Chapter 4:
“L-Lady Evelyn…”
Dahlia Hebe trembled as soon as she saw Evelyn. While Henry may have thought of Evelyn as his beloved daughter, to Dahlia, she was nothing short of terrifying.
‘Why is Lady Evelyn here…?!’
Dahlia’s eyes shook violently in shock. She had been relieved lately, having heard that Evelyn hadn’t been stepping out of the house. That’s why she’d dared to visit this boutique, a place frequently visited by Duke Henry Fraviche.
But that had been foolish.
‘I heard she’s never once come to this place before…!’
Then who was this pink-blonde villainess standing before her?
Why was the infamous villainess, cast aside by the crown prince and now a recluse, here?
Just as Dahlia had been shocked to see Evelyn, Evelyn had also widened her eyes the moment she spotted Dahlia.
But only for a second. Evelyn soon frowned, ran a hand through her hair, and muttered under her breath.
“Ha… I didn’t expect to run into her here.”
Though she spoke quietly, Dahlia heard every word loud and clear. It instantly snapped her back to her senses.
‘I need to get out of here.’
There had been a time when Dahlia, after saving up a bit of her salary, visited a luxury boutique for the first time to buy a gift for herself. Unfortunately, Evelyn had already been there when she arrived.
At that time, Evelyn didn’t even try to hide her displeasure and told the staff:
“Is Mabelle finally going downhill? The customer service is atrocious.”
Evelyn, the empire’s only duchess and raised among the wealthiest elite, hated the idea of someone like Dahlia Hebe shopping at the same store as her.
Dahlia quickly hid the hat she’d been holding behind her back and bowed deeply.
“I-I’m sorry. I’ll leave right away.”
She couldn’t afford to upset Evelyn. If she applied pressure to her father’s business again, things would become difficult. Henry was already glaring coldly at Dahlia.
Just as Dahlia turned to hurry out of the boutique, Evelyn spoke.
“It’s fine.”
“…Pardon?”
A generous statement—something no one would expect from Evelyn—came out of her mouth. She turned her back on the stunned Dahlia without repeating herself.
‘…She’s letting me go?’
She was really letting Dahlia, who dared to enter the Fraviche family’s favorite boutique, walk away?
Was she dreaming?
Regardless of Dahlia’s disbelief, Evelyn was already being guided into the VVIP room by the clerk.
“Wait for me, daughter!”
Henry, following Evelyn’s haughty back, also disappeared into the VVIP room. As Dahlia stared blankly after them, a question began to arise in her mind.
‘What’s her game?’
This was Pompose, the Fraviche family’s regular boutique. This wasn’t like her last visit to the relatively low-class Mabelle.
Maybe… she had come specifically to humiliate her?
To flaunt the wealth she had that Dahlia didn’t?
Dahlia’s eyes fell to the hat in her hand. A brimmed hat, lavishly decorated with flowers and ribbons but lacking a single gemstone.
‘…’
Her face suddenly flushed red. Everything from the hat Evelyn wore to the one she wore, from what Evelyn bought to what she bought—everything raced through her mind like a humiliating slideshow.
‘Of course. Evelyn wouldn’t have just shown up here for no reason.’
This was Fraviche’s boutique. It wouldn’t be surprising if she knew Dahlia planned to come here. She had come to mock her.
Dahlia clenched the hat in her hands. Her blank face was a stark contrast to her usual expression.
“Um, Lady Hebe. You haven’t paid for that…”
“Ah.”
The clerk’s words brought her back to her senses. The hat in her hands was now a crumpled mess.
She had gone out of her way to come to this expensive boutique to please His Majesty. She hadn’t even paid for it yet!
“…Ughhh…”
Dahlia burst into tears. She was overwhelmed by sorrow and humiliation.
‘She’s still bitter over the crown prince. That’s the only explanation.’
Bringing Duke Fraviche along and laughing joyfully despite knowing Dahlia’s family situation—how could that not be intentional?
“….”
With that thought, Dahlia glared at the VVIP room’s door and bit her lip. Then, with nothing left to lose, she crushed the hat further in her hands.
* * *
“Young Lady, a letter from the Imperial Palace has arrived.”
The next day, I received a letter from a maid.
“There’s no reason for me to get a letter.”
The maid looked just as puzzled. I told her I understood and dismissed her before turning the letter over in my hands.
‘…No way.’
I forcibly erased the one person who came to mind and opened the letter. Just as expected—it was from the crown prince.
The message was short: he had something to say and ordered me to come to the palace immediately.
“What the hell’s wrong with him.”
Sure, Evelyn may have chased after him like a puppy, but that didn’t mean I’d come running just because he called.
“Why is he calling me now?”
Evelyn would’ve been thrilled. But I was filled with unease. I had just run into Dahlia yesterday. While nothing had happened, who knew what Dahlia might have said?
I let out a long sigh.
“Ha… I was going to stay holed up at home.”
Just yesterday, I had been so peaceful and happy at home. I had gone on a fabulous shopping trip with Henry, the duke was delighted with the gift I brought him, Asil begged to go shopping with me next time, and even Douglas didn’t pick a fight.
‘I just wanted to live like this, without seeing the crown prince ever again.’
It was a bit sad, but such was the fate of my status. I called the maid back in.
“I’m going to the Imperial Palace. Get me ready.”
I entered the palace wearing a luxurious dark red dress, fur, and dazzling jewels I was debuting for the first time. As soon as I stepped into the Crown Prince’s Palace, I could feel the sharp glares directed my way.
It got worse once I entered the parlor.
Golden hair like the sun, blue eyes.
A man who looked exactly like what you’d imagine a crown prince to be—Ulysses Etoile Sandrium—looked at me with a hostile face and said:
“Lady Fraviche. Even after such disgrace, you still can’t give up on me?”
I hadn’t planned to stay long, but he didn’t even offer me a seat or tea. He just went straight in.
If I had known, I would’ve gotten in the first blow. I gave him a genuinely baffled look.
“What are you talking about?”
“I heard everything about what you did to Dahlia yesterday. Are you going to play dumb?”
What did I do? I swear I did nothing. More importantly, he was making a huge mistake.
“I don’t like you anymore, Your Highness.”
“…What?”
Ulysses’ brows furrowed even more.
To be honest, it was a bit scary seeing such a large man glaring like that. He had a sword, and I only had a fan.
“Whatever Lady Hebe told you must be a misunderstanding. Why would I still pick a fight with her if I don’t like you anymore?”
Still, I stood my ground. First, because I had the backing of the duke’s household. Second, because his mistaken belief that I still liked him was downright disgusting.
Of course, Ulysses didn’t believe me.
“Then why did you do that to Dahlia yesterday?”
“Do what?”
At this point, even I was curious. Was I not allowed to say hello to her anymore? Or was I not even allowed to shop at the same boutique?
Then, Ulysses’ answer surpassed all my expectations.
“Dahlia came home in tears yesterday with a crushed hat.”
“She cried? Crushed hat?”
“You’ve always hated her shopping at the same boutiques as you. You did it again out of spite, didn’t you?”
“Ho…”
I flicked open my fan and covered my mouth in mock admiration. A plausible theory—if only I’d actually gone to the boutique yesterday instead of the real Evelyn.
Ulysses growled at me.
“If this continues, I’ll be forced to respond firmly.”
How unfair. Why was I being treated like a stalker by a guy I didn’t even like?
Maybe Evelyn liked him, but not me. I hated men like him—rude and arrogant.
“I don’t like men like you.”
“…What?”
His face turned red.
Oops. I’d said that out loud.
But it needed to be said.
Even if I got dragged away, I had to shut this guy up.
I snapped my fan shut and drove the nail in.
“I dislike you now. I’ve realized you’re the worst possible romantic partner.”
Ulysses looked like a mess. He scowled and twitched his lips.
“Is this some reverse psychology trick? Playing hard to get?”
‘Wow. The crown prince actually knows about push and pull?’
He knows the most useless things.
And this guy was supposed to be the future of our empire? That alone made me want to start saving for emigration.
I crossed my arms and asked in disbelief.
“Do I look like I have time to play stupid games like that?”
“Yes.”
This bastard—
I was the one who asked, but I hadn’t expected that answer. Rage surged within me.
‘Do you have any idea how busy I am spending my parents’ money?’
I waved him off like I was swatting a fly.
“I don’t like people who don’t like me. Go be with Lady Hebe. Or don’t. I don’t care.”
“….”
Even though I was sincere, Ulysses still looked skeptical.
“Then why did Dahlia cry yesterday?”
Why ask me that? I frowned.
“How should I know? You’re the one dating her, not me. Ask her.”
“She won’t tell me, which is why I called you!”
Gah! His sudden shout startled me.
‘Why the hell are you yelling at me…’
Whatever Dahlia had told him, it confirmed they were two of a kind—completely in sync while treating everyone else like fools. Just like in the original story.
“Anyway, I didn’t make her cry. I’m leaving.”
“Wait!”
Ulysses grabbed my wrist just as I turned away. I tried to shake him off, but he was too strong.
“What the hell, let go!”
“It had to be you. Otherwise, Dahlia wouldn’t cry!”
“I said it wasn’t me! Let go of me, you psycho!”
No matter how hard I struggled, only the fur from my shoulders fell off. His grip was unbreakable. My wrist hurt like it was going to snap.
“Tell me the truth. You bullied Dahlia, didn’t you?”
Ulysses cornered me to the door, his face fierce.
“Ha…”
Scarier than his sword or his shouting was the fact that there was nothing I could do.
‘Damn it, I should’ve brought my mom…!’
She would’ve fought him head-on. I had no strength. Maybe I should’ve brought Douglas?
‘No, that would hurt my pride.’
I had to solve my problems myself.
I lifted my leg. If this was how it was going to go down, so be it. I was probably going to get executed for this.
‘Mom, Dad, Asil… Thanks for treating me like a daughter these past three days. And for letting me spend so much.’
I closed my eyes, drew my leg back, and kicked forward.
“Oh, Lady Fraviche. It’s been a long—”
“LET GO OF ME, YOU BASTARD!”
“Argh!”
With a dull thud, the door burst open. Ulysses released my wrist and collapsed.
Before I could even look down at him, I turned in panic.
“…Your Majesty.”
There stood the Emperor of the Empire—Frederica Orien Sandrium.
