Chapter 5: The Royal Banquet
‘I can’t just act kind inside the house anymore. That’s why people are misunderstanding! I need to go out and do something!’
Just as she reached that conclusion, Leriel heard something surprising.
“My lady, which dress will you wear tomorrow? I want to prepare in advance.”
“…Tomorrow?”
“Yes…?”
Only after hearing that did Leriel remember the royal banquet.
She vaguely recalled that it was mentioned early in the novel.
She tried to remember more, but the maid looked confused, not getting a response.
Realizing her mistake, Leriel gave a soft smile and answered quickly.
“Could you pick out a dress for me? I have something to think about right now.”
But to the maid’s ears, it sounded like:
“Do I have to tell you every little thing? Can’t you think for yourself? Can’t you see I’m busy thinking?”
The maid, thinking she had made a mistake, bowed deeply and panicked.
“I-I’m so sorry!”
“…Sorry?”
Leriel mumbled, wondering what there was to be sorry for—
“Ah!”
The maid, clearly misunderstanding again, began to cry.
“P-please spare me…!”
Watching the sobbing maid, Leriel realized there were too many misunderstandings already.
But she left it alone for now. What mattered more was remembering what happened at the banquet in the novel.
This was the perfect chance to show everyone the new, kind Leriel.
She couldn’t miss it.
Royal banquet, royal banquet… What happened again?
“Aha!”
Leriel finally remembered.
It was at that banquet where the villainess Leriel had traumatized Perik—the male lead.
Readers had gone wild over how terrible she was, treating him like a possession.
Nodding to herself, Leriel smiled.
“This… I might be able to use this.”
If she played it right, she could show the whole kingdom that she was no longer the villain Leriel—but a kind and changed person.
After all, this banquet wasn’t just a fancy party with dancing and music.
From what she remembered in the novel, the banquet was described like this:
“The royal banquet. A battlefield in the name of a ball.”
Behind the polite greetings, invisible power struggles raged.
Groups formed based on status and influence.
And the royal family held surprisingly little power.
Even though Perik was the official crown prince and host, nobles openly looked down on him.
This started when the Tenebris family began controlling high society.
If they had insulted him outright, he could’ve charged them with treason—but of course, they never gave him that chance.
Leriel had been a cunning woman.
“Oh, you’re here, Your Highness?”
Every move was subtle, quiet.
It wasn’t hard for her to isolate the crown prince with the help of those around her.
And the most wicked, humiliating thing she did back then…
* * *
“Young Lady, we’ve arrived at the palace.”
“….”
Leriel, who had been lost in her thoughts, blinked at the coachman’s voice.
The sky, glowing orange when they left, was now dark.
But the palace wasn’t dim at all.
Warm light leaked through the ballroom doors.
The royal banquet had begun.
“I can’t believe I’m really here.”
Looking out at the fancy building, Leriel whispered to herself.
It looked like a scene from a movie, and her heart should have fluttered.
But all she felt was tension.
Which made sense. She wasn’t here to have fun.
What happened tonight would affect her future.
“It’s okay. If I do what I planned, everything will be fine.”
She had come too far to turn back now.
Taking a deep breath, Leriel stepped down from the carriage.
She walked quickly toward the entrance. Servants recognized her and immediately opened the door.
Creak.
The heavy door opened, sounding like fate.
“Young Lady Leriel of House Tenebris is entering!”
The servant’s loud announcement rang through the ballroom.
And just like that, every single person turned to look.
Leriel felt all eyes on her and realized—her name and reputation were already well known.
“Smile. Don’t stay expressionless—they’ll misunderstand again.”
A bit startled by all the attention, she quickly lifted the corners of her mouth.
A smiling face can melt tension. She wanted to soften the mood.
“Did you see that?”
“Yeah… that’s a mocking smile, right?”
“I told you! There’s no way those rumors about her being kind are true!”
But Leriel didn’t consider one thing.
The original Leriel she had possessed… was a born villainess.
The smile she forced looked more like a smirk.
Her cold eyes didn’t soften at all.
To others, it looked like pure arrogance and mockery.
People either avoided her or quickly looked away.
“…Huh?”
Walking further into the ballroom, Leriel started to realize something was wrong.
Like a miracle described in scripture, the crowd parted wherever she walked.
Standing alone in the wide hall, she looked like a queen with absolute power.
This was the opposite of what she wanted, and her stomach twisted with worry.
“This isn’t good. I have to act fast…”
Frantically looking around, she searched for someone—
And then, from behind, a low voice called her name.
“Leriel.”
It was the first time Han Gyeoul had heard it.
But Leriel’s memory knew it well.
That unique low tone. Just three syllables, yet full of contempt.
It was exactly who she was looking for.
Flinching, she slowly turned around.
“…Your Highness.”
There stood her fiancé, Perik Trian.
His faded blonde hair was neatly slicked back. His white uniform was spotless, showing his obsession with cleanliness.
His sharp features shone even brighter under the chandelier.
But his expression… was cold and unwelcoming.
He looked at her like she was his worst enemy, not his fiancée.
The mood dropped instantly.
People nearby began whispering.
Everyone here knew how their engagement had happened.
“….”
Leriel dropped her forced smile.
Her tightly shut lips mirrored how she felt inside.
Her green eyes, cool and clear, scanned him up and down like she was judging a product.
Perik almost laughed.
He hadn’t believed the rumor about her kindness, but this? She was exactly the same.
He felt weirdly betrayed, even though he hadn’t expected anything.
“I nearly gasped. How is someone this handsome…?”
But honestly, the real reason Leriel stayed quiet was this:
She had read plenty of descriptions in the novel about how good-looking Perik was.
But seeing him in person? It didn’t compare.
His hair looked like pure platinum.
His pale skin and sharp nose made him look like a sculpture.
Most of his appearance was soft and muted, but his eyes—deep red—stood out and pulled your focus.
A small part of her regretted not being able to end up with him.
But survival came first.
Snapping out of it, Leriel bowed politely.
“This is our first time meeting since the engagement. Have you been well?”
“…Ha. You don’t seriously expect me to answer that, do you?”
It wasn’t a great start.
Even a basic greeting made him react sharply.
