“Suddenly?”
Anais and Elize’s eyes widened simultaneously.
“Is that really true?”
“I still find it hard to believe that the lady you brought is Lady Amur, but if Grandmother has confirmed it, then it must be true.”
Max, who had initially appeared stern, now seemed calm, with an air of confidence that even Elize found unsettling as she watched his ever-present smile.
“What are you up to?”
“Up to something? Think of it as your usual nagging finally having an effect. Seeing Camille so happy has made me feel a bit rushed as well.”
“Oh, Max.”
Elize, touched, placed a gentle hand over her heart. But only for a moment, as she quickly turned to Anais.
“Miss Anais! We must look through the candidate list right away!”
“Oh, yes!”
Her voice was filled with determination, as if she wouldn’t let this rare opportunity slip by. Anais placed the society’s personal information book on the table—a luxurious edition she had brought from the salon despite the hectic situation.
For any meaningful discussion, having information on the individuals involved is essential. This book contained all the valuable information she had legally gathered.
Just as Anais was about to open the candidate book, Max spoke.
“Roxanne de Bastien.”
Startled.
“Why that name all of a sudden…?”
“I’ve decided on her.”
“…”
“…”
The Queen Dowager’s voice trembled.
“…Roxanne?”
“Yes.”
“That Roxanne?”
“Yes.”
“You mean the only daughter of the Marquis of Bastien, that Roxanne?”
Max tilted his head, as if to say, “Is there a problem?” His innocent expression didn’t match the tension in the room. Elize, avoiding his expectant gaze, urgently looked at Anais.
“…”
Anais was just as shocked. She was so taken aback that she hadn’t even realized her mouth was wide open in disbelief.
Max, sinking into the sofa, spoke as if he hadn’t noticed the shock of those around him.
“Can Lady Brienne help? I don’t want anyone but Roxanne.”
The name he finally pronounced correctly didn’t even seem to register with them.
Anais slowly blinked her wide eyes.
Is he serious?
Does he really not understand?
Roxanne de Bastien. The most sought-after woman of the time. A lady who caused intense infatuation in men and was the epitome of admiration for women—the highest and most dignified of ladies.
And now, this lady with Max Barbier, the youngest prince, who was not even in the line of succession and known throughout the royal family as a troublemaker and a rogue?
Could this work?
‘There has to be some chance for anything to happen.’
Anais looked at Max, who seemed genuinely hopeful, and calculated the odds of him getting close to Roxanne. At best, it was a 0% chance.
“Th-that might be… difficult…”
“What?”
Bang!
“Why is that?”
Max slammed his hand on the armrest, as if frustrated, and made a motion of clutching his heart.
“I swear I’ve never felt this way before.”
“…..”
“Isn’t that what you do, Amour?”
“I-I am called Amour, but…”
“Now I see. You’ve only taken on easy tasks to build your reputation.”
What on earth is he saying now…?
“Let me be clear. It has to be her. I can’t marry just anyone.”
“R-right.”
Anais, stunned by Max’s unexpectedly romantic declaration, responded in a daze.
“I’m telling you right now: if it’s not her, I won’t marry anyone. Even if it means missing my chance to be independent and getting thrown out of the palace in rags.”
“…..”
“Is it really that serious?”
Anais squeezed her eyes shut.
Countless gentlemen of the Barbier family had held Lady Bastien in their hearts, but most of those feelings were akin to admiration, and few truly believed they could ever be with her. But Max?
‘He’s frighteningly serious.’
Where on earth did he get this confidence? His looks?
Anais’s eyebrows drooped. The Dowager Queen, who stood at the pinnacle of the social world, knew better than anyone who Roxanne was in that society. If she had known from the beginning that Roxanne was the target, she wouldn’t have accepted the proposal. Just as Anais was about to send a pleading look to the Dowager Queen for help—
‘Gasp.’
The Dowager Queen’s expression had turned icily cold. The fierceness in her eyes was far more intimidating than anything Anais had ever seen before, even more than when she had been threatened by her. It was enough to make Anais hold her breath.
But it was only for a moment. The Dowager Queen erased her fierce expression in an instant.
“Do it.”
“……!”
Do what, exactly?!
Anais’s upper body jerked forward. It was a wonder her eyes didn’t pop out of their sockets.
“The very reason I brought Anais here is for this. She will help you… very well.”
“W-wait a moment, Your Majesty…”
Roxanne? Not only was Max a difficult case, but adding Roxanne to the mix made it even more impossible!
“It brings me joy to know that you’re a man who can hold a woman in his heart. It’s fortunate that you’ve inherited your grandfather’s discerning eye.”
“It brings me great happiness to know you approve, Grandmother.”
“Third Prince.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I trust you’ll take this more seriously than anything before.”
The Dowager Queen, who had been staring at Max intently, spoke in her usual composed manner.s
“Keep your promise,” the Dowager Queen commanded.
Max responded with a smile that was a mirror image of hers.
“……”
In the exchange of smiles, the only person unable to laugh was Anais.
‘What is this atmosphere, seriously?’
It felt like a sword fight, only without the swords. The tension was palpable, like the suffocating pressure of being caught between two massive forces. Is this what it feels like to be a shrimp caught between two fighting whales? This felt wrong from the very start…
“Anais, you’ll be entering the palace under the pretext of being my companion. There are a few procedures to go through, so follow me.”
“Ah, yes!”
Anais quickly retrieved the untouched candidate book, clutching it to her chest as she hurried to follow the Dowager Queen out of the drawing room. She could feel eyes boring into the back of her head.
***
As Anais rushed to keep up with the Dowager Queen’s quick pace, her breath grew ragged. Maybe it was time to start exercising, she mused, recognizing her poor stamina. Just then, the Dowager Queen suddenly stopped and spun around. Her face was flushed, and her chest heaved noticeably as she tried to suppress her anger.
“Hmph. You think I’ll give up just because you’re playing hard to get?”
Muttering to herself, the Dowager Queen grabbed Anais by the shoulders, her grip firm.
“Nothing has changed, Anais. Our deal still stands, and your task remains clear.”
“And that is…?”
“Bring Max and Roxanne together.”
Anais’s expression fell, as if the world had just crumbled around her. The Dowager Queen quickly added,
“If you succeed, I’ll double the reward I originally promised.”
“……!”
‘I hate how tempted I am by money.’
Anais felt torn between her logical mind, which was urging her to run away, and her heart, which was screaming at her not to be a fool and miss out on such a large sum.
But in the end, it was a fight where the louder voice won. Her heart won out.
“Just remember one thing. The Bastian Marquisate must never know that you and I are involved in this.”
Anais swallowed dryly at the ominous warning.
“Why is that?”
“Do you really need to ask?”
If the Marquis goes against the royal family, do you think your salon would survive?
The words, spoken in a low voice as if someone might overhear, were truly terrifying, causing Anais to feel dizzy.
For a moment, Anais thought about what kind of family the Bastians were.
One of the top five most powerful families in Barbier. Does anything else need to be said? No.
“…”
No, this won’t work. I need to give up.
This is impossible for anyone…
“Parama!”
Sensing Anais’s unease, the Empress Dowager raised her voice.
A maid quickly approached Anais, holding a mysterious velvet pouch.
Jingle—!
The pouch made a lively metallic sound as it was suddenly held out in front of her.
“What is this…?”
“The down payment I promised.”
A down payment of 4,000 pounds…!
The lifeline that would pull her out of the swamp of usury was within reach.
Anais grabbed the money pouch as if in a trance.
‘Right. It’s not like the Bastian Marquis is going to pay off my debt.’
Survival comes first.
In any case, the fact that she was now in the same boat as the Empress Dowager, the exalted Elise, brought a strange sense of relief.
‘As long as I’m not found out. As long as I’m not found out.’
Anais clutched the pouch tightly.
