Chapter 35
‘Sigh… Is this what it’s like to be a main character? Everywhere I go, people just stare at me.’
She had gotten used to the constant gazes that followed her wherever she went.
‘They’re going to whisper and spread more rumors again. I wonder what it’ll be this time?’
As if to meet her expectations, people’s eyes followed her, and their mouths moved busily.
“Did you hear the rumor? They say she’s dating more than three young lords right now.”
“More than three? How disgraceful for a noble lady…”
“They say she flirts with every man in sight.”
“Even that naïve young lord from the Marquis of Bayren, she seduced him too.”
“Right? That’s why there’s a rumor going around that Duke Spencer is furious and planning to break off the engagement.”
“Such a scandalous lady.”
“They say she’s always been like this, even when she lived in the Duchy of Madonia—always chasing after men.”
“If she likes men so much… Should I try hitting on her? The Countess of Luceronia is quite tempting.”
“Oh my, young lord. Still, she’s not worth it. Her personality is terrible.”
“Even her personality?”
“Yes, did you see her at the Marquis of Bayren’s birthday banquet?”
“When Lady Tallin said something to her? Wasn’t that Tallin’s fault though?”
“Not at all. That was all an act by the Luceronia lady. Lady Tallin just expressed concern, but she took it the wrong way and suddenly got angry.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Lady Tallin even apologized at the dress shop a few days ago, thinking she was in the wrong—but the Luceronia lady picked a fight again. She’s a complete troublemaker.”
“She sounds like a real problem.”
“Honestly, as someone who received a proper noble education under a strict father, I can’t even imagine acting like that.”
The whispers echoed all too loudly in the enclosed greenhouse.
‘Wow, at this level of gossip…’
Just then, a notification rang in Felice’s ears.
Ding.
SYSTEM
Due to the malicious rumors circulating in high society, your social reputation has decreased by 5 points.
Current Reputation: 5
Correct the rumors and rebuild your reputation.
‘Of course…’
Though she had expected it, seeing her reputation points drop left her feeling heavy.
‘I mean, this is a paid membership, and it’s still this hard to gain reputation…’
What kind of absurd setup was this?
If reputation points increased as easily as affection points, things wouldn’t be so annoying.
She suddenly felt the urge to slap her friend Hyunjae and the others who designed this game system.
“Ahem. Her Majesty the Empress has specially assigned you the seat closest to her.”
Despite hearing all the gossip, Madam Brochen remained expressionless and gestured to guide Felice.
Her hand pointed to the innermost part of the greenhouse, the table right next to the Empress’s seat.
Near that table stood several young ladies, suspiciously looking around.
‘The same ones I saw at the dress shop.’
Even from afar, she could tell who they were.
They were all wearing dresses that resembled pink hyacinths.
‘Guess they all interpreted my words differently—no two pinks are the same under the sky.’
She almost burst into laughter at the sight of them wearing subtly different shades of pink, completely trusting what she’d said.
“To think they wore something like that to a party hosted by the Empress…”
Madam Brochen clicked her tongue beside her.
‘From a distance, they really do look like a bouquet of pink hyacinths.’
Standing together made them look even more ridiculous—though they didn’t seem to realize it.
“Indeed. Standing like that, they almost resemble Her Majesty’s most beloved pink hyacinths.”
At her comment, Madam Brochen looked at her in surprise.
“You know that? Most young ladies these days wouldn’t recognize the reference…”
“It’s basic courtesy to at least know such things when attending a party hosted by Her Majesty.”
Pleased with the answer, Madam Brochen smiled contentedly.
“You’re not like the rumors suggest, Lady Luceronia. You’re well-mannered.”
“You flatter me.”
Felice smiled lightly and walked toward the table. As she got closer, the young ladies exchanged glances nervously.
“But what are those ladies doing over there?”
‘Isn’t that too obvious?’
They looked blatantly suspicious—like they were advertising that they were up to no good.
One kept watch while another fumbled busily with her hands on the table.
Sensing something was off, Madam Brochen strode over and called out to one of them.
“Lady Hawthorn.”
“Eek!”
Startled as if caught red-handed, Karen turned around abruptly.
‘Wow, seriously sloppy.’
Felice could even hear the crumpling of a small medicine pouch as Karen tried to hide it behind her back. Everything was so obvious.
“This table isn’t assigned to you. What are you doing here?”
“Oh, um… we were just looking around…”
Karen, who had always glared at Felice with hostility, suddenly looked timid.
Tallin, who normally hurled venomous words at her, also stayed quiet.
“Just looking?”
Madam Brochen’s sharp gaze bore into them, and the young ladies exchanged nervous glances.
‘Well, they should be afraid of the Empress.’
Even if the Empress was toothless now, she was still the only sister of Duke Spencer.
If Madam Brochen said one bad thing to her, they all knew what kind of storm would follow.
‘I can’t let them get caught now. I still need to take that medicine and get through today peacefully.’
Deciding she needed to defuse the situation, Felice stepped forward from behind Madam Brochen.
“I believe the ladies were just hoping to catch a glimpse of the Duke Spencer’s sons.”
“The sons of Duke Spencer?”
Madam Brochen glanced at the name tags on the table—across from Felice were written: Kainis Spencer and Dustin Spencer.
“Were you trying to see the Spencer heirs, ladies?”
At her pointed question, Karen and the others quickly nodded.
“Y-yes. We just wanted to greet them. No other reason, really.”
“Exactly. We only wanted to see the Spencer heirs, nothing more…”
Watching them scramble to explain, Madam Brochen shook her head with a sigh.
“Ladies… and what were you thinking with those dresses…”
She began to glance at each one from head to toe but then paused mid-sentence. The young ladies looked up at her in confusion.
“Forget it. You’ll find out soon enough. Return to your seats.”
At her command, they bowed and scurried away.
“Tsk tsk. Young ladies these days… no sense of propriety.”
Madam Brochen clicked her tongue again while watching them go, then seemed to remember Felice was still beside her.
She smiled awkwardly.
“Lady Luceronia, if this feels uncomfortable, shall I prepare a different seat for you?”
“No, that’s quite alright. I understand—they simply wanted to see the Spencer heirs.”
“Ah… even if the social season is about finding marriage partners, still, I don’t understand these young ladies. They really lack shame compared to our time.”
“Well, I suppose it’s because the Spencer heirs are just so charming—they’ll go to any lengths to see them.”
“Is that so? Do you also find them charming, Lady Luceronia?”
Madam Brochen’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“Huh? Oh… well… they are quite handsome…”
Felice nodded awkwardly, and Madam Brochen’s smile widened with delight.
* * *
‘Please don’t come…’
After Madam Brochen left, Felice sat alone at the table, desperately praying as she stared at the still-empty seats in front of her.
‘I only need to see the Empress today…’
If she hadn’t opened their routes, maybe things would be different—but with the routes already unlocked, they were bound to attend the party.
Even though she knew the future, she still clung to a shred of foolish hope.
XD
I don’t understand why she needs them to not get caught yet, but maybe it’ll make sense as we go