~Chapter 90~
“Hello! Starting today, I’ll be assisting Your Highness the Princess. My name is Melona Divot! Please call me Melona.”
It was after lunch, when I was feeling sleepy.
An assistant named Melona came into my room and introduced herself.
“Are you the assistant Richard assigned to me?”
“Yes, that’s right!”
But Melona looked at most eighteen—a young girl.
Maybe it was her curly silver hair and her big, round glasses.
She was also a bit short, which made her seem even younger.
Anyway, she didn’t look like the typical professional assistant you’d expect.
But Richard wouldn’t send someone who wasn’t qualified, so it was odd.
“Um, Melona. Do you mind telling me your age?”
“Yes! I’m twenty years old!”
As I thought, Melona had just turned twenty.
“I might be young for an assistant, but I’ll do my best to help you, Your Highness!”
It was like she read my mind and tried to reassure me.
She looked so determined, her eyes bright and sparkling.
For some reason, she reminded me of Omok—her cute look and those clear eyes were just like Omok’s.
“Thank you. I look forward to working with you.”
“Please speak comfortably! You’re my superior, Your Highness!”
“Well… technically, yes… Okay, got it.”
Who talks about status difference so cheerfully?
This feeling was just like when Omok got all loyal.
It’s funny to have a real-life Omok here at the palace.
“Melona, could you organize my schedule for this week?”
“I already did, Your Highness! Would you like a quick summary now?”
“Wow! Yes, please.”
I was impressed by how prepared Melona was. She was cute, but also very capable.
“First, tomorrow you have lunch with the Crown Prince. The day after, you’ll meet the royal painter to talk about your official portrait.”
“Lunch is fine, but a portrait?”
“Yes! Now that you’re part of the royal family, you need an official portrait as a memory.”
“But we’re only engaged, not married yet.”
“An engagement is basically marriage!”
Melona said this as if it was nothing.
Honestly, even being called Princess felt awkward. Just thinking about the portrait made me nervous and sweaty.
“Also, this week, you need to meet Madam Eins.”
“Who is Madam Eins?”
“Oh, Madam Eins will teach you how to be a proper bride.”
“Bride lessons…”
Trying to do my duty as princess meant my schedule was completely full.
I already missed the peaceful day I had at the counseling shop.
“The bride lessons will only be twice a week. The Prince ordered us to work around your counseling shop days.”
“That’s a relief. If it was every day, I’d collapse.”
“If you feel unwell or tired, just let me know! The Prince said your health is the most important. You can even skip things if you need to!”
My one bright spot in imperial life.
Richard had even made sure I could rest when I needed to. What a thoughtful man.
I’d heard the assistants talk about how a husband should take care of his wife—turns out it really worked.
“Oh! I almost forgot the most important thing! Early next week, there’s going to be a banquet at the palace.”
“What kind of banquet?”
“It’s a banquet to celebrate your engagement with the Prince!”
“Ah, I think Richard mentioned that before.”
I remembered Richard saying something about it earlier.
I’d probably have to meet the Empress there.
Even though I’d been in the palace almost a week, thanks to Richard warning the Empress’s head maid, I hadn’t even seen her shadow.
“That’s everything for your current schedule!”
“Thanks, Melona. That was so clear and simple. Oh, here’s a thank you gift.”
I handed Melona two madeleines I’d wrapped up. I made them last night for my counseling shop clients.
“Oh! What’s this?”
“It’s a baked treat I made. You don’t dislike sweets, do you?”
“No way! I love sweets!”
Melona carefully took the madeleines and looked so happy.
“If you want, you can eat it now.”
“Really?”
“Yes. If you like it, I’ll give you more.”
“Thank you!”
Melona answered brightly and took a big bite.
Wow!
Her eyes lit up, and she let out a huge word of praise.
“This is so delicious, Your Highness! I’ve never eaten such tasty treats!”
“Really? There’s plenty—take more if you want.”
“You’re such a kind person, Your Highness!”
Melona’s eyes looked like hearts when I gave her more.
Seeing her so happy, I wanted to make more treats for her again.
Knock, knock—click.
Then there was a knock, and the door opened before I could answer.
“Is the new assistant doing her job well?”
“P-Prince…?”
Surprised by Richard’s sudden entrance, Melona couldn’t even swallow her madeleine.
She froze, looking like a hamster with its cheeks stuffed full.
“I told you to help, not to eat snacks, Melona Divot.”
“N-no, I wasn’t!”
“She worked hard. She explained my schedule in a way that was easy to understand.”
“That’s just her job. And don’t give Melona snacks—she’s banned from treats right now.”
“Don’t tell Lux sister!”
Lux?
I tilted my head at the name. It was the first time I’d heard it.
If she’s called “sister,” she must be a woman… Was there another woman close to Richard besides Lysa or me?
I suddenly felt a little jealous.
“Lux Divot. Melona’s older sister, and my… assistant and knight.”
“Oh, so she’s an assistant too.”
With Richard’s explanation, my misunderstanding cleared up.
Still, letting go of my feelings was harder than I thought—even though I’m just the fake fiancée.
And the way my lips kept curving up didn’t help.
“So, why did you come? You’re not just checking up on Melona, right?”
I bit my lip and hid my smile before asking.
“I have something to tell you. Everyone else, please leave.”
When Richard ordered it, all the maids left the room—except for Melona.
“Why aren’t you leaving, Melona?”
“I’m supposed to stay with Her Highness all the time!”
“This is an exception. Out.”
“Your Highness…”
Melona looked at me with sad eyes.
“Melona, Richard probably has something important to say. See you later.”
“Okay…”
Even though she was sad, Melona listened well.
When Melona finally left, it was just me and Richard.
“So, what do you want to say?”
Being alone made even a short silence feel strange, so I asked quickly.
“Yesterday, there was a trial for Wudian Montorre.”
“Really? I heard he almost went to trial but didn’t.”
“I nudged Marquis Norman a little, and he took care of it.”
“Wow. So Wudian went to trial for assault?”
I’d heard Marquis Norman’s third son wasn’t any better than Wudian, but honestly, I felt satisfied.
If I had known it would end like this, I would have pressed charges for the rude things Wudian said to me.
It would have felt even better if he’d gotten real punishment.
“It wasn’t just assault. There were other crimes, too.”
“Other crimes? Well, he probably did a lot of bad things. So, what was the result?”
When I asked, Richard smiled with a playful look.
His smile made me want to smile too.
“Wudian Montorre has been banished from the Empire.”
That news was just the kind that makes you smile.
