Chapter 15

‘To think I’d get caught.’

Massera sighed inwardly.

However, he was good at controlling his expression, so he was able to maintain an unreadable expression.

Meanwhile, Cynthia covered her mouth with both hands and looked at Massera. She recalled that all the dresses she had tried on were adorned with pearls and jewels.

“No way, were all of those dresses custom-made? They said each one takes years… so when did you even start preparing them… for me…?”

Just as Cynthia’s mind was about to concoct the backstory of “We actually met when we were kids,” Massera denied it.

“No. A designer from the Mary-Siren boutique owed me a favor and just made them quickly, that’s all.”

Cynthia’s excitement instantly died down.

Instead, someone from nearby could be heard speaking in a surprised voice.

“No wonder all of the finest Mediterranean pearls and purest diamonds had been bought up. It was General Vicente.”

“The sweet princess must have melted even the stoic soldier’s heart. I’m so envious.”

Before he knew it, Massera was being treated as a hopelessly devoted husband who loved his wife to death.

Wishing desperately that they’d stop saying such things, Massera sighed and held his throbbing head.

“I’m sorry I asked to go on a honeymoon. I didn’t know about your situation…”

She must have thought he’d spent so much on the dresses that they couldn’t afford to go on a honeymoon.

Massera looked at her with a resigned expression.

“It’s not that dire.”

“I know. There are many people who cut down on unnecessary spending even if they’re rich, so I’ll be frugal too. I’ll paste newspaper on the windows and use less firewood.”

She had clearly misunderstood.

To her, he was either a breadwinner with difficult financial circumstances or a stingy person who was reluctant to spend money.

That was when someone nearby raised a question.

“But did the duchy buy the dress after it was cancelled, or did they intercept it midway through…?”

“From what I know, custom orders can’t be cancelled, so they must’ve intercepted it. They do seem to have similar body types.”

“No way. The older sister wore the dress made for her younger sister? Even though she must know what it means for a husband to prepare the bride’s dress?”

No one could have imagined that Duke Lucanossa did it out of inferiority toward Massera.

They couldn’t help but assume that it was a greedy sister stealing from her younger sibling.

“...Your Grace, I believe an explanation is in order.”

“We’ll talk about it later.”

Helene, her face pale, demanded an explanation, but the duke brushed it off and instead moved toward a group of politicians to greet them.

The fact that the duke refused to speak and walked away was as good as admitting it was her doing.

“Seriously, what kind of sister does that?”

“Tch tch, a wedding dress is so important too. Her sister must be so heartbroken.”

Accusing glances fell upon her.

Helene felt unbearably humiliated and angry.

‘He’s pinning it on me for his own honor? What kind of despicable man does that?’

Helene resisted the urge to shout that she had no reason to covet a lowly maid’s belongings.

However, she also couldn’t explain that the duke acted out of inferiority toward Brigadier General Vicente, who was a war orphan.

After all, she knew that protecting her pride now would cost her greatly. She at least had that much sense and judgment.

Helene grinded her teeth with a vicious look in her eyes.

‘I’ll never let this slide. The day I reclaim the power of royalty, I’ll pay him back a hundredfold.’

Cynthia knew full well the resentment Helene was feeling, but had no desire to clear things up for her.

She merely observed her with the detached attitude Helene had always prided herself on.

***

“General, I didn’t realize you went to such trouble for the dresses, and I spoke so carelessly. I’m sorry. You must’ve been upset to see them snatch that dress.”

At Cynthia’s apology, Massera slowly shook his head.

“Like you said, we can just pick another one. I can even get it finished in a week.”

“But, why did you put so much care into the dress?”

Faced with the question he never wanted to be asked, Massera slightly furrowed his brow.

“The heart is like a box. Fill it with treasure and it becomes a treasure chest, fill it with trash and it becomes a garbage bin. So fill your bride’s heart with treasures, Massera.”

“I was just following my late mother’s advice. A wedding lasts only one day, but the memory lasts a lifetime…”

It’s a day so important that it can become a treasure you take out and cherish, or a wound you never want to open again.

‘Still, why did I even bother?’

Did he really need to follow his mother’s advice just to give Cynthia a good memory? Even he didn’t know the answer.

Annoyed with himself for saying such embarrassing things, he cut himself off.

“Ah, I get what you mean.”

Cynthia nodded, her expression one of understanding.

“I’ll also try to give you good memories while we’re together. I don’t have money right now, so this is all I can give you, but I’ll make sure you live in comfort.”

She spoke like a poor young suitor proposing and slipped something onto his finger.

Massera looked down at his middle finger.

A ring made from a gold twist tie from a bread bag had been placed on it. She had even stuck a bean-sized candy on it like a jewel.

“...What is this?”

“A jeweled ring that brings wealth.”

“I told you, I’m not poor.”

Massera felt baffled. No wonder she’d been fiddling with something under the table.

Cynthia spoke up.

“Material things don’t last forever. In the end, what stays isn’t the physical stuff, but the heart. For example, being able to look at this ring and smile at the fond memory of it.”

It was something only someone who had lost everything would say.

More precisely, it resembled the dying words of his mother, who had lost everything—including her husband—to the war.

Massera had been staring at Cynthia in a daze without realizing it. Just as he came to his senses and brushed back his hair—

“General, where is that ring from? It’s quite unique.”

The businessmen who had come to speak with him noticed the ring on his finger and asked.

With a calm face, Massera replied.

“It’s said to bring wealth…”

“Oh, is it part of an upcycled edition? Lately, some luxury brands have been releasing more eco-friendly goods.”

Massera simply nodded, pretending that was the case.

This was followed by a series of interactions with politicians, all of whom strangely avoided Cynthia’s eyes.

“Is it just me, or is everyone avoiding eye contact with me?”

When Cynthia voiced her question, someone revealed the truth.

“Did you not know? You’ve become quite the talk of the town, Your Highness. After reading about it, I just can’t look you in the eye. Of course, it’s not like I took a bribe or have anything to be guilty about. Hahaha!”

At some point, Cynthia began to be called “Your Highness” and “Princess,” unfamiliar titles that made her feel very awkward.

He then handed Cynthia a newspaper and her eyes widened upon seeing the article.

“Ack.”

[Cynthia Queensguard, the beautiful princess who carries on the legend of the Frost Queen.

Having inherited the exact appearance of the first Frost Queen, she has proven the legend of evading tens of thousands of arrows.

She easily dodged a massive chandelier falling from above, detected hidden traps throughout the venue, and displayed valor as she overpowered her opponent amidst a hail of bullets.

The most astounding of all was her ability to read minds just by looking into someone’s eyes.

Seeing the intent of the mastermind disguised as a guest, she swapped the poisoned drink meant for her, making the culprit drink it instead.

Is the blessing of the “Goddess of Fortune” once again upon the Variessa royal family?]

Isn’t this the plot of a sci-fi action movie? Cynthia looked utterly dumbfounded.

Meanwhile, Massera engaged in uninteresting conversations with people and looked down at the “jeweled ring that brings wealth” on his finger.

‘She sure likes to give things meaning.’

Just as he wondered if that was the secret to her carefree attitude, the duchy’s butler approached with a courteous smile.

“It looks like there will be heavy snowfall this afternoon. We’d be honored if you could stay the night to allow the princesses to catch up with each other. We’ve even prepared a room for you and Her Highness, General.”

Massera looked up at the overcast sky, then glanced over at Cynthia as if asking for her opinion. Under her parasol, she rubbed her now noticeably reddened eyes.

“I’ll head in and rest first. It’s cold, and being outside for so long has worn me out.”

“I was thinking the same.”

And so, the two were guided to their room, silence and awkwardness thick between them.

“You’re engaged to be married, so of course you’ll be sharing a room, yes?”

Unable to respond to the butler’s question, the two ended up being assigned the same room.

It was a spacious room—with only one bed.