As her body felt fresh and clean, Liliana took out the maids’ uniforms for the two and her own dress from her spatial storage.
After Jennifer and Daisy changed into their maid uniforms first, they helped Liliana put on her dress.
Once her hair was fixed as well, she looked neat and tidy.
Liliana withdrew the magic and headed toward Estevan with the two of them.
Inside the mansion, the auction was in full swing.
“Your Highness, I am back.”
As Liliana sat down beside him with a smile, Estevan looked at her with displeasure.
“Where did you go to come back this late?”
“I will tell you in detail when we return. Did you participate in the auction?”
When Estevan signaled with his eyes to Leon standing behind, Leon smiled and spoke.
“The items put up by Your Highnesses were sold at a very high price.”
He showed Liliana the amount they had sold for.
“It really sold for this amount?”
“Yes, it set the highest price today.”
It was an amount she had never expected.
She thought it would sell for a reasonable price, but it was auctioned off for a price three times higher than she had anticipated.
Since it was a charity auction, it was a good thing if it sold for a high price. It meant the amount used for good causes would increase.
“That is great.”
Liliana watched the remaining auction together with Estevan.
The final auction item everyone had been waiting for was the item brought by Mikael.
The item Mikael presented was a bracelet, the fifth among fifteen masterpieces created during the lifetime of the famous craftsman Drua.
The red rubies densely set into the flowing platinum bracelet resembled a red sea.
As the bracelet was revealed, everyone admired it.
Mikael, who had brought the bracelet, looked proud, his shoulders raised high.
His gaze turned toward Liliana. Liliana also looked at him.
He was smiling with confidence.
She gave him a small smile and lightly bowed her head in greeting. At that, Mikael smiled even more brightly.
“I didn’t expect that guy to come here.”
Estevan muttered from beside her.
“That is true. Does he not usually avoid places like this?”
“It seems he really wants to earn points with you.”
Liliana covered her mouth with her hand and laughed.
“Are you nervous?”
“Not at all.”
As if to show off to Mikael, Estevan kissed the back of Liliana’s hand.
“The one who should be nervous is not me, it’s him.”
“I see.”
Liliana slightly turned her head and looked at Mikael. His red eyes were blazing.
She curled the corners of her lips and, pretending to be tired, leaned her head on Estevan’s shoulder.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
“As much as you like…”
Estevan reached out and brushed back Liliana’s fallen red hair.
They looked like an affectionate couple.
Seeing the two of them, the noble ladies blushed and whispered among themselves.
“They really are a well-matched pair.”
“I am so envious.”
The young noblemen passing by Mikael also made comments.
“I am jealous of His Highness, Prince Estevan.”
“Now that he has gained House Dayan, is the real fight for the throne about to begin?”
“Still, it seems His Highness, Prince Mikael has the advantage for now.”
“That is not something we can be sure about.”
Mikael glared at the young noblemen.
Meeting his gaze, they flinched and quickly left their spots.
Mikael composed his expression and approached Liliana with a polite face, offering a greeting.
“Did you enjoy the charity auction, Princess Consort?”
Liliana, who had been resting her head on Estevan’s shoulder, lifted her head and looked up at Mikael.
As she tried to get up to greet him, Estevan stopped her and, with his hand, made her rest her head back on his shoulder.
“Did you not say you were tired? There is no need to get up.”
Then Estevan looked up at Mikael and smirked.
“You will understand that much, won’t you?”
Mikael’s lips twitched.
He didn’t like it, but he held it in.
“Of course, Brother.”
Mikael looked at Liliana with a concerned gaze.
“You must be very tired.”
“I am sorry. I should greet you properly.”
“It is alright. More than that, your health comes first, Princess Consort.”
“Thank you.”
“That should be enough greetings.”
Estevan sent him a look telling him to leave quickly. Mikael wasn’t someone who wouldn’t understand that.
Mikael clenched his teeth and forced a smile as he stepped back.
“It seems best for me to leave now. I will see you later at the Imperial Palace.”
“Yes.”
As Liliana added a polite smile, Mikael left with a pleased expression.
Estevan, who had been carefully observing Mikael’s change in expression, spoke in a displeased tone.
“It seems that guy is serious about you.”
“Is that so?”
“That’s how it looks to me.”
Hearing Estevan’s words, Liliana looked at Mikael’s retreating figure with a serious gaze.
‘Serious?’
She soon shook her head.
That couldn’t be.
‘He only needs my House.’
Everything Mikael had said and done, which she had believed to be sincere, had all been lies.
The price of believing those lies was losing the people precious to her.
‘As if I’d be deceived again.’
This time, that wouldn’t happen.
Liliana knew Mikael’s dark intentions all too well.
He was the one who had driven her and her family to death in order to place all the glory on Elisha.
So there was no way it was sincere.
***
Attending Marchioness Travia’s charity auction was a success.
Liliana mingled with the noble ladies as she had been taught and led the conversations, and Estevan endured the nobles well.
Inside the carriage on the way back, Estevan frowned and let out a sigh.
“I can’t do this.”
Smiling like a doll and listening to their chatter was hard to endure.
“You still did well enduring it.”
“If this is something I have to keep doing, I would rather decline.”
“You will be properly rewarded for your efforts.”
“Reward?”
“You will find out when you read tomorrow morning’s newspaper.”
Estevan furrowed his brow and turned his head away.
***
Returning to the Emerald Palace, Mikael wiped away his fake smile and headed to Elisha’s bedroom.
Elisha, who had been leisurely eating dessert and resting, flinched at Mikael’s sudden visit.
She hurriedly showed her respect.
“You have arrived, Your Highness.”
Ignoring her, Mikael walked into her dressing room.
As he entered the dressing room, Elisha recalled what had happened last time and her face turned pale.
Wanting to run away, she headed toward the door. But Shuna blocked her path.
“What are you doing? Move.”
“I am sorry, but you cannot leave.”
“Move! You’re my maid, so you should listen to me.”
Shuna looked at Elisha with a chilling smile.
“Please do not forget your place and why you are here.”
“What?”
Shuna’s words pierced Elisha’s chest like thorns.
“Are you not His Highness’s concubine? Your reason for existing is to please His Highness.”
Elisha’s lips trembled.
At that moment, Mikael came out of the dressing room. In his hand was a blue dress.
Approaching her, Mikael threw the blue dress at her.
“Wear it.”
Elisha’s face turned completely pale.
Dragged by Shuna, she was forcibly dressed in the blue dress.
Seeing Elisha, Mikael smiled with satisfaction and circled around her.
“Bring the wine.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Mikael admired Elisha in the blue dress while continuously drinking.
His eyes as he looked at her grew hazy.
Elisha had no choice but to stand still like a doll.
Her eyes shone sharply. She no longer wanted to endure humiliation without compensation.
Elisha smiled alluringly as she looked at Mikael.
“I will comply with Your Highness’s game. But in return, you must pay me as well.”
“Payment?”
Mikael looked at her as if he found her amusing.
Elisha continued.
“I am pleasing Your Highness, so you should give me something as well.”
Mikael smiled and leaned back on the sofa, gesturing as if telling her to speak.
“Alright, go on.”
Clutching the hem of her skirt tightly, Elisha gathered her courage and spoke.
“Please give me an allowance for maintaining my status.”
“You want money?”
“I am, after all, Your Highness’s concubine. Shouldn’t I at least maintain appearances?”
Mikael smirked.
“Right, you’re my concubine. A secret concubine. One who can’t show her face in high society, and whose identity must not be revealed in the Imperial Family. So why would someone like you need an allowance?”
“Should you not at least pay that much for your little doll game, Your Highness?”
“Honestly, you…”
There was no one more greedy.
Mikael approached and grabbed Elisha’s chin, then kissed her.
The smell of alcohol was strong.
“I like that you’re so easy. Fine, I’ll give you the money you want.”
Mikael gestured to Shuna.
“You heard that?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Report it to my mother as it is.”
Shuna bowed her head.
“Leave.”
After Shuna left, Mikael smiled cruelly.
“I’ve granted your request, so now you should entertain me.”
Elisha swallowed dryly and leaned into his arms.
“Of course.”
Mikael devoured her lips and headed straight for the bed.
As the bed curtains fell, their bodies overlapped in an instant.
