The Villainess Hides Her Wealth

“You’re going to the imperial palace?”
“If it’s something that needs Lady Primrose, you don’t have to go, Sister.”

But just because I didn’t have to go didn’t mean Lilika had to go. That said, Lilika wasn’t really the person who would go somewhere for me instead.

‘Come to think of it, Lilika seems to have been very interested in His Highness…’

I thought of the original novel, “Please Love the Poor Princess”.
The novel, which emphasized her relationship with her father and brother in the beginning due to the nature of childcare stories, showed a scene in which Lilika meets with the candidates for the main male character as the second half of the novel progresses.
Of course, like the usual heroines, Lilika didn’t seem very interested in any men. Lilika was only good and kind, but the men showed their fondness for her.

‘But me approaching Sir Vieira intentionally didn’t happen in the novel.’

Lilika persistently wanted to go to the imperial palace, and, whatever happened in the novel, she went to a banquet where not only the crown prince but also the imperial family attended.
If I pieced together parts that appeared in the novel, and parts that would probably have been omitted in context… Yes, it was clear that Lilika was interested in the crown prince.

If she was aiming for the position of crown princess, there was no way she would have even looked at someone like Sir Vieira.
That’s why she made Sir Vieira her own, but then stepped back when he confessed. He was nothing but a trophy she earned after taking a shot at me.

“…”

When I didn’t answer right away, Lilika added as if she was doing it for me.

“It’s because I’m afraid that the social world will talk about Sister going to the imperial palace.”
“I’m not sure about that, I wonder if it’s comparable to how much you are mentioned. Especially these days.”

Rather than criticizing me, who was known as a villainess, there was more of a twist in Lilika’s good-natured image.
Perhaps she understood what I meant, as Lilika’s smile cracked.

“… What do you mean, Sister?”
“The way I see it, you grew up so wisely and beautifully, so wouldn’t you be recognizable to others? I mean to compliment you.”

Then, I tilted my head nonchalantly.

“Did I perhaps say anything wrong?”

What Lilika had to say here was already decided. I just returned what she said about being mentioned in the social world with the same expression she used, so if she said it was wrong, her own words would also be a problem.

“No. I’m just surprised because it’s been so long since I’ve been praised by you.”
“Oh my, I will pay attention to how much you’re mentioned in the social world from now on.”

She was finding fault in me for not complimenting her until the end. I continued with a smile.

“And I’m not going to the imperial palace on family matters, but by invitation. So, you can’t go instead of me.”
“Are you saying that you were invited to the imperial palace? No way. By whom?”
“Oh my, what do you mean, ‘no way’? Is it that suspicious that I was invited there? And the person who sent this carriage…”

She would have to shake her head to maintain her usual kind image. While saying something like, ‘I didn’t mean it like that, Sister, I meant that it was something surprising and I wanted to congratulate you.’
However, as if she was very curious, Lilika did not correct my words for having misunderstood. She was focusing only on what I said.

‘Aah, you don’t have to reveal so openly that you’re interested in what’s going on at the imperial palace.’

Doesn’t this make me want to tease her? Instead of trying to wrap up the conversation, I swept my hair back and smiled.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I have time to explain in detail. I’m a little busy.”
“Sister!”

People say that the most upsetting thing is to stop talking when you’re saying something. I was curious about how Lilika would react.
Ah, but of course, I didn’t even have to ask. Judging by the way her voice rose again, she seemed to be extremely upset.

“Just tell me why you’re going to the imperial palace, and who called you there. Rather than being late for an appointment, it is more of a problem if something happens.”
“Do you belittle me that much that you think I’m going to cause trouble?”
“How could I? These days, there are a lot of conversations cursing the undignified noble ladies who are aiming for the crown prince. I’m just worried that you might be hurt by those words.”

Then, Lilika smiled like a good younger sister again. She curled her eyes gently, as if she was worried about me.

“I’m upset that you keep twisting my words. You’ve been misunderstanding a lot so far, Sister.”

Yeah, I was saying that she should not step up for no reason when listening to the villainess. I didn’t even have the will to speak nicely anymore.

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“So, Sister, since it hasn’t been long since your engagement was broken, wouldn’t it be better for you to stay quiet?”

Just as I was about to open my mouth, the knight, who had been listening to my conversation with Lilika from the side, interrupted, as if he couldn’t take it anymore.

“I apologize for interrupting the conversation between the two sisters. But His Highness has asked me to bring Lady Yuria Primrose, and I’m afraid we will be late if we waste more time here.”
“What… Did you just say His Highness invited Sister?”

Lilika looked astonished. The knight’s words revealed the inner thoughts she couldn’t believe.
The knight solemnly nodded to Lilika.

“Yes. So, it is an excessive concern to think that Lady Yuria Primrose, whom His Highness invited, will cause any trouble.”
“…”
“Also… it may not have been your intention, but it could sound like you’re saying His Highness has no discernment.”

Lilika immediately shut her mouth. I could hear my excellent younger sister’s brain working all the way here.

‘Yeah, I’m sure it’s bewildering.’

What had Lilika been saying in front of the knight sent by Crown Prince Enoch? It wasn’t enough that she said she would go instead of me, she even cunningly accused me of being an undignified lady who was aiming for the crown prince…
Of course, there was room to escape, but would the knight who interrupted the conversation really be favorable to Lilika?

“I didn’t know Sister had been invited by His Highness… I don’t know the reason, but have a safe trip. Don’t forget to tell me what you talked about later, alright?”

Lilika quietly stepped back for now and smiled. The face that answered back to me with a high-pitched voice earlier was nowhere to be seen. No matter how you looked at her, she looked like a cute little sister.

“Mr. Knight, I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. I’ve held you for too long because I’m worried about my sister!”

Her attitude was so cute and friendly that it made whoever was watching smile happily without even realizing it.
The stiff expression the knight had until just a moment ago collapsed in an instant.

The scary thing about Lillika was that she knew exactly when to pretend to be weak and when to push hard.
It was clear that even if she showed a fragile appearance like last time, it would not work for the knight. So, without deviating much from courtesy, she showed a somewhat daring but cute appearance.

‘Instead of pretending that everything was a misunderstanding, she’s going to wrap it up in a slightly immature way and buy the knight’s favor.’

She was not the protagonist in a childcare story for nothing. How many people’s hearts did Lilika shake to go from an illegitimate child who was hated to a beloved princess?
This loveable attitude was something I couldn’t copy even if I was born again.

This time, I chose to show the appearance of a benevolent older sister as I stepped onto the carriage. And thanked her as if to conclude the conversation.

“No, Lilika. Thank you for your concern. It’s something I will remember.”
“Thank you for underst…”

If I said something like this and she took it unwaveringly, it would give the impression that the sisters were actually close and act in Lilika’s favor.
But I had no intention of letting it go that way.

“According to your worries, I will be careful of my behavior. It was scary to hear people say that you had seduced your sister’s fiancé even though you didn’t intend to. As expected, we should not ignore the advice of experienced people.”

As expected, Lilika couldn’t hold back when she heard this, so she let out a shout.

“Sister, how could you say something like that!”
“In the time you take to worry about me, wouldn’t it be better to explain why you and Sir Vieira looked like lovers at the birthday banquet dressed in the same light pink clothes?”

Saying this casually reminded the knight again of what happened between Lilika and me.
I casually glanced sideways.

“…!”

Sure enough, it seemed to have worked, as the knight, whose stiff expression seemed to have collapsed in an instant at Lilika’s affectionate attitude, hardened his expression again.