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“Please forgive me… Isabella.”

Dmitri pleaded.

But the noble princess, Isabella, shook her head.

“That’s impossible, Dmitri. You insulted me and the imperial family. It’s treason.”

“That’s… a misunderstanding.”

“What misunderstanding? You think money can buy everything? You think you can buy me with that pocket change? Are you out of your mind? You foolish bear.”

Dmitri was flustered.

“My mistake…! Even if I gave all my wealth… no, everything I have, I couldn’t even buy a single strand of Isabella’s hair.”

“You know well. But it’s already too late.”

“Please…! You’re all I have, Isabella.”

“Liar.”

Dmitri knelt before Isabella.

He kissed her snow-white wrist.

“Oh, beautiful Isabella. Do I look like I’m lying now? My eyes have only looked at you until now.”

“That’s also a lie.”

“Isabella…!”

“Everything is a lie.”

Isabella coldly pushed Dmitri’s hand away.

“Dmitri. Everything but your breath is a lie. How shameless!”

“Princess Isabella! If you forgive me, I’ll do anything!”

“Anything?”

Isabella’s eyes gleamed dangerously.

“Then beg like a dog. Dmitri, it suits a liar like you! Ohohohohoho!”

Knock knock.

A knock was heard.

Bella Izakhel put down the bear dolls she was holding in both hands.

And calmly, as if nothing had happened, she spoke.

“…What is it?”

“Miss, the Duke is looking for you.”

“Father?”

What could it be?

Bella checked the grandfather clock.

Tea time had long passed, and it was still too early for dinner.

This time was officially Bella’s free time.

So, even the Duke and Duchess rarely called her during this time unless it was something important.

Could something important have happened?

“Hmm… Alright. Tell Father I’ll finish what I’m doing and come.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Listening to the fading footsteps, Bella got up from the bed.

A modestly decorated room with simple but neat and practical furniture.

It was a room fitting for someone who disliked extravagance.

Though, for a Duke’s daughter, it might be considered humble.

Bella stood in front of the dressing table.

Her silver hair was always beautiful.

Truly a divine appearance.

The woman most loved by God smiled in the mirror.

‘Hmm?’

As she reached to fix her hair, her eyes caught the fan placed in front.

The 500 Kael fan she bought last time because it looked cheap.

At the same time, the man’s face came to mind.

At that moment, Bella felt a surge of anger.

Not because her worth was only that much.

No, that was certainly infuriating, but there was another reason for her rage.

She slowly picked up the fan.

“How dare…?”

Her pride was hurt.

The fact that the Duke’s daughter carried a cheap 500 Kael fan had been exposed.

And of all people, to that lowly man!

Bella recalled Tristan’s face.

His cold voice.

It sounded like a sneer, as if the Izakhel Duke family was only worth that much.

Just thinking about him made her feel bad.

A fat man with a creepy smile, and rumors said he even laid hands on his servants.

No wonder he was called the “Mad Pig of the Count Family” in social circles.

But that wasn’t the only thing that made Bella furious.

The most horrifying fact was that he was the first and only man to propose to her.

In an empire where Bella was already known as a peerless beauty, one might wonder why only such a man proposed to her.

The reason was simple.

Everyone was afraid of Tristan’s retaliation.

The Ruelberta family was influential among all the noble families in the empire.

With their vast wealth, extensive territories, and private soldiers rivaling the imperial army.

Even the empire’s isolationist policy was largely influenced by the Ruelberta family.

Even the imperial family couldn’t ignore the Ruelberta family.

And of course, the Izakhel Duke family was no exception.

It was common knowledge that Tristan, with his immense power, had his eyes on Bella of the Izakhel family.

To propose to her, one had to risk their life.

Since then, Bella became a flower on the cliff.

‘Do you think I’ll just take this lying down?’

Bella resisted.

She didn’t want to lose to such a man.

An engagement was unavoidable, but she kept postponing the wedding.

Years passed.

Finally, the anxious Tristan asked Bella.

-How much will it take?

-What… do you mean?

-How much to buy your heart?

To think of buying a person’s heart with money!

Stunned, Bella asked him in return.

-Fine. Then let me ask you. How much do you think I’m worth?

But what was even more shocking was his answer.

-500 Kael.

Bang!

Bella couldn’t contain her anger and slammed the dressing table.

“I will never… forgive you.”

Thinking that, the fan she once liked now felt shabby.

About to throw the fan into the trash, Bella hesitated.

“Hmm… It’s still good, throwing it away would be a waste, right?”

I’m not poor, just frugal.

So I won’t throw it away.

Instead of throwing the fan, she picked up the bear dolls scattered on the bed.

Dmitri and Princess Isabella.

Bella headed to the corner of the room.

She stopped in front of the Izakhel crest painted on one wall.

She drew a large circle in front of it and infused it with magic power.

Rumble.

Instantly, a space carved into the wall revealed itself.

Inside was a meticulously recreated kitchen, bathroom, living room, and yard.

It was a dollhouse.

A precious treasure she had secretly cherished since childhood.

“Let’s see~. Hehe…”

Bella hummed a tune.

Isabella, being a princess, should be on the most luxurious top floor.

And Dmitri, being a liar and a sinner… the barn suits him.

Bella looked at the Dmitri doll.

The bear actively courting Isabella.

No way.

“Hmph. What will you do if I look at you?”

As if venting, she shoved Dmitri into the barn.

The crumpled bear doll looked quite ridiculous.

Hmm. Good. Perfect.

Satisfied, Bella left the room.

She walked down the long corridors of the Izakhel Duke family’s mansion.

Like her room, the mansion was modest for a Duke’s residence.

Nowhere could you find expensive decorations.

Instead, the walls were lined with portraits of ancestors who had brought glory to the Izakhel family.

Each one had made remarkable contributions to the empire.

Heroes celebrated throughout the ages.

That was the Izakhel family.

Whenever Bella passed by, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride.

The dignity of the Izakhel family.

Feeling it fully, Bella arrived at the drawing room.

Knock knock.

“It’s Bella. May I come in?”

“Come in.”

As the door opened, Duke Fred Izakhel spread his arms to welcome her.

“Oh, there you are. My daughter.”

A face too gentle for a noble.

Far from imposing, he was also her father.

“Yes, Father.”

“Sorry to disturb your rest.”

“It’s fine. I was just reading.”

It was only natural for the cultured daughter of the Izakhel family.

Fred nodded in satisfaction.

“Truly my daughter. Even in rest, you don’t forget the dignity of a noble. I’m proud of-”

“But what is it?”

“Ah? Ahaha… Well, you see.”

Fred scratched his head.

Bella’s eyes narrowed.

‘Hmm… Must be something awkward.’

She knew well that was her father’s habit when he was unsure.

“Actually… a guest has arrived.”

“At this hour? Do you have any guests who come without an appointment, Father?”

“Ahem, well… It’s not my guest, but yours, Bella.”

“Eh…?”

Fred pointed to the luxurious sofa.

Specifically, to the man sitting there.

The moment she saw the back of his head, Bella felt her heart drop.

How long had he been there?

Soon, the man turned his head and looked at Bella with cold eyes.

Bella muttered his name like a groan.

“Tristan, why are you here…?”

Tristan twisted his lips.

“Sorry. I don’t know much about manners.”

It was a vile smile only a villain could make.

 

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