a victim, too.â
âI didnât lose anything in comparison to Princess Lausanne.â
Demimore pouted as if he were going to say something to me, but he kept quiet instead. He then turned around and uttered,
âYes, what can I say? Iâll talk to my sister about the punishment for the culprit.â
Oh, I feel a little ignored.
Naturally, I want to punish them severely, but Iâm not sure if thatâs really necessary.
These things seem like childâs play now after all Iâve been through. Itâs kind of like playing with toysâŠ
Well, I canât send them to Nicor. I quickly seized Demimoreâs arm. Demimore gave me a perplexed look.
âWhy? Did you think of a punishment you wanted to give to the culprit?â
I shook my head.
âDemimore, just in case I make a mistake laterâŠâ
âDid you do something wrong? Whatâs going on? Are you once more entangled in something?â
âWell, itâs just a hypothetical situation.â
âWhatever mistake you make, Iâm on your sideâŠâ
âIf I mess up later, donât send me to a cold place.â
Like Nicor, for example.
It may only be a dream, but the journey to Nicor is too bleak, lonely, and miserable.
The icy wind pierced my skin like thorns. However, I was more afraid of Mary in my dream, who cursed Demimore and Astina as she walked down the road step by step.
âWhy are you asking me for such a favor?â
âPerhaps you have the final sayâŠâŠ If such a day comes, donât send me somewhere cold⊠I canât handle the cold, you know?â
Without saying a word, Demimore started moving once more.
The aura he gave off was dark, so I quietly followed him. Whatâs wrong with him? Do you like Nicor?
âMary, weâre here. Letâs go in.â
âYes, thank youâŠâŠ.â
âLetâs get this done first. Later, we can talk more.â
Demimore, who had been serious, suddenly smiled.
I nodded firmly, a strange courage rising up from my toes as I looked at her smile.
Lausanne was waiting for me when I entered the garden, so I ran up to her, greeted her quickly, and gave her the book I had been holding.
Lausanne accepted the book and my greeting at the same time, her face growing stern as she looked through the book I had given her.
âAs anticipated⊠the parchment has been swapped.â
Lausanne exhaled heavily. Whenever I returned to the Grand Duchy after the salon, I returned the parchment I received from Lausanne in order to prevent misunderstandings.
So even before seeing this book, Lausanne already knew that the parchment had been swapped, and through that, she had a rough idea of who the culprit might be.
âI knew it would be like thisâŠ.â
There was awkward silence between me and Lausanne. She appeared distressed. I also had no idea what to say to her, so I just wiggled my fingers idly.
It was then.
âOh, there were only two of you; whatâs with your serious expressions?â
Finally, the culprit appeared among us.
âSofia.â
âYes?â
Lausanne called Sophiaâs name in a cold voice. Lausanneâs odd behavior didnât seem to bother Sophia.
Despite my strong suspicions, I had no way of knowing it would actually be Sofia. How on earth did Sofia discover Lausanne was working on a book and devise this ruse?
âDid you happen to know that I was writing?â
I was curious. Lausanne didnât mince words and asked the question right away.
Lausanneâs eyelashes trembled slightly. Maybe she was suppressing her anger and frustration.
âWriting? The invitation you sent me?â
But Sofia proved to be a more formidable foe than I had anticipated. Sofia waved the salon invitation while flashing a lovely smile.
She had the most beautiful smile, which only increased my rage. I had my doubts about Sofia already.
âNo, novels.â
âOh, my. Do you write novels?â
âDidnât Sofia steal the book I gave Mary?â
âWhy would I do something like that, Your Highness? Did Grand Princess Mary blame me for the crime?â
Sofia, who had been grinning the entire time, suddenly flinched and started to stutter.
I blinked as I stood on the sidelines and observed the altercation. Sofia approached me and took hold of my hand.
âDo you have to go this far? Iâm sure I apologized back then. Do you still hate me?â
Wow, I thought I was Britinaâs best actor, but I still have a long way to go.
I was briefly duped and felt pitiful even though I knew everything as Sofia stared at me with tears in her eyes.
I was so perplexed that I was unable to speak and simply stared at Sofia.
âYes, because the Grand Princess was close to Astina, even though it happened when we were young, she didnât like that I bullied her. I understand that even if you treat me coldly, you will know how I feel someday. But isnât it too much to try to drive a wedge between me and the Princess?â
Wow!
Itâs like watching Sofiaâs one-man show.
But since sheâs so emotional, I canât find anything to refute her. Ah, should I just collapse?
âYouâre making an excuse out of the romance novel written by Princess Lausanne, which I had no idea about. I feel so wrong.â
âWait. Did I mention the bookâs genre?â
ââŠâŠOf course itâs obviously romance!â
Why did she respond that way?
âŠ. I wanted to inquire as to why it was so obvious, but I was unable to do so.
Lausanne closed her eyes and held her head. Her head appeared to be hurting excessively.
âLausanne!â
In Lausanneâs garden, I overheard a voice that shouldnât have been there. Whoever calls Princess Lausanne in that manner isâŠ.
âWhat brings Brother here?â
Lausanne looked at me bewildered as Cameron rushed in and embraced her.
There was a look on her face as if she was saying, âWhatâs wrong with this guy?â
Sofia, who was present, appeared embarrassed as well.
Lausanne was still in Cameronâs arms when he suddenly started crying.
Everyone in the garden was in a state of shock when they saw the First Prince crying. Is it even permitted to witness this?
âI was crazy.â
âWhatâs up, Brother, and why are you acting like this?â
âI⊠I gave in to the temptation of that woman.â
Sofiaâs face turned white at the sight of Cameronâs hand turning to her.
âI apologize to Mary and Lausanne. Iâll admit that I still harbor grudges. I was insane to believe that ruining Mary Conlerâs engagement would help me move past it.â
âYour highness, whatâs going on? You promised to get engaged to me if we just handled this matter well! And you promised to make the engagement ceremony more magnificent than Mary Conlerâs!â