The Reincarnated Villainess Whose Romantic Trauma From Her Past Life Is Too Strong Is Sweetly and Painfully Doted On by the Prince of the Neighboring Country - Chapter 9

After serving the floral tea to Salute, Cherie told him, “My family will worry if I stay too late,” and departed from the estate where he was staying to head home.

Arriving in the carriage Salute had arranged, Cherie had no sooner stepped through the front door than the estate’s butler approached her.

“My Lady. The Master is calling for you.”

Without a moment to rest, she was ushered directly to her father’s private study.

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“You… YOU FOOL!!!!”

The roar of her father’s furious voice echoed through the room. Cherie kept her eyes fixed on the floor, her shoulders trembling slightly.

“What is this about an ‘exclusive florist’?! What is this about being a ‘trusted aide’?! You…! After all the trouble I went through to secure an engagement with the Prince, not only were you unable to keep him interested, but you had to subject me to such public humiliation…!!!!”

The “humiliation” Marquis Mercury referred to was twofold. First, the fact that his daughter had been exposed to the public as an incompetent lady whose engagement was annulled by the Prince in broad daylight. Second, that a woman, who should naturally be modest and domestic had the audacity to declare in front of everyone that she intended to become a professional career woman.

“If you had at least caught the eye of the Prince of Trigea and were marrying in as a Princess consort, it would be one thing…!”

“Dear, please calm down. Your blood pressure will rise if you rage so.”

The person who spoke up to restrain the Marquis, who was panting with rage, was Cherie’s mother—Marchioness Mercury. She had been standing silently behind her husband until that moment.

“But look at her…! How am I supposed to stay calm…!?”

“Yes, yes. I know. I feel exactly the same way.”

The mother nodded in agreement while soothing her husband. Cherie’s parents were typical Dortmund aristocrats.

—A wife should stand two steps behind her husband, always supporting him and remaining modest.

Before her memories of Chieri had returned, Cherie had believed this was the natural order of things.

“Now, Cherie. Can’t you ask Prince Salute to take you as his bride instead of just an aide? If he’s looking for someone to help with his work, you can just assist him secretly behind the scenes after you’re married.”

You’re a good girl, so you understand, right?

Please don’t embarrass your mother.

If you act like this, people will think I’m a failure of a parent who couldn’t even educate her own daughter.

Looking at her mother’s smile, a smile that allowed for no disagreement, Cherie realized that she had no allies here. She started to say, “I can’t do that,” but in the end, she answered with silence.

“…………”

(I can’t possibly tell them. This whole situation happened because I rejected Lord Salute’s proposal in the first place. I can’t suddenly go back now and ask him to make me his wife.)

Besides, saying “My parents told me to, so will you marry me after all?” would be incredibly insincere toward Salute. Driven by that thought, Cherie didn’t voice an argument; she simply showed her will through silence. Her parents, however, seemed to understand that this meant she had no intention of following their orders.

“Cherie…!”

“You…! What an ungrateful daughter you are!!”

No matter how much they shouted, Cherie’s heart did not waver. What they worried about was their own social standing, not Cherie’s happiness. She felt sorry for failing their expectations, but that didn’t mean they were the ones who would guarantee her future. That realization only made her heart grow more stubborn.

“Cherie, you used to be such a sensible, good girl. Why have you become like this?”

Seeing Cherie’s refusal to listen, her mother’s irritation began to show through her flustered state. At those words, Cherie had another realization.

(—Ah. The reason ‘Cherie’ was forced to act like a villainess might have been because of their influence as well.)

Don’t let the engagement you finally secured fall through.

You must keep the Prince’s heart.

It’s unthinkable to let the Prince be stolen by some girl who appeared out of nowhere.

Even though Cherie had half-given up on Reiss’s love, she had been forced to exert effort to keep him tied to her just to remain the “model lady” her parents demanded. All to be the daughter they wanted.

In front of the contemplating Cherie, her father finally threw up his hands.

“…Enough! You are not to leave your room for a while! I will go speak with the Prince of Trigea myself! I’ll tell him that if he has no intention of marrying you, then I will not allow you to go to Trigea!”

“What…?”

At her father’s words, Cherie finally raised her head and looked him straight in the eye.

“Take her away. And do not let her out of her room until I say so.”

“Father… wait, please…!”

As her father ordered the servants to take her away, Cherie tried desperately to speak. But her father turned his back on her without a second glance. Cherie was forcibly restrained by the servants and dragged back to her room.