MNINAV Chapter 106

 

 

 

 

At one point, the jewelry shop <Yekhaterina>, which enjoyed immense popularity, had now turned into a deserted place with no visitors and only flies buzzing around.

 

The manager, who was leaning against the display case yawning so widely it seemed like his mouth might tear open, hurriedly straightened up at the sound of the doorbell.

 

“Welcome… Ah. Miss Yekhaterina. What brings you here today?”

 

Yekhaterina glared at the manager, who didn’t even bother greeting her properly, before moving further into the shop.

 

At the back of the shop, there was a private room belonging to Yekhaterina, the owner of the store. Usually, the room was locked, and not even the staff or the manager could enter it.

 

Yekhaterina took a key from the pocket of her dress and opened the door.

 

After being released from the underground prison as an innocent person, she had attended a banquet pretending nothing had happened. However, whispers and insults from others had kept her confined at home for some time.

 

As a result, the private room, which had not been visited in a while, was covered in dust.

 

Covering her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, Yekhaterina opened the windows and swept off the dust roughly.

 

On any other day, she would have brought a maid to clean up, but in her current situation, all eyes were on her. She couldn’t afford to make any mistakes that could be held against her.

 

After creating a somewhat breathable environment, Yekhaterina approached the communication stone placed on the table. She took a deep breath and lightly tapped the stone.

 

However, unlike when her ring had been in her possession and the stone would light up, the communication stone remained silent.

 

“No, no! Just connect, please!”

 

Even after touching it roughly and tapping it a few times, the communication stone stayed unresponsive. Tears began streaming down Yekhaterina’s face.

 

She was in the depths of despair.

 

Her life was in the hands of someone unknown. Despite being declared ‘innocent,’ the nobility still hurled insults at her whenever they saw her.

 

She had attended the banquet hoping to meet the Crown Prince, but as a result of the scandal, she was stripped of her right to even be considered the Crown Prince’s friend and couldn’t get close to him.

 

Even those who had previously flattered her were now avoiding contact.

 

She was completely isolated.

 

There was only one person who could help her.

 

But with her ring taken away, the communication stone, her only means of contact, had become useless.

 

She had come to the place holding onto a sliver of hope, yet the result was the same—no connection.

 

After sobbing for quite a while, Yekhaterina straightened her hair and fixed her clothes.

 

When she locked the door and stepped out, she saw the manager slumped over the display case, sleeping.

 

Determined, Yekhaterina vowed to herself that once her circumstances improved, she would definitely fire him.

 

“Miss!”

 

As the coachman ran toward her, Yekhaterina gave him an order.

 

“Take me home.”

 

She climbed into the simplest and plainest carriage, devoid of any family insignia, and headed back home, feeling utterly humiliated.

 

‘Someday, I’ll make sure to repay this indignation. Especially that bastard Ian.’

 

Yekhaterina clenched her teeth, recalling the mocking eyes of those who had laughed at her.

 

“Do they really think I’ll give up like this? Never. I’ll never give up. I’ll make sure to destroy them, no matter what. I’ll reclaim the original course of things.”

 

While she burned with hatred toward Ian, the carriage came to a gentle halt.

 

“We’ve arrived, miss,”

 

Stepping out of the carriage, Yekhaterina walked gracefully toward the large house.

 

The mansion was eerily quiet.

 

When Yekhaterina had been imprisoned, most of the servants had fled. The only ones who remained were those who had followed her to the capital.

 

But even their loyalty wasn’t genuine.

 

They, too, wished to escape. However, they were all fugitives themselves. With nowhere else to go, they had no choice but to stay.

 

Yekhaterina ascended the echoing staircase and entered her room.

 

The room, decorated to suit her taste, looked more like that of an adult woman than a five-year-old child.

 

She kicked off her tight shoes as she walked and plopped down on the bed. Looking at her feet, she saw red marks where her skin had been pressed by the shape of the shoes.

 

“Sigh…”

 

As she let out a deep sigh, her eyes accidentally landed on an old wooden box on the table.

 

Tilting her head in confusion, she walked barefoot to stand in front of the table.

 

“Who brought this here?”

 

Yekhaterina had brought nothing with her when she came to the capital.

 

It couldn’t have been something she already owned, nor did it look like a gift from anyone—the box was far too old.

 

Feeling uneasy, she hesitated to touch the box. After taking a deep breath to calm herself, she finally opened it.

 

Inside the wooden box were a beautiful dress, dazzling accessories, and a note.

 

 

[Wear this and attend the summer banquet. —K]

 

 

Yekhaterina bit her lip.

 

The public opinion surrounding her was still negative. She had already been humiliated at a previous banquet, enduring all kinds of insults.

 

Attending another banquet would undoubtedly invite more disdainful glances, malicious gossip, and scornful remarks.

 

But she had no choice.

 

This was an order from the one who had saved her life.

 

Her very survival depended on the one who had whispered to her that day. Without that person’s help, Yekhaterina had no choice but to comply and attend the banquet.

 

Overwhelmed by her pitiful situation, tears welled up in her eyes again.

 

Yekhaterina collapsed onto the bed and wept bitterly.

 

***

 

The summer banquet was held with even more grandeur, as if to erase the memories of the spring banquet.

 

The ceiling was adorned with silver threads strung with pearls, and sheer, sea-like fabric swayed gently in the air.

 

In the fountain at the center of the hall, sapphires were placed to amplify the refreshing atmosphere.

 

Gazing at the shimmering sapphires beneath the rippling water, one couldn’t help but feel a sense of cool serenity.

 

“The Empress really went all out this time,”

 

“You’re right. Everything here is simply stunning.”

 

“This banquet feels just like summer.”

 

While the noble ladies marveled at the beauty of the banquet hall, the young noblewomen gathered together, their gazes fixed on one spot.

 

Standing there was a five-year-old child dressed in an extravagant gown and adorned with accessories that complemented her perfectly. It was Yekhaterina, the girl who had been imprisoned as a dark mage but was later released.

 

Lady Julie, covering her mouth with a fan, whispered to her friend, Lady Pipi.

 

“Why is she here?”

 

Lady Pipi shrugged her shoulders.

 

Just then, Yekhaterina began walking toward the two women. Her elegant steps, unusually graceful for a five-year-old, caught their attention.

 

As she drew closer, they noticed her pale face, which made them feel unexpectedly uneasy.

 

“…Hello,”

 

She greeted softly, her voice as delicate and fragile as a kitten’s mew.

 

Lady Julie reached out and gently patted Yekhaterina’s head.

 

“You must have been deeply hurt by the misunderstanding.”

 

Yekhaterina’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

But only for a moment. She quickly lowered her head.

 

The sight of her small, timid figure tugged at Lady Julie’s heart, causing tears to stream down her face.

 

Lady Pipi was no different. She, too, found her face soaked with tears without realizing when she had started crying. She grabbed Yekhaterina’s hand.

 

“We’ll explain everything to the other ladies. Everything will be okay.”

 

Keeping her head down, Yekhaterina thought to herself.

 

‘What is going on?’

 

She had steeled herself before attending the banquet. She couldn’t hear what the young ladies gossiping behind their fans were saying, but their gazes lingering on her told her they were likely spewing insults.

 

Fighting against the humiliation, she clenched her fists tightly and bit her lip, determined to endure it all.

 

But when she heard Lady Julie questioning her presence, she instinctively moved toward them.

 

She hadn’t planned on confronting them, but she wanted them to feel at least a bit embarrassed.

 

However, as she approached, their expressions changed.

 

It wasn’t embarrassment. They looked as if they pitied her.

 

Gathering her courage, Yekhaterina greeted them, and Lady Julie responded by stroking her hair.

 

‘Wait, what? She’s stroking my hair instead of pulling it?’

 

Caught off guard by the unexpected gesture, Yekhaterina’s eyes widened before she quickly bowed her head again.

 

She couldn’t make sense of the situation.

 

Perhaps noticing her confusion, Lady Julie suddenly began crying.

 

To make matters more surprising, Lady Pipi grabbed her hand and promised to explain to the other ladies that everything was a misunderstanding and that Yekhaterina wasn’t the kind of person they thought she was.

 

Lady Pipi, admired by noblewomen across all factions—whether aligned with the emperor or the aristocracy—for her grace and wisdom, promised to clarify the situation.

 

If someone like her were to explain that it was all a misunderstanding…

 

‘I might actually get out of this.’

 

In an instant, Yekhaterina’s mind was made up. Tears welled in her eyes, and she began sobbing quietly.

 

“I… I think it’s okay to be misunderstood. It’s all my fault anyway,”

 

Lady Pipi embraced her.

 

“No, don’t think that way. You were just used by Katrina. Come on, let’s go. I’ll explain to the other ladies that it was all a misunderstanding and that you’re not that kind of person.”

 

“Lady Pipi…”

 

Lady Pipi wiped away Yekhaterina’s tears.

 

“Call me Sister Pipi. Let’s be like sisters.”

 

When Yekhaterina hesitated, Lady Pipi let her go and spoke gently.

 

“Hmm? Call me Sister.”

 

“…Sister Pipi.”

 

As Lady Pipi smiled brightly, Lady Julie, who was wiping her tears with a handkerchief, spoke up.

 

“Don’t just call Pipi ‘Sister.’ Call me ‘Sister’ too. I’ve always wanted a younger sibling like Lady Yekhaterina.”

 

Yekhaterina’s cheeks turned red.

 

“Sister… Julie.”

 

Lady Julie let out a small squeal of delight.

 

“Good! My little sister. Since Yekhaterina is such a long name, let’s call you Yeye from now on. How about it?”

 

“I like it.”

 

“Me too.”

 

As Lady Pipi nodded in agreement, Lady Julie declared,

 

“Then let’s go and clear up the misunderstandings the other young ladies have about our Yeye. As her sisters, we can’t let her suffer injustices!”

 

“Right!”

 

The two took Yekhaterina by the hand and began going around the banquet, explaining to everyone that she had only been used by others.

 

At first, the others were reluctant to listen.

 

But after a little while, like Lady Julie and Lady Pipi, their hearts softened, and some even began to shed tears.

 

By the time the summer banquet was nearing its end, Yekhaterina had regained the admiration she once had.

 

In fact, she was now even more loved by the noble young ladies than before.

 

“Yeye, keep in touch!”

 

“Yes, Julie Sister.”

 

“Send letters to me too.”

 

“Yes, Pipi Sister.”

 

The two seemed reluctant to part with Yekhaterina, holding onto her hands as if they didn’t want to let her go.

 

However, realizing it was far too late for a child to be out, they personally helped her into the carriage and waved her off.

 

Yekhaterina waved back with a bright smile. But once the door closed, her face returned to an expressionless state.

 

“What just happened?”

 

It was clear that people had been avoiding her. Yet, after just a short time near her, they began seeing her as pitiful and grew fond of her.

 

“Why have they changed? Could it be because of the dress and jewelry?”

 

At the first banquet, people had openly insulted her. It was unlikely that their attitude had changed just because this was the summer banquet.

 

If that was the case, then the dress and accessories given to her by ‘K’ must have caused the sudden shift.

 

Yekhaterina’s eyes sparkled with realization.

 

“Even if it’s not him, there’s someone else helping me.”

 

Her heart filled with hope.

 

Becoming the queen of social circles, as she once was, now seemed only a matter of time.