RYL Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Sabrina let out a sigh and gave a slight nod to the nearby guards.

It was a silent signal—”Take him out quietly.”

As soon as the man was freed from Sabrina’s grip, he became arrogant again and started shouting.

“Do you even know who I am? How dare you treat me like this?!”

At that moment, Claire came up from the basement.

Her face hardened when she saw the aftermath of the commotion.

The man, taking advantage of the growing murmurs around him, raised his voice even more.

“Look, everyone! This is how they treat their customers at this salon!”

The crowd began to stir.

Sensing an opportunity, the man shouted even louder.

“Let go of me! Get the madam! Where is she? Tell the madam to come out!”

Claire clenched her fists, ready to step forward, but then she met Lilianne’s gaze.

Lilianne shook her head slightly—a clear signal to stay out of it.

Confused, Claire hesitated.

Then, with confidence, Lilianne stepped toward the man.

“The madam of this salon is not someone you can speak to so casually.”

Her voice was cold as ice, making the man freeze for a moment.

Then, as soon as Lilianne signaled the guards, the still-drunk man began to struggle again.

“Let go of me! Do you even know who I am?! I said, bring me the madam—”

SMACK!

Sabrina, unable to hold back any longer, delivered a powerful punch to his face.

With just one hit, the man passed out cold.

“Finally, some peace and quiet.”

Shaking off her hand, Sabrina turned to the guards and spoke in a low voice.

“Throw him in his carriage and send him off. Find out which noble house he belongs to—we’re putting him on the blacklist.”

The guards dragged the unconscious man out of the salon.

At first, the room was silent.

Then suddenly, the crowd erupted into applause.

Some even whistled in approval.

Lilianne and Sabrina looked slightly embarrassed at the overwhelming reaction.

As for the man, there was no way he would report this.

Getting beaten up by a woman was too humiliating, and once he sobered up, he would feel even more ashamed of his behavior.

Among the cheering crowd, Claire flashed a bright smile at Lilianne and Sabrina.

In response, Sabrina gave a confident thumbs-up, while Lilianne chuckled softly.

***

Meanwhile…

At a table in a quiet corner, Mathieu sat with a dark expression.

Alex, noticing his mood, asked with concern.

“What’s wrong? You’ve been sulking for a while now.”

Lately, Mathieu’s moods had been unpredictable, swinging up and down like a storm.

“This place is boring. I’m leaving.”

He started to rise, but Alex quickly grabbed his arm.

“Come on, don’t be like that. I pulled some strings with my father just to get this VIP card for you.”

Mathieu sighed and slumped back into his seat, running a frustrated hand through his hair.

“I told you, I have no interest in salons.”

“Tsk! This isn’t just any salon. Not everyone can get in, you know?”

Mathieu let out a dry laugh.

“You really think that’s not just a marketing trick? I’d be more interested in knowing who this ‘Madam’ is. She seems to know exactly how to make money.”

Alex casually poured more wine into Mathieu’s glass and spoke as if it were an afterthought.

“Yeah, I wonder about that too. It’s interesting how she invited all the top nobles… except for the Laurentinos.”

Mathieu fell silent.

Alex smirked and continued.

“I mean, your family has a lot of enemies. And let’s not forget how many men have lost their lovers because of you. Probably even more women have cried over you.”

Mathieu shot him a glare.

“Are you trying to start a fight?”

“No, no. I’m just saying.”

Alex quickly hid behind the sound of the live music and muttered under his breath.

“Honestly, you’re more moody than a pregnant woman sometimes.”

Mathieu ignored Alex’s snide remark.

Instead, he changed the subject.

“By the way, don’t you think the Crown Prince has been acting differently lately?”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s like… he’s loosened up a bit. He used to be so stiff all the time.”

Alex shrugged.

“I heard a rumor that he might visit this salon.”

Mathieu, who had just lifted his glass, suddenly froze.

He remembered something Mikael had said at a bar recently:

“I think I’ve found the heroine.”

Mikael had looked straight at him when he said it.

Mathieu had no idea why, but that memory made him feel strangely uneasy.

“Eh, it’s probably just a rumor. The Crown Prince rarely even goes to salons in the city center. Why would he come all the way out here?”

Just then, a loud commotion erupted from the first floor.

The noise spread throughout the building, reaching even the underground lounge where Mathieu sat.

People began murmuring in excitement.

“Did you hear? A royal carriage just arrived outside!”

“No way! This really isn’t an ordinary salon, huh?”

Overhearing the conversation, Mathieu instinctively shot up from his seat.

***

Outside the Salon…

After the chaos inside had settled, I stepped outside for some fresh air.

The front of the salon was still packed with waiting carriages.

Nobles who hadn’t been invited were lingering nearby, hoping to catch a glimpse of the place.

Even some commoners had gathered, curious about the spectacle.

The entire area was overflowing with people.

“Good thing Hector and his men are doing their job well.”

If I hadn’t dressed them properly in suits, their sheer size and rough faces would have caused complaints long ago.

As I scanned the street, something caught my eye.

At the far end of the road, something bright was glimmering.

A few moments later, I realized what it was—

A carriage.

A magnificent white carriage adorned with gold trimmings and rich red drapes.

And on its side, the unmistakable emblem of the royal family.

As soon as the royal carriage appeared, the crowd began to stir.

It felt like even more people had gathered to watch.

“Oh my, the rumors about the Crown Prince coming must be true!”

“Oh my goodness, I can’t believe it!”

The excitement spread, but the royal carriage calmly stopped in front of the building.

Then, the door opened, and a red-haired Crown Prince wearing a golden mask stepped out gracefully.

‘Why is he even wearing a mask when the carriage already screams “royalty”?’

As I stood there in a daze, Mikael suddenly looked straight in my direction.

Wait, was he looking at me?

I quickly glanced around. Everyone else was too busy watching the royal carriage, and there was no one near me.

It really seemed like he was looking at me.

While I stood there frozen, Mikael confidently walked toward me.

Stopping right in front of me, he smiled—a dazzling smile that not even the mask could hide.

“I told you I’d recognize you.”

Then, he added,

“Claire.”

Hearing my name from his lips, I completely froze.

Wait, how does he know it’s me?

First Mathieu, and now him—what, does my mask have a hole in it or something?

“I’m glad I found you right away.”

“Ah…”

I was too flustered to say anything other than a dumb sound.

“That woman in the red mask must be the daughter of the Devonshire Count. The one who oppresses her stepmother and stepsister over the inheritance.”

That’s not true at all?!

“Oh, you mean the one who ran around naked on the beach without shame?”

Excuse me?!

I wasn’t alone! Lillianne and Sabrina were with me! Why am I the only one being talked about?!

“Ah, the so-called wicked woman who challenged the Belfour Duke’s daughter!”

That’s not me! The real villain is the duke’s daughter! And we’re actually friends!

As I stood there, frozen by the ridiculous rumors, the Crown Prince gently touched my mask.

“Why do you look like that? Are you feeling unwell?”

Wait—he can see my expression through the mask?! Does he have X-ray vision or something?!

While I stood there in shock, the crowd started murmuring again.

“Oh my! Did the Crown Prince just stroke Claire’s face?!”

“Oh my, oh my, oh my!”

It was just my mask, not my face…