Chapter 10
“Sit and wait. I need to go take measurements.”
As Iris casually gestured for him to take a seat, the Crown Prince, with a regretful expression, playfully grumbled that he had chosen the wrong timing.
To the noble ladies, this sight seemed utterly astonishing.
Their eyes widened to the point where they couldn’t possibly get any larger.
‘Of course. He’s never shown this side of himself in public.’
It really seemed like he desperately didn’t want to marry the partner the Empress had chosen for him.
To think he’d put on such an act with so much effort.
Iris gave a faint smile that went unnoticed by others before disappearing behind the curtain to take measurements, leaving only the noble ladies, the Crown Prince, Jack, and a maid on the sofa.
“Well, then…”
In the painfully awkward atmosphere, surprisingly, it was the Crown Prince who spoke first.
Sitting across from them, he stared at them expressionlessly.
His demeanor was completely different from how he treated Iris.
“Was my lady perhaps uncomfortable for you?”
<My lady.> How childish—he was already calling Iris his lover and questioning them about her.
How absurd it must have seemed to the noble ladies. But in this world, power reigns supreme.
Just as Iris had only mildly talked back to the Countess,
all they could do was keep their mouths shut and listen to him. Who would dare interrupt a royal?
“Why is everyone so quiet?”
How very royal of him to silence them and then ask why they weren’t responding.
Clearing her throat first was the Countess of Mormos.
“Your Highness.”
“Ah, don’t say anything.”
After complaining about their silence, he now told them to stay quiet when they tried to speak.
The Countess had no choice but to close her mouth as instructed.
“My heart aches.”
‘What’s aching?’
The noble ladies, with their fans delicately placed on their laps, sat on the sofa looking thoroughly chastised.
It seemed they’d remain like this until Iris returned.
“My lady has her quirks. But I don’t think they’re flaws. After all, she’s a woman with so many virtues.”
‘Sure, you’d think that with those rose-tinted glasses.’
The noble ladies gritted their teeth and forced smiles.
They wondered how Iris had managed to captivate the Crown Prince, but it seemed more like he had fallen for her and was waiting for her divorce.
‘This situation is getting strange.’
The noble ladies exchanged glances.
Meanwhile, Vivi, who had been watching everything from behind Iris, whispered something in the Crown Prince’s ear.
“I see…”
The noble ladies, who knew what the maid’s whisper implied, subtly covered their paling faces.
‘If I’d known it would come to this, I would’ve acknowledged her from the start.’
“From now on, her steps will be as good as mine, which is quite troublesome.”
“Pardon?”
At those words, the noble ladies, who had been sitting silently as if they were already dead, looked up in shock. Those words meant—
“I intend to marry her.”
It meant he would make her the Crown Princess.
As the Crown Prince was the future Emperor, his marriage wasn’t merely a personal matter but one that involved national considerations, with his partner chosen after careful deliberation.
Of course, his personal wishes couldn’t be entirely ignored, but—
“Is that even possible?”
“Haha.”
When the Countess unwittingly asked, the Crown Prince laughed as if amused.
“I didn’t realize until today that the Countess was in a position to speak to me like that.”
“Gasp…!”
The Countess covered her mouth with a pale face. Even seated, the expressionless Crown Prince seemed to tower over her with an imposing air.
“Tch, that’s…”
As the Countess struggled to find words—
“What’s going on?”
With the sound of the curtain being drawn back, Iris, having finished taking measurements, returned.
The moment she appeared, the Crown Prince, who had been creating a tense atmosphere, greeted her with a bright smile as if nothing had happened.
“You’re back.”
“What were you all talking about?”
Iris, pretending not to have overheard the conversation while taking measurements, sat beside the Crown Prince.
He naturally made space for her, and the way he did so looked entirely effortless.
‘I couldn’t hear clearly.’
There had been a moment of silence in the middle. What had they discussed?
‘I’ll have to ask Jack later.’
She reached for the now-cold ginger tea, but the Crown Prince’s hand swiftly took it from her, prompting a questioning look.
“Madam, the tea has gone cold.”
“Oh, I’ll have a fresh one brought right away, Your Highness.”
‘Goodness, I’m just a commoner with no pedigree, perfectly fine drinking cold tea, but apparently not His Highness the Crown Prince.’
Iris inwardly scoffed but smiled sheepishly on the outside.
“You must be busy, Madam,” he said.
“If you catch a cold from drinking cold tea, what then, Iris?”
He spoke as if addressing a beloved partner.
‘Wow, he’s really good at acting.’
If he hadn’t been born a prince, he could’ve ruled the world as a stage actor.
‘Would saying that get me arrested for insulting royalty?’
The two of them, practically lovey-dovey, picked out dress accessories together, acting as if the other ladies weren’t even there, before standing to leave.
The noble ladies, who had long finished their own business, were still unable to leave because of the Crown Prince, so it was probably best to give them space.
“I’ll see you all at the banquet, then.”
“Take care, Your Highness. Lady Iris.”
“Yes, it would truly be an honor to see you there.”
Whatever had happened, the noble ladies were thoroughly subdued.
‘What a mess, a man meddling in women’s affairs like this.’
*Ding, clack.*
With the Crown Prince’s escort, Iris boarded the carriage, and he followed, taking his place.
The maid sat beside the coachman, while Jack, who had been acting as an attendant, had disappeared somewhere.
The Crown Prince pointed it out directly.
“Where did that attendant-looking man go?”
“I sent him on an errand.”
“When?”
“Just as we were leaving.”
When she replied indifferently, he chuckled.
‘From this angle, he really seems like an immature man not acting his age.’
“There are a lot of fools who won’t get it unless you show them directly. I made time especially for today.”
“You’ve read my mind. That’s creepy.”
“Hmm, even if we’re in a contractual relationship, aren’t you being a bit too blunt, Lady Iris?”
“Hmm. Should I put on a little charm then, Your Highness?”
When she smiled sweetly with a gentle tone, the Crown Prince burst out laughing.
“My apologies, I misjudged you.”
“Your reaction makes me embarrassed. I’ve never met a man who disliked it, though.”
“You’re no ordinary woman.”
“You knew that when you chose me, didn’t you?”
“Indeed.”
Iris let out a sigh. She’d come out hoping to stir up a small rumor, but now she was caught up in a much bigger one.
Since it was what the Crown Prince wanted, she had no choice.
“If you’re going to show up, give me a heads-up.”
“I wanted to see your surprised face.”
“Even with a heads-up, I can show you plenty of surprised faces.”
“I want to see the real thing, not a fake one.”
“You really don’t listen, do you?”
Iris wanted to sigh for the umpteenth time but held it in.
Preparing to disembark as the carriage stopped in front of her mansion, she stepped down with the coachman’s help and glanced at the Crown Prince.
“Our next meeting is at the banquet next week, correct?”
“Correct.”
“I’ll be lying low until then, so keep that in mind.”
“That’s for the best. It’ll heighten people’s curiosity even more.”
“You know it well. Now go.”
With that, Iris personally slammed the carriage door shut with a *bang!* and sent it off.
Dealing with the Crown Prince was utterly exhausting.
She trudged into her mansion. Inside the dark mansion, he was already there.
“Jack.”
“What’s up with that Crown Prince?”
“No idea. I told you, he’s not an easy one.”
Saying that, she approached Jack.
“By the way, you.”
Her finger pointed at Jack.
“Did you bathe me yesterday?”
“You asked me to, didn’t you?”
“…Do I even look like a woman to you?”
“No, you look like a debtor.”
She recalled the conversation they’d had yesterday.
‘Right, I don’t know much about him, but he’s seen too much of my lows.’
‘Maybe I don’t seem like a woman to him.’
Taking off her cumbersome necklace, she headed to her bedroom.
“What was said while I was gone? I heard bits and pieces but not the details.”
“The Crown Prince implied he’d make you the Crown Princess himself.”
“The Crown Prince?”
Iris frowned as she placed her necklace on the vanity.
‘Well, he’d have to say that for appearances’ sake.’
“Man, he’s good at lying, despite what’s really going on.”
“…It didn’t seem like a lie to me.”
“Jack, don’t say boring things.”
With that, she gestured for him to leave.
As Jack obediently left the room, he thought about the expression the Crown Prince had worn.
‘He really looked angry.’
Men understand men best.
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