~Chapter 1~
The Villainess’s Honey is Sweet
The ballroom was filled with elegant music.
The ladies wearing pretty dresses looked like beautiful flowers.
But among them, one lady stood out the most.
“Lady Lopez, you are so beautiful today.”
“Will you dance with me for the next song?”
The lady surrounded by gentlemen blushed and smiled shyly.
“Oh my… You’re making me embarrassed.”
Her name was Seraphina Lopez.
She was called one of the most beautiful ladies in society, along with the Duke’s daughter, Evangeline Claudius.
Seraphina had light green hair and dark green eyes like fresh leaves.
She wore a dress that hugged her body like a mermaid.
She truly looked like a mermaid.
“I always speak the truth. There is no one as beautiful as Lady Lopez.”
While the gentlemen praised Seraphina, another lady entered the ballroom.
Everyone was surprised.
“Who is that lady?”
The new lady stood straight, not shy at all, and smiled calmly.
Soon, people recognized her and opened their eyes wide in shock.
“Wait… Is that Lady Ansi?!”
Her name was Laritte Ansi.
She was known as Seraphina’s close friend.
But secretly, people called her ‘Seraphina’s foot mat.’
She usually looked gloomy and wore old, ugly dresses. She always shrank her shoulders, looking small and weak.
Because of Laritte, Seraphina looked even more beautiful.
But today, Laritte was completely different.
“Is that really Lady Ansi who used to look so gloomy?”
The gentlemen who were praising Seraphina turned to look at Laritte.
Her black hair was braided neatly, with diamond hair decorations shining like stars.
She wore a light silver dress that looked like mist.
Today, Laritte looked perfect.
The other ladies noticed her dress and accessories.
“That dress… Isn’t it from Madam Soberano?”
“And that diamond hairpiece is from the new Chelsiani collection!”
From head to toe, Laritte wore the most expensive brands in the empire.
Seraphina was shocked for a moment. Then her eyes turned cold.
She smiled and approached Laritte.
“Larri, you must have been excited for today’s ball. You dressed up a lot.”
But her eyes looked pitying.
“But… expensive dresses and jewelry don’t suit you.”
Laritte looked at Seraphina with a blank face.
Seraphina pretended to be sad.
“Your face is too plain for such flashy clothes. You should have asked me. I could have chosen something better for you.”
At that moment,
“Did you say that for me to hear?”
Everyone heard the sound of high heels on marble.
A lady with blue eyes like a lake stared proudly at Seraphina.
“L-Lady Claudius?!”
She was Evangeline Claudius, the most noble lady in the empire.
She had honey-blonde hair and shining sapphire eyes.
She had beauty, status, and wealth. Everything.
She spoke coldly to Seraphina.
“I dressed Larri today, from head to toe.”
Seraphina’s face turned pale.
Evangeline continued with a sharp voice.
“Are you insulting my taste by saying her dress doesn’t suit her?”
“N-No! I just…”
Seraphina tried to explain, but Evangeline ignored her.
“In my eyes, Larri looks very beautiful.”
She smiled at the other guests.
“What do you all think?”
“Yes, Lady Ansi looks beautiful!”
“We didn’t know Lady Ansi was this pretty.”
Everyone agreed quickly. Laritte did look beautiful, and they were also afraid of Evangeline’s cold eyes.
Evangeline smiled deeper.
“Honestly, I think Larri is more beautiful than Lady Lopez.”
Everyone went silent.
They realized Evangeline called Laritte by her nickname, ‘Larri.’
That meant Evangeline saw Laritte as someone close to her.
Seraphina trembled with anger and tears.
“Larri, how could you do this to me? I just wanted to help you. But now that you are close to Lady Claudius, you ignore me.”
She couldn’t fight Evangeline, so she tried to attack Laritte instead.
But,
“Lady Lopez, isn’t that a childish way to think?”
“L-Lady Claudius!”
“You are an adult now. Why do you still act like a child?”
Evangeline clicked her tongue.
“So immature.”
Seraphina’s face turned red with shame.
Evangeline looked at Laritte.
“I don’t want to waste my time talking to Lady Lopez. Let’s go, Larri.”
“Yes, Lady Claudius.”
Laritte smiled brightly and walked beside Evangeline.
Everyone watched them leave.
Later, in a quiet garden, Evangeline spoke shyly.
“I didn’t choose that dress because I like you. I just didn’t want the person next to me to look poor.”
She held Laritte’s hand tightly while looking away.
“So don’t leave my side. Okay?”
“Of course.”
Laritte looked at their joined hands and smiled softly.
“I only have you, Eva.”
Truly, our villainess is the best.
