The Villainess Hides Her Wealth

He said that Princess Vivian’s acne had worsened in recent years. Because of that, she didn’t want to meet people, and she didn’t even go to banquets.

‘It’s not for nothing that I can’t even remember the color of Her Highness’ eyes. I can’t believe it’s so bad that she doesn’t even want to call designers to the palace…’

Except for a few maids who had been there since childhood, she did not intend to meet anyone.

However, the crown prince said that he had come to the boutique because he noticed she was curious about what dresses the ladies were wearing these days. He wanted to tell her things like this.
He wondered if she would want to meet someone or come out at least once if he did so.

“If the Duchess has a secret to improving her skin… Can you tell me?”
“That…”
“Of course, you’ve worked hard to find a way, so it must be difficult to tell me about it, but I won’t forget your kindness.”

The crown prince seemed very eager. There was a reason why people said he had a good relationship with his siblings.

In any case, if he said he would pay her back for helping him just now, my mother wouldn’t be able to refuse. Even if he didn’t, since he was the crown prince, he could just assert his authority.

‘I don’t know if he’s soft or friendly.’

Even though the crown prince stepped forward with a requesting attitude, my mother did not answer right away. Instead, he took his time and looked in my direction.

“Yuria… What do you think?”

Yeah, I was the one who made the cosmetics. My mother was only keeping it a secret, as I asked her to.
I pondered as I listened to Crown Prince Enoch, but it didn’t take me that long.

‘He helped me today… and he was also on my side in my past life.’

Though the crown prince couldn’t remember what happened in his previous life. I wanted to return the comfort I had received back then. Wouldn’t the crown prince at the time have known that I was listening to him?
After finishing thinking, I looked at the crown prince and opened my mouth.

“Your Highness. The fact that my mother’s skin improved… was because of the cosmetics I gave her.”
“Then if you give me the same product that the Duchess used…”
“No, I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”

I replied sternly.

“Everyone has a different skin type. What is right for my mother, may not be right for Her Highness. My mother had dry skin and almost no acne.”
“Then what should I do about Vivian…”
“I think I should meet Her Highness in person.”

I hesitated for a moment before adding,

“I’m the one who made the cosmetics for my mother.”

The crown prince’s eyes widened at my words.

“Is that true? No, I’m not doubting the Lady’s abilities…”
“Yes, I know what you mean. So far, there have been no cosmetics that are sure to work. Even if I was the one who made them, it must be hard to believe.”

Isn’t this a situation where people say that the secret is to mix the powder made by grinding the horns of a beast with milk and apply it? And it is mixed with lead powder to make sure it is effective.

“I’m not sure if you know, but I have awakened the power of the Primrose family into a blessing of growth. I have continued to research and develop crops with the power of my blessing.”

Even though he had my mother as a precedent, I didn’t know if he would be willing to try cosmetics made by me.
It wasn’t just a few ladies who died after applying powder. In this situation, could he trust me to apply cosmetics?

Until now, not only have people said that I have a bad personality, but they also looked at me like I was stupid. I did all kinds of things because I was obsessed with Sir Vieira, and I was laughed at several times by the socialites because I fell prey to Lilika’s schemes.
I was willing to fully understand even if the crown prince hesitated at my proposal. Except for my mother, how many people would trust me?

‘I don’t care if he doesn’t believe me. If I ask him to pretend he didn’t hear that the person who made the cosmetics was me…’

However, Crown Prince Enoch replied without hesitation.

“Then please, Lady Primrose. Vivian may be reluctant to confront the Lady in person, but I will try to persuade her in some way.”
“… What?”

Did he trust me right away? I asked back in surprise even when I was the one who mentioned it.

“Does Your Highness trust me?”

But on the contrary, Crown Prince Enoch strangely asked me the opposite.

“Did I perhaps miss something? Why should I doubt the Lady…”
“To be honest, I don’t think Your Highness would know my reputation. What do you see in the stupid and vicious me that you want to entrust me with Her Highness’ skin?”

It was too revealing. However, he continued to be kind to me all the time, so I was rather suspicious.
It was hard to pinpoint exactly when, but from some point on, people have always looked at me with vigilance or ridicule.

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“Yuria…”

My mother pulled my hand under the table and grabbed it. Feeling the warmth coming from her, I acknowledged that I was being sensitive.
After being spoken ill of several times for being a villainess, his words that he trusted me seemed to have triggered a defense mechanism. This time, it was my mistake.

“Lady Primrose, as easy as it may seem for me to say… I want to do anything for Vivian.”
“I know you want to do anything, but if you apply something bad on her skin, it can get worse.”

Under the sunlight shining through the window, I could see the clouds of dust floating in the boutique.
A warm spring afternoon that felt like it would melt away. His green eyes were looking at me with a kind glow.

“But I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

Crown Prince Enoch’s eyes curved gently. His voice touched my ears sweetly and clearly.

“Since you are a young lady who studied cosmetics for a long time because you were worried about your mother, I don’t think you would treat the worries of others who were troubled for similar reasons as if they were nothing.”
“…”

I was speechless. I couldn’t say anything to the trust that was given to me for the first time by someone other than my mother.

“So please, Lady, take care of my sister.”

Crown Prince Enoch bowed his head politely. To me, who was called a villainess in the social world.

***

“I may not be able to send an invitation right away. I am ashamed to ask you, but could you please wait a little while?”
“It won’t be easy… Why are you going this far?”
“Because I am Vivian’s family.”

He was such a kind older brother. To the point of being overly comparable to someone else. My brother Jiksen flashed through my mind and disappeared.

“I have to persuade her. Vivian can’t just keep avoiding people.”

Then, an invitation came to me, making me wonder if he had persuaded her.
Accompanied by a carriage from the imperial family.

“No, Yuria… I mean, the Young Lady? Are you not mistaking her for Lady Lilika…”
“Not at all. It is correct that I should bring Lady Yuria Primrose.”

I wondered what they had heard as the knights were courteous even to me, who was infamous. And asked me to go with them to the imperial palace. It was a respectful attitude that I didn’t even receive from the knights of the duchy.

“Thank you for accepting the invitation. If it is alright with Lady Primrose, we will depart now.”

Then, as I was about to get inside the carriage escorted by the knight,

“Sister, what’s with the carriage coming from the imperial palace?!”

Lilika, who was nowhere to be seen just a moment ago, came running in front of me.
It was rare for Lilika to look so disheveled. I stopped climbing on the carriage for a moment and looked at the girl in front of me.

“It just so happened. I’ll be right back.”

I was evasive. It was an unknown secret that the princess had a complex with her skin, so I couldn’t say that.

The moment I answered in moderation and tried to climb back into the carriage, Lilika spoke nervously in a loud voice.

“What? What do you mean, ‘it just so happened’? As if it’s such an easy thing to be invited to the imperial palace…!”

As I looked back in surprise at her high-pitched voice, Lilika smiled again as if she had never done so.

“Ah, I’m sorry for speaking so loudly. I’m just worried about Sister.”

Wasn’t she secretly trying to push me away from the carriage as she spoke?

“If you’re going to the imperial palace for matters related to our family, I’ll go instead.”