Chapter 21
Charlotte Daphsine—once infamous, though recently rumored to have become somewhat tamer.
And yet, here she was, making a spectacular return to form!
Not only the Emperor’s faction but even Noctem, who had never witnessed such a sight, widened his eyes in shock as he stared at her.
Meanwhile, Charlotte, feeling the sharp gazes piercing her way, deliberately curled one corner of her lips into a smirk.
She snatched a wine glass from a passing attendant’s tray.
Based on the duke’s description and the way this man had been blatantly staring at her since earlier, he was undoubtedly the spy planted by the duke.
So she selected the most familiar young noble among those watching her and began to hurl some truly vile words at him.
“Hmm, where exactly is Young Lord Ilea looking? I’d prefer it if you raised your gaze. If you keep annoying me like this, I might just cripple you, and that wouldn’t be good, would it?”
“W-When did I do such a thing?!”
“Oh my, pretending you have no idea? That’s just ridiculous. Ah, is that why you’re part of the Emperor’s faction?”
“Lady Charlotte! Please refrain from behavior unbecoming of noble etiquette!”
“Etiquette? When did I ever break etiquette?! And if anyone should be angry right now, it should be me—Charlotte Daphsine! Hah!”
Charlotte glared fiercely at him.
‘I’m sorry, Young Lord Ilea.’
But inwardly, she offered him a sincere apology. Before her regression, he had been one of the few lords she had maintained a close relationship with.
Furthermore, he was highly respected—not just among the nobility but also among the empire’s citizens.
That was precisely why she had chosen him as her target.
The unruly, troublemaking noblewoman versus the widely respected Young Lord Ilea. It was obvious whose words people would trust more.
As the finishing touch, she was tempted to pour her wine over him, but since she had to drink it herself, she restrained the urge.
Ignoring the dumbfounded look on Young Lord Ilea’s face, Charlotte strode past him toward the dessert table.
And, of course, as she passed him, she made sure to glare at him as if he were nothing more than a bug.
Gasps and sighs of dismay rippled through the surrounding nobles at Charlotte’s brazen behavior. But, as always, she remained composed, walking proudly toward her destination.
‘The Grand Duke…’
Among the onlookers was Noctem Aphros, his expression a mix of disbelief and confusion. There was even a flicker of disappointment.
For some reason, that stung Charlotte. But she quickly steeled herself.
‘It doesn’t matter. I’m someone who will soon disappear. Besides, I can’t cause trouble for the Emperor’s faction until the very end.’
So she had to endure such gazes without flinching.
Upon reaching the dessert table, Charlotte picked up a cookie and moved toward the wall.
Lifting her chin high, she swept her gaze over the banquet hall with a look of disdain.
As a result, the attention on her gradually began to fade.
‘That wretched noblewoman is acting out again…’
‘Is there really no way to get rid of her…?’
‘A disgrace to nobility…’
Of course, the murmurs of disdain and insult continued.
Charlotte snorted at the whispered curses tickling her ears and bit into the cookie with deliberate crudeness.
She also toyed with the wine glass she had received from the attendant, making it painfully obvious.
She even pretended to hesitate, feigning fear before taking a sip—leaving just enough so that anyone could tell she suspected poison.
‘By now, some of them should have caught on.’
At times like this, playing the villainess was incredibly convenient. Even the most minor actions were met with deep suspicion.
And in this case, she was putting on an outright performance—people would surely latch onto it.
Indeed, the Emperor’s faction and even some moderates watching her closely now had perplexed expressions.
‘This should be enough.’
Even as she thought this, Charlotte didn’t stop fidgeting with the wine glass.
Then, a figure approached her. A man dressed in a sleek black tailcoat, his hair neatly slicked back with pomade.
“The duke seems to have chosen the wrong person.”
“Oh? I think I’m doing just fine.”
“Well, sure. I didn’t expect you to handle things this well, so even I’m surprised. Charlotte, when did you get so clever?”
Huh?
Adrian smirked playfully, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from her cheek.
It was a gesture dripping with seduction, but what concerned Charlotte more was the meaning behind his words.
‘What does he mean by that?’
His phrasing was oddly ambiguous. Was he just being his usual sarcastic self, or was this genuine admiration?
If it was the latter, that meant he had seen through her plan.
‘No way.’
After all, she was playing the role of an ‘idiotic troublemaker.’
Charlotte narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Adrian. But as always, he wore that unreadable, mischievous smile.
“What? Am I too handsome for you? Hm, if it’s this Charlotte, I wouldn’t mind if you fell for me.”
“……”
Who cares about his intentions? It was probably best to just let this go.
Charlotte subtly dodged his hand as he tried to rest it on her shoulder, turning away.
Her rejection was clear, yet Adrian simply sighed as if disappointed—without a hint of actual displeasure.
If anything…
‘Ah, this banquet is just too entertaining.’
He barely held back a smirk as he noticed the way Noctem Aphros was glaring at him.
‘When I heard rumors about them having secret meetings, I couldn’t believe it. But now…’
Seeing them together, it seemed true.
Oddly enough, however, it was the Grand Duke who appeared more invested than Charlotte.
Not long ago, she had been the one declaring that she would marry him no matter what.
‘Charlotte, whatever you’re scheming, do your best.’
Whatever happened today, Adrian was sure he’d come out unscathed.
Suppressing the urge to hum in amusement, he left the area.
As he did, Noctem’s gaze naturally followed Charlotte instead.
Adrian couldn’t help but chuckle behind his wine glass.
Meanwhile, completely unaware of Noctem’s gaze, Charlotte leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
It was partly to maintain her image of a rude and reckless noblewoman, but mostly because the poison was starting to take effect, making it difficult to stand properly.
‘Ha… They said it was a harmless poison…’
A metallic taste filled her throat. She wanted to believe it was just her imagination, but the sensation was too vivid.
She let out a small, bitter chuckle.
And then—
As her vision blurred, a figure appeared before her. As he grew closer, the world seemed to fill with only him.
She squinted, trying to make out his face. For a brief moment, her sight sharpened.
“Lady Charlotte, are you alright?”
“……!”
Noctem Aphros.
Charlotte froze. She hadn’t expected this.
‘Why are you here…? Why are you coming to me?’
He must have seen her antics earlier. And yet, he approached her—
‘With that worried expression, no less.’
The same uneasy feeling she had when he once shielded her from the rain crept up her spine.
She bit the inside of her cheek, forcing herself to stay conscious.
‘I can’t let this fall apart now.’
No matter what his reasons were, she instinctively felt the need to push him away.
If she didn’t, the Emperor’s faction might pin the poisoning on him.
‘No choice, then.’
Charlotte swiftly grabbed a glass of white wine from a nearby table—
And splashed it all over Noctem.
A stunned silence fell over the banquet hall.
Drip. Drip. The wine trickled from his silver hair onto the floor.
Then—
“Lady Charlotte!”
Gasps of disbelief rang out.
Even Noctem looked dumbfounded.
Suppressing the blood rising in her throat, Charlotte spoke.
“…I thought you’d dodge. You are the famed Swordmaster of the Emperor’s faction, after all.”
And with those final words—
Her consciousness slipped away.
Yet, instead of hitting the ground, she fell into Noctem’s embrace.
‘…Why?’
Tears threatened to well up.
Even after everything, he still caught her.
But at least…
It was all over now.
She let her eyes drift shut, unaware of the way Noctem was looking at her.
