RYL Chapter 09

Chapter 09

I ignored the stares around me and smiled calmly at Ophelia and Sophia.

Then, my eyes landed on Sophia’s neck.

She was wearing the red ruby necklace that was originally meant for me.

Seeing her proudly wearing it, I smiled gently and said,

“So, you decided to wear my necklace after all.”

Sophia flinched but quickly responded with confidence.

“What, are you saying you can’t even lend your sister a necklace?”

I looked at her with a calm smile and said,

“Sophia, taking something without the owner’s permission is not called borrowing. It’s called stealing.”

“W-what?”

Sophia’s face turned bright red with embarrassment.

Ophelia, who was standing beside her, stepped in with a displeased look.

“Claire, you’re the older sister. Why are you being so petty?”

Older sister?

She never treated me like family before, but now she wanted to act like my mother?

I let out a scoff in disbelief.

Just then, Sophia, not wanting to back down, gritted her teeth and snapped,

“You’re getting arrogant just because the Marquis’ daughter is being nice to you! Know your place! You couldn’t even keep your fiancé from straying! She’s probably just hanging around you to make herself look better.”

Wow. I was seriously tempted to slap her.

As I was debating whether to do it, a familiar voice came from behind.

“Who said that? That Claire is just my accessory?”

I slowly turned my head.

Walking down the stairs was Lilianne.

She wore a graceful dress of blue and silver, looking like the queen of the north.

Her silver hair was elegantly styled, and her cold expression made her seem even more intimidating.

Lilianne approached Sophia and tilted her head as she examined the necklace on her neck.

“This looks like the necklace I gave to Claire as a gift…”

Moving slowly, she reached toward Sophia’s neck.

Before Sophia could react, Lilianne grabbed the necklace and yanked it off.

Snap—

The necklace broke easily, and Lilianne held it in her hand.

A few jewels fell to the floor and rolled away.

Sophia clutched her neck, staring at Lilianne in disbelief.

Lilianne looked down at her with disgust and smiled coldly.

“A jewel without its rightful owner is just trash.”

Her icy voice sent shivers down my spine.

Sophia trembled and, with tears in her eyes, ran out of the ballroom.

“Sophia!”

Ophelia gasped and turned to glare at me.

Huh? Why was she glaring at me?

While I stood there, baffled, Lilianne stepped closer to my side.

Ophelia quickly averted her eyes and hurriedly followed Sophia out of the ballroom.

Watching them leave, I sighed deeply.

Lilianne whispered, “Sorry. I wasn’t going to step in, but I just couldn’t stand seeing you being treated like that…”

Just a moment ago, she had been like an ice queen, but now she looked shy and timid again.

I stared at her in disbelief.

Then, in a small voice, she asked,

“But… was I okay? Did my acting look natural?”

Wait. That was an act?

Even now, I could still feel goosebumps on my arms.

I stared at her blankly before slowly giving her a thumbs-up.

Lilianne blushed with embarrassment.

Oh, right—Sabrina was also supposed to be at the party.

“Where’s Sabrina?” I asked.

Lilianne looked around and said,

“She hasn’t arrived yet. I didn’t send a carriage for her because I didn’t want the villain to notice.”

It was hard to believe this was the same person from before.

“She’ll be fine,” I reassured her. “Sabrina can survive anywhere.”

“You’re right.”

As we talked, I noticed people whispering and glancing at us.

They were probably surprised to see the host of the party, Lilianne, acting so familiar with me.

Lilianne seemed troubled and said softly,

“Um… maybe we should keep some distance for now.”

I nodded in agreement.

“I’ll step out for some fresh air.”

Maybe if I disappeared for a while, the situation would calm down.

Lilianne nodded in understanding, and I left the ballroom.

Still feeling frustrated, I headed toward the garden.

There was an outdoor party happening nearby, but I purposely walked toward the quieter area.

Then, I saw someone familiar.

A man had just stepped out of a carriage and was heading toward the building.

Mathieu—my worthless fiancé.

I ran into him head-on and had no chance to avoid him.

Under the dim lights, he walked toward me with his usual confident steps.

He spoke first.

“We met in the park before, right?”

He still didn’t recognize me.

Even though I wasn’t hiding my face with a fan today.

With a bright smile—one he had never shown me before—he continued,

“It’s nice to see you here.”

My whole body tensed.

This was the man who had always looked at me with disgust.

And now, just because I looked a little different, he was showing interest?

I felt sick.

More disgusted than ever, I turned away.

I heard his footsteps behind me.

Not knowing why I was running, I quickened my pace.

Then, he grabbed my wrist.

“Oh, sorry.”

He quickly let go as if realizing his mistake.

“But before you go, could you at least tell me your name?”

I still had my back to him.

The great Mathieu, lowering himself to ask a woman for her name?

I almost laughed.

Some twisted feeling stirred inside me.

Thinking about it, there was no reason for me to run away.

Lilianne and Sabrina weren’t there.

I slowly turned to face him.

Then, with a smirk, I looked him straight in the eye.

“You want to know my name?”

Standing under the moonlight, I saw him staring at me, mesmerized.

The night breeze carried the scent of flowers.

It was like a scene from a romance novel.

But I watched as his handsome face slowly twisted in shock.

“…Claire?”

His voice trembled with disbelief.

I smiled sweetly.

“You finally recognize me.”

“Then, in the park… that was you too?”

His voice was dazed as if he were speaking to himself.

I replied bluntly,

“Yes, that was me too.”

His face turned red.

Then, turning away, he ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

Wait. Did Mathieu just blush?

It didn’t seem like a good kind of blush, though.

After taking deep breaths to calm himself, he turned back to glare at me.

“Was it fun? Playing with me?”

What? Was he seriously acting like the victim?

I scoffed and glared right back at him.

“Play with you? You were the one who misunderstood and assumed things.”

“Then you should have revealed your identity at the park.”

“Well…”

At that time, I had to hide the fact that I was close to Lilianne and Sabrina. I had no choice.

But I couldn’t explain that to him, so I just kept my mouth shut.

“Why did you come to this banquet? Are you here to spy on me?”

I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t even respond.

Did he really think the world revolved around him?

“Of course not. Don’t mind me, just enjoy yourself.”

That’s why I came here in the first place.

After saying that, I turned around and walked away calmly.

Mathieu didn’t try to stop me or follow me anymore.