Villainous Lady, The Obsession Begins

【Chapter 18】

 

“Minuelle.”

Esadien, who was looking at my deeply sad face, gently took my trembling fingers. As he wiped the faint wrinkles on my thin gloves, he spoke.

“Your complexion doesn’t look good.”

“I’m fine.”

“No, you don’t. You said you were busy, but it’s clear that you pushed yourself too hard. It’s better to rest.”

It’s not because of that.

I tightly held onto Esadien’s hand and whimpered, swallowing those words.

“I want to stay with you.”

“I’ll come again. So rest now.”

A low voice resonated comfortably. Taking comfort in his voice, I closed my eyes tightly and then opened them again to look at the book Esadien had placed next to me and spoke.

“Then I’ll lend you the book. Please make sure to return it.”

“I will.”

Was the entrance hall so close to the library? 

I went out to see Esadien off, fiddling with his hand for a while and barely letting go.

“Minulle, you can rest only when I go.”

“But…”

“Didn’t we just make a promise? That I’ll come again.”

“Esadien…”

“Yeah.”

It felt like the foretold downhill in front of me was even more painful because I was so happy. I hugged Esadien tightly and said,

“I was really happy that you came today. I missed you so much.”

Esadien hesitated for a moment but eventually embraced me. I closed my eyes, taking in the cool scent emanating from his embrace.

‘Yeah, it’s gonna be fine.’

Since Esadien has become so familiar to me as well, and he doesn’t show the same expression to Lafesch, let’s not worry.

💧

However, my efforts to reassure myself were in vain. Starting the very next day, I became even more miserable because of Lafesch, who had awakened as a serial question mark killer.

“How did you meet?”

“Pardon?”

A moment to catch my breath. Lafesch leaned her face on both hands and smiled lovingly.

“Miss Minuelle and the Third Prince. I was so surprised to see the two of you, it felt like a fairy tale come to life.”

“The Prince is a wonderful man.”

As I sipped my tea and gave a half-hearted response, at least that one comment was sincere. So far, Lafesch’s chatter had revolved around questions about me or stories about her own preferences. But starting from the day after meeting Esadien, questions about him began to increase. Little by little, like water rising beneath my feet.

‘It’s frustrating.’

Because of that, my chest began to feel more and more suffocated.

“Minuelle, why do you look so down?” 

It was only then that Ramande expressed his concern and offered his divine power.

“Is there something wrong?”

“What’s wrong? Maybe I’m just tired….”

I have never hidden anything from Ramande since I met him. But this time, I couldn’t be honest.

‘Do you think Esadien might like Lafesch because of the original work? How can I say that?’

Fortunately, Sister Juella was away on an urgent business trip for a few days. She would have told me to stop everything if she had been there.

“Minuelle, how was your first meeting with the Third Prince?” 

Once again, it was tea time. Lafesch pushed a peach mousse dish towards me as if offering a bribe.

“…..”

As I glanced at it for a moment, I continued to hold the teacup while smiling wryly.

“His Majesty the Emperor made a space for the engaged couples to get to know each other. I fell in love with the Prince at first sight.”

“Did you both fall in love with each other at first sight?”

My breath caught in my throat. Although Lafesch asked the question casually, it had a different meaning to me.

“I believe there should be trust between us, even if we can’t expect love.”

Esadien doesn’t believe in such ‘feelings’.

 It felt like Lafesch knew something and was watching us closely. I cleared my throat and took another sip of tea to compose myself before redirecting the conversation.

“Did the messenger come earlier? When did they say the dress fitting was?”

“Oh, wait a moment. I wrote it down here!”

I barely got through that moment, but questions about Esadien kept coming up afterward.

“When did you two get engaged? I heard that in high-ranking noble families, the partner is decided from a young age.”

“I heard that you stayed up all night for a week weaving a tapestry to give to the Third Prince! Does he treat you that well?”

“The Third Prince visited for the second time last time, and I heard that Minuelle usually goes to the Imperial Palace… “

I wondered where they were hearing all these stories from. If it were my usual self, I would have brushed it off or even boasted about Esadien, but I couldn’t do that with Lafesch. I just kept getting more and more sensitive.

“I heard that the Third Prince inherited his mother’s hair color…”

“By the way, Lady Celeste.”

Finally, I got fed up with this situation. As I called her out with a serious tone, Lafesch winked at me and said something.

“Oh, Miss Minuelle. Why aren’t you calling me by name yet?”

Ha. I was dumbfounded. To show so much interest in Esadien and try to gain my favor at the same time, how audacious.

“I’m not sure, but it seems like Lady Celeste has a lot of interest in the Third Prince?”

“Ah…”

Lafesch rolled her eyes for a moment and then burst into a big smile.

“Did you feel bad because I kept asking?”

“…….”

It seemed to be said, “Surely, you’re not wary of me, are you?”

I hated people who answered a question with another question.

‘What is this? Wasn’t this person following me because she liked me?’

At the same time as that thought, another question followed as if reading my mind.

“Do you know that I really like you, Minuelle?”

Alas, as expected, she’s a bad guy. To the point where I break the thought of letting it go as well as possible.

“If that’s really how you feel, then let’s stop with the questions about the Prince.”

“What? Ah… Was I being rude?”

“Being overly inquisitive is not polite. Especially when it comes to someone else’s fiancé.”

“I was just admiring how great you two look together…”

“Regardless of your intentions, I don’t want to hear it again.”

Don’t touch my man.  Whether it’s the original or no, I don’t give a damn.

I opened my eyes coldly and conveyed that message with my whole body.

“I’m sorry…..”

Lafesch finally apologized with a tiny voice like an ant, but I didn’t accept it. There’s no need to accept every apology.

💧

The next day, Lafesch seemed to be aware of my feelings, she didn’t bring up the topic of Esadien. And the next day, she suddenly asked a random question.

“Um, Miss Minuelle. Would you mind if I request a meeting with Sir Tragosnan?”

You had hated Theodore so much before. It didn’t seem like you were trying to make him uneasy by meeting him again, but I was curious why your attitude had changed.

“Why all of a sudden?”

“Ah, I think it’s because I was too rude when I met him last time. I want to apologize and…”

It’s good that you’re aware of being rude. I guess that’s fortunate.

I said with a sigh.

“That’s a good idea. I don’t think Sir Tregosnan will refuse either.”

“Um, then maybe….”

However, the request that Lafesch blurted out while wriggling her body was not only unexpected but also surprising.

“Um, then, if I ask if we can go see an opera or something…. Can you also come with us, Minuelle? “

“What? I think it would be better for just the two of you to go and watch it, don’t you think?”

I haven’t even gone with Esadien, just the two of us yet.

“I think it’s just too embarrassing and awkward for me. And if we were seen together alone, it could raise suspicions…”

Lafesch looked away with a pitiful expression.

“……”

I folded my arms without saying a word. My emotional balance was already leaning towards disliking Lafesch. So, I wasn’t particularly affected by her pretty face, but I also understood her situation. Being a noble, there were undoubtedly parts that she would be aware of.

“If you don’t remember them even after meeting them a hundred times, it’s only right that the other person should introduce themselves a hundred times.”

There was no older sister to tell Lafesch that she didn’t need to remember anyone’s name. I felt a profound sense of superiority from that fact. At the same time, I felt self-disgust towards myself for feeling that way.

“….Then let’s do it on the third day since I have nothing scheduled on that day.”

“Wow, thank you very much.”

As if accepting my pretended defeat, Lafesch grinned and grabbed my hand tightly.

“You don’t have to thank me.”

I meant it. I had intended to intervene and get them involved with each other.

‘If I had continued to stay in Sumander or the temple, maybe this wouldn’t have happened…’

The thought briefly crossed my mind, but I was soon overwhelmed with pressing tasks.

💧

Three days later.

“What happened? You have free time, but you’re going somewhere other than the palace.”

“…Just, I have a prior appointment.”

Ramande, who seemed to notice my tension, stopped teasing me and looked at me for a moment before asking.

“Is there something wrong?”

“No, nothing. I’ll be back.”

“You’ve been looking pale these days.”

“I’m fine.”

I just hung my head. I couldn’t bring myself to confess that I had devised a plan that was too embarrassing to show to Flendena.

“I, I’m going to go now.”

As I tried to climb onto the carriage to avoid further conversation quickly, Ramande chased after me and grabbed my arm.

“Oh! You scared me!”

“It seems like you’re hiding something.”

“Hiding? No, I’m not…”

“You know you’re rolling your eyes, right?”

“Me? No way. My eyes are as clear as ever today.”

With clear, wide-open eyes, I flutter my eyelashes. Then, as if trying to guess something, Ramande looked at me for a moment before finally snickering.

“There is nothing you could hide from me, after all.”

“Ahahaha….”

I just awkwardly smiled and fixed my gaze on Ramande’s hair, which was sticking out for no reason. For a moment, a cruel smile appeared on his beautiful face, as he observed my reaction in silence.

“Right? Hmm?”

Ramande’s rough and ruthless touch caressed my cheeks, and I couldn’t help but accept his unforgivable gesture. Perhaps that was a sign that things were about to go awry. 

When I finally arrived at the Opera House, Theodore and Lafesch were awkwardly sitting apart from each other.

“Have you been doing well, Lady Karinen?”

“Yes, I have. Thank you.”

I whispered to Theodore, who was pretending to kiss my hand with a smile.

“I’m glad that Lady Celeste seems to have changed her mind.”

“Well, haha. I’m not so sure…”

What’s going on? His reaction was strange. But before I could ask for a reason, Theodore, who had relaxed his upper body and was slouching as usual, changed the subject with his usual voice.

“The Prince worries that you’re too thin and looks like it’s true. Why are you so small? You look like you’ll fly away with a gust of wind.”

“How many people do you think don’t look small compared to you Sir?”

While he spoke in a prickly tone, I smiled broadly.

‘Esadien is also thinking about me.’

I suddenly felt much better.

💧

Thank you for reading!