Chapter 45
“Valeria von Fernandez. A true villainess of the story, threatening even the life of the female protagonist, Iris, on a completely different level than Clarissa.”
Clarissa swallowed a bitter laugh as she watched the woman with red hair in the distance.
“I never imagined I’d meet you like this.”
Clack, clack—every step Clarissa took drew the gazes of those already gathered in the room.
Some were filled with contempt, envy, or perhaps admiration. Amidst the familiar-yet-strangely-unfamiliar eyes brimming with clear malice, Clarissa walked steadily toward the lady of the hour without the slightest hesitation.
Valeria had already noticed Clarissa’s presence. Yet she widened her eyes as if seeing her only now.
“Thank you for coming, Lady Lisette. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, Lady Fernandez. Thank you for inviting me.”
The young ladies of two politically opposed marquis families had never met directly before.
Still, both Clarissa and Valeria spoke as if they knew each other intimately, as though denying the truth was a blatant lie.
“The person you were supposed to oppose wasn’t me, but… well, whatever.”
Valeria appeared only toward the climax of the story, near the final chapters.
Her steps were not light, and she had no equal.
Thus, Clarissa welcomed this sudden change.
“Your movement means I must be threatening enough to interfere with your life plans.”
Though there were still many things she had to accomplish for Aryan and tasks left unfinished, all of that had its proper time.
So for now, there was a chance for some idle amusement.
Who wouldn’t be tempted by a new toy?
“Thanks for the high praise, Valeria. Of course, I don’t intend to go quietly.”
Clarissa’s joy was fully visible on her face. She felt no need to pretend.
“Was your journey here uncomfortable?”
“Thanks to your concern, it was quite comfortable.”
Both women were skilled at polite but empty words.
Valeria, a true villainess from the original story, addressed Clarissa smoothly, yet her sharpness remained unmistakable.
“That’s really fortunate.”
Her voice did not sound genuinely relieved.
Clarissa, unexcited, calmly observed her performance.
Then Valeria began, her voice tinged with awkwardness:
“Actually… I learned too late that Lady Lisette would be attending.”
A small smile curved her delicate lips.
At the same time, she raised a teal-colored fan, reminiscent of her dark eyes, to cover her nose.
“I hadn’t prepared the seating in time, you see?”
The lie was obvious. The room had already been full upon arrival, and the food was cold. It was clear she had simply misjudged the timing.
“Since you’ve come comfortably, could you perhaps wait a little while until I get things ready?”
“Ahh…”
So that’s how it was.
Clarissa blinked slowly, feigning mild surprise.
She noticed Valeria’s eyes squint slightly, her lips curling mischievously even as she tried to hide it.
She could also feel the expectant gazes behind her.
“I see. Thank you for your concern, but… I don’t think it’s necessary to worry.”
Clarissa barely held back a hollow laugh.
Sometimes imagination was better left unchecked.
She rested her chin on her hand and casually scanned the room.
She took in the faces of those whose eyes gleamed with anticipation for the next moment.
Her red lips moved slightly.
She narrowed her eyes and smiled in a way that suggested delight.
“The seats will be ready soon.”
Even with the provocation visible in her eyes, Clarissa added this casually, drawing impatience from Valeria.
“…Yes?”
Valeria, almost instinctively, questioned Clarissa’s remark.
Seats becoming available soon? She had no intention of arranging anything for Clarissa.
All Clarissa could do was watch her target fume in frustration, eventually leaving in tears.
“There’s nothing to do while we wait… hmm, shall we liven things up?”
“What do you mean?”
It had to be done.
Yet the voice flowing from Clarissa’s lips was unlike anything Valeria expected.
“I happen to know quite a few interesting stories.”
Clarissa winked slightly, her expression still flawless.
As Valeria’s face contorted in unease:
“Shall we start with this one?”
Clap! Clarissa’s hands came together, drawing attention.
She welcomed the gathered gazes, then slowly began to speak.
“The story of Lady Lisette of the Lisette family, flirting with not just my fiancé, the eldest son of the Matthias family, but even with Crown Prince Adria?”
“Lady Lisette… what are you saying…?”
The party fell into sudden, deep silence.
Valeria’s eyes widened as she sought Clarissa’s intent, but Clarissa paid no heed.
“At this gathering,”
Clarissa’s voice, cutting through the silence, was icy.
Though her lips still bore a smile, no one believed it was genuine.
“It seems many are curious whether it’s true. I thought I’d lighten the mood with this story.”
She shrugged lightly.
It was amusing that the tale had already spread across the empire without the main subject even knowing.
Still, the mouths that had gossiped so much fell silent, as if caught off guard.
Clarissa recalled the sharp gazes from behind and the invitations that never came.
She had little interest in anything beyond Aryan and did not particularly enjoy socializing, so it mattered little.
“If I really wanted them to stay silent, I shouldn’t have stirred things up.”
Yet, if they persistently raised their voices as if saying, “We’re tormenting you,” she couldn’t help but respond, even if it was bothersome.
Of course, it would be a lie to say she didn’t enjoy it at all.
“It seems no one here cares much.”
Clarissa clapped her hands again, raising her voice.
“Whatever. There’s plenty of stories left. Shall we move on to the next one?”
She tapped her chin lightly and looked up at the ceiling, appearing casual, as if pondering the evening’s menu—but the stories spilling from her lips were far from culinary topics.
“Ah, have you heard about the second Miss of the Harmonica family eloping with the gardener? And we can’t forget this one—Viscount Rodrio caught cheating in illegal gambling and fled naked. Oh, I almost forgot! Miss Melita loves punishing her maids, didn’t she? This time, the child thrown into the river was the fifth… or seventh…?”
The gazes of those present moved from Harmonica’s second daughter to Viscount Rodrio to Miss Melita.
Their faces had turned pale, some even as white as snow. Rodrio, the most hot-headed, had already stood and shouted at Clarissa:
“That’s impossible…”
“Why? That’s what I’ve heard.”
The first three targets of Clarissa’s teasing could not bear the shame.
Yet the more flustered they became, the bolder Clarissa grew, responding without hesitation.
“But that’s a lie…”
Rodrio was correct—none of the stories Clarissa told were true.
“Did the truth matter?”
Her comment was a punishment for their disinterest in her truth.
Everyone occupying the room for her sake already knew the facts.
“When did it start?”
