CH 16.10

“Pfft, my husband is a bit of a joker.”

The couple was so adorable that it made even the most casual onlooker smile.

Everyone was looking at them in wonder. Eventually, the music slowed down to match the rain.

Placing her hands on Lucas’s shoulders, Lila swayed in step with him. With his hands firmly around her waist, he kissed her forehead.

There were sighs around them, but they didn’t hear them.

“Not a bad rainy night, I’m sure Michael is sleeping well.”

“Not tired?”

“A little tired, but I don’t mind spending the night with you.”

It was nothing compared to the year before, when he had to spend the Autumn Ball alone.

“Every time I call you that, I feel so…”

Lucas said, his lips brushing against Lila’s ear, who was lost in thought and soaking up the languid mood of the moment.

“I’m hooked.”

The low, hushed tone of his voice sent a shiver down Lila’s spine. It was a familiar, learned, sweet tension, but not now.

“Don’t!”

“What?”

Moving in slow circles, Lila stomped on Lucas’s foot, and he smiled, his expression not changing in the slightest.

His long lips drew deep arcs. A tear mole standing out at the corner of his eyes, which were folded together.

Lila, who had been careful to leave the tear streaks in her makeup, was stunned by his smile.

Normally, she’d think, ‘He’s got a great smile,’ but now his smile was so seductive it was almost harmful to her heart.

His dimple, deep on one side, also flew into her eyes. Lila blushed bright red and lowered her eyes to the ground.

“Hmm, why do you look like that?”

“What did I do?”

Lucas chuckled at her flustered expression. Lucas’s eyes softened as he listened to the gentle melody and the happiness on her face.

* * *

Lila went to the break room to touch up her makeup. She was tired and wanted to fall asleep on the couch in the common room.

“Haha, just a little while longer, I have to pick up Michael…”

Taking her secret pouch from her ring, Lila pulled out what she wanted and touched up her makeup.

“I’ve been wearing makeup for so long, and it’s not even smudged. The main character buff, is really scary.”

Come to think of it, even when she wore ugly makeup, it never seemed to smudge or run. (T/N: expect, apparently, when you fell on the water during the hunting tourney.)

“It’s finally starting to sink in that I’m a natural beauty…”

Her current situation felt like a dream. She could decorate her face as she pleased and dance at banquets with the people she loved…

“It’s perfect…”

Lila grinned, feeling like all her hard work was finally paying off.

Leaving the common room, Lila turned to head back down the hallway to the greenhouse, only to be stopped by Charlotte, who was blocking the entrance to the greenhouse.

Her golden eyes were filled with hostility, and Lila twisted her lips in displeasure.

It was the last day of the Autumn Ball, and everyone was either dozing or chatting on the couches.

The emperor, empress, and Crown Prince had already left. Before dawn, it was tradition to retire to the prayer chamber reserved for royalty and offer prayers to Lupus.

When the chamberlain announced that the prayers were over, it meant that the Autumn Ball was safely over, and the nobles could return home.

A gentle melody drifted across the entrance.

“Who the hell do you think you are?”

Charlotte, who had already made sure the corridor was deserted, asked sharply. It was bad enough that she was ugly, but the makeup she wore made her look suspicious.

She’d been staring at Lucas the entire ball and couldn’t help but notice that Lila’s make-up was very familiar.

It was the kind of make-up she’d always worn when she was Jin Yura.

At Charlotte’s question, Lila only raised an eyebrow. Charlotte grabbed her arm roughly as she tried to walk past without answering.

“I asked you a question!”

Charlotte growled, but not quite loud enough to be heard outside.

“Do I have to answer if you ask?”

The grip on her arm hurt. Lila glared, eyes full of displeasure, and swatted Charlotte’s hand away.

“Ha!”

Charlotte, who had been hit fairly hard, let out a hollow laugh. She glared back at Lila, but not for long.

Even to the eyes of others, Lila’s figure was incomparably beautiful. Charlotte couldn’t help but look at Lila in admiration as usual. She could feel it herself.

‘I’ve been pushed aside.’

She lived hearing the sound of being called a queen in high society. The only pleasure she could find in this boring place different from Korea was the enjoyment of ruling a noble society.

Especially in the empire of Vassium, where lookism is a serious problem, Charlotte was able to win over the nobility with her looks and natural acting skills.

But it all seemed to come crashing down. If she could just get Lucas out of the way, she could reclaim her place as a heroine, but with Lila right in front of her, she had an uneasy premonition that it would be impossible.

Bewildered, confused, anxious, and jealous, Charlotte suddenly snapped.

“I know you, I know you so well. You know, the ones who go around pretending to know, pretending to be nice, pretending to be amicable.”

Lila’s eyes sparked at the mention of pretence. It also reminded her of Jin Yura.

“How do you know if I’m being nice? You don’t know anything about me. Why don’t you stop being such a narcissist, stealing my tears in front of everyone and pretending to be nice for who knows who?”

“Ha! Let’s see, if this isn’t putting on a good face, what is? Isn’t this who you really are? People are going to be so disappointed when people find out.”

Leaving Lila to her excitement, Charlotte unfolded the fan. As she waved it gently, she calmed herself.

‘This is what I have to show people. Yeah, you can’t help it,’ she thought, and turned to the greenhouse door.

Should I open it, so Lucas can hear her gossiping, and he’ll be disappointed?

Charlotte was relentlessly rolling her head when Lila mercilessly scolded her.

“What does it matter to me if people are disappointed?”

Charlotte’s eyes widened at the calmness of Lila’s voice, which should have agitated her.

Lila snorted in mockery.

“You and the other nobles are mistaken. What are you going to do when you’re disappointed? After all your time in society, you still don’t understand how the nobility works? Even the most outwardly successful Imperials get into arranged marriages, organize business by rank, and take sides. You didn’t know that, did you? As Michael said, you’re not as bright as you think you are.”

Her tone was so calm that she didn’t immediately follow what she was saying. It wasn’t until later that Charlotte, with her temper flaring, spoke up.

“You must be mistaken, social circles are divided by appearance.”

Charlotte’s lecturing tone made Lila smile.

“Ah, and that’s even less relevant to me?”

Having spent most of Lila’s years as an ugly girl, Charlotte was inclined to look down on the beautiful Lila out of habit.

But Lila’s imposing reply left her speechless and shivering.

Lila laughed at Charlotte.

“That’s right. And will you please be respectful in the future? Don’t you think it’s a bit much for you to only show up when people aren’t around and make half-assed comments? Charlotte Pinatelli, you…”

Lila said coldly, her eyes scanning Charlotte from head to toe in the way she often did with Lila.

“I don’t think so.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Lila turned her back. Then Charlotte, who lost her mind, rushed in.

She clawed at Lila’s shoulder, spun her around, and slapped her across the cheek with her fist.

SLAP!

There was a sound like a bone breaking. Lila was momentarily dazed by the pain that shook her vision.

But then Charlotte’s hand came up and Lila grabbed it roughly.

Charlotte’s eyes widened like a madwoman as Lila grabbed her wrist and she screamed at the top of her lungs.

“Who do you think you are to judge me, you little shit!”

Lila, completely out of her element, joined in.

“Then what the hell did I do for you to despise me so much!”

Shaking off Lila’s hand, Charlotte raised her hand in the air once more. But before she could, Lila struck.

SLAP-!

Charlotte’s cheeks were slapped hard, and Lila’s mouth twisted as she let out a short breath.

As Charlotte turned her head away in disbelief, Lila struck her opposite cheek once more.

SLAP, SLAP, SLAP!

Charlotte shuddered and covered her face as she was slapped back to back.

She had never been beaten before, and now she was in a state of panic. Her pride was tattered, and the pain on her cherished face made her head spin.

Charlotte, who had lived her life on pride and looks, blocked Lila’s wrist from another blow and shoved her away.

Lila was shoved backwards and slammed into the entrance door. Lila collapsed through the wide-open doorway.

Forgetting that this was a ball, Lila wanted to release all the anger she’d been holding in.

It was ridiculous, she thought, but Charlotte looked just like Jin Yura. The same cheesy Jin Yura who had crushed her body in front of the truck and tried to run away by herself.

“You ugly girl!”

The gentle music was interrupted. The people who were trying to fight off their drowsiness jerked their heads up and stretched their backs at the sudden noise.

They looked up to see Charlotte climbing on top of Lila, who was sprawled on the floor like jewels scattered about.

The nobles froze, forgetting to laugh at the improbable fight.

On the ground, Lila didn’t bend. Instead, her eyes shone and she slapped Charlotte across the cheek.

* * *

After praying together in the prayer chamber reserved for the royal family, Lucas stepped outside and bowed to the Emperor and Empress.

Tired as they were, the Emperor and Empress nodded and left without another word.

Lucas turned away from the stinging gaze, and Theobald, who was glaring at him like he was going to burn him, lifted one corner of his mouth in anticipation.

“It is scandalous that you should lure an unsuspecting woman with your rhetoric.”

“What do you mean I seduced my wife with?”

“If not, she wouldn’t have chosen you.”

Well, you’re only seeing what you can see.

The person I was thinking of was someone who thinks just like me.