Chapter 05
I barely restrained the urge to roll my eyes skyward.
“No… please, get a grip, youngest sir.”
“I’m always in my right mind. That’s why I clearly heard the center director’s proposal,” Rian said, placing a hand over his chest as if to emphasize his words.
‘I’ve never met anyone who says that and is actually sane.’
I straightened my eyebrows and added, “We’re not actually talking about marriage. We’re acting. We need to follow Miss Violet into the dressing room.”
“……”
“If we go in there, we’ll be close enough that she could overhear our conversation.”
“……”
“So, to avoid raising any suspicion, we should pretend to be a married couple just browsing the merchandise.”
Rian’s gaze followed the tip of my finger pointing toward the dressing room.
“Pretend?”
“Yes.”
He turned to me, narrowing his eyes.
“Can’t we just… really be a couple?”
…At this point, I couldn’t help but think, ‘He’s definitely been drinking.’
Either he drank before coming to work, or he spiked his tea at the salon earlier. A perfectly reasonable suspicion.
‘His speech slurs as if drunk, and he keeps saying things no sane person would.’
I pressed my throbbing temples.
“Stop talking nonsense.”
Before Rian could spout more absurdities, I quickly opened my bag.
‘Good thing I brought an extra hat just in case.’
On tiptoe, I placed the hat atop Rian’s head.
“Put this on quickly.”
“Center Director, you expect me to cover my handsome face with this shabby hat?”
“Yes. You, youngest sir, look suspicious enough as it is.”
“That’s harsh…”
Rian pouted but let me push the hat down over his head.
‘Ah… his iconic red eyes and—reluctantly admitting it—handsome features are now hidden. Definitely less noticeable.’
Honestly, whose male lead was this, anyway?
Fully prepared, I finally stepped into the salon with Rian.
“Welcome. This is Valenri’s dressing salon.”
I quickly scanned the room but didn’t see Violet.
‘Maybe she’s in the changing room.’
A staff member approached us.
“What are you looking for today?”
I noticed her quickly scanning Rian. I cleared my throat and began to speak.
“Ah, we…”
“We’re here to look at necklaces,” he interrupted, suddenly leaning closer so his face was near my waist.
“I’d like to give a necklace to my beloved wife,” he added.
Completely unexpected.
‘I knew he was smooth enough to act well… but this is on another level.’
More distracting than his acting, though, was the warmth of his cheek against my head, the breath brushing over me, his thick hand around my body, the solid chest against my back. Even his tone and voice were different from usual.
‘He’s always so careless and flippant… but he can speak this seriously too.’
I was so stunned that I stared blankly ahead.
Rian dropped his gaze to me.
“Right, darling?”
Finally, I snapped back to reality.
‘Right, I need to act.’
I laughed delightedly, pretending to be overcome with joy because of my handsome, attentive husband.
“Yes, that’s right! My husband loves me so much. Oh-hoho!”
I even linked my arm through his for appearances.
‘…His arm is really stiff.’
I didn’t remember Sorren or Chase’s arms being this rigid.
“This way, please,” the guide said, leading us to the jewelry display.
The gemstones sparkled intensely under the lights, almost blinding me.
‘Such extravagant luxury… How much could this cost?’
But we had to act convincingly, so I pretended to browse the necklaces. One in particular caught my eye—a design with golden stones similar to my eye color.
“Um… well, darling?”
“Yes, love?”
“I… like this one.”
‘I wanted to say “I like it,” but…’ I froze when I saw the price tag.
‘…Are you insane? How many zeros is that?’
Of course, I had no intention of buying it, but even joking about liking it was impossible at that price.
‘Even touching it would make me shiver.’
Rian nodded toward the necklace I had pointed out.
“You like this one, darling?”
My heart calmed immediately after being startled by the sheer amount of wealth on display.
‘Darling…’
The overly intimate nickname sent shivers across my body.
‘Which story’s male lead is this, anyway?’
A “buttery” male lead like this in a million-seller novel?
‘I don’t understand readers’ tastes…’
After a moment, noises came from the changing room. Violet appeared.
The designer immediately cheered.
“Miss Bringer!! You look so beautiful! Truly the empire’s finest beauty!”
“Really…?”
“I told you, light violet suits you perfectly. My eyes never lie.”
I couldn’t help but agree one hundred percent.
‘…She’s really beautiful.’
Violet, in a light violet dress, looked like a single violet blossom. Her silky light brown hair flowed elegantly even without the wind, and her rosy cheeks were soft like petals.
I had always known she was beautiful, but now I realized something else:
‘No wonder Johan would fall for her.’
I had been foolish to think I might have a chance just because Johan had been rejected earlier.
‘Whoever Violet has her heart on, Johan loves Violet.’
I was merely the center director. Realizing there was no chance, gloom quickly settled over me.
Rian suddenly draped his arm over my shoulder.
“Why the sudden mood shift? Because Miss Violet is beautiful?”
I gave him a side glance.
“…Not at all. What she looks like has nothing to do with me.”
“Want me to buy the necklace for you? Will that cheer you up?”
“Excuse me?”
“The necklace.”
He gestured toward the piece I had been admiring, the one with more zeros than I could count.
“Are you insane…? Why would you buy this for me?”
“Because you’re in a bad mood, Center Director.”
I blinked like an utterly dumbfounded bull.
‘This guy… is rich, isn’t he?’
Ah, of course. The male lead’s official traits: #chaebol, #flawlessly skilled. No male lead I’d seen was poor, so Rian must be wealthy too.
‘That explains why the cost of living in this world is unusually high—because all the male leads are rich.’
Violet stood in front of the mirror, examining herself from every angle.
‘You’re already beautiful enough.’
Even if you went a week without washing, you’d still look gorgeous.
After tilting her head for a while, Violet asked the designer:
“Am I… really okay?”
“Of course! Oh, Miss, don’t you like the dress?”
“No! It’s beautiful! But…”
“……”
“I just don’t have confidence. I wonder if His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince, will like it…”
She trailed off, embarrassed.
Wait a second.
‘Did I just hear that right?’
I tugged Rian’s sleeve.
“…Youngest sir.”
“Yes, yes?”
“Did you hear that?”
My flushed face reflected in his red eyes.
Rian tapped his jaw, thoughtful.
“Hmm… maybe so…”
“……”
“Center Director, I think you might have a little trouble with hearing.”
He tapped his own ear.
‘What nonsense is this?’
I huffed quietly.
“I asked again to confirm. I heard perfectly well.”
“That’s a relief.” Rian smiled faintly.
“Stop changing the subject. Did you hear what Miss Violet just said?”
“I did.”
“She said ‘His Imperial Highness,’ right?”
“Yes.”
As he confirmed it, the tangled mess in my mind cleared instantly.
‘The man Violet likes… it’s him.’
I always said there are too many “Highnesses” in this world. But all the numerous candidates instantly fell away.
Why?
‘Because, miraculously, there is only one Crown Prince.’
The first prince of the Karnon Empire, now the Crown Prince.
‘Castilian La Idebert Karnon.’
He was the male lead of the 19+ romance novel The Crown Prince’s Bedtime Affairs—and my most cherished love in my past life.
