Episode 95. I Am the Protagonist of My Life (4)

I couldn’t tell if Julius truly liked me or was just toying with me. I nudged his side and whispered.

“Brother, what kind of nonsense is that? I haven’t done anything out of line.”

While it was true that I wanted to marry Percy, the implication Julius was making was simply untrue.

Without even glancing at me, Julius replied in a blunt tone, “Just pretend you did.”

“Seriously, what kind of brother are you?”

Pretend I did, he says. I puffed out my cheeks in annoyance, but instead of backing down, Julius chided me.

“And what are you waiting for, anyway?”

What was I waiting for? Well, I guess I just let time slip by. As my face turned crimson, Percy, with his composed expression, answered in my place.

“My apologies for not meeting expectations, Your Majesty.”

“…Don’t apologize.”

This isn’t something we should be apologizing for. It’s my brother who should be saying sorry.

“Anyway, just sign it already,” Julius urged.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

I wondered if it was okay to just leave Daniel like that, but I shrugged off the thought and picked up the pen again. Just as the pen was about to touch the contract, Daniel, who had been mumbling to himself, suddenly erupted.

“Sienna, Beth, Sienna, Beth…”

He was muttering as if he had lost his mind, then shouted as if in a fit of rage.

“This cannot happen! This is impossible!”

“Daniel Bohan!”

He looked like he was about to charge at us any moment. Julius, staring sternly at the seething Daniel, gave a solemn warning.

“This is your last warning. Step back.”

But it seemed Daniel couldn’t hear him. He kept repeating in a daze.

“What did I do wrong…?”

“I cannot comprehend why Count Bohan is behaving this way,” Julius said, shaking his head in disbelief. Just then, something unexpected happened.

“Daniel.”

Beth, who had linked her arm with Daniel’s, called him in a gentle voice. The agitated Daniel quickly calmed down. With a sorrowful look, Beth spoke in a mournful tone.

“Your Majesty, he’s only angry because he’s trying to protect me. Please don’t be too harsh on him.”

It was clear that she had decided to change her approach. Beth’s eyes glistened with tears, her beautiful face veiled in a tragic air.

“As the Princess said, I am a fallen noble who shouldn’t be at such an event. I came to the Bohan estate as a governess and fell in true love with Sir Daniel. But Sir Daniel was already engaged…”

She was twisting the story to make it seem like I was jealous and tormenting her, though it was utterly untrue. Perhaps the original Sienna had been that way, but I hadn’t done anything to Beth, nor had I broken off my engagement because of her.

“Daniel and I have already broken off our engagement. And that has nothing to do with a lowly woman like you.”

“Then why did you pour water over my head? I thought you misunderstood our relationship…”

Beth, playing the victim, was painting me as the villain once again. But the real cheaters were on their side, so what kind of misunderstanding was she talking about? Still, the more you engage in a love triangle dispute, the more it becomes an endless cycle of grievances. I held my chin high and replied in a confident tone.

“I do that to everyone.”

“…Pardon?”

Beth’s expression froze in disbelief, as if she hadn’t expected my response. I shrugged nonchalantly.

“Is there anyone in this country who doesn’t know about my terrible temper? When I was sitting in the Bohan estate’s parlor, you came out pretending to serve tea. And with lukewarm water that couldn’t even brew properly.”

“T-That’s not true! The Bohan estate was extremely busy that day, and I did my best to serve you, Princess.”

“Then where are the burn marks?”

Beth’s eyes widened, not understanding what I meant. I kindly explained.

“Black tea is best brewed at 90 degrees. If you had brought boiling water, your face wouldn’t be so unblemished. That’s proof you brought lukewarm water. And since I wasn’t pleased with it, I threw it at you.”

“That’s…!!”

Of course, the truth was that the system had forced me into that situation, but I kept that part to myself. What surprised me more was Beth’s next response. She widened her eyes and said,

“I knew you would throw it at me, so…!!”

I frowned. What a ridiculous excuse.

“You knew and did it anyway? So you were trying to provoke me from the start? That means the Bohan estate sent someone as incompetent as you to serve me on purpose.”

“N-No, it’s a misunderstanding.”

Beth paled and tried to explain herself, but the momentum had already shifted in my favor. The noblewomen, who were captivated by my sharp wit, began to side with me.

“The Princess wouldn’t mistreat someone without reason.”

“Exactly! There must have been a reason.”

“Even if her words are sharp, she’s so adorable! That strong exterior is just a mask to hide her gentle heart!”

‘Please don’t interpret me however you like.’

Where did this notion of me being gentle-hearted come from? While I appreciated the positive spin, it was still a bit overwhelming.

As everyone defended me, Julius nodded in agreement, saying, “It seems you’re just insecure, Beth.”

It would have been nice if Beth backed down at that point, but instead, she pointed a finger at Percy and shouted,

“No! The Princess even had that man kidnap me!”

Kidnap?

‘That’s absurd.’

I scoffed and turned to Percy. The idea that Percy would kidnap someone was laughable. But to my surprise, Percy’s face had hardened as he stared down at Beth. I felt my own expression stiffen.

‘Could it be?’

As Percy remained silent, Beth triumphantly continued, “I have a witness! One of his men recognized me and let me go. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be standing here today!”

“Is this true, Duke?”

Julius looked at me as if seeking confirmation. Percy still didn’t answer. Beth let out a small sob, clearly manipulating the situation to her advantage.

“But if you apologize now, I’ll forgive you. Please, don’t do something you’ll regret forever.”

Forgive? What a joke. The truth will eventually come out, but for now, she was trying to ruin my image.

“Come up here, both of you.”

Julius, sounding weary, gestured for Daniel and Beth to come up to the platform. They carefully climbed up, and Julius asked Percy again,

“Is what she says true?”

“…”

Percy, who had been keeping his mouth tightly shut, finally closed his eyes and answered in a heavy voice,

“…It’s true that I captured and confined her.”

“Oh my goodness.”

“Dear me.”

A wave of shock rippled through the banquet hall. I was equally stunned and stared at Percy with wide eyes. When I glanced over at Beth, she was smiling brightly, as if everything had gone exactly as she planned.

‘Could Percy have fallen into a trap too?’

There was something strange about the power controlling Daniel. It might have influenced Percy as well.

‘If that’s the case, then there’s no way I can win against her.’

As confusion and frustration overwhelmed me, I felt a sudden sense of despair.

At that very moment, Percy, who had been standing with his head lowered, suddenly lunged at Beth, who was standing nearby, and clamped his hand over her mouth. He then spoke to Julius.

“Your Majesty, this woman is a witch. That’s why I captured her.”

“Mmph! Mmph!”

Beth struggled, but it was impossible for her to break free from Percy’s grip.

“Just as Count Bohan said, when she speaks, everyone acts according to her will. You witnessed it yourself.”

“Hmm.”

Despite Beth being held so forcefully, Daniel still had a dazed look on his face, lending credibility to Percy’s words. Julius, who had been contemplating with his chin in his hand, finally gestured to the knights standing behind him.

“Then cut out her tongue. Without it, she won’t be able to use her wicked magic anymore.”

The knights approached Percy and Beth with ropes in hand. They first tied Beth’s arms. Since it wasn’t feasible to cut out her tongue here in the banquet hall, they gagged her instead.

Beth’s slender body shook violently as she struggled. I clenched my fists tightly.

‘Even though she’s bound like that, I still feel uneasy.’

Something felt unfinished. Just as I bit my lower lip in frustration, Percy, who had moved closer, lifted his hand towards my lips but then seemed to remember that he had used that hand to restrain Beth, so he removed his glove first.

As I found myself staring at the discarded glove, something unexpected happened.

“You’ve made us miserable! Die!”

Daniel suddenly lunged at me.