“Oh, greetings Lord Kardien.”

“It is my first time seeing you present at a banquet. I’m extremely glad you could come.”

“By chance, do you remember me? I was in attendance at your engagement ceremony.”

Like moths drawn to the flame, countless people, regardless of age or gender, flocked to Lucian’s side.

‘Hey. I’m also here.’

However, it seems I didn’t even enter their line of sight.

While it was a little annoying to be treated as a passing apparition, on the other hand, I was pleased.

‘It’s nice to see my favorite character being loved.’ 

Of course, contrasting the joy in my heart, Lucian’s face was a little stiff due to being boxed in by people. It was a pity.

‘He’s so pretty.’

He didn’t like people’s attention on him. To be precise, he felt burdened by it. Even though he was a man imbued with all the beauty the world could offer.

It was the result of his poor childhood, during which he was often bullied for the hue of his eyes.

<Don’t look at me. If they see my eyes, they’ll hit me.>

<No one will ever like me.>

Even now, after becoming the Empire’s greatest knight, the bitterness of his youth still remained.

‘As he was the second male lead, whose charm laid in his hard-working nature, it would be nice if he could cultivate some more self-confidence.’

Be pompous, say things like, ‘You don’t like me? You dare? To me?’ to the heroine who rejected you.

“What are you up to?”

Ah, speaking of a monkey in a suit who would say exactly that.

Prince Carlix had arrived.

As soon as the male lead appeared, his oppressive presence radiated out.

The people chatting beside Lucian, and the rest of those in the banquet hall, quieted down and turned to look at him.

Reflected in their eyes was fear of the power this arrogant man wielded, but even more so was unfettered awe.

There was an appreciation in their gaze, as if facing a perfect piece of art.

‘Okay. I may not like his personality, but he’s handsome.’

Prince Carlix had a symmetrical and pleasing face as if God personally had sculpted it, framed by cascading black hair. His legs were long and, even at a glance, one could tell his body was toned underneath his exquisite garb.

Every detail of his body screamed the exact qualities expected of a male lead in a romance novel.

Above all, the atmosphere which swept in with him was likely to cow anyone within a 100 meter radius, it was that powerful.

“You’ve never attended such events before. You couldn’t possibly have truly wanted to celebrate my birthday…perhaps…”

He continued faintly.

“You heard that the Saintess was coming…?”

As expected, I knew it’d be like this.

It always comes back to Estelle.

Truly playing the part of a proper male lead, Carlix had a knack for always making things about her.

Caught in the unusual and rapidly cooling atmosphere, the people gathered around the pair tactfully chose to give the duo a wide berth. I tried to secretly sidle away as well.

Alas, I failed.

As I attempted my escape Lucian said.

“Not at all. I only came to escort my fiancee.”

‘Excuse me, how can I leave now?’

At the unexpected answer, it was only natural Carlix’s fierce gaze turned to me.

He probably hadn’t even realized I was next to Lucian until his reply.

To him, I was even more inferior than a dirt-covered pebble on the side of the road.

I could see what he was thinking from the look he was giving me.

“You seriously came to the banquet for a woman such as this? The Lucian Kardien? You must come up with a better excuse.”

It was an expression that told all that and more.

‘So what, what are you gonna do about it, you punk?’ I couldn’t help thinking to myself.

However, I was a mere Marquis’ daughter, he was the Crown Prince, one of the most powerful men in the Empire.

I couldn’t openly express my disdain.

I could only laugh awkwardly, wearing an expression as if to say, ‘I also don’t know.’

But Carlix’s eyes were cold as he returned my look, a sneer apparent in both his expression and gaze.

‘I understand that you’re looking at me in such a demeaning way because I’m not the heroine, but it also seems I’m not even a human being in your eyes…’

Truly, it was burdensome to be directly subjected to the eyes of the male lead.

A cold sweat trickled down my back.

Just then, Lucian took a step forward and stood in front of me. As if shielding me from Carlix.

“Your Highness, I have told you before, don’t look at her like that.”

Yeah. This was also the case at the engagement ceremony.

During that time, Carlix approached Lucian and tried to pick a fight, and Lucian had defended me.

Estelle showed up just as the men’s exchange began to grow more heated.

It was as if the universe knew the perfect time for the heroine to appear, exactly at a moment of high tension.

Yes, just like now.

Estelle entered the banquet hall.

Why is there always a scene like this in novels and comics?

A scene in which the heroine, usually dressed plainly, appears and, despite her basic clothing, is so beautiful she surprises all those gathered.

I used to like those scenes the most.

You could say they stir a thrill in the reader, as their heroine rises above all.

And now, it was such a moment.

Estelle was stunning.

The sky blue dress, made by the best designer in the Empire, was exceptionally harmonious with Estelle’s features. The combination of her exquisite clothing and exquisite appearance resulted in an aura that commanded everyone’s attention.

She was as pure and as lovely as a spring flower, blooming after the first thaw.

Everyone in the banquet hall halted to look at her.

Everyone’s mouth fell open, as though they forgot the elegance befitting an aristocrat.

If it had been before, I would have done the same. However, at this point I was immune, having already seen it once.

Thanks to that, I was able to leisurely watch everyone else’s reactions.

The first person I noticed was Prince Carlix.

‘Woah, look at that expression.’

Just a while ago, Carlix had been growling like an agitated panther, but now, he turned into extra number one, mouth agape, surprised by the beauty of the heroine.

‘If only you knew the face you were making in front of these people, you’d leave and kick your blanket over and over again.’ 

(PR Note: In other words, he would be so embarrassed he would have flashbacks while trying to sleep, or he would just go home and fall onto his bed and scream into and kick his blanket.)

I clicked my tongue and turned to Lucian.

 Unfortunately, he was standing right in front of me so his face wasn’t visible. All I could see was his sturdy back.

‘What the heck could his expression be after seeing Estelle?’

Since the male lead was reduced to that state, he probably wouldn’t be much better.

I felt strange as soon as I came to that conclusion.

At that moment, Estelle’s clear voice echoed.

“Miss Nia!”

Estelle grabbed an ample amount of her dress’s girth to heft the hem and then scurried towards me. Then she grabbed my hands, her face full of enough affection to make the recipient embarrassed.

“I was worried about what to do if I couldn’t find you because there are so many people here. But I found Miss Nia at a glance!”

It was very lovely to see her large, limpid eyes twinkling, like a puppy who found her owner, but I couldn’t enjoy her gesture as usual.

‘Excuse me, Miss Heroine. Can you not see the two male leads standing next to me, staring at you?’

Not even receiving a proper greeting, the incredulous gaze of the two men who were treated as air fell on Estelle’s hearty clasping of my hands.

Carlix had such a shocked expression as if witnessing the most inconceivable thing on earth (How satisfying). And Lucian had his eyebrows raised, his thoughts inscrutable (How scary).

( TL note: Parenthesis are Pernia’s inner thoughts.)

In any case, neither of their expressions looked very good.

So I spoke carefully to Estelle.

“Miss Estelle.”

“Yes?”

Estelle tilted her head and pricked her ears.

I turned my gaze to point at the two men who had become folding screens. Estelle’s mouth formed a circle, omitting an inaudible, “Oh”, then she greeted them.

“I greet Your Highness, the Crown Prince. Hello Lucian.”

She quickly greeted the pair before turning her eyes back to me, as if she had completed an exceedingly troublesome task.

“Miss Nia, you look so pretty today! A bouffant dress such as this looks good on you, but an elegant one would’ve been even better.”

(PR note: Bouffant means like poofy, so a very full skirt. Think A-line ball gown.)

Her eyes sparkled as she complimented me incessantly, like a heavy pelting of rain. She seemed to have no interest in either of the two men.

At that moment, the look on Carlix’s eyes changed. His distorted eyes only radiated pure jealousy.

Carlix, who normally tried  to catch Estelle’s attention, would typically say something along the lines of, ‘Hey, do you think someone like me would pay attention to a commoner woman like you?’

“You look different from usual. That rag-like dress you’ve worn to every banquet seems to have been thrown away, right?”

“……”

“Before you were wary of being friendly with the royal family or any member of the upper echelon, but it seems the Lady possesses a new noble spirit today. Have you finally grasped reality?”

It’s unfortunate, but it’s your mouth that resembles a rag the most.

‘To be able to spit out such unsavory things in such a short amount of time, that must be a skill.’ 

This was the man who hurt the heroine all the time and then wept full of regret after.

The old Estelle would have been hurt by Carlix’s sarcasm, but not today.

“Yes.”

Estelle answered his question roughly and folded her arms around mine.

“Miss Nia, I have something to say, let us go somewhere quiet.”

Carlix looked as if he received ten blows by Estelle when she brushed him off.

To be honest, when seeing that expression I couldn’t help feel immense satisfaction.

I bowed, desperately trying to suppress my giggles.

“Then we will get going, Your Highness.”

Carlix trembled, unable to tell us not to go.

As I moved away from Carlix with Estelle, someone followed us like a puppy.

It was Lucian.

“Lucian, do you have anything to say to Miss Nia? If not, then don’t follow us also.”

“…!”

Lucian’s eyes widened in shock, but Estelle didn’t care.

Guided by Estelle’s hand, I glanced at Lucian.

Lucian was looking our way, his expression incredibly resentful.

It was the same with Carlix in the distance. Although, his face was marred more with anger than resentment.

I gulped.

‘Hello? Aren’t I the one being dragged away here!’