Chapter 48

“If you’re sorry… would you like to go to the shopping district with me?”

Verieta smiled at me sweetly.

My neck instantly felt hot. I shifted my gaze from the dusty book I was cleaning to look at Tessarion.

The male lead was sitting with his broad shoulders and sturdy chest on full display, tapping his temple with his index finger while glaring at me and Verieta. He gave a short, incredulous laugh, crossed his arms, and leaned back in his chair—as if waiting to see what I’d say.

After that spat he had with Verieta earlier this morning, he’d been obviously moody. I wished it was jealousy… but I knew better.

Even if her invitation was just courtesy, I couldn’t pretend I didn’t hear the words that came out of a royal princess’s mouth. So I gave Tessarion a stiff, awkward smile and spoke up:

“Your Grace, wouldn’t it be nice to show Princess Verieta around the shopping district near Claremont Castle?”

I said it as politely and carefully as possible.

“Verieta. If you need something, tell your own people to do it.
Don’t order mine around.”

Tessarion shot back coldly. Verieta’s gentle smile cracked for a brief moment before she calmly recovered her expression.

“Of course. I’ll take care of my own needs.
As long as a reliable knight like Roy accompanies me.”

Ugh.

I bowed my head like a kid in trouble, staring at the wall, then turned back with a forced smile and gestured at Tessarion with both hands.

“The most reliable knight in Claremont isn’t me—it’s His Grace, the Duke.”

I tossed out a flattery bomb in hopes of deflecting the pressure and turned toward him. But despite my efforts, Tessarion curled one side of his lip into a crooked sneer and said—

“I refuse.”

“…H-He says he’s busy. Please allow me to apologize on his behalf, Your Highness. I am truly sorry.”

I bowed my head again, offering Verieta a sincere apology—for what felt like the hundredth time already.

If this were the original Verieta from the story, she would’ve sighed and backed off with a line like, ‘That’s understandable. Affairs of the territory come first, I suppose.’ But instead, she just kept smiling that lovely, harmless smile.

“Roy has nothing to apologize for.
What can I expect from someone who’s too busy glaring at me?
I’d much rather have kind Roy accompany me.”

Aha… haha… ha……

I broke out in cold sweat while checking on Tessarion’s expression.

Verieta leaned in slightly and extended her hand toward me.

“This welcome banquet is for me, isn’t it?
I’ve already made a bad impression by limping at our first meeting.
I’d rather not add another mistake.
Please help me explore and learn about Claremont firsthand.”

Zing.

That’s… genuinely touching.

I bit my lower lip, clutched my chest, and turned to look at Tessarion with glistening eyes. I was saying with every fiber of my being:

‘She’s asking this prettily, and you’re really going to say no?’
‘If you say no, you’re officially the worst person in the world.’

Tsk.

Tessarion let out a gritty click between his teeth and shook his head slightly.

Hmph!

I glared at Tessarion and, as if to spite him, boldly grabbed Verieta’s hand. Then, just as Madam Mores had taught me, I respectfully kissed the back of her hand with decorum.

“Then it’s only right that I assist you.
Your Grace, I’ll go make preparations for the outing.”

I smiled brightly at Tessarion and gave a small bow. Then I briskly stepped back and instructed the waiting servant outside to prepare the Duke’s change of clothes for the outing.

Damn it.

Behind me—
Thud!
*I heard the sound of a desk being kicked over.

We rode about an hour from Claremont Castle—just leaving the Duke’s main estate took 30 minutes on horseback—to reach the bustling district known as Brillante Street.

It was the most luxurious area in the North, lined with high-end boutiques, fine restaurants, theaters, and hotels.

It felt like it had been a long time since I last came here, but everything looked exactly the same. In my second life, I had once started a business here, chasing the dream of becoming a great merchant.

I recognized familiar faces among the local vendors.
The leather merchant was Johan, the perfumery girl was Yuniel, and the guard standing in front of the jewelry shop was Moulton.

They were all people I knew well.
But none of them knew me.
Only I remembered them.

It was always the same no matter where I went in Veletinum.
To avoid being labeled insane, I kept my knowledge of past lives hidden and lived pretending not to know anything.

“Dashing gentlemen and elegant ladies! Only ten bottles of this season’s sweetest fragrance of destiny have been produced! Come sample it now!”

Yuniel passed by me with a bright smile, a flower crown resting on her head.

“What, you don’t understand words? I said only registered customers are allowed in!”

Moulton, the burly guard, grabbed a man by the collar and tossed him out. He then glared fiercely at me while dusting off his hands.

“What are you looking at?”

I was walking absentmindedly when I bumped shoulders with Johan, who was carrying bags out of his store. He frowned at me as if telling me to watch where I was going.

Suddenly, a strong arm wrapped around my waist and yanked me back. A carriage clattered by with a loud rattle, narrowly missing me. I blinked in surprise.

From the shadow of a wide-brimmed hat, I saw only a sharp jawline and high nose—his gold eyes gleaming like a blade.

“Don’t let your eyes wander.”

“…Ah, y-yes.”

Disguised as a knight, Tessarion pulled me safely to the other side of the street. I gave a small nod and straightened up, pressing my palm over my racing heart as I followed closely behind him.

Verieta, despite limping, led the way and suddenly pointed excitedly at a shop.

“Ah! Over here! Let’s stop by this store first!”

Tessarion glanced up at the shop sign, then turned away with a quiet sigh. He muttered under his breath—clearly disliking Verieta’s choice. But Verieta just puffed her cheeks and smiled brightly.

What was in that place again…?

As I tried to recall, I tripped slightly.

It was a small dessert café with a sign that read La Belle Chocolatière. Despite its shabby exterior, it was a popular hidden gem in Claremont.

But Verieta hadn’t been in the North long—how did she know about this place?

“Sir Roy, you like sweets, don’t you?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Me too.”

How did she know I liked sweets?

“The Duke… no, Leon doesn’t even like the smell of sweets,
so how about he waits outside?”

She even knew that Tessarion disliked sweets.

I hadn’t considered it before, but now it was impossible to ignore—
Verieta knew far more than she should.

She took my hand and opened the shop door.

Before the bell above the door could even chime—

Bang!

Tessarion kicked the door wide open and stormed inside.

“Welco—”

A massive, burly man at the counter froze as Tessarion scanned the café like a robber about to take over the place. The customers, chatting happily over their desserts, all turned to stare in stunned silence.

Tessarion looked around the café like he owned it, then declared:

“I’ll give you 30 seconds. I’ll cover the bill. Just leave.
Thirty, twenty-nine, twenty-eight…”

He issued an eviction order.

“…”

“…”

Everyone just stared at him in disbelief.

“Twenty, nineteen, eighteen…”

When no one moved after ten seconds, a blue aura began to rise from Tessarion’s hand.

Ack. I rushed to block him, trying to push him back out the door—but no matter how much I tried, he wouldn’t budge.

“Your Gra—! I mean, Sir Knight! What are you doing?
Isn’t it rude to cause trouble for others?
Isn’t it, Your Highness?”

I turned to Verieta, hoping she could stop him. She gracefully placed a hand over her heart and addressed the room.

“My apologies, everyone. As you can see, my escort knight is a complete brute.
Don’t worry about the bill—please, take care and flee before he loses it.”