“I’ll escort you to the birthday party this time.” Said Lucian.

I was so surprised that my eyes nearly popped out.

Because originally, he didn’t attend the Crown Prince’s banquet.

With his hatred of crowds, he rarely attended social functions in the first place. Besides, it wasn’t just anyone’s banquet. It was the party of his love rival, the Prince.

Above all, Estelle, who he wanted to avoid so much, would attend.

His heart would ache just from seeing her.

I was confused.

‘If you come, you’ll figure out that the friend I told you about was Estelle.’

I didn’t mean to keep it a secret forever, however, I didn’t want him to find out so quickly.

My mouth felt shriveled.

But Lucian relentlessly drove home the knife.

“That should be fine, right, Lady Pernia?”

He’s my fiance.

If one’s fiance asked to attend an official event alongside her, there was no reason to refuse.

I awkwardly smiled as I replied, sweat beading on my back.

“Of course it’s fine.”

It’s not fine at all.

It’s not fine!

────── 〔✿〕──────

The day of the Crown Prince’s 18th birthday banquet had arrived.

It was a rarity for a royal such as Carlix to not be engaged after all this time.

But as of yet, he had not been able to find a suitable candidate to become his Crown Princess.

Secretly, today’s banquet was an event to remedy this.

‘The goal is obvious just by looking at the number of young, unmarried noblewomen who’ve been invited.’

So the unwed young aristocratic ladies prepared for their chance today with gusto.

Their chance to seduce the prince.

‘They say all the dress shops in the capital had some of the highest sale rates ever recorded. Even a young lady of a minor noble family ordered a dress so expensive it certainly placed a sizable dent in the household’s fortune.’ 

I felt sorry for all of them.

Because I know that no matter how beautiful they were, the Crown Prince would not give a moment’s attention to anyone but Estelle.

Knowing this, I  was quite satisfied with the look of my dress.

The design of Chanel’s dress was just right.

Of course, the dress’s design and craftsmanship was pretty good, but it looked somewhat lacking.

No matter how you looked at it, it seemed intermediate at best.

It might very well pale in comparison to the dresses others would wear to the gala.

‘It’s perfect to be seen but not noticed.’

It was not good to stand out and fall into Carlix’s sights or be the center of conversation.

However, contrary to my satisfaction Anne looked very upset. She brushed my hair and pouted like a duck.

“I understand you got a lower quality dress to save money, but this kind of style does not suit you.”

She was very resentful of the design.

The dress was pastel sky blue with an overall cloud-like aura.

But it couldn’t be helped, it was the perfect dress to match Estelle’s.

This type of style suited Estelle perfectly, but it didn’t suit me. I looked like I had accidently taken someone else’s clothes.

“You can’t even have a lot of makeup on to balance it out because of the design. Your charm is your smoky eye look that makes you stand out…Can’t you change to a different dress?”

Seeing as Anne, who was always very dutiful towards me, felt strongly enough to speak out, I suppose I must not look particularly good.

But Anne, never was there a day I needed to cast aside my “bad girl” makeup and intricate dresses as today.

Because today…

‘Estelle is the main character!’

When I thought of Estelle wearing her completed dress, my nose felt as if it would spout a crimson waterfall.

She would be stunning.

‘All the women who originally snickered at Estelle, joking about whether or not she had picked up some rags from a beggar would be shut up. It’s so much fun just to think about!’

I’m sure it’d be the same for Carlix.

The male lead, who so far has denied his feelings for her, would not be able to resist sweeping Estelle off her feet and professing his love.

The thought of witnessing that made me feel giddy.

“My lady, Lord Kardien has arrived.”

It would be a positively honey-drenched climax of the story, if only he wasn’t coming.

When Lucian appeared in a scene, the genre of the novel took a sharp turn…More precisely, rather than a romance it would turn into a melodrama, if not horror.

I was still worried about his reaction once he found out I was close with Estelle, but now I had a bigger concern.

Would he be able to withstand the sight of Carlix and Estelle, who was more beautiful than ever, together?

‘Is he going to snap today?’ 

(PR: Turn yandere.)

I bit my lip, troubled, recalling the terrible way things panned out originally.

But when I saw Lucian entering the room, my brain short circuited and I could do nothing but let my jaw go slack, sporting a very silly expression.

“Are you ready, Lady Pernia?”

“….”

“Lady Pernia?”

“……..”

Oh, what, um, excuse me….

‘Are you perhaps trying to seduce Carlix today as well?’

Today, Lucian looked amazing enough for that crazy idea to actually work.

A black suit with a very well tailored fit, silver hair that shone even more in the light and alluring red eyes.

That’s cheating.

I managed to clear my throat before I was caught redhanded receiving such a devastating blow to my aesthetic senses.

“You’re wearing what I gave you?”

“Yes, I’m wearing it today.”

Lucian eyes curved and he added.

“Does it look good?”

(PR: literally “Does it look shiny/sparkly and pretty?”)

So good!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It looked so good I thought I would lose my mind and go off the deep end myself.

(PR: Meaning Pernia might go Yandere as well.)

I didn’t answer, but I guess he took my flapping mouth, frantic nodding and reverent expression as a yes.

Lucian smiled, as if satisfied, and held out his hand.

“That’s a relief. Then, let’s go.”

 ────── 〔✿〕──────

Peek.

Then turn away.

Peek.

Then I turned my eyes away again.

I tried to completely turn my head away, but I peeked again almost immediately.

‘Hmph. It seems my eyes follow my instincts very well.’

No matter how much I tried to restrain myself, I couldn’t help looking at Lucian. It was like an instinct.

What was even crazier was his smile whenever our eyes met.

“·······!”

Whenever he laughed, my heart seemed to divide into a million thudding units.

(PR: lit. “split into nano units”)

‘What the hell is wrong with me?’

It was definitely different from usual.

The black suit. I wanted to see him in it, so he wore it. But what the hell is that smile?

It was completely different from his usual subtle and immaculate smile.

His eyes also seemed suggestively curved…

‘He seems to be flirting with me!’

I felt like a rich wife.

But in actuality, I was a poor fiancee who only borrowed money.

I shook my head as hard as I could.

‘Don’t delude yourself. Even though he’s flirting with you, his partner won’t be you, but Estelle.’

He must know Estelle was coming to the banquet today.

It’s more believable that he wore such an outfit because he wanted to look good to her.

Even so, it was really surprising.

He was in such a hurry to avoid her, but now he seems determined to confidently face her.

‘Then, wouldn’t it be okay to talk about Estelle?’

I guess it wouldn’t be such a taboo topic to bring up before him as before.

Thus, I carefully opened my mouth.

“Lord Kardien, you know my friend I told you about the other day?”

“Yes.”

“Actually, it’s Estelle. The saintess.”

How will he react?

Would he doubt that I became friends with Estelle?

Or would he deny it, because he couldn’t accept it?

But contrary to my careeming thoughts, his response was calm.

“I see,” He even looked somewhat disinterested.

“Did you happen to know?”

“……Yes.’

“How?”

“…I heard from Paul.”

‘Who is Paul?’

It wasn’t until much later I remembered his aide, whom I had forgotten due to his lack of appearances lately.

‘But how does he know about my relationship with Estelle? Did he see us together?’

Come to think of it, I had been walking arm in arm in the city with Estelle several times, so it wouldn’t be odd if he had seen us.

It was no longer a secret, but Lucian’s reaction was too calm.

‘Is it really okay if I get close to the woman you love?’

I couldn’t help but look at Lucian, and as I did he spoke.

“Lady Pernia, you seem completely different today.”

“Oh, you noticed?”

Well, it seems it wasn’t just Anne who noticed my style was different from usual.

I answered with an awkward smile.

“I changed my style a little.”

I thought the conversation would end there, but Lucian asked.

“Why?”

I was a little flustered by the unexpected question.

It would take too long to tell the whole story about this dress.

So I found the easiest answer and replied.

“I thought this would be prettier.”

Lucian’s gaze, which had been nothing but loving, flickered stormy for just a moment.

I smoothed my expression.

“Do I look that bad?”

“No, you don’t….”

Lucian sighed somewhat irritatedly, and swept his silver hair aside.

After that, he didn’t talk about my dress anymore. As if he was trying to avoid a difficult conversation.

No matter how bad I look today, that kind of reaction is too mean!

I was only human so I was very hurt by his reaction, and I turned away from him.

But my body betrayed me quickly and I looked back at him again.

Hmph. The eyeballs that are faithful to their impulses sometimes make their master miserable.

────── 〔✿〕──────

Presently, we arrived at the Imperial City.

As soon as I entered the glamorously gold-adorned banquet hall I felt many eyes on us.

Some people even stumbled and staggered.

It was because of my fiance’s breathtaking beauty.