The Villain is Being Suspiciously Kind - Chapter 115

Chapter 115

Neither Princess Iana nor Aaron were the type to play mind games, especially Iana: if she wanted something, she had to get it, and if she wanted something, she had to say so.
So it was probably no coincidence that they went straight to Citrina’s Flang mansion.
And just like that, the Flang mansion received two uninvited surprise guests.
Even Adilac and Lita ran out in surprise at the unexpected guests. The maids did the same, lined up in a single file line at the door of the mansion, ready for the unusually tense situation.
“Hi, Citrina?”
Iana waved awkwardly at Citrina, who had come running out just as quickly. Now that she thought about it, she’d barged in unannounced and without much of an appointment. Citrina, who was wearing a comfortable dress, looked surprised.
“I greet Your Highness, the Princess.”
Citrina was surprised, as Iana had guessed.
“…Aaron too?”
Citrina looked puzzled, alternating between the princess and Aaron, who stood next to her. No one would have expected such an odd combination. Certainly not Citrina.
Aaron greeted Citrina cheerfully, without any awkwardness or inhibition.
“Hi!”
“Come on in, I’ll show you inside.”
A maid hurried inside the mansion. Watching her back, Citrina led them into the manor’s drawing room.

There was steaming black tea and light refreshments. The sweet-smelling food was set out.
With Aaron and Iana across from her, Citrina asked in a questioning tone. She couldn’t hide her curiosity.
“What brings you here?”
“Just, hasn’t it been…too long since we’ve seen each other?”
“Huh?”
‘The banquet was just the other day.’
Citrina nodded, a little baffled. There must be a hidden reason for the princess to say such a thing.
Citrina listened to her words.
“Lady Lilliana had a love affair with Lord Shayden. Isn’t that interesting?”
“So that happened? That is interesting.”
Citrina nodded cautiously.
‘This is a socialite’s way of making a side remark before getting to the point, so…what’s the point?’
Citrina’s curiosity was building.
Meeting her serious gaze, Princess Iana cleared her throat.
“Cough, cough. Right. There’s a marriage frenzy among the nobility these days, Citrina.”
“Is that so? Why all of a sudden…”
Marriage frenzy, Citrina thought to herself, was not a part of the original story. If things had suddenly changed, she needed to keep an eye on it.
If there were many weddings, the orders would be for wedding rings. Citrina looked at her seriously.
“That’s… really sudden.”
Aaron added urgently. Citrina looked at them in confusion.
What was with their attitude?
“I guess they want to get married in the spring because it’s coming soon.”
“Really? You want to be a spring bride too?”
“May brides are beautiful.”
Citrina smiled brightly.
Suddenly, Iana’s face lit up at those words. Citrina looked from Iana to Aaron’s sparkling eyes.
They were both looking at her with the same expression.
The same look of sparkling excitement, mixed with a little bit of anticipation.
‘How long have they been wearing that same expression?’
Hiding her embarrassment, Citrina soon leaned deeper into the chair back.
‘This is a lot of pressure.’
So she could tell at a glance.
Aaron and Iana looked like they were looking forward to something, but Citrina couldn’t quite put her finger on where the anticipation was coming from.
“I agree. I think May’s brides are beautiful too!”
While Citrina was doubting them, Iana spoke up.
“Spring is coming, Citrina and I’ve become a little interested in marriage myself.”
Citrina pondered. She tried to come up with the answer she assumed Princess Iana wanted.
“…So, Your Highness, do you have a particular type of ceremony in mind?”
“No, I don’t.”
Iana replied firmly.
“Then, what-“
“I asked you the other day, have you ever thought of marrying?”
“Yes. I told you I’d like to do it when things come to a natural conclusion, Your Highness.”
Citrina looked at her and smiled brightly. Thanks to Iana’s question, Citrina’s mind naturally drifted back to the banquet not long ago.
At the time, Princess Iana had discussed the marriage talks she’d had with Desian.
Only then did Citrina find out that even Desian could be a part of an arranged marriage.
With mixed feelings, Citrina looked at Princess Iana. Iana rolled her eyes and winked, a look that was deeply endearing.
“But if you do marry, it will be to Duke Pietro, right?”
It was a cute question.
Citrina rolled her eyes and smiled back. She could convey her feelings without answering out loud. She smiled and nodded, and Iana’s face lit up.
‘Ah, so these guys…they want me to marry Desian?’
Now that she thought about it, she could see why they’d come together.
Looking at them like this, she could see through Aaron and Iana like glass.
Citrina chuckled softly.
“I hope so, but it seems like…there are always stumbling blocks to getting married.”
“The marriage talks?”
“Yeah. But of course, I refused!”
Iana looked at Citrina cautiously. It didn’t seem like she wanted to talk too much about this. She glanced at Aaron.
“Duke Pietro would of course refuse, but His Majesty wishes to make a connection with him.”
“Ah, um…”
A marriage arranged by the emperor.
Citrina couldn’t say anything in response. To say anything here would be disloyal to the emperor.
‘The imperial family seems intent on keeping Duke Pietro.’
The Emperor’s arrangement would be a leash on Desian’s neck. But, to be sure, it could be a marriage that would benefit Desian.
The thought made her feel a little sick. She didn’t have much.
Iana looked at Citrina furiously and bit her lip, realizing she’d made a mistake.
“Ci, ci, Citrina, Duke Pietro is the best match for you!”
“I think so too, seriously.”
Aaron said earnestly. Instead of his usual bubbly, cheerful expression, Aaron’s face was solemn, and it was obvious to anyone who looked at him that he meant it.
“Really?”
“Yeah!”
Iana nodded furiously. Citrina decided to answer their expectations.
“Whatever happens, I’m not giving up on Desian.”
Aaron beamed at Citrina’s response.
“I knew you would.”
“That’s so sweet.”
As soon as Aaron’s words were out of his mouth, Iana sighed. A little dramatically, she looked more pleased than Aaron.
Citrina smiled awkwardly, which made Iana feel worried and excited as if she were Citrina’s parent.
Citrina was grateful for Iana’s actions.
Though it was impossible to know where the source of Princess Iana’s deep affection for Citrina lay.
But apart from that, Citrina had no intention of marrying any time soon.
‘I’m worried about the pressure of Desian’s marriage talks, but I can’t think about…marriage right now.’
“It would be hard to get married right now.”
“If it’s hard right now…”
Aaron’s eyes flicked back and forth. Aaron’s expression became more complex, more nuanced. It was Princess Iana who interrupted him.
“You can get engaged!”
“Just so. There should be an engagement!”
Aaron and Iana’s voices echoed in her ears, both of them heartily cheering for her and Desian.
‘They’re both cute.’
Citrina giggled.
‘I never thought of…getting engaged to Desian.’
There was now a small option between dating and marriage. Engagement was not a perfect contract like marriage, but it would be a testament to Desian and Citrina’s relationship for all to see.
“An engagement party would be nice in the spring.”
Iana’s words, apparently to herself, spilled outward.
But the words made a ripple in Citrina’s mind.
It wasn’t a big ripple.
It was a small movement, like a small pebble thrown. But it was enough.
“Spring…”
The word ‘engagement’ began to crystallize in Citrina’s mind, thanks to Iana’s muttering to herself.
“Yeah, in spring! I think it would be good to wear a garland.”
Iana opened her mouth into a square in excitement. All of her top and bottom teeth were showing.
‘That smile is a little intimidating.’
She nodded and smiled anyway. When under pressure, it was best to smile awkwardly.
Luckily, there was a knock on the door at this awkward moment.
It was the princess’s lady-in-waiting who rushed through the door. Citrina watched her movements in silence. The lady-in-waiting looked strangely thin.
Citrina looked at her questioningly.
“I apologize for interrupting your conversation. Your Highness, the Empress has ordered you to return as soon as possible.”
Iana’s face, which had seemed so happy earlier, crumpled as if she’d been cheated.
“Is it because of the etiquette class?”
“Ah…yes, that’s right.”
Iana nodded grimly at the lady-in-waiting’s troubled face.
“Well then, Citrina, I must be going, but I’ll see you later.”
“Yes, Your Highness. See you later.”
“Yes, then!”
Iana waved as she rose to her feet.
With her lady-in-waiting, she left for the palace once more. It seemed to be a pretty good harvest for Iana, after all.
And so, Aaron was the only one left in the Flang mansion. Aaron was smiling refreshingly. The aftermath of their earlier conversation seemed to linger in his expression.
“Citrina, I should probably head back, but I have something to tell you.”
“Yeah, what is it?”
“The princess seemed so excited, but I’m not in favor of you being rushed into marriage.”
Citrina smiled wryly at the word “rushed”. She did what she wanted to do and didn’t do what she didn’t want to do, and that was her pride.
“I’ll be honest with you, Aaron.”
“Okay.”
Aaron looked very nervous.
“I just…thought I’d marry Desian one day. I just didn’t think about it right now.”
“Me too, I thought so too!”
“Also, it’s kind of upsetting to think that Desian is involved in marriage talks with someone else.”
Citrina wore her heart on her sleeve. Aaron clenched and unclenched his fists, his hands sweating as he listened to her.
Aaron replied, concern evident in his voice.
“…Yeah, Citrina.”
“So, I’m thinking about getting…engaged…seriously.”
“That’s a great idea, Citrina!”
“But there’s something I need to do first.”
Looking at Aaron, Citrina scratched her cheek thoughtfully.
She had something very important to do.
Inside Citrina’s Flang mansion, the air was thick with tension
Aaron moistened his chapped mouth with a sip of tea, then asked.
“What’s the important thing, Citrina?”
“Before we talk about the engagement, I need to organize some business.”
Citrina scratched her cheek.
“Business?”
“Yeah. The jewelry atelier business. I don’t think I can take a break from it anymore.”
“Ah…”
“I need to finish what I have in mind.”
“What’s your business plan? I’ll help you with it. I’ll help you finish it.”
Aaron asked her, looking eager. Citrina nodded.
“Yeah, I’ll show you. Let me know if you have any ideas!”
She was a little embarrassed to show him the raw plan. But it was Aaron, so she could show it.
She handed him a small note she’d tucked inside her dress. The note was slightly frayed at the ends from all the checking and fondling.
Aaron carefully took the note from Citrina. He began to skim through the note’s contents.

1. Look for the citrine mines outside the capital.
2. Ask the dwarves and Duke Pietro for assistance if needed.
3. Examine the specimens of other jewelers.

Aaron, who had been reading the note for a while, asked cautiously.
“So, you’re looking for mines or gemstones?”
“Yeah.”
Citrina replied lightly.
“I’ll help you!”
Aaron’s help had never occurred to her. Crystal gemstones, including the citrine she was looking for, were newly discovered in this era. They were said to contain trace amounts of mana.
Aaron wouldn’t know all of it, but he might be able to find some information.
“Thanks, Aaron.”
Citrina nodded, not expecting much. Aaron clapped his hands confidently.