Chapter 66:
“Friends should help each other.”
Layla knew that what the Baemar daughter meant was that she wanted Layla to help connect her with Crown Prince Anasis.
“From what I’ve heard, His Highness likes women who are proactive.”
“Is that really true?”
“Yes. If you think about it, His Highness is in a position where he can’t be proactive himself, right?”
Layla held the lady’s gaze as she spoke.
“As you know… His Highness is a devoted son.”
“Ah, that’s true.”
Lady Baemar recalled just how strong Empress Ramiela’s influence was.
Most of the women Crown Prince Anasis met weren’t women he personally liked, but ones chosen for him by his mother, the Empress.
That was why Lady Baemar hadn’t immediately disliked Layla for attending the imperial ball with him. There had always been countless women at the prince’s side. She also knew perfectly well that the reason he kept that seat open was because he could use it politically.
“His Highness is rather… pitiful.”
When Lady Baemar murmured that without realizing it, Layla hid the smile tugging at her lips.
“That’s why he’s in a position where he can’t express anything honestly. That’s probably… why he seems so reserved.”
“I see.”
Layla’s words triggered a kind of confirmation bias in the lady’s mind—suddenly she began recalling moments when the Crown Prince had been kind to her, moments that now felt special, as if someone she had a crush on liked her back.
“And judging from what he’s said to you, he might actually be much closer to you than you think.”
“Oh… really?”
“Yes. Otherwise, why would he know so many personal details about you?”
Lady Baemar blushed and smiled at Layla’s words. Seeing her good mood, the other young ladies glanced at one another and nodded, as if acknowledging Layla.
“I think so too!”
“Who pays that much attention to someone they’re not interested in?”
“Exactly. And men have such narrow vision.”
“Right, they’re not as perceptive as women.”
They all chimed in, lending more weight to Lady Baemar’s growing certainty.
“Once I return home, I’ll speak to His Highness right away.”
“My.”
Just like that, Layla had planted expectations in Lady Baemar.
She knew from the original story what kind of person the lady was. Even if she was currently swayed by the prince’s looks, she was wise enough to cool off once she saw his true self.
That was why Layla planned to use both Empress Ramiela and Crown Prince Anasis.
“Lend me some more money.”
As soon as she returned home, Layla said this to Rainier.
“You should have received quite a bit this month.”
“It’s not enough. Besides, I have something in mind that might interest you, Rain.”
Rainier smiled, clearly pleased that she had sought him out immediately upon returning.
“May I pat your head?”
“No.”
When she firmly refused, he stepped closer.
“Then you pat mine. If you don’t like me touching you.”
Layla didn’t particularly dislike his touch, but seeing him lean his head toward her, she reflexively reached out and stroked his hair.
The black strands that slipped through her fingers were silky—like brushing against fine silk.
“Are you affection-deprived?”
“Maybe I’m deprived of you.”
At his strange wordplay, she couldn’t help but laugh.
“Where did you learn such old-man jokes?”
“I don’t need to learn them. I’m a genius.”
When she withdrew her hand, he glanced at it with regret, but quickly straightened when he realized she wouldn’t touch him again.
“If this is about business, I’m ready to listen. I have plenty of money.”
“Oh my.”
“I’m very rich. Probably the second richest in the empire.”
Layla smiled knowingly—she could guess the source of his wealth from the original story. The emperor’s favored prince… of course the money came from the richest man in the empire—the emperor himself.
“I’m thinking of buying a bank.”
“Shall we just buy the central bank?”
There were two types of banks in the empire: the central bank in the capital, used by nobles, and smaller, lesser-known provincial banks.
“Not the central bank. Vicious Bank.”
“That one’s small, with few clients—mostly commoners.”
Rainier didn’t understand why she’d want to buy such an unprofitable bank, but he trusted her and waited for her to explain.
“Do you know what a Ponzi scheme is?”
“…What’s that?”
“An investment scam.”
At her words, he froze, as if recalling some past memory—and perhaps the steps she would take next.
“…Don’t tell me…”
“Hehe.”
Her sly smile silenced him.
“You’ve grown close to Crown Prince Anasis, right?”
“Yes, I have.”
“The Empress asked me to prove my loyalty by making Lady Baemar propose to him first.”
“That’s difficult. There’s no noblewoman in the empire who’s proposed fir—actually, there is…”
He suddenly remembered something.
“Marry me, Your Majesty!”
“What?”
“I love you so much! Please, marry me!”
The memory of pink hair, crescent-shaped eyes, and the sky-blue hue in them made his heart drop with a heavy thud.
“There’s… someone like that, Rain?”
Layla gave him a puzzled look—just before he suddenly claimed her lips.
She didn’t stop him from the sudden, deep kiss. His eyes had turned feral again, like a man who wanted to devour her… yet they were damp, as if on the verge of tears.
When the kiss ended, Layla touched her chin.
“Kissing without giving me blood in return is unfair.”
“…I’ll repay you later.”
Blushing, he rested his head on her shoulder.
“May I continue the business talk?”
“…Go ahead.”
Sensing his unease, she decided to hold him for a moment. She could feel his rapid heartbeat calming under her touch.
“So… I plan to make Lady Baemar propose first.”
“If it’s you, you can do it.”
“Then I’ll get closer to the Crown Prince and persuade him to deposit money into the bank.”
“…Don’t tell me…”
“I’ll get the Empress to deposit her funds too.”
Layla released him so she could explain more clearly.
“We’ll pretend to offer high interest and get them to deposit. At first, it’ll be small amounts, but later they’ll put in all their slush funds.”
“What if they withdraw everything in the middle?”
He sounded as though he had already anticipated her plan. She simply assumed it was concern.
“That’s why I need your money, Rain.”
“If they don’t reinvest, they’ll only lose the interest.”
“Will they? I’ll tempt them with 20% interest on the principal.”
He chuckled at how different she seemed in that moment.
“That foolish Empress won’t just deposit her slush fund.”
“Then…”
“She’ll test the waters, then gather every coin she can to put in.”
Rainier found her idea both amusing and endearing. His chest felt so tight from the fondness that he had to pause to breathe.
“I did well, right? It’s smart, isn’t it?”
“Yes, you’re very wise, my lady.”
His praise made her happy—this was her way of indebting him so he’d help her later.
“…Ah.”
He patted her head. It felt strangely pleasant to her—different from when she touched him, which felt like brushing fur. He stroked her like she was a fragile glass ornament.
“If this succeeds, I’ll split the profits with you fifty-fifty.”
“Wow… really? I only came up with the idea.”
“No one else would come up with this. You’d make a great con artist.”
“Businesswoman! Businesswoman!”
“Yes, a great businesswoman—and con artist.”
Layla lightly smacked his shoulder, but he only smiled radiantly, as if nothing could dampen his good mood. Somehow, that smile made her feel reassured—like he truly believed in her.
It’s fine for the four of us to meet, but I’m a bit disappointed you didn’t ask to see me alone.
—Anasis
As soon as she read the letter from the Crown Prince, Layla burned it. She was just about to set the time and place and send letters to the others when—
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
It was Hugo.
“You! Do you know where you are—”
“I was wrong, Layla!”
She was about to throw him out, but froze when he rushed to her feet and began begging.
“I’ve committed a mortal sin!”
With his face a mess of tears and snot, Hugo clung to her legs, sobbing.
“Please, just spare me once!”
