CHAPTER 32
“What could possibly not be okay? It’s a fake relationship anyway.”
Franz was the only person who knew that their relationship was a sham.
At least on Claire’s side, if not Theodore’s.
There was no one more trustworthy than her own brother.
“He’s not treating you badly just because it’s fake, right?”
“No, he’s treating me really well, so don’t worry.”
In fact, sometimes he treated her so well that she wondered if someone had replaced him with an actor who looked exactly like him.
She hadn’t expected him to be so considerate.
‘He’s really different from the person I used to know.’
Was he just good at putting on a different face after growing up under his uncle’s oppression? Or was it simply because she was no longer Priscilla?
As Claire was lost in thought, a completely unrelated question slipped into her ear.
“You’re not… actually dating him for real, are you?”
“What?”
“If it’s real, then I’m against it.”
Franz’s thoughts had spiraled after she reassured him not to worry, and he said it seriously.
Watching his sister’s flashy fake romance unfold had left him feeling conflicted.
The two of them seemed closer than he’d expected.
“The Crown Prince’s position is too unstable. It’s a road full of hardship, no matter how you look at it—”
“Franz.”
Claire stared at him in disbelief. What was this? He sounded like a father meddling in his daughter’s love life.
Sensing her irritation, Franz scrambled to explain.
“No, I’m just worried about you…”
“How old do you think I am?”
“You’re nineteen now…”
Claire gestured for him to come over with a look that said “Get over here.”
Franz hesitantly stepped closer to her.
Smack!
“Ah!”
“Snap out of it. Do you think I’m actually your daughter?”
“That hurt, sis…”
Rubbing his stinging forehead, Franz looked like he was about to cry.
“Well, serves you right for spouting nonsense.”
“Why? Maybe you two actually fell for each other in the meantime.”
“Me? With the Crown Prince? Are you out of your mind? I don’t like younger guys.”
“Technically, he’s older than you at the moment…”
“Anyway! Don’t entertain weird delusions. Got it?”
Claire gave him one more flick on the forehead and walked out of the mansion.
Episteme Guild Office
As always, Theodore sat with his legs crossed, his face hidden behind a tight white mask.
Claire entered the room and greeted him.
“Long time no see, Teddy.”
“I won’t bother asking how you’ve been—I’ve read about it plenty in the papers.”
“Saves us the small talk.”
Claire smiled and sat comfortably across from him.
“What brings you here?”
“I want to track Countess Macquarie’s every move. Is that doable?”
“That’s so easy, I’d feel bad taking your money for it.”
Theodore scoffed as he accepted the request. He promised to send daily reports to Franz’s mansion.
With the business settled before the tea even cooled, Claire stood up without hesitation.
“Thanks. I’ll leave it to you.”
“…You’re leaving already?”
“Yes. Was there something else you wanted to say?”
Theodore hesitated. For some reason, parting ways after just a business exchange felt disappointing.
But with nothing else in mind, a random image flashed through his head—the empty nape of her neck.
“What kind of accessories do you like?”
“Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”
“Just curious.”
“Hmm, I don’t have any particular preferences. I just wear whatever the maids give me.”
She answered easily, then brought up a question that had just occurred to her.
“By the way, do you know what His Highness likes? Now that I think about it, he’s never told me anything about his personal tastes.”
“I didn’t think it was necessary.”
“Well, it is now. We’re lovers, remember?”
Knowing your partner’s hobbies and preferences was just basic relationship stuff.
After a brief pause, Theodore responded smoothly.
“Then ask him directly. Isn’t that the true path to becoming real lovers?”
Claire’s lips twitched slightly, and her expression clouded over.
If they were truly in love, then yes, getting to know each other made sense. But they were fake lovers.
They could never be anything more than that.
‘Does he not know what kind of relationship we have? I thought maybe he did…’
After all, the man in front of her was the one who introduced her to Theodore in the first place.
But he had no intention of revealing anything now. Claire simply replied, “Got it,” and left the room.
Just then, Lune walked in carrying a bag of cookies and called out to her.
“Oh! You’re leaving already?”
“Yeah.”
“Aw, I should’ve come a little earlier!”
Lune pouted, then suddenly lit up.
“I have a question for you!”
“What is it?”
“Does the Crown Prince really call you ‘baby’?”
“What? No!”
Apparently, the rumors from the marquis’ party had spread this far.
She already hated being called “darling,” so “baby” was out of the question.
Claire quickly waved her hand to deny it, and Lune looked a little disappointed.
“Really? Not even when you’re alone?”
“Not at all. And if anything, I should be the one calling him that.”
“Why’s that?”
“Well—”
Claire stopped herself from saying, “Because I’m actually way older than him.”
“Because His Highness seems more babyish than me?”
“Pfft! Puhahaha! Ah—sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh at you, it’s just… I choked a little.”
Lune made a clumsy excuse, face flushed from trying to hold in his laughter.
Just imagining Theodore’s reaction to being treated like a baby was hilarious.
Hiding his trembling lips, he waved cheerfully.
“Take care, pretty lady!”
“Yeah, see you next time.”
As Claire walked off, Lune dashed up the stairs—completely unaware that teasing Theodore by calling him “Baby Your Highness” would get him kicked out of the room within a minute.
Since their meeting at the salon, Claire and Nina had kept in touch via letters and gradually built a friendship.
After several days, Claire decided to deepen that bond by inviting her over for tea.
To keep the visit secret from the marquis’ household, the meeting was held at Franz’s mansion.
“Lady Merrison, welcome.”
“Thank you for inviting me today, Lady Ravello. It’s not much, but here’s a little gift.”
Nina shyly handed over a beautifully wrapped cake box.
It had been a while since she was invited to tea, and she couldn’t hide her excitement.
“Thank you. Shall we enjoy it together over tea?”
“Yes, I’d love that.”
Becca soon returned with the cake plated, and Claire and Nina sat facing each other.
A heavy silence hung in the air.
Though smiling, Claire’s thoughts were a tangle. It had been so long since she made a friend that she didn’t know what to talk about.
Especially since, despite appearances, she was much older than the young lady across from her…
‘What should we talk about?’
Nina was having the same thoughts.
‘I should say something interesting…’
Both were caught up in the same dilemma, so no conversation flowed easily for quite a while.
In that awkward atmosphere, their eyes suddenly met.
“…Pfft.”
“Hehehe.”
They burst into laughter at the same time, realizing they were both tiptoeing around the same issue.
That one shared laugh melted the tension instantly. As they shared cake, they started talking about their recent lives.
It had felt awkward trying to talk just through letters, but meeting face-to-face made everything feel easier.
Then, Nina asked something that had been on her mind since receiving the invitation.
“By the way, why did you invite me here instead of the Ravello estate?”
Claire smiled lightly and answered.
“I lived here before I moved into the marquis’ residence. This place feels more like home to me.”
“Oh… Then you’ve invited me to your real home. I’m honored.”
Nina’s eyes sparkled with innocent gratitude. Being allowed into someone’s private space made her feel closer to Claire.
“Actually… I was a bit hesitant about inviting you.”
Just then, Claire spoke hesitantly.
“You’re engaged to my uncle. I was worried it might make you uncomfortable if we became friends…”
“Oh, no! Not at all—please don’t worry!”
Despite having the same worries herself, Nina was flustered by Claire’s open attitude and waved her hands.
To be honest, she’d been suspicious at first and careful about how much to say in letters.
But in person, Claire was so kind and warm.
She didn’t resemble Alex at all. Nina kept forgetting they were family.
“Really? I’m glad. I wasn’t sure what your relationship with my uncle was like. Does he treat you well?”
Claire asked brightly, but there was a sharp gleam in her eyes.
She’d been waiting for the right moment to gauge how close they really were.
“Uh…”
Nina, not good at lying, faltered. Even if she felt comfortable with Claire, it was hard to speak ill of her fiancé.
Noticing her hesitation, Claire jumped in.
“Honestly, I don’t get along with my uncle. He doesn’t like me very much. To begin with, he and my dad aren’t close either…”
She deliberately shared something negative about Alex to help Nina open up, then softened her expression apologetically.
“Sorry. That must’ve been awkward to hear as his fiancée.”
“No, not at all. I don’t get along with Lord Ravello either.”
Just as Claire hoped, Nina felt a sense of solidarity and spoke honestly.
Gently holding her hand, Claire asked softly,
“How did you end up getting engaged to my uncle?”
