CHAPTER - 10

POV ANGELICA

"Angelica-san~" Ren called me softly. I watched as Ren glanced around cautiously before finally saying, "Here’s the money, and I’ll wait here. So, you can go buy it yourself."

I looked at Ren in confusion, not entirely understanding what he meant. "What do you mean?" I asked, bewildered.

Ren blushed, realising his explanation was a bit vague. "Ah, well... Murasaki-san mentioned it to you, didn’t she?" he said hesitantly.

"Ah." Only then did I recall what Murasaki-san had told me earlier. She had informed me that I needed to buy my own underwear since I couldn’t keep borrowing from the maids. I nodded slowly, finally understanding what Ren meant.

With my face still slightly flushed from embarrassment, I stepped into the shop. I felt a bit awkward but muttered to myself, "Relax, Angelica. It’s just underwear," trying to reassure myself.

As I entered, the scent of various fabrics filled my senses. I took a deep breath, trying to stay composed and think clearly.

Even so, it felt strange to be here. I had never actually shopped for something like this on my own before. Usually, all my personal needs were taken care of by the palace maids. But now, I had to do it myself.

With hesitant steps, I began browsing through the racks of lingerie. I saw various fabrics and designs I had never encountered before. Some of the pieces even looked quite… revealing.

"Uwah... what kind of underwear is this..? This is so indecent!" I muttered, eyes wide as I spotted a few sets of sheer lingerie and G-strings.

In my mind, I wondered whether Ren would like this kind of underwear. But I quickly snapped out of it, realising that wasn’t something I should be thinking about. I needed to choose something that made me feel comfortable and confident.

"What am I even saying? You sound ridiculous, Angelica. I shouldn’t be thinking about that!" I scolded myself, trying to refocus on the underwear in front of me.

After some contemplation, I decided to pick out a few simple yet elegant sets. I chose colours and designs that I felt suited me and matched my preferences and needs.

Carefully, I took my selections and headed to the fitting room. Inside, I tried them on one by one. Once I had finished, I noticed an extra item I had picked up by accident.

With a hesitant look, I held up the G-string set and debated whether to try it on. Even though I felt awkward, curiosity got the better of me.

When I saw myself in the mirror, I was shocked. The lingerie was far too revealing—far from anything I had ever worn in my old world. A wave of embarrassment washed over me.

"This is... so indecent!" I whispered to myself. "But... does it suit me?"

I hesitated as I looked at my reflection, trying to imagine how Ren would react if he saw me wearing it. Would he think I was being too bold? Or would he actually like it?

In my mind, I tried to balance my own feelings with what might be considered appropriate in this new culture. I felt torn between choosing something I liked and what would be deemed acceptable.

After a moment of deep thought, I decided to follow my instincts. While I was curious about Ren’s reaction, I didn’t want to force myself into something I wasn’t comfortable with. After all, I was still adapting to this new world.

In the end, I left the G-string set in the fitting room and opted for underwear that felt more comfortable to me.

Once I had made my choices, I proceeded to the counter to pay before leaving the shop.

"Thank you, Ren-san," I said quietly, still thinking about how I had looked in the mirror earlier.

Ren-san gave me a gentle smile and replied, "No need to thank me, Angelica-san. I’m happy to help."

POV KING ALDRIC CELESTIA

Inside the grand and opulent hall of Celestia’s royal palace, an air of tension filled the room. King Aldric sat solemnly on his golden throne, surrounded by advisors and officials standing respectfully. The dim glow of candlelight cast dramatic shadows, heightening the tense atmosphere.

The massive doors swung open, revealing the Crown Prince @$&-+ Celestia, standing tall with a firm posture. Though his steps were steady, the deep-seated anxiety on his face was unmistakable.

"You summoned me, Father?" the prince asked in a calm yet respectful tone, trying to suppress the unease gnawing at him.

King Aldric’s piercing gaze met his son’s, filled with disappointment and disbelief. "Yes, I called you here to reprimand you, @$&-+. I’ve received multiple reports about your conduct at the royal academy and your actions concerning Angelica."

The king shook his head in sorrow, unable to believe what he had heard.

Prince @$&-+’s face turned pale, startled by his father’s sternness. He searched for the right words, desperately looking for a way to deflect blame.

"W-what do you mean, Father?" he stammered slightly, feigning ignorance to shift the focus away from his wrongdoing.

King Aldric remained poised on his throne, his sharp eyes scrutinising his son’s every movement, reflecting both distrust and deep disappointment.

"Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve done, @$&-+. I’ve received undeniable reports of your disgraceful behaviour. Cheating on your fiancée with other women, leaving the academy without valid reasons, and engaging in dubious business dealings," King Aldric stated, his voice calm yet authoritative.

Prince @$&-+’s complexion grew paler as he struggled to formulate an excuse, attempting to shift the blame onto someone else.

"Father, I never intended to cause trouble. It’s Angelica who should take responsibility for all this! She abuses her power to oppress those beneath her. I was merely trying to reprimand her…" he claimed, hoping to divert attention away from himself.

King Aldric let out a deep sigh before pulling out a letter from his throne-side table. "And what is this, @$&-+? Is this proof of your accusations against Angelica?" the king asked, tossing the letter towards his son.

Prince @$&-+ examined the document carefully, his expression growing increasingly strained as he realised it contained undeniable evidence of his misconduct.

"You already have a fiancée, yet you toy with other women? You involve yourself in illegal business ventures and squander the kingdom’s wealth? Is this how a prince should behave?" King Aldric’s voice grew harsher.

Without giving his son a chance to respond, the king continued, "As King Aldric Celestia, I hereby revoke your right to the throne! The royal inheritance will be transferred to the third prince, and you, @$&-+, will be placed under house arrest in the palace until I determine a suitable punishment!"

Prince @$&-+ lowered his head in regret, realising his attempts to escape the truth had failed. He felt trapped by the consequences of his own actions.

"Guards, take him out of my sight!" King Aldric commanded.

As the prince was dragged out of the throne room, he muttered bitterly under his breath, "Angelica... how long do you intend to stand in my way? I will make you pay for this!"