At Penny's words, Christine finally came to her senses and raised her head. Prince Killian's party had already gone inside. Those who followed were chattering about Christine, who was blocking the front door.

"If I go back like this, I'll be some kind of laughingstock. Let's go in. Shouldn't we at least buy some stuff?" Christine, holding her hands tightly, forced a smile around her stiffened mouth, and entered the store. She approached Killian and Kiellini as she saw them standing in front of the display stand to her right from the entrance.

Cus.h.i.+ons with embroidered imperial patterns were laid on a slippery transparent gla.s.s shelf. It was a low-rise display set aside for pet supplies. On top of it, a puppy sat down.

"Manny. How about this necklace?"

The white puppy had a definite taste. It turned its head before the pearls up to show its disapproval. When she put the diamond on its neck, it looked around in front of the mirror, and it shook its head to express no. It hated emeralds or sapphires, but when an amethyst the size of a baby's fingertips was put on its neck, it lay face down, as if it were satisfied with it.

"It must have liked this. I don't know if it knows it's a symbol of Bertino and me."

At Killian's words, Manny suddenly sprang up and tried to take off its necklace.

Killian, watching the scene, whispered low in Manny's ear. "You b.a.s.t.a.r.d, don't forget that I picked you up from the street. Keep in mind that if you keep on rebelling this way, I may secretly throw you out again."

Manny's rebellion subsided at once at Killian's whispers. Manny, groaning at Julietta piteously, quickly lay face down on the cus.h.i.+on again as Killian stared at it intently.

While the Prince and the princess were choosing necklaces, the eyes glancing at them in the shop grew bigger. Even in the dressing shop, Julietta was aware of the eyes of the people around her, but didn't care about how it would go. Once she attended the Imperial Banquet three days later, her role was over, and she wanted to enjoy herself.

"Why don't you take one in return for all the hard work you've done on Raefany's opening when your dog received a necklace?"

Julietta nodded quickly at Killian's suggestion. "Yes, Your Highness. I like diamonds."

It's the best thing to be expensive. From now on, she had to feed the employees with only the income of the dressing shop, and she did not refuse his present.

"Then I'd like a green diamond to match your eyes."

Killian walked to the showroom with the most expensive jewelry inside the store. Lillian, who was greeting guests in front of it, smiled sweetly when she saw Julietta.

"Manager, show me a set of green diamonds that suits the princess here."

At Killian's instructions, men and women in suits and gloves carrying jewelry of various designs came in.

"Can I guide you to the VIP room, Your Highness?"

Normally, he would have told her to do so, but Killian shook his head today as he needed to be seen more with Princess Kiellini. "Next time. I'll pick one here today."

Meanwhile, Julietta had been distracted by the glittering jewels.

"Is there anything you like?"

The hair was slightly scattered under Julietta's ear, when she carefully gazed down at the jewels with her slender neck drawn long. The delicate hair under her earlobe was so beautiful that Killian raised his hand and stroked it as he put the hair over to the back of her ear. Julietta just hit him with her hand, as if it was just annoying.

The princess who struck him unconsciously, and the Prince who touched her again after his hand was thrown out, were so intimate. Everyone looked at the two of them with breathtaken eyes.

Christine couldn't stand it any longer and turned around and went outside. Getting in the carriage, she ordered Penny. "Tell Eva and Themes to come straight to the mansion."

Christine bit her lips and stared silently out the window as she went back to the mansion.

-----------------

"Lady Anais, did you call us?"

When Eva and Themes arrived, Christine ordered. "I have to deal with Princess Kiellini."

Eva asked back in surprise. "Are you going to take care of her?"

"I will have to pay her back, since she dared to ignore my favor and slapped me back."

Christine had been watching Killian since she was a child, but it was the first time he had laughed so much or had such a rich smile. She had chased after Killian without being aware of her surroundings and without knowing her embarra.s.sment, because she was somewhat confident that he would eventually marry her.

She thought the process was not important if the results were good. She got ahead of herself, but now she had to face this. Princess Kiellini had confined herself in the mansion with the excuse of her sickness, but she had lured Prince Killian without letting anyone know. It was disgusting to her.

Resentment, shame, and Francis' pressure drove Christine to the edge of the cliff. Being so desperate that she could no longer back down, she decided to get revenge on the princess who made her so miserable. "I'm sure she'll also attend this season's final Imperial Banquet. I'll kidnap her when she goes back to the mansion after the party."

Themes and Eva looked at each other in surprise. "Kidnapping! Lady Anais, if you get caught..."

Themes voiced concern, but Christine was adamant. "There's nothing wrong. No one would doubt me even if it was known that she was kidnapped. No one would dare suspect me. I'm the only granddaughter of Duke Dudley, the niece of the first Queen, and the daughter of the Marquis."