Chapter 020
“Where did you pick up this thing?”
“Pardon?”
“No, Emil. How much do you trust Evelina?”
Emil’s eyes widened.
Is he really asking who he trusts now? Has he finally lost his mind? Alejandro trusts no one, including Emil.
Alejandro was someone who endlessly doubted and tested everyone. So, why the sudden question about trust?
Even if the world split in two, it wouldn’t be as surprising. Emil asked back, somewhat hesitantly.
“Are you referring to Lady Reginis, whom we just met? The same Lady Reginis whom you said was a spy and should have been killed when we first met her?”
Alejandro furrowed his brow, as if Emil’s comment were nonsensical. Emil clicked his tongue.
“To be honest, there’s no reason to trust her. If it weren’t for us, Evelina would be dead by now. In fact, there are many assassins hiding in that mansion, not just her.”
“And?”
“Lady Regnis has no connection with those assassins. Besides, she shares everything she thinks. For instance, the matter about the nanny.”
Alejandro narrowed his eyes. His red eyes had a metallic, dark gleam. Alejandro licked his lips.
“And?”
“…What do you want from me?”
“Hmm. I wonder what Lady Reginis is thinking about me…”
Alejandro licked his lips again. Before Evelina arrived in this world, the two had no connection whatsoever. But then Evelna came here due to an unexpected accident, and they met.
But why does Evelina look at Alejandro with such eyes, as if she knows something about him?
The question that Alejandro had always had since meeting Evelina resurfaced, nudging him again. Is that what bothers him?
That’s not it.
It’s funny and pathetic.
“No, tell Rebecca to find out who’s looking for the sacrifice in due time.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Emil’s expression relaxed noticeably.
* * *
Early in the morning, Evelina went out with Rebecca. Their plan was to visit a trendy coffee house popular among young people, enjoy some tea, and brainstorm for an upcoming magazine interview.
While conducting the interview and writing the article would be the job of the hired journalist, selecting the items was the task for Evelina and Rebecca.
“Mmm, this really is delicious.”
Rebecca’s eyes sparkled.
Sweet things help to ease tension. Evelina smiled brightly and nodded.
“I know, right? This is really good. The lemon flavor is perfect!”
Evelina hadn’t had such delicious desserts even in Korea. She couldn’t help but hum in delight.
“This is a mousse cake made with raspberry puree. How is it so beautiful?”
Rebecca picked a piece of the cake and popped it into her mouth.
“I think so too.”
Considering she used to eat more sweet desserts than Korean food, she had a pretty adaptable palate. She did miss kimchi stew and cup noodles, though.
Ah, if only she could bring Korean food here.
It was really a shame that she couldn’t cook. In romance fantasy novels, she never understood why characters didn’t start Korean food businesses after transmigrating.
In fact, there were more than a few Korean dishes that had become hits overseas.
“I think it would be okay to put this in a magazine. I heard that the pastry chef studied abroad. And he has a life full of twists and turns….”
“Really?”
“Yes, I think his name was Casper.”
“Hmm!”
I cleared my throat involuntarily. Casper? The information broker who helped the female protagonist? The man who had a past connection with her and always helped her out of trouble?
The unfortunate man who loved the female protagonist in secret, unable to reveal his feelings due to his social status?
Now that I think about it, I remember that in the novel, Casper ran a coffee house to gather information.
Is this what they call destiny…? Mom, I just found an information broker while eating that cake.
* * *
“What are you thinking so deeply about?”
“Um, nothing.”
Since hearing about Casper earlier, I couldn’t distinguish whether I was eating the cake with my mouth or swallowing it through my nose.
Now, the female protagonist is dead.
That meant Casper was like a golden catch in the free agent market. The reason I hadn’t thought about Casper before was that I assumed he would do nothing and return to his hometown now that the female protagonist was gone. If only I could win Casper over and make him mine…
Casper’s weakness was the female protagonist.
Ugh. This is a bit tricky.
Right now, there was no one here who was “for me alone.” What I need is someone who is “only for me.” I think Casper could be the first person to fit that role.
I should find out why Casper is still here despite the female protagonist’s death.
“You know that cake shop we went to today?”
“Oh! You mean, Dear Elizabeth?”
The name had even changed. Elizabeth was the full name of the female protagonist. It was clear that Casper had opened the cake shop to honor Elizabeth.
Casper hadn’t forgotten Elizabeth.
“Yes. We should go there often. Wasn’t it really delicious?”
“That’s right, milady. It was my first time having such a delicious dessert.”
I wanted to ask Rebecca to look into it, but I feared that once Alejandro realized Casper’s value, he would swoop in and take him away.
Not Casper, please!
“We’re going to the opera tomorrow, right? How about stopping by before we go?”
Rebecca gave me a strange look.
What now?
Did she find out?
“I don’t think I’ll be able to accompany you to the opera tomorrow.”
“W-why! But you said it would be a good opportunity to meet the female lead and hire her as a model!”
I was relieved that I wasn’t discovered, but Rebecca not going was also a significant problem. Shaking her head vigorously, Rebecca said with a hint of regret.
“His Highness the Crown Prince will accompany you. I’m afraid I’ll have something very urgent come up. Probably.”
“What!”
Alejandro is going to the opera with me? Why didn’t you mention this earlier!
Oh my.
The thought of going to the opera with my favorite character made my heart race. I could spend the entire three hours just looking at Alejandro’s face instead of the opera actors.
“If it’s uncomfortable…”
“No, I’m really okay.”
Rebecca smiled wryly.
“If that’s the case, I’m glad. Anyway, given the situation, it would be better for you to visit Dear Elizabeth alone.”
Actually, that’s even better.
“That’s not a bad idea. I’ll pack some cakes for Rebecca.”
“…Promise me, milady.”
“I promise with my thumb.”
We clasped hands like Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei in a solemn vow.
(TL/N: This refers to the famous historical event in Chinese history, where the three brothers Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei swore an oath of brotherhood in a peach garden, pledging loyalty and unity.)
“You mustn’t forget our goal, milady. What we need is…”
“A model, right?”
“Yes. Viviana is especially known for being aloof. Many nobles have offered to sponsor her, but she has turned them all down.”
“Why?”
“She wants to be proud of herself and her siblings. The suffering of beautiful, poor women is pretty much the same everywhere, right?”
Rebecca shook her head in disgust. I could hear her mumbling curses about the men.
Hmm, so that’s the situation.
It seemed there might be a way to bring Viviana on board.
“Perhaps having His Highness the Crown Prince with us might be helpful.”
After all, in a world where status and rank are everything, it could help fend off those who would bother Viviana.
“I think so too.”
Rebecca gave a faint smile.
Are you giving me a hint? Rebecca is hard to read. Sometimes she seems like she’s really on my side, but who knows what she’ll do in a crisis.
“I’ll make sure to sign a contract with her.”
“I believe in you, milady! I’m sure you’ll fill my pockets this time too. I’ve decided to achieve my dream through you.”
“Dream?”
“Yes. Getting my own home.”
T, that’s right… that’s important everywhere.
