Chapter 78
Sylvie wasn’t impressed with Johan. In fact, even before meeting him, she was annoyed that Sena had gushed about how handsome he was.
‘Hmph, that fresh-faced youngster is too perfect, how boring.’
To Sylvie, overly perfect men weren’t interesting. She preferred them to have flaws and aspects she could care for—that’s what made them endearing.
Johan also wasn’t impressed with Sylvie. This woman seemed to have a history of offering Sena poisoned apples.
From the start, the fact that he was escorting another woman instead of Sena was the worst.
‘I couldn’t even meet Sena.’
He had neatly slicked back his hair with pomade and dressed in formal evening wear, but all for naught.
“Why don’t you get us some drinks?”
“Oh my, are you going to look for Sena?”
When Sylvie curled her lip in a mocking way, Johan didn’t respond and simply left.
“So loving, huh?”
The man who couldn’t stop praising Sena for her kindness was actually quite cold.
“Our Sena doesn’t seem to realize that man is totally smitten with her.”
The thought of that frigid, blockheaded man acting sweetly in front of Sena gave her chills.
But separate from that, Sylvie also hoped Johan would find Sena. She also wanted to see Sena in her maid disguise.
“Oh my, who do we have here… The Witch, is it?”
Then someone recognized Sylvie and approached her. The familiar cotton candy scent that wafted over made her freeze in place.
‘This woman…the one who clung to Cedric.’
Turning around, she saw a woman with sunset-colored hair giving a calculated smile.
Dressed primly in a handmaiden’s uniform, it was the Saint Tatiana.
‘Right, all this time Cedric has been using royal duties as an excuse to consort with this woman.’
Why had she not realized it until now?
Sena had mentioned Cedric being with the Saint, but only by smelling this cloying, syrupy sweet scent did the reality sink in.
“The Witch, you say?”
“Yes, I remember now! Wasn’t it said the Witch had fiery red hair?”
As the Saint revealed Sylvie’s identity, the whispering about her began to change.
To them, the Witch represented the ultimate evil, a nightmarish existence.
“Oh dear, I had no idea the Witch would grace us with her presence. I came with Lord Cedric…”
Tatiana deliberately mentioned details to rile Sylvie up.
“…..”
Sylvie grit her teeth. The intention behind bringing up Cedric was blatant.
Cedric had once been Sylvie’s entire world. She had devoted everything to help him.
‘If only that wench hadn’t clung to Cedric.’
Her sharp nails dug deep into her palms, but the rage overwhelmed any pain.
“Ah, pardon me. I misspoke. I was supposed to avoid mentioning the Crown Prince in the Witch’s presence…”
As Sylvie’s fury boiled over and she raised her hand, gasps rang out all around.
With the look of an incoming slap, a smirk played on Tatiana’s lips.
“The betrayed one is the wronged party.”
An that moment, a gentle yet stern voice echoed in Sylvie’s mind.
“Unnie, don’t see that man anymore. He’s no good. A real scoundrel.”
“What would you know?”
“I know he made you cry.”
It was Sena’s voice, confidently persuading her.
“If anything, find someone who cherishes and loves you. A one-sided relationship where you’re the only one giving is not healthy.”
That’s right, a one-sided relationship wasn’t healthy.
Nor was clinging to an already broken relationship. Even if Cedric came back now, things could never return to how they were before.
Recalling the shredded sandbag, Sylvie regained her composure. With her rationality restored, she slowly lowered her hand and tucked her hair behind her ear.
“Crown Prince? He’s still just a prince, not a king yet.”
Sylvie smiled faintly, causing a strange ripple in Tatiana’s eyes, though it was fleeting.
“Ah, yes. It was good to see you again. But the prince awaits me, so I’ll be going…”
Tatiana covered her mouth and trailed off. Sylvie let out a low chuckle at her petty attitude.
“I’m not jealous.”
“Pardon?”
“You can have him. Just don’t throw him away later.”
🫧
“You can have him. Just don’t throw him away later.”
As Sylvie uttered those icy words, Tatiana’s face twisted unpleasantly.
Perhaps all those nightly smile practice sessions using a speaking mirror, like video calls, were just for this one moment to insult her?
‘Our unnie did great!’
I cheered with a clenched fist. I had come out wondering if they’d crossed paths yet, and was treated to this scene.
Right at that timing, Johan returned with a sangria in hand.
‘Wow, Johan looks so cool.’
His neatly slicked-back hair revealed an impeccable forehead. The formal evening attire, highlighting his superior physique, was also eye-catching.
If I had pompoms, I would have waved them fervently.
Tatiana’s gaze landed on Johan.
“Who is that man?”
“This is Charles, my escort for the evening.”
As Sylvie slightly raised her arm, Johan smoothly linked his with hers.
‘Unnie, you got his name wrong.’
Yet Johan’s expression didn’t change at all—how composed he was.
With Johan’s appearance, the atmosphere became lively, and Tatiana’s face turned icy cold.
According to information gathered, Tatiana was someone who coveted everything Sylvia had, to become the protagonist herself. A new man entering the scene would definitely catch her attention.
‘Perfect. He’s properly garnering attention.’
I popped a salmon canapé into my mouth. As expected from a royal event, the hors d’oeuvres were top-notch.
“Huh? That person is…”
The focused gazes began to scatter. It seemed the day’s protagonists, the princess and prince, had noticed the commotion and were coming over.
Finally, the long-awaited moment had arrived.
‘Now!’
As the guests’ attention dispersed, I gave the signal, and the tablecloth that had been trailing on the floor lifted to reveal Hansel and Gretel underneath.
The biggest reason I had taken on this maid role was to conceal the children.
“Noona!”
“Oppa, come over here.”
When Hansel waved at me, Gretel went “Aigoo!” and pulled him away.
‘How adorable.’
Dressed alike in twin outfits of different colors, the children scampered over to Sylvie.
“Hello, Witch!”
Hansel and Gretel greeted Sylvie, making everyone’s eyes go wide.
“Those children?”
“Why, those are Hansel and Gretel, the ones the Witch imprisoned to eat but they escaped! It was famous how the Saint saved them.”
Unexpectedly, everyone seemed to recognize Hansel and Gretel.
I had made friends with the other maids just in case no one knew the children and I needed to feed them information.
‘It means the Saint had spread rumors exploiting those children.’
Tatiana must have spread gossip tailored to undermine Sylvie.
“Witch Noona, we brought you a present!”
“We made a deal for the ‘Bread Uncle’ to sell the gingerbread house you made for us. Here’s one as a memento.”
Ever clever, Gretel didn’t forget to advertise the shop. She would surely go far.
“Thanks.”
Sylvie received the miniature gingerbread house from Hansel and examined it.
Then a man stepped in front of the children, blocking their way.
“Run away now! That’s the Witch who tried to eat you!”
Despite trembling, he bravely stood up for the children. Thanks to this courageous man, the situation became even more flavorful.
“No! Witch Noona won’t eat us. It’s true!”
As Hansel flustered, Gretel stepped forward.
“Actually, we’re the ones in the wrong. We took your treasure without permission, we’re very sorry. It was all a misunderstanding.”
“Hmm? It’s okay.”
When Hansel and Gretel apologized to the Witch, everyone looked perplexed.
“The Witch tried to eat the children?”
“But they seem friendly…”
“I heard the boy is especially timid. Yet he’s bravely facing the Witch?”
Those detecting the oddities exchanged glances with each other.
However, the wicked witch image was too firmly ingrained to be dispelled so easily.
It was about time for the next part to take the stage.
🥂
Thank you for reading! ♡
