Had it been like before, her father would have comforted Lilika no matter what she did wrong.
No, even if he scolded her, he would first give her a gift to relieve Lilika’s upset heart.
But from some point on, her father became strange.
He seemed to see her as a… pathetic and stupid child.

“I told the chef to prepare your favorite food. Eat as much as you want and come out. Alright?”
“…”
“And also…”

Duke Primrose hesitated for a moment.
Lilika waited for him to say something to soothe her.

“Well, it would be better to think a little more before acting in the future. You’re a good kid, aren’t you?”
“What…?”

But it wasn’t like that.
His voice was kind, but what he said also sounded like she was being reprimanded.

While Lilika was dumbfounded, the door closed.
Lilika, who had so much to gain using this as a pretext, gained nothing.
Did her father just leave her like this and left?
Was he really the father who cared for her more than anyone else, even if she pretended to be a little hurt and made a fuss?

***

The day had dawned when I was to meet with Crown Prince Enoch.
I began to take off the fancy outerwear I was wearing in the carriage.
Even though my mother received the garment next to me, she looked worried.

“I don’t know if it’s right to go out wearing this.”

In fact, it was natural.

“Even if you’re sneaking out…”

I wanted to keep the fact that I was doing business a secret.
However, it was difficult for a noblewoman to go out without being seen by anyone.
Because of this, I was forced to arrange a story with my mother, the only one who knew what I was doing.
Others would think that I was riding in a carriage to spend time with my mother in the downtown area today.

“You’re going to see High Highness, but the way you’re dressed…”

Contrary to the fancy coat, the dress I was wearing was plain and neat.
And I put on a hooded robe so long that even the dress could not be seen.

“His Highness will also come wearing something as discreet as I am. I asked him to do that.”
“That’s a relief, but…”

I also understood her embarrassment.
Normally, if a noble young lady met a man alone, she wouldn’t dress like this.
But since we also weren’t taking escort knights with us, we had no choice but to do this.

“It’s not a personal appointment, nor is it like when we met in the Imperial Palace last time. Don’t worry too much.”
“Alright… Take care.”

The reason I met with Crown Prince Enoch today was to check out the location where the cosmetics shop would be set up.
I selected a few places on the map, but I wanted to decide after actually seeing them.

I discreetly got out of the carriage my mother was riding.
Then, I looked around. Seeing that no one was watching me, I walked quickly.

“Young Lady.”
“Ah, Your Highness.”

Then, I met Crown Prince Enoch, who was waiting for me. He was wearing a long hood like me covering his face.

“I’m just saying it in case you’re worried, but no one has followed the Lady.”

As both a wizard and a swordsman, he must be someone with a great sense. I nodded.
Crown Prince Enoch said he saw the duchy’s carriage coming into view and followed me when I got out of the carriage.
He chased the carriage with his eyes as it disappeared from view and said,

“It’s a pity that I couldn’t see the Duchess because we’re meeting in secret. I wish I could have said hello.”
“Sorry? To my mother?”

Crown Prince Enoch smiled with his eyes curved.

“To thank her for helping me meet with the Lady.”

As he tilted his head a little, his blonde hair, which could not be hidden by the hood, shone brightly in the sunlight.

Actually, I thought that since we’re meeting while wearing hooded robes, what if we don’t recognize each other? I was prepared to wander around a little…

‘What, he catches your attention right away.’

There were quite a lot of people in the empire with bright hair, but it was difficult to see blonde hair with such purity.
Even the people who say they have blonde hair have almost always a darker color, or it’s just something like a wheat color.

‘No, the color of his hair isn’t the problem.’

Even now, when Crown Prince Enoch was wearing a hood, I could still feel people’s eyes resting around the edge of his Adam’s apple and his sharp nose.
And the women walking along the side of the road, of course, seemed to be more straightforward compared to the men…

“Doesn’t that man look like he’s handsome?”
“Look at his broad shoulders.”

They were speaking in a murmur, but I could hear it all because I was nervous.
Hearing what they were saying, I grabbed the hood and pressed it down tightly.

‘He’s attracting attention even if he’s not identified as the crown prince.’

Nothing good would come out of people finding out that the crown prince and the daughter of the duke were meeting, so I suggested that we meet while wearing hooded robes.
Thinking about it again, it was a relief.
Maybe it was because there was a time when I was called a villainess, but I shrunk myself, wondering if people had seen me and were talking about me.

‘In particular, if it’s a high laugh similar to Lilika’s, or a loud voice like my father and brother…’

I let out a low sigh.

“I’m confident in the cosmetics. But it doesn’t help that the person who made them is the villainess of the Primrose duchy.”
“If the business goes well, the image of the Lady will get much better. I understand your concern, but…”
“But it’s still hasty.”

No matter how much I thought about it, I was right.
When Crown Prince Enoch told me that I didn’t necessarily have to hide my identity, I shook my head strongly even then, trembling. I had to keep my existence a secret.

‘And nothing good would come to Crown Prince Enoch from being seen meeting me often.’

I recalled the crown prince, who took seriously what I had said about being difficult to meet in the imperial palace.

“I apologize for not being considerate. If it’s difficult to meet in the Imperial Palace, I could also go to the Duke’s castle…”
“Sorry? That’s even worse!”

Perhaps it was considerate to say not to meet at the duke’s castle because of Princess Vivian’s words.
And it was an honor as a noble to continue to enter the imperial palace.
However, it was harmful for the crown prince.
… I didn’t know why he was so carefree when he wouldn’t gain anything from getting more entangled with a villainess like me.
Aah, I had to buy the building quickly so that I could have a comfortable place to meet people without being conscious of other people’s gaze.

‘It’s been a while since I broke up with Sir Vieira… I don’t want a commotion around me again.’

In addition, no matter where you looked, I was lacking in comparison to His Highness, so it was clear that people would talk about it.
I didn’t want to be wrapped up in a scandal before the cosmetics business started.

‘He already gets so much attention even with the hood on, so if we walked with our faces exposed…’

My height was not small, but when we stood side by side, I could barely reach his shoulder.
I glanced up at the crown prince. Feeling my gaze, he asked,

“Is there something on my face?”
“No. I was just thinking that I was glad you came out while wearing a hood.”

I was serious.

“I’m a little sad. Are you saying you don’t want to see my face?”
“Why are you taking it that way?”
“Do I look like a monster?”
“W-what?”

I almost asked reflexively what had gotten into him. I clenched my teeth tightly.
His Highness, and also my business partner, was suddenly saying nonsense.
How should I react in this situation?

‘Does he mean that his face looks like that of a monster? Or that he is so beautiful that it’s scary? Or maybe, does he want to hear that he’s handsome?’

This was quite convincing.
Other people would glance at him openly, but I was being too calm on my own.
But he must have received a lot of compliments about his face from other people. Did he want to get one even from me?

I answered appropriately, pretending not to notice.

“Ah, haha. Did you perhaps have a bad dream? Where a monster appeared or something.”

It must have been awkward. But it seemed to be better than some ridiculous flattery, so that’s what I chose.
I was startled as soon as I finished speaking.

“Hahaha!”

Crown Prince Enoch had burst into laughter when he heard my words.

‘What… Is what I said that funny?’

How long did the ludicrous laughter that resonated so high continue?
Crown Prince Enoch barely came to his senses and asked,

“Haha… I really wanted to ask. Why is it a nightmare if a monster appears? What does it matter?”
“What…? I’m telling you in a realistic conclusion that there are no monsters in the capital.”

And Crown Prince Enoch lowered his head again at my words. It was obvious that his body was shaking, this time trying to suppress his laughter.
Normally, he showed only a dignified and elegant attitude, so it was strange to see him like this. Well, I liked it better this way.

‘Hm, it feels like the world is brightening because this handsome man is laughing a lot. Why is he laughing by himself and thinking it’s funny when it’s nothing special…’

Did I miss something because I was oblivious?
Or was Crown Prince Enoch’s point of laughter totally different from everyone else’s?

There was a possibility that the crown prince found my words to be very funny, but I didn’t even consider it. He laughed too much for that to be the case…
I mean, I was just asking if he had a nightmare because he was talking about monsters. What was so funny about that?

——