*** *** *** *** ***
It’s been more than a week since I sent a letter to the Crown Prince.
“Why isn’t he coming?”
10 a.m. It’s too late for breakfast and too early for lunch.
At that hour, I was lying in bed, hugging a pillow. The curtains were drawn, making the room as dark as night.
“I thought he’d at least send a rejection letter.”
After sending a letter suggesting that we cheat on each other since we’d both been stood up.
On the first day, I kicked the blanket, wondering what I’d done.
On the second day, I was nervous, thinking the Crown Prince might come charging in with a sword, thinking I was mocking him.
By the third day, I wondered if the letter had been lost, and on the fourth day…
Forget it. What’s the use of all this?
Even if he ignored the cheating, I thought he’d at least respond to his fiancée cheating on him. But to be completely ignored like this…
“It can’t be helped.”
It seems the Crown Prince is already infatuated with Tirielle. In the original story, he fell in love at first sight, so even if she cheated, he must like her enough to forgive her.
Damn heroine buff.
I curled up like a shrimp around the big pillow I was hugging.
Yes, I’m going to break off the engagement with Duval, so it’s not my concern anymore. They can have their beautiful love. I’ll be in a relationship with my pillow.
It’s soft, warm, doesn’t cheat, and is devoted only to me.
“My Lady.”
I was rolling around in bed, practically one with the pillow.
May, who had brought me hot chocolate and a sandwich, called out to me carefully as I hadn’t gotten out of bed until noon.
May was my personal maid, and she’d had a dark expression ever since she heard Duval declare our engagement broken off a week ago.
“Do you need anything else?”
“No, thanks.”
I sluggishly got up and sat at the table. Ugh, I feel like dying.
Siella’s body was so frail that it could be called weak. After months of hard work to find Duval’s weakness and get close to Tirielle, I was on the brink of collapse.
I sipped the warm hot chocolate while groaning. The warmth spread through my body, slightly soothing the creaking, screaming aches.
Duval said he’d send the engagement annulment papers soon. I’ll sign them and take a good rest.
‘I want to go to a hot spring.’
I heard there’s a good hot spring down south; I should check it out.
Thinking about a steaming hot spring made me happy. I’ll eat roasted eggs there. I’ll make a towel turban. I’ll drink peach iced tea instead of sikhye* (in case anyone is reading this and wasn’t sure if it’s an actual word or not, it is and it’s a Korean traditional sweet drink called rice punch).
Imagining a happy future, I mindlessly chewed on my sandwich.
May, who had been standing gloomily, spoke up.
“My Lady, your face has gotten so thin.”
Hmm? I turned to look at the mirror far away.
Long, purple-tinted dark blue hair, and pink eyes. A face so pretty it could put celebrities to shame.
I still can’t get used to the gentle eyes that make me wonder if this face can protect itself. Is that really me?
I’ve been eating and sleeping a lot lately, so my face looks rounder than when I first possessed this body. Or maybe it’s just swollen from too much sleep.
“Your eyes are red from being bloodshot.”
I was so excited about finally breaking off with that jerk that I couldn’t sleep well.
“Your appetite has decreased too.”
Anyone who lies down for 20 hours out of 24 would eat less.
“You’re struggling so much, but those people… How could they… sniff!”
May, overcome with sadness, covered her face with both hands.
Before I possessed this body, Siella was a quiet and gentle young lady.
She would have refined conversations with other young ladies and dream of a beautiful honeymoon, only looking at her fiancé Duval.
That’s why May doesn’t believe me when I say I’m okay. She thinks I must be very shocked.
‘May’s personality was similar to Siella’s.’
Pure, untainted, and kind-hearted.
Seeing her worry about something that’s not even her own problem made me feel bad. I opened my mouth to comfort her.
“I can’t take it anymore. I’ll crush both of those bastards!”
Mouth…
“I will never let them get away with it. I’ll crush them in my name!”
Mouth…
“My Lady, look at this. With this, we can crush those bastards!”
…Were you always like this?
With blurry eyes, I looked at what May proudly took out of her pocket. And I was so surprised that I raised my voice without realizing it.
“Where did you get this?!”
“Hehe, I spent my entire month’s salary!”
What May took out was a round metal plate, half the size of a palm, engraved with two lovebirds turning their backs on each other.
Thinking I didn’t know what it was, May added an unnecessary explanation.
“It’s the emblem of the Sielle Romance Manipulation Guild!”
*** *** *** *** ***
Sielle Romance Manipulation Guild.
As the name suggests, it was a guild that helped with romance. However, unlike typical romance manipulation squads, this guild had a peculiar way of helping.
[My husband started coming home late. I knew then, he had another woman. But I couldn’t catch any evidence, so I was at a loss until I found this guild… I shaved off all my husband’s eyebrows and hair as the guild advised… And kicked him out. Now I’m filing for divorce.]
[I caught my supposed lifelong partner sharing a bed with another. While they were engrossed in such acts, I dismissed all the employees from the mansion and burned all their clothes. They couldn’t go anywhere and were stuck in the bedroom, and I caught them red-handed. It was so satisfying.]
[I used this guild and cured my incurable disease. It’s a bit… expensive, but worth it. I’d give four and a half stars. The half-star deduction is for the cost. Catching infidelity almost ruined me financially.]
In short, it was a guild that caught infidelity for a hefty fee. Just consulting with them would cost a month’s salary, so you get the picture.
“How did you find out about this?”
I asked May, who was briskly leading the way down a narrow staircase.
It was fortunate that May couldn’t see my expression. I only had to manage my voice.
The Sielle Romance Manipulation Guild
didn’t blatantly advertise ‘We catch infidelity.’
They weren’t a large-scale guild, and if the empire’s adulterers heard about them, they might hide completely.
They operated in the shadows, extending a hand only to those in desperate need, acting like a common roadside stone to everyone else.
“I have my ways.”
May said confidently, stopping in front of a firmly closed door.
The plain door didn’t even have a handle, blending into the wall so well that you’d miss it if you weren’t looking carefully.
May tried to push the door open without hesitation but then flinched and turned to me, whispering cautiously.
“My Lady, you must be careful.”
“Huh?”
“There’s a rumor that the guild master here is extremely dangerous.”
“……”
“If things go wrong, he turns people into dolls. They say he tortures cheaters in the basement… Although it’s probably just a baseless rumor, it’s better to be cautious.”
“And where did you hear such…”
“Some of it is true.”
Eek! May turned around in shock at the sudden voice of a third party.
Behind us stood a mischievous-looking man in his late twenties.
He had a badge with fighting lovebirds pinned to his chest, unmistakably marking him as a member of the Sielle Romance Manipulation Guild.
The man glanced at the frightened May and then at my annoyed expression. He tried to suppress a smile, biting his lip.
Luckily, May didn’t seem to notice.
Taking advantage of the moment, I gestured with my thumb across my throat where May couldn’t see.
The man quickly wiped the smile off his face and spoke in a businesslike tone.
“Sorry, but according to guild regulations, only the client can enter.”
May, looking at me with concern, hurriedly spoke up.
“What should we do? It’s dangerous for you to go alone—”
“It’s okay. I’m not a child.”
“What if they turn you into a doll!”
“Then I’ll be even cuter. Don’t worry.”
“The master is not as wicked as the rumors say.”
The man interjected cheerfully.
But a glare from me made him fall silent. He placed his right hand over his heart and spoke solemnly.
“The master is a truly kind and wonderful person. I, Rader… no, I apologize.”
Rader shrank back into a corner.
With a softer expression, I smiled at May.
“I might be a while, so go back first. I’ll come right after I’m done.”
“But…”
“He’s the master of a guild. He wouldn’t be so bad as to turn his client into a doll.”
Reluctantly, May nodded, looking uneasy.
“Alright. Guild member?”
“Yes?”
Clenching her fists, May shouted at Rader with determination.
“You must crush those people for My Lady! She has a very gentle heart. She might cancel midway or ask for mercy, but don’t give in! Understood?”
“Who has a gentle heart… Oh, yes, understood.”
Rader hastily bowed his head, avoiding my eyes.
He looked like he had a lot to say but didn’t want to risk his life.
At my signal, Rader opened the door wide.
Inside was a small guild reception area with a wooden counter and a receptionist.
The receptionist’s eyes widened when they saw me. Then, they quickly closed their mouth upon seeing May behind me.
“Do well, My Lady.”
May, still anxious, waved her hand.
I waved back reassuringly.
The guild’s soundproof door shut with a bang.
And then—
“Taking a break for a while, what brings you here?”
“Actually, there have been customers asking for the master for a few days now.”
“They said someone suggested cheating with them, and they wanted to consult with the master.”
Doors hidden throughout the guild swung open. Several burly men in uniformed outfits emerged.
As I watched the scene with dull eyes, Rader smirked.
“Shall we really crush your fiancé and that woman?”
“No, leave them for now.”
I looked around at the guild members.
“I created this guild to solve my problems, not to catch other people’s infidelity. I’m not expanding the business, so I should’ve told you to keep your mouths shut.”
“…!”
“How did my personal maid find out?”
The faces of the men who met my eyes turned pale. Some glanced nervously at my ‘shadow’ squirming ominously.
My annoyance made one side of my mouth curl up.
I snapped open a purple fan, half-covering my face, and whispered in a low, eerie voice.
“The one who leaked, step forward.”
I’ll crush them first.
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