RYL Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Ophelia was briefly flustered, but quickly pointed at me and raised her voice.

“Dear! Look at her! Right after being dumped by the Duke of Lorentino, she shows up at the party like that! What will people say?”

The Count frowned and corrected her sternly.

“Claire wasn’t dumped. She’s the one who broke off the engagement with the young duke.”

Ophelia replied grumpily, pretending it was no big difference.

“Isn’t it basically the same thing?”

The Count sighed deeply at her ridiculous comment, then looked Ophelia straight in the eye and spoke clearly.

“Whatever dress Claire wears or whoever she chooses to meet, I respect her choices.”

Then he turned to me with a warm and supportive expression.

“She deserves to be happy without worrying about what others think.”

Ophelia looked completely speechless, rubbing the back of her neck in disbelief.

***

Finally, the day had come.

The Lorentino Duke’s party.

I rode in a carriage with the Devonshire Count, looking like a masterpiece thanks to Lillianne’s help.
Next to me was Sabrina, acting as my personal maid for the day.

Because she needed to stay unnoticed due to the “Villain,” so, she dressed very plainly—just like a real maid.

The area outside the mansion was already crowded with guests and their carriages.

When the Count got out first, I turned to Sabrina and asked,

“Are you sure you can come with me?”

Sabrina just shrugged confidently.

“Don’t worry. The ‘villain’ hates these kinds of parties.”

She added boldly,

“He doesn’t even go to other dukes’ parties. There’s no way he’d show up to one thrown by the Lorentino family.”

Then she smiled mysteriously.

“Besides, how could the trio’s plan go on without me?”

Her confidence reassured me, and I nodded.

She started getting out of the carriage first to help me down—like a proper maid.

But halfway out, she suddenly froze and slipped right back in.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

Sabrina gave me a nervous smile.

“Sorry, Claire. I don’t think I can get out.”

“What?”

She curled into a corner of the carriage, and I, confused, peeked outside.

That’s when I saw it.

Among all the carriages, there was one with a very distinct symbol—the crest of the Valerion Duchy.

Startled, I looked back at Sabrina, who was hiding like she’d just seen a ghost.

“You said the villain hates parties!”

Sabrina gave a sheepish laugh.

“Yeah… Well… Maybe he suddenly got curious about the outside world? Haha…”

If she got out now, the “villain” would definitely snatch her up like a hunter catching a rabbit.

I sighed and gave in.

“Just stay in the carriage.”

Sabrina nodded like an obedient child.

When I finally got out, the Devonshire Count, who had been waiting patiently, offered his arm and asked,

“Did something happen inside?”

I replied calmly,

“Oh, my maid said her stomach hurt.”

He nodded understandingly, then gently placed his hand over mine.

“Are you going to be alright?”

He clearly thought I dressed up like this because of the young duke.

I looked at him and gave a small smile.

“Of course.”

He smiled back and said warmly,

“Don’t lose your confidence. Show everyone how amazing you are. I’ll always support you.”

I smiled and nodded.

“Yes, I will.”

With the Count escorting me, we walked into the grand entrance of the party.
All eyes were on us.

“Oh my, isn’t that Miss Claire?”

“She’s with the Devonshire Count—it is her!”

“She looks totally different from the last party at the Belfour estate.”

“She’s got a completely different vibe now…”

People stared, mesmerized by my bold, stunning appearance.

Some women, clearly affected, awkwardly coughed and turned away.

“She looks like she’s trying to seduce everyone in the room.”

“Ahem! Yes, exactly. Maybe she’s trying harder since it’s her ex-fiancé’s family party.”

“Still, it’s a bit much, don’t you think?”

“Totally.”

But while the women whispered with jealousy, the men couldn’t take their eyes off me.

I had always turned the table, but tonight… I had this irresistible aura no man could ignore.

I ignored their stares and followed the Count to greet the Duke of Lorentino.

While the Count and the Duke talked business, I looked around the ballroom.

Then, I heard a familiar voice.

“Claire!”

It was Lillianne—the one who’d made me look like this.

She smiled slyly.

“You know you look absolutely gorgeous today, right?”

I chuckled.

“Of course. I know who styled me.”

If I was going to pull off the femme fatale look, this was the way.

Then Lillianne looked around and asked,

“Where’s Sabrina?”

Instead of answering, I glanced sideways—toward the intense gaze I’d felt since walking in.

There, standing in the shadows, was the villain, holding a wine glass and glaring at me.

He didn’t care who saw him. His eyes were locked only on me.

Lillianne noticed and sighed.

“Oh no… The Duke of Valerion actually came to a party?”

“Right? He never even shows up to his own parties.”

“It must be because of Sabrina.”

“He still thinks I’m hiding her.”

Lillianne, sipping champagne elegantly, leaned in and whispered,

“Am I imagining it, or is he staring only at you?”

“It’s not your imagination. He’s been watching me nonstop since I arrived.”

“Ah… I see.”

I tried to ignore his burning gaze and enjoy my time with Lillianne.

But then, an unwelcome voice called out—

“There you are, Claire sister.”

I stiffened at the unfamiliar way she called me “sister” and slowly turned around.

There stood Sophia, confidently looking at me while holding onto the arm of an unfamiliar man.

As far as I knew, only the Count and I were supposed to be attending this party from the Devonshire household…

My gaze shifted to the man escorting Sophia.
And then it clicked.

She must have come as a plus-one—the partner of a young nobleman from another invited family.
Guests with an invitation could bring a companion, after all.

“You’re so mean, sister. You came to the party with Father and left me and Mother behind at the mansion.”

Sophia tried to look pitiful, her voice soft and sad.

“If it weren’t for Baron Bernstein’s son here, I would’ve ended up trapped in the house like poor Mother.”

As soon as Sophia’s nonsense left her mouth, the people around us began whispering.

“So the rumors are true—Lady Claire from the Devonshire family really is mistreating her stepmother and half-sister.”

“Even if she wants the heir title that badly, how could she leave the Countess and her younger sister locked up and come alone to the party?”

“The Count must be in on it, too. Poor Countess, marrying into that kind of family.”

I looked around, stunned by the ridiculous things people were saying.

If I’d actually done what they accused me of, at least I wouldn’t feel so wronged.

Lillianne, who had also heard the whispers, frowned and was about to step forward—but I stopped her.

Instead, I walked straight up to Sophia, making sure everyone could see.

If they were so desperate to paint me as the villainess…