Survive As the Villain’s Cousin - Chapter 9

I couldn’t stop sighing.

The duke left without looking back to see if I had finished what I had to say.

There was a tranquil stillness in the greenhouse.

I didn’t know what the twins were thinking, but my head was already pounding.

Anyway, I’m being forced to participate.

***

Since the morning, the duke has been busy.

When I woke up, I got a bath with flowers and a full body massage… A lot of hands touched me.

It was the first time I had ever experienced such a luxury.

It felt good at first, but by the time I was tired of the endless care, the dress arrived.

The maids carefully helped me put on the dress. Contrary to my expectation that the waist would be small, the size was just right.

“Wow! So pretty.”

“It looks good on you.”

The large ribbon on the waist was an ivory-colored crinoline dress.

It was made of silk, but there was a subtle luster, and a translucent lace wrapped around the skirt, creating a cute look.

In particular, the warm ivory color went well with my hair color, which was a progressive color.

“If I did this color in the hair salon, I would regret that I bleached my hair at least three times and drained it in a week.”

It was not as intense as the twins, but it’s a color that I’ve never tried in my previous life, so I was happy.

‘It’s like a wedding dress.’

There was a light dress to wear for the tea party, but it was my first time wearing a formal dress.

It looked like a wedding dress with ivory and lace. It’s up to the neck, so the exposure coverage is zero.

As I was admiring the dress, Chelsea, the maid next to me, made a shocking remark.

“This is the dress the Duke prepared.”

“This dress? The Duke?”

I asked with a question mark on my head.

Of course, I didn’t have a dress to wear to the prince’s party, but I was thinking of borrowing Ariel’s dress.

“Yes, I understand that Ariel told the Duke that he needed to get your dress.”

“I see. I should thank Ariel.”

Chelsea caught exactly which part I was curious about and gave me the answer I wanted.

Of course. I nodded and went out to say thank you to Ariel when I heard Chelsea say something.

“But the Duke chose the dress himself, so why don’t you say thank you to him?”

“The Duke himself?”

That was the funniest joke I’ve ever heard this year. Haha…is that true?

When I looked at Chelsea doubting my ears, I nodded silently.

Well, it’s from the competent Chelsea, so it can’t be a lie.

How should I react? The Duke himself went to the salon and picked out a dress. It’s funny just imagining it!

Knock, knock, knock.

As I was thinking about how to thank the Duke, I heard a knock.

It was so obvious who was coming, so I asked him to come in without asking who it was.

“Hey! Are you ready?”

“Have you eaten, sister?”

It was the twins.

As soon as they came in, the calm atmosphere disappeared and it quickly became noisy.

“Wow! You’re so pretty!”

“My sister has always been beautiful.”

“That’s true, but it’s the first time I’ve seen sister dressed up like this!”

“She’s definitely pretty, but she looks the best today.”

“Yes! I’m sure you will be the prettiest person at the party today!”

These guys…I raised them well.

Of course, I knew I wasn’t going to be the prettiest person at the party.

First of all, the flower of the Empire in the novel is Ariel!

With her gorgeous appearance and seductive atmosphere, she even became famous in other countries because of her beauty.

However, I also knew that the twins were saying this sincerely.

Why not? My friend looks prettier and more handsome than a stranger passing by.

I guess you’re praising me like this because you have a look full of love in your eyes.

“Thank you. Ariel and Erial are also dazzling today!”

“Really? That’s a relief. I was wondering if you’d like it.”

“Ariel is always number one in my heart.”

“What about me, sister?”

“Of course you’re tied for first.”

But it was no joke. Both of them were amazing.

Ariel wore a dark green dress and looked like a gorgeous rose while Erial wore a neat black tailcoat with eyecatching red cufflinks.

“The carriage is ready.”

While both of them were shouting and arguing who was number one, the butler waited for the carriage and came to call us.

The Duke’s people are competent. They have the sense to prepare without being instructed to do so!

I thanked them and got on the carriage.

“I’m a little excited. It’s my first time going to the palace.”

Realizing that it was a novel, I was always anxious to avoid the death flag.

The time with the twins was fun.

I felt sorry for them, and I sincerely loved and cared for them because I didn’t want them to live like in the novel.

Because the twins loved me as much as I loved them.

However, there was occasional anxiety.

What if the novel I read is their fate and I can’t change it no matter how hard I struggle?

Is it because of a foreign entity called “I” that interferes with their future?

I had questioned myself, soo I haven’t taken a step out of the duke’s residence so far.

Even though I’ve been to tea parties they were small like a kids game by the Duke, so I’ve never shown my face in social circles or official events.

Today was the first day I went out into the world.

‘I thought I would be watching from outside when the novel began someday. I think I can see the male lead’s face before the novel starts like this!’

I was scared and excited.

It’s already been seventeen years since I was reborn. To be honest, in a world where there’s no entertainment for seventeen years, I would last for so long if I stayed with the Duke. Now that I’m attending the crown prince’s birthday party, I’ll have to start going out and visit places.

I was dazed by the chatter of the twins that it sounded like background music, but the carriage arrived at the palace in no time. The servant opened the carriage door, and my escort was the Duke.

‘I never imagined that the Duke would escort me.’

When it was confirmed that I would go to the party, the twins fought over who would escort me. The duke who heard the disturbance neatly organized it after the fierce battle.

‘I’ll do it.’

The twins’ faces who were shocked by the Duke’s declaration were still vivid in my mind.

That night, I overheard the twins trying to organize an operation, to see if it was too late to take an escort from the Duke.

Let’s take turns instead of losing to the Duke.

“The Duke of Ardentine and Lady Sernia are entering!”

The twins’ names were also called, and we entered with the full attention of the party.

‘It’s eye-catching.’

It was burdensome because it was my first time receiving a lot of attention.

I understood the celebrity’s feelings on the red carpet photo line. Better than them, at least there’s no flash. I was so nervous that I walked carefully in case I stepped on the hem of my dress.

“Straighten your back. There’s nothing here that you can fear.”

Maybe my trembling was delivered through my hand.

The duke, as usual, uttered in an indifferent, dry voice.

But when I heard that phrase, I magically became relaxed.

The hand that held me was firm, so I became determined.

“Yes, it’s reassuring to be with the Duke.”

I said with a straightforward smile.

“By the way, how long will you…”

“Your Majesty and the Crown Prince are entering.”

Unlike other nobles, the magnificent sound of horns rang out, and when the servant’s words ceased, all the nobles in the hall knelt down.

“I see the glory of the empire, the descendants of the sun, His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Everyone, raise your head!”

It was my first official event, but I was educated about how the event would go. It was like a school ordinance. Next, there will be a speech from the principal.

“Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to those of you who gathered to celebrate the Crown Prince’s birthday.”

How many times will the emperor mention ‘last’?

I smiled softly at the emperor who looked like a principal with a bulging belly.

No, Sernia. If you laugh here, you’re going to die. Suppress your laughter.

I tried hard to look away. If I kept thinking the emperor looked like a principal, I would burst into laughter without realizing it.

‘The Crown Prince…’

Why didn’t I see that face?

I want to ignore it, but I can’t!

I finally looked at the face of the prince who was standing calmly beside the emperor.

‘He’s really good-looking. The male lead halo is no joke.’

There was a part where the writer described the prince’s appearance on more than one page.

To be honest, when expressing a unique face, each is different, but the description of a handsome man is the same everywhere.

What about the sharp nose and sharp jawline?

I laughed at him saying that the praise of the male lead’s beauty was the same here as well.

‘Thank you, writer. Thank you so much for expressing it with such great care.’

He was a male protagonist with the same description as a book, as if the world’s implementation was very good.

Silver-blonde hair which dazzled like diamonds. His golden eyes, which were brighter than the stars, were both unique and perfect.

‘Look at that white skin. If it were me, my face would already be glowing.’

Honestly, compared to Erial, the prince is a little more handsome.

“Lastly, everyone please enjoy the party.”

When the loud laughter of the emperor ended, he sat down, and only the crown prince stood.

What are you doing standing alone?

“Sister, hide behind Father.”

“Huh? Why?”

Ariel who was behind me whispered, pulling my arm slightly.

“The prince doesn’t have a fiance yet, so he’s looking for a dance partner. If he sees you, he will definitely ask for a dance, so quickly hide behind Father.”

“You don’t have to worry about that… No. You come here, too.”

There are so many beautiful women at this party that the Crown Prince can’t ask me to dance, that would be crazy! But Ariel was different. From the moment she appeared at the party, she received everyone’s attention, so the crown prince might ask for a dance.

‘It didn’t describe it in the novel, but I don’t want you to fall in love while dancing.’

I was hiding behind the duke and whispering, and then Erial approached me.

“Sister, would you like to dance with me?”

“No!”

Ariel quickly blocked me before I even opened my mouth.

Erial was still smiling, but his eyes were not.