Episode 6: Caught Your Attention? (1)
‘I don’t even have a clue about how to handle this chaos, but I suppose it’s a blessing in disguise.’
I sighed. It was truly an unexpected situation.
‘I never imagined that the maids would look down on the Villain sister.’
Unlike maids, the chambermaids were noblewomen. They received etiquette education while serving in the palace, and this experience was advantageous when they entered arranged marriages as matchmakers.
‘However, they must have concluded that even befriending Princess Siena wouldn’t be much help.’
Despite enjoying the Emperor’s favor, it was ultimately overshadowed by the memory of the deceased. Moreover, the very reason for her death was giving birth to Sienna, which had its limitations on the Emperor’s affection.
‘So, that’s why the Villainess sister became Villain.’
In reality, she could only resort to villainous acts or mischief against those who ignored her.
‘Should I call her a villain?’
Amidst my various musings, I reached the entrance of my palace. When I raised my head, I saw Daniel Bohan standing with his arms crossed in front of the door.
The Villain sister had an obsession with Daniel. There was only one reason for her fixation.
‘Perhaps this man was Princess Sienna’s hope.’
More accurately, she must have wanted to escape the palace through marriage. Among many potential marriage partners, there must have been a suitable reason why she chose Daniel Bohan.
But what should I do about this?
“I’ve come to apologize to Princess Sienna for my harsh words earlier.”
…Is this man really someone who could be someone’s hope?
My appearance right now was beyond words. The slap I received from the Emperor had left my cheek swollen and throbbing, and my ear was torn.
Who in their right mind would ask me to apologize in front of someone who had just been slapped?
‘Why would the Villain sister have such expectations for this man?’
Daniel’s gaze was filled with nothing but contempt, like surging waves. It was a cold, unfeeling look, devoid of any hint of kindness.
‘If it’s about what he said earlier, is it about Beth? Does she want an apology for my words?’
To me, who knew how he was infatuated with the heroine Beth and how he behaved towards his fiancée, it was a funny request.
I inadvertently chuckled and suddenly snapped back to attention.
‘No, this might be an opportunity.’
Today, my goal was to visit Count Bohan’s estate, even though various incidents had caused delays.
‘This is an opportunity.’
I fixed my previously puzzled expression and squared my shoulders. Then, I spoke directly in line with the emerging choice.
“I already know about the beautiful painting you’ve hidden in your mansion.”
“What are you talking about?”
Daniel’s face contorted as if he were bewildered. His eyes showed a strong sense of disdain, but for me, it was a fortunate reaction. If Bess were in Count Bohan’s mansion, Daniel wouldn’t react this way.
‘It seems like your story has yet to begin.’
That was somewhat fortunate. I boldly commanded Daniel.
“If you feel so wronged, please allow me to personally confirm it. You won’t refuse, will you?”
“…,”
Daniel let out a heavy sigh and spoke with a determined tone.
“But if you find that I’m innocent, you must apologize properly.”
I chuckled. Of course, I didn’t laugh because I wanted to. It was because there were only two choices.
▶ (Smirk maliciously)
▶ I’ll devote my body and soul to you, so don’t worry.
…I didn’t know the true identity of the system master, but it was clear that I wasn’t in my right mind.
❀❀❀❀
Daniel Bohan’s intense gray eyes focused on the red-haired woman in front of him who was smiling as if nothing had happened.
‘You find it amusing? Toying with people like this?’
He remembered the day he first met Siena Liata. It was the day he entered the palace for the first time to receive his knight appointment. He had accidentally come across her. She was a bright and eye-catching woman, like a fully bloomed rose. At the time, before he knew her true nature, even his heart, which had no interest in women, fluttered lightly.
‘There are rumors about her suspicious origins because she doesn’t resemble Her Majesty… but…’
The woman he had personally met was so lovely that it made him forget all those rumors.
– Are you the knight receiving your appointment this time?
– Yes.
– Then allow me to offer the honor of kissing the back of my hand.
Even his haughty way of speaking was cute. Daniel, in the manner of a chivalrous knight, held Siena’s hand and kissed it with a formal demeanor.
His greeting was equally impeccable.
– I have the honor of meeting the noble Princess.
– Noble…?
Thinking back, he still couldn’t understand why the beautiful princess’s face had wrinkled so dramatically at a mere greeting.
– You’re an interesting person.
From that moment on, Daniel and Sienna were bound by an ill-fated connection. From an unwanted engagement ceremony to his indifferent attitude that seemed to push her away as if he had no interest in marrying her, it was all there.
❀❀❀❀
“But I swear, I’ve never had another woman.”
I raised my head at Daniel’s words.
Another day had passed, leaving me with 98 days remaining.
Now, I was facing Daniel and riding in a carriage. The destination of the carriage was Count Bohan’s estate.
As I had provoked him yesterday, I needed to prove that he had no hidden lover.
‘It was just a reckless challenge, but I’m glad he took the bait.’
I had underestimated how easy it would be to infiltrate Count Bohan’s estate and disrupt the appearance of the female lead. Like everything else in this world, things didn’t always go as planned.
I forcibly suppressed the desire to block my ears with cotton and forced a smile. ‘Ugh, but it’s so noisy. How can a guy who talks so much be the male lead?’
It seemed that my provocative statement had greatly irritated Daniel, as he continued to complain nonstop even inside the carriage.
“I can’t fathom why you’re so convinced. Do you find it amusing to see me at a loss?”
“I…”
Honestly, I didn’t have the luxury of considering your perspective. I was so terrified that I felt like I might die of suffocation at any moment.
But I couldn’t speak those honest words. My throat felt as if it were tightly blocked with cotton, and before me, only two options surfaced.
▶ If you don’t like me, why bother saying anything?
▶ Why don’t you save your nonsense for someone else’s ears?
Why is the choice like this?
‘This sister must be so desperate to die. Or maybe the system went mad trying to kill her.’
Everything had been like this from the beginning, so it was only natural for everyone to label her as an evil woman. Even if she were to incur someone’s resentment and be murdered, it wouldn’t be surprising at all.
‘I need to find a way out quickly. There must be rules for when the choices appear.’
Last time, when I talked to Daniel, there were no choices, and I could speak freely.
‘If I’m given freedom again, I won’t waste it like last time.’
Nevertheless, the moment wasn’t now, and I had only one choice to make.
“If you don’t like me, why bother saying anything?”
“…!”
Daniel’s face twisted in response to my words. After staring at me for a moment, he shot me a look as if he had been betrayed.
“The first person who expressed dislike was you, Your Highness. Are you now trying to shift the blame onto me?”
I blinked in response. ‘Sienna expressed dislike first?’
Despite her initial outburst at the beginning of the game, Sienna seemed genuinely sincere in her feelings. If she truly had no interest in the male lead, she wouldn’t have bothered getting angry or falling in love with commoners.
‘But why did she say that to Daniel?’
I wished I had just one hour to talk to Sienna and find out what was going on inside her head.
Regardless, I had no way to change the past. I lifted my head to choose what to say to Daniel.
▶ Ignore him.
What’s going on? There was only one choice available.
“Are you bothering to ignore me now?”
“…”
“Is silence amusing to you now?”
“…”
Oh, this guy is so annoying! Why is he interpreting things this way?
Regardless of what Daniel said, the state of the choices didn’t improve.
▶ Ignore him.
“…”
Once again, I had no choice but to ignore him.
“Why are you continuing to keep your mouth shut?”
“…”
“Now silence is amusing to you.”
“…”
Fine, you can participate in the ‘Who Can Stay Silent Longer’ contest by yourself. It seemed difficult to keep talking to someone who ignored me to this extent.
Growing tired of ignoring him, I opened my eyes slightly and stared at Daniel. He clenched his lips and muttered while looking down at the carriage floor.
“You’ve always been like this. Always making me look foolish and pitiful…”
‘What?’
I tilted my head. It was when I was trying to figure out what might have happened between the two of them that the carriage came to a stop. Annoyed by the awkward situation of being alone with Daniel, I leaped out of the carriage without waiting for his escort.
Ignoring Daniel’s puzzled expression, I walked into the Count’s mansion alone. The butler, though flustered, led me to the drawing-room.
I thought everything was going according to plan, but there was one thing I hadn’t considered. That Daniel and Beth’s love might not have blossomed yet, and that Beth might already be in the Count’s mansion.
I ended up pouring tea all over the head of the female lead, Beth, like a teapot.
