Chapter 16

Should I refuse to attend the party? That seemed the most realistic option.

However, it was hosted by the Royal Palace.

The Royal Family of the Basilios Empire would host a party once in the spring and once in the fall. As it was a large-scale party, not only did aristocrats but also very wealthy commoners were able to attend the party. At such a place, there were very few complaints that the fiancee of the Crown Prince could use to avoid attending the party. Not to mention, rumors of their marriage announcement must have spread throughout society because of Ian, but the fiance didn’t show up to the party. The humiliation Ian would feel as he stood on the platform would be beyond words.

……Oh, that might actually be alright.

“Yona.”

I had opened my mouth abruptly, but Yona replied calmly.

“Yes, milady.”

“Break my leg. Enough so I won’t be able to dance.”

“That’s impossible, milady.”

“Then I want to sit in a tub full of ice water with all the windows open.”

“You will have to attend even if you catch a cold, milady.”

“I really want to jump out.”

“Please don’t die, and rather kill.”

As I spat out nonsense half-consciously, the maid, who was rather apt, had a high EQ, and the definition of cynicism responded right on point without even batting an eye.

Damn it. I want to kill him too.

However, I couldn’t. There wasn’t an assassination guild that would be able to take in a request as big as the assassination of the Crown Prince.

Unless I made a mess of the party shamelessly, it was definite that I would be within Ian’s hand. In any case, I couldn’t avoid the party.

In the end, all I could do was grip my fist tightly and quietly punch my pillow.

2 weeks till the party. I felt as though I had received a notice of my death, and I resolved to use the rest of the time to find a way to spread rumors that would humiliate Ian at the party.

In retrospect, I think I made a mistake. Because I was so involved in humiliating him that I forgot what had happened at the ‘Spring Party’ in the novel.

***

“Please pick out the worst of my dresses. Ah, just cut holes off a potato sack for my arms and legs.”

“Please calm down, Milady.”

“I am very calm right now.”

I raised the corners of my mouth smoothly and said,

Usually, when choosing an outfit for a party like the Spring Party, it was normal to reserve an order for the dress to designers. Otherwise, there were people who would invite a foreign designer in the lands far, far away, and wear their creations. The Spring Party was important enough for them to go through all that trouble.

However, it was merely a chance for me to prepare for humiliation.

“Think about it. What can I wear to make Ian, who already hates me, hate me even more, such that he wouldn’t even say a thing about marriage?”

In my excited voice, Yona replied coldly.

“You’re not some child. Only milady’s reputation will fall to the very bottom.”

“It’s already the bottom. There’s no way to go any further.”

“……When a person falls, there’s. no. limit. That’s the law.”

At the voice that I heard suddenly, my mood grew filthy as I turned around.

Jake who was wearing his dark robe was clicking his tongue.

“Dear crazy younger brother, who asked you to follow your older sister all the way to the store to help pick out her dress? If you dare say it’s because you wanted to, I’ll make sure your left molar and your right will fall out like popcorn pops.”

I said in the perfect elegant attitude of an aristocratic lady, while Jake smiled beautifully as he gave me his middle finger.

“You think I…… am here because I want to.”

“Indeed, no matter how I think of it, Ian probably ordered you to make sure your older sister doesn’t do anything foolish.”

“That’s right-.”

“Yes, so you’re Ian’s minion.”

I neatly ignored Jake who let out a groan that sounded as if he was gritting his teeth and picked up any dress, held it up to myself, and looked at my reflection.