CHAPTER 58: IF SHE CAN FAKE IT... THEN I CAN MAKE IT

Rosalia — POV

Cassel had rented a very nice villa.

There were ready, furnished rooms and a fully equipped kitchen with all the necessary appliances.

If we ignored the fact that there was no electricity or running water, the villa was actually quite good—five rooms on the ground floor, along with the kitchen and a spacious living area, and four more rooms on the upper floor, including a study.

Overall, the villa was large and impressive.

As I walked through the upper floor, I noticed a room that was the largest and brightest, and the only one with a private bathroom and a balcony.

But when I stepped inside, I realized there were already people in the room.

A soft, feminine voice rang in my ears. Its owner spoke sweetly:

"Cecil, this room is so beautiful. It even has its own bathroom. I love it so much. I want us to live here, but... do you think Brother Cassel will let us? I don’t want to bother him."

"Hmph. What do you mean by bother? If you like this room, then it’s yours. Besides, I’m the heir of the Zancroft family. Obviously, the best room should be mine. And since you’re my girlfriend, you deserve it just as much."

That dog truly believed he was some royal prince.

Unfortunately for me, I was standing in an obvious corner by the door, so they noticed me within seconds.

Mary walked toward me and took my hand lovingly.

Her sparkling eyes and moon-white face curved into a gentle smile.

"Rosalia, did you want to take this room for yourself? Ah, my goodness, I’m truly sorry. Don’t worry, I’ll give it to you. I don’t want to upset you."

What a performance. She really should pursue acting; I bet she’d win an Oscar every season.

And what did she mean by "give" me the room? Was it hers in the first place?

This slutty little heroine.

I couldn’t wait to rip that fake face of hers apart.

A saint, she says.

She was more like a green-tea bitch and a black lotus all the way to the bone.

Breathe, Rosalia, breathe.

I needed to compose myself. Now was not the time to start trouble.

Fine... I also didn’t want Cassel to see my ugly side—pulling this girl’s hair out and slapping her face into the floor.

I still felt embarrassed by the last time Cassel caught me in that state.

I heard that men like innocent, obedient girls, not some violent tomboy.

I knew my dear Cassel wasn’t shallow, of course—he was the best, the most handsome, the smartest, and obviously the greatest man alive.

But still... I wanted to show him my best side.

Naturally, after the heroine’s improvised, tearful performance, the hero stepped forward bravely.

"Mary, why are you apologizing to this lowly girl? You’re the boss’s sweetheart here. If you say the room is yours, then it’s yours. Such pests don’t deserve to stay in a room this beautiful and refined."

"She’s lucky we even let her stay with our team. Someone so useless should be grateful for our mercy—and kneel because we’re giving her food."

"Oh? So in your mind, anyone who doesn’t contribute to the team should kneel because the team still accepts them? Is that it?" I raised an eyebrow with a mysterious smile.

And considering this so-called hero’s IQ probably didn’t exceed fifty—

He answered immediately with a disdainful snort.

"Of course. What else? Do you think we’re a charity that feeds any useless nobody?"

"Ah, I see... but there’s one thing I still don’t understand."

"What?"

"Why are you still here?"

I could practically see the exclamation mark popping above Cecil’s head.

As for the heroine—her face drained of color, as if she were the one being insulted. She fell silent and shrank into an unnoticed corner of the room, trying to reduce her presence.

I didn’t know if she was smart or just scared of something.

Either way, it didn’t concern me. If anything, I was happy to see her miserable.

After a moment, it seemed Cecil’s brain finally connected to the internet and processed what I meant.

"You—how dare you!"

When I felt his hand hovering above my head, I shut my eyes tightly, bracing myself for a harsh slap. Even if I was strong, I was still an ordinary twenty-four-year-old woman—I couldn’t possibly overpower a grown, muscular man like Cecil.

But the blow never came.

Instead, I heard a scream that nearly shattered my eardrums.

My eyes flew open.

Cecil was kneeling on the floor, clutching his arm, twisted at a terrifying angle.

It was obviously broken.

Oh my god.

A strong hand slid around my waist.

Suddenly, I found myself pulled into a familiar, protective warmth—Cassel’s arms.

"Cecil... who gave you the courage to lay a hand on my woman?"

Cassel’s voice was deep and cold, radiating power.

I couldn’t help but smile, warmed by the fury he felt on my behalf.

Then I looked at the girl who had seemed so harmless and invisible, who hadn’t even tried to help her precious Cecil.

A certain idea flashed through my mind, and my smile widened.

In the next second, I threw myself dramatically into Cassel’s arms, letting my body go limp so my weight fell gently against his strong chest.

When I lifted my head, Cassel’s eyes widened the moment our gazes met.

I mean... of course he was shocked.

My tears were flowing down my cheeks like a river—almost longer than the Nile.

If the heroine enjoyed playing the innocent, pitiful lotus-flower victim...

Then I was certainly no worse than her—not in acting.

I softened my voice, trembling it just so, letting the sobs break through as I spoke in a fragile, aching whisper:

"Cae-cae... they’re bullying me... ahh-h... ah-he..."

My tears wouldn’t stop. I wasn’t some drama queen, but I could recall any painful memory in an instant—without exaggeration—and it was enough to make even a stone cry.

And that was exactly what I needed.

Seeing Cassel’s wounded, trembling expression... I knew my plan was working.

They say to strike the iron while it’s hot—and that’s what I did.

"Mary... she said she wanted the room... ahh... and... and that’s why they said such horrible things about me..."

"Wuuh..." I wrapped my arms around Cassel’s waist.

I couldn’t even encircle a quarter of it.

But I kept up the act.

"They said I’m useless... and like a dog... and that I should be grateful if they threw me a bone. That someone like me doesn’t need a room..."

"No... no... she’s lying! I didn’t— I really—"

"Silence."

Try whitening your saintly image now, dear holy heroine.

"It seems I gave you all far too much freedom... I’ve been far too kind with you."