Chapter 104
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I possessed the body of a villainess locked away in a desolate tower.
Chapter 104
It was certain that Blaire Grand Duke favored me.
But Ian also likes me? Could that be possible?
Or perhaps neither Blaire Grand Duke nor Ian actually likes me, and I've simply contracted some serious delusion?
A serious condition called princess syndrome, no less?
'Well, I am a princess, after all.'
Even if I am a bastard princess....
One who never received formal recognition.
"No, no, no!"
"...What do you mean, no?"
"Oh!"
Startled by Ian's sudden question, I dropped my dessert fork in alarm.
Fortunately, it didn't fall to the floor, but there was no denying that I'd made an ungraceful display of myself.
"I apologize for startling you."
"Oh, no! I'm the one who should apologize. It was just sudden, I mean, it was just so sudden...."
What should I even say?
"My back was itching a bit."
"...?"
Seeing Ian's expression filled with doubt, my embarrassment reached its absolute peak.
To make such a ridiculous excuse—I felt utterly mortified. How pathetic.
Moreover, I felt sorry toward Ian. After all, I had been the one to suggest we dine together, yet throughout the entire meal, I hadn't been able to focus on eating at all.
No matter what Ian said to me, my thoughts scattered before I could properly respond.
Why, you ask?
'Because I suddenly realized that the person sitting right in front of me might actually like me!'
Of course, I was well aware that this could be a delusional fantasy on my part.
There are exactly two strikingly handsome men in my vicinity, and both of them like me?
'Even free web novels wouldn't write something this absurd....'
Half harsh self-criticism about whether I had princess syndrome, half desperate hope that perhaps it was true.
With such scattered thoughts, I couldn't even tell whether the dinner courses were entering my mouth or my nose.
And this was even after I'd gone to the powder room to collect myself!
With a mind in this state, staying any longer would only complicate my thoughts further.
"Shall we leave now? If we wait much longer, the Teleportation Magic Circle usage hours will close...."
"Yes, understood."
Fortunately, Ian didn't press further about my strange behavior and rose to his feet considerately.
Was that also an act of consideration toward me?
Once I became aware of it, such gestures kept catching my eye.
But then.
"The Knight has already taken care of the bill."
"Pardon?"
I was about to approach the counter with my wallet in hand when I came to an abrupt stop.
"W-wait, Ian. I promised to pay for dinner tonight...."
When I asked with a startled expression, he replied without changing his expression, his tone matter-of-fact.
"Do not force me to commit the rudeness of relying upon a lady's purse."
"Ah...."
Was he invoking chivalry?
"B-but I'm your employer."
"It is not the Young Lady who pays my salary."
That was true. Ian's salary came from Blaire Grand Duke, not from me!
So I wasn't even a terrible employer—I was a terrible proxy employer...?
No, anyway!
"I was the one who suggested dinner first!"
"I was about to say the same."
"Pardon?"
"Is it not time for a meal?"
"But I mentioned it first."
To my rebuttal, Ian replied lightly.
"Which is precisely why I handled the payment."
Somehow, that actually made sense?
Fearing this conversation would spiral endlessly, I reluctantly shuffled my feet toward the exit.
'Still, I'm the employer—no, the proxy employer!'
With even dinner turning out like this, it felt exactly like a date.
At this point, I almost wished someone would come and smack the back of my head while telling me to wake up.
To snap out of this delusion I was clearly trapped in.
I was in a state of utter confusion.
I wanted to confide in anyone—even Bonita!
* * *
―Stefan Marquis Residence
Crash!
A fine porcelain vase shattered against the wall into countless pieces.
"Aaaah! Huff!"
A piercing gaze descended upon the Maid who cried out, covered in flying shards.
Stefan Marquis's Wife's lips parted as her eyes swept across the line of Maids standing with their heads bowed.
"Who just coughed?"
"...."
"If you do not confess at once, none of you will escape unscathed."
After nervous glances darted frantically between them, a young Maid standing at the very end raised her hand.
"M-madam. It was me. I apologize...."
Upon noticing the Maid's hair—specifically, the pale brown locks that reminded her of April Salt—Stefan Marquis's Wife's eyes narrowed.
Click, click.
Through the heavy silence, she walked straight toward the Maid and raised her hand, delivering a sharp slap across her face.
"You wretched thing!"
One strike, two strikes, three strikes....
She continued her assault on the Maid's ashen face without mercy, not stopping until her cheeks swelled grotesquely and her lips split, blood trickling down her chin.
"Don't let me see your face again!"
"Y-yes, madam...."
So terrified was the Maid that she couldn't even cry out beneath those merciless hands, only managing to stumble away once permission was granted.
Yet Stefan Marquis's Wife could not calm herself.
'April Pepper.'
Merely recalling that detestable face sent blood rushing to her head in fury.
How dare that lowborn wretch, crawled up from who knows where, stare at her with such insolent eyes.
'I must devise some means.'
That day—the day of the utterly disagreeable tea party.
After the gathering dispersed, she sought out the Empress privately and carefully probed about April Pepper.
She took the opportunity to report the disrespect April had shown her as well.
Yet for some reason, the Empress, despite hearing everything, showed no interest in becoming involved.
"Audrey, it's unlike you to concern yourself with such trivial matters."
"But Your Majesty, I fear the Empire's discipline may crumble."
"It seems your own house has already crumbled the Empire's discipline considerably. Wouldn't it be more productive to focus on remedying that situation?"
Moreover, the Empress had even criticized the Stefan Marquis House for the 'minor' mistakes they had made.
In that moment, Stefan Marquis's Wife could not suppress the rising indignation that threatened to overwhelm her.
After all, wasn't it the Crown Prince's investment that had allowed Stefan Marquis to expand matters to such a degree?
Though she had always thought her husband foolish, he had still performed adequately—and his agitation had been precisely to protect the Crown Prince's capital.
She bore the obligation to contain the situation, to preserve and multiply his investment by any means necessary.
Of course, she acknowledged that there had been certain errors in the process.
But for an ignorant child who didn't know her place, who had no lineage, to dare meet her gaze directly and defy her?
'Absolutely intolerable.'
Twenty-odd years spent surviving the ruthless machinations of the Imperial Palace.
More than twenty years of crawling like a dog at the Empress's feet, all for absolute power, so that no one would ever dare look down upon her.
And now, how dare this naive, ignorant girl invoke the history of betrayal against her!
'And while bringing up the Concubine's affair at that? Ugh....'
She had heard that this girl was a distant branch of the Blaire Grand Duke House.
Wherever she had picked up her information, Stefan Marquis's Wife had always thoroughly punished those who crossed her.
April Pepper's fate would be no different.
Stefan Marquis's Wife finally steadied her ragged breathing and began to think more carefully.
'But the timing is not right now.'
Not when Stefan Marquis was floundering under criticism from all sides.
Not when the entire newly launched venture was faltering because of the moldy silk curtains.
If she acted carelessly now, when reports were being widely circulated about oppressing the helpless common people, the risk of consequences would only increase.
Though she longed to send soldiers to beat the girl senseless....
"That wretched girl certainly has all the luck in the world."
Stefan Marquis's Wife ground her teeth together and lifted her head.
"Head Maid!"
"Yes, madam."
"I need you to send someone to the Teleportation Magic Circle Management Department."
I couldn't touch her directly, but accidents could always be arranged.
For instance, limbs severed due to coordinate errors in the teleportation magic circle.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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