Her words were mean, but I didn’t get as angry as I thought.

I thought of it as karma for Pernia, who had said and done mean things.

I ate from the strawberry cake on the table with a serene face.

“But what will Lord Kardien do for you even if you try to kiss him up like that? The only thing Lord Kardien spends money on is a volunteer group run by the saint.”

“That’s right. He also donated all the bonuses he received for winning the war to that volunteer organization.”

Everything was fine up to that point. However, the following words were a problem.

“Doesn’t it seem like the saint has a knack for seducing men?”

At that moment, the strawberry cake that I was bringing to my mouth stopped in the air.

Erica’s eyes flashed at my reaction. Like a hunter who succeeded in baiting a prey.

Erica began to speak excitedly to the women around her.

“You all remember Lady Pernia’s engagement ceremony, right? The Crown Prince took the saint’s hand and disappeared. Lord Kardien, who doesn’t even talk to other people, is stuck on the saint. His Majesty, the Emperor, is also famous for favoring the saint.”

The women began to make a commotion at Erica’s words.

“And, every time my brother sees the saint, he would have this star-struck look on his face.”

“So does my younger brother.”

Each woman began to tell a series of stories about men around her who had lost their heart to the saint.

Naturally, there is not just one or two people that have fallen for her.

Estelle is the world’s most charming lady with the heroine buffs.

But the women, who do not know that, concluded that her charm was something vicious.

“If she didn’t plan to seduce all those men, how does it all make sense?”

“I know. At this point, I think we should suspect her saintness. It’s not God’s protection, it’s the protection of the opposite sex.”

Erica continued with a contemptuous look.

“What a vulgar girl.”

That one word was crucial.

This was the limit I could bear.

Even though she is the villainous’s supporting friend, I couldn’t let them say such a thing about the good female lead.

“Lady Erica.”

It was only two words, but it was enough to shut the mouths of the women who were making a lot of noise.

The women looked at me with big eyes.

Among them was Erica.

Erica shook her eyes a little as soon as she made eye contact with me, but she soon straightened her face.

Like there’s no reason to be scared by someone like me.

“What is it, Lady Pernia?”

She had an arrogant face, full of ambition to crush me.

Doing this is worth it.

Because all the aristocratic ladies who had followed me were passed on to her.

However, there was one thing she didn’t know.

The world’s most evil woman is not her, but me.

I don’t have the charm to melt people’s hearts with just a glance like Estelle, the ability to fight tens of thousands of enemies like Lucian, or the charisma to make a person’s knees boil without saying anything like Carlix.

But there was one outstanding ability that no one could match.

It was the ability to bring down extra characters.

“Will you shut your mouth? My cake doesn’t taste good anymore.”

With that, Erica looked as if she had been smacked with a cake. Her exposed shoulders trembled.

Erica struggled to regain her composure. It was thanks to the eyes of all the ladies looking at her.

But with their support, Erica opened her mouth with a face full of energy.

“Lady Pernia, I don’t think you understand the situation. No one is on your side right now-“

There’s no reason to listen to her further, so I cut her off like a knife.

“I know that everything is going very well. Lady Erica is talking about her engagement to Marquis Garthian these days, right? But if there is a rumor that we fought, pulling our hair in the banquet hall, will I be in trouble? Or will the lady?”

Erica could not say anything with a pale face, signaling that my attack worked.

I surveyed Erica and the women around her. The women that met my eyes flinched. Some avoided eye contact and focused on the floor.

It was like a frightened mouse in front of a cat.

“When you’re going to make noise, watch your opponent. That’s a must-have virtue to be an elegant lady.”

Ending my statement, I raised one corner of my mouth.

Because that way, it’s more evil.

* * *

When I left the mansion, I saw Lucian waiting for me.

Lucian, who approached me, asked me with a serious face.

“Did something happen at the banquet?”

“No. Why?”

“The faces of the ladies coming out of the mansion are all pale. I was worried because they had the same faces as the soldiers when the monsters appear on the battlefield.”

Goodness, there’s nothing this man can’t say.

I smiled innocently at Lucian as if nothing had happened.

“Maybe my makeup is falling off. It’s manners to pretend they didn’t see it.”

“Oh, I see.”

Lucian opened his eyes wide and nodded as if he had never thought about that.

The moment I held his hand and tried to get into the carriage, my eyes met with Erica’s in the distance.

I knew that she would tail me, but unexpectedly, she bit her lips and stared straight at me.

Her burning eyes showed her willingness to do something crazy.

That’s ominous…

I sat in the carriage and thought carefully about the story ahead.

After a while, I opened my mouth and said,

“Oh, Lord Kardien, there’s a banquet in the imperial court in a month, right?”

“Yes, there’s a birthday banquet for the Crown Prince.”

Yeah, this is it.

Carlix’s birthday in a month.

An event breaks out at a banquet featuring a large number of small characters along with the trio of main characters.

The saint mockery event.

The aristocratic ladies, including Pernia, make fun of Estelle’s shabby appearance at the banquet.

The sight of Estelle insulted by people made Carlix angry.

That day, he trampled on the people who bullied Estelle.

What’s the point of showing up late and with a dirty appearance?

You were slapped on the face ten times and splashed with a bowl of water. You think

he’ll like to see you show up and look like that?

The same with Lucian.

However, the male lead came too late and the second male lead was absent from the party to avoid Estelle.

You incompetent second male lead.

Lucian seems to have felt the worry in my eyes with a keen sense like an animal. He asked me carefully, looking at my eyes.

“Lady Pernia, did I do something wrong?”

You’ll do it in the future.

I looked at him with narrow eyes and said,

“I can’t help but think.”

“What?”

I didn’t want to get involved with Estelle.

Many incidents made her suffer, but at the same time, her relationship with the male lead became stronger.

But…..

For this time, I should take the lead instead of those two frustrating men.

The solution is to look like a noble lady.

I asked Lucian, who looked at me with anxious eyes.

“Lord Kardien, we haven’t been seeing each other for long, but do you agree that we’ve managed to build a good relationship of trust?”

Lucian’s eyes grew bigger as if he had heard something unexpected.

His ears soon turned red.

He shyly nodded as if he had heard a confession.

“Yes, I think so.”

That was the answer I wanted.

I quickly got to the opposite seat, and moved closer to Lucian’s side.

“So,”

Lucian was close enough to hear his breathing.

I could feel his nervousness but I whispered in his ear without hesitation.

Because it’s very private.

“Can you lend me some money?”

“Huh?”

Lucian opened his eyes as if he had heard something he had never heard before.

I had to fight for Estelle, but I have no bullet.

A few days ago, I spent all my money buying Lucian’s clothes.

Right in front of me is someone who can easily fill me with bullets.

Of course, it’s hard to lend money to others when you just have a casual relationship.

Like Pernia, who has no personal connections with him at all.

So Lucian’s lengthened silence made me a little uneasy.

What if he doesn’t want to lend money? Should I go around and do a talent show? I don’t think that will make much. If it doesn’t work, let’s steal the emergency money that father has hidden among fairy tales.

I had to think of cruel methods.

“Okay. Please tell me the amount you need and I’ll take care of it.”

My eyes glistened at his answer.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Wow!”

I didn’t expect you to say yes so easily.

I calculated the required amount with an excited face.

It doesn’t matter that he is my fiancé and a rich knight, the weight of the borrowed money is enormous.

I should only borrow the amount I need, not too much.

Let me see. First, Estelle’s dress, accessories, and shoes. I could do her makeup…..

Thinking about the brand and design that would suit Estelle, I couldn’t contain my excitement.

Nothing in the world was more pleasant than embellishing a naturally beautiful woman.

But I heard a troubled voice in my ear.

It was Lucian.

”Lady Pernia.”

“Yes?”

“How long will you stay like this?”

“Ah.”

Only then did I realize how shocking my position was.

After pushing him to the back of the chair, I had him trapped on one side with an arm.

Looking down at him with raised eyes.

It was a pose that matched well to the saying,

Every time a gold coin comes out of the pocket, you get a beating. (T/N: there is a comment below explaining this if you are confused!)

I fell away from him with great surprise.