Episode 55. The Villainess’s Reputation (5)

As Percy’s story kept repeating, I expressed my disdain, causing the maids to burst into laughter. They then swiftly changed the subject.

“So, have you decided which invitation to accept next?”

While asking this, one of the maids handed me a small box from the gifts Emma had sent. The smaller the box, the more likely it contained jewelry, which the maids couldn’t sort without permission. With a click, I opened the box to find an elegant choker with a large opal and tiny pearls.

Next to the choker was a small note.

[If I had more time, I could have made a cameo with your profile, Princess! Such a shame!]

Am I abnormal for feeling a hint of obsession and madness from this letter? Even my fiancé hasn’t made a cameo of me, so why would you?

‘Surely not every gift box contains such a letter, right?’

Feeling a chill, I looked down at the note and answered the maids in a dismissive tone.

“I’m tired of tea parties.”

“Oh, come on! How can you be tired after only attending two?”

“The first was too warm, and the second was full of thorns. Neither was enjoyable.”

The maids nodded at my response, then started pondering as if it were their problem.

“If not a tea party, then a ball… But you usually attend balls with a partner. It would be best to discuss it with His Excellency.”

So I have to take Percy to the ball. In that case, the answer is obvious. I replied plainly.

“Then I won’t go to the ball either.”

“What?! Are you planning to stay home all the time?!”

“That’s how most people live. It’s not that strange.”

Seeing my consistent indifference, the hesitant maids carefully asked,

“Do you dislike attending with His Excellency?”

“Not really.”

I responded curtly. I knew why they suddenly thought of Percy. They must have remembered I mentioned he had never confessed to me. I shrugged.

“I just don’t want to ask that man for anything.”

Everything I had received, the life I was living, was all thanks to Percy. Wouldn’t it be greedy to ask for more in this situation? I didn’t want to make things difficult for him.

“……”

The maids looked at me quietly in response to my serious words. Then, as if on cue, they turned around and said,

“So, you’re saying you want to see Master right away. We’ll ask when he’ll be back.”

“Hey! How did you interpret it that way?!”

“Madam always speaks in opposites.”

These little…

As I stood there, dumbfounded, the maids continued chattering and giggling among themselves.

“Attending Marchioness Verita’s ball would be the best choice, right? Her balls are famous for their spectacular performances. I’m so excited.”

“Didn’t we have a dress made to match the Master’s tailcoat? It’s the perfect opportunity to wear it!”

Alright, alright. You need something to look forward to, after all. I crossed my arms and shrugged my shoulders.

The only reason I wasn’t bothered by their chatter was simple.

‘Anyway, that man won’t want to attend.’

No matter how much they talked, Percy was sure to decline.

‘I can’t imagine Percy enjoying and willingly attending a ball.’

In fact, he mostly worked during royal events and rarely attended them.

So, I kept my indifferent expression. However, Percy’s reaction to the maids’ message was entirely unexpected. He nodded readily.

“Alright. Let’s attend together.”

Wait, what?

He always calls me contrary, yet he’s the one acting contrary to my expectations. Why is he moving in the exact opposite direction of my wishes?

I frowned and asked again.

“Aren’t you on night duty the day before?”

“I’ll come back in the morning, prepare, and then attend the ball.”

So he plans to stay up all night and then attend the ball? Just for a ball?

‘What’s in it for you?’

Unable to understand, I just frowned more deeply. Percy chuckled and tapped my frowning brow with his finger.

“If you’re worried about me being tired, don’t be. I’m very sturdy.”

As if he knew exactly what I was thinking, he added with a sly smile.

“W-Who said I was worried about you?! I’m just concerned that entering with a shabby-looking partner would embarrass me.”

“Don’t worry about that either. Even if I’m shabby, I’ll still look handsome.”

“What?”

Percy declaring himself handsome was entirely unlike him. As I stood there, stunned and gaping, Percy even laughed out loud.

‘He’s definitely teasing me right now.’

It was clear he found my flustered reaction amusing. I placed my hands on my hips and glared at him.

“…Were you always like this?”

“What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean.”

“And you know exactly why I’m responding this way.”

In other words, he was thoroughly enjoying teasing me.

‘Why am I getting so angry? It’s not even something worth getting angry about.’

Perhaps it was best not to engage in long conversations with Percy Stewart.

As I stood there fuming, Percy tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and spoke.

“It’s because of you, Sienna.”

“What?”

“You made me decide to be honest.”

What part of my behavior made him decide to be honest?

‘That kind of honesty isn’t honesty, it’s just arrogance.’

And when I told him to be honest, I meant about his feelings, not to flaunt himself.

‘Is this another way of teasing me?’

It must be a reference to something I said during one of my drunken stupors that I couldn’t remember. As I narrowed my eyes at this reasonable assumption, Percy casually dropped a piece of bait.

“By the way, Crown Prince Julius is expected to attend Marchioness Verita’s ball.”

Julius!

‘I’ve been worried because he hasn’t replied to my letter.’

He had been stabbed in my place, so he must have been in great pain. I was worried but too afraid of being detained by the Emperor to visit the palace, so I had only sent letters.

“Really? He said he was sick, but maybe he was just pretending.”

Though I was eager to check on Julius’s wellbeing, I feigned indifference. A good idea suddenly came to mind, and I clapped my hands as I turned to Percy.

“In that case, wouldn’t it be better to ask my brother to be my partner? He probably doesn’t have a partner anyway.”

For the first time, Percy’s expression hardened. He stared at me silently for a moment before speaking in a slightly lowered voice.

“…You two have become quite close without me knowing.”

“That idiot is just pretending to be close to me.”

Anyway, I was quite comfortable with that idiot. I grinned widely.

“I should write to Crown Prince Julius…”

“His Highness is quite busy these days. Just come with me.”

“What? What could my brother be busy with? He usually doesn’t do much.”

“He has tasks assigned by His Majesty.”

“…?”

That emperor? The one who seemed to be just lazing around?

Seeing my skepticism, Percy added in a stern tone.

“It’s a very important task.”

“Alright, alright.”

I nodded, conceding that I didn’t know the palace’s inner workings.

* * *

Though Percy might have said it to placate Sienna, it was true that Julius was engaged in an important task. He was trying to persuade the Emperor to bring Sienna back.

“I have a good idea.”

“What is it?”

“I’ll compel Percy Stewart to do it.”

Julius intended to exploit the Emperor’s dislike for Percy. In the distant past, the empire consisted of five kingdoms. These kingdoms had a shared foundation myth that involved a dragon and five heroes who defeated it.

To kill the dragon, which kept resurrecting, the heroes divided it into five parts and buried them in their territories. The heart, however, was buried in Zulatán, where the empire’s capital now stood.

Out of respect, the other heroes honored the one who buried the heart, leading to the formation of the empire.

‘Many think it’s just an old legend, but I know it’s true.’

When the Emperor was young and still loved the Empress, he had once drunkenly confessed to her.

-No matter how much the Duke struggles, he can’t defy me. They are bound that way.

Julius suspected this had to do with the heart buried in Zulatán.

‘When asked about the dragon heart, Father never gave a clear answer.’

If the heart could be taken…

‘Wouldn’t it be possible to divide the empire?’

The Dukes wouldn’t necessarily remain loyal to the Emperor.

These thoughts whirled endlessly in Julius’s mind. Watching him, the Emperor smirked.

“You’re scheming to surpass me. But you’ll regret it. It’s not the kind of power you think it is.”

TL/N: Advance Chapters avalible