The Empress continued to speak with a frown clearly plastered all over her face.

“What on earth is this? I’ve heard that the Marquis Lilac is in a difficult situation, but this is outrageous. To attend a banquet wearing a dress that not even a scoundrel would wear, are you insulting the royal family now?”

I was dumbfounded.

Even if it was true that this dress did not suit me compared to the fine dress worn by Estelle and the quality also looked a bit lacking, it was still not necessary for me to receive such condemnation.

It was very clear what the Empress’ true intentions were.

She wanted to criticize me by openly pointing out my dress.

‘But why? I am not the Saint, I am just a young lady from a Marquis family who never had any contact whatsoever with the Empress.’

And then in the next moment, the answer came out quickly.

“Tsk…Coming here looking like that, forget having any decency. Being with the commoners suits you best.”

Of course, the commoner part was aimed at Estelle.

‘She’s messing with me now only because she knows I’m close with Estelle. All because the current Estelle has nothing for her to find fault with.’

A cold sweat broke on my back.

I wasn’t Estelle. Carlix didn’t even took any interest in me. My existence was merely like dust. What’s more, Lucian, to whom I was an existence worthy of protecting, was nowhere to be seen.

The other nobles were looking at me, bearing great anticipation of seeing me humiliated.

I have no one to back me up.

‘Is this how Pernia is usually ganged up on?’

I felt terribly unfair but was this karma for all the times the original Pernia tormented others?

‘Nevertheless, I can’t possibly get any help from Estelle, who is also hated by the Empress.’

But while I was trying to think of a way to deal with this situation safely, a clear voice was heard.

“Empress, you are too harsh.”

It was Estelle.

I turned to her in amazement.

Estelle, with a clear look on her face, stared at the Empress Dowager and said,

“It doesn’t matter what your position is. I don’t think it’s right to judge a person’s clothes which had been carefully prepared.”

The Empress visibly looked embarrassed by Estelle’s calm words.

And I was in a similar state,

As far as I can remember, Estelle had never uttered a single rebuke to the Empress.

The only time this gentle lady became this strong was when she was in front of the poor and the male lead.

Especially right now, the Empress is also the oldest in the royal family, thus Estelle had never once replied to anything she heard from the Empress.

‘Am I hearing it wrong?’

I then closed my eyes and opened them, but still the scenario that unfolded in front of me did not change.

Estelle stood still, staring straight into the Empress’ eyes.

“Please admit your mistake and apologize to her now.”

“What…?”

The Empress’ expression was distorted.

Her face, which had been so elegant until a moment ago, turned red.

It was so amusing.

In this place where a lot of people were watching, a mere commoner woman, much younger than her, blatantly talked back to her and dared to ask for an apology.

It would not be strange if she slapped Estelle while screaming, ‘Know your place, bitch!’

Before that could happen, Estelle opened her mouth faster than the Empress.

“If you don’t apologize…”

Her clear voice, which normally was incapable of harming anyone in this world, resonated throughout the banquet hall.

“I will be very upset.”

“……”

“Really upset.”

It was just like that. There was no hostility nor an overbearing conviction in Estelle’s voice.

Only a child-like innocence.

Nevertheless, the Empress’ face hardened as if she had been threatened.

I could actually understand why that look appeared on her face.

Estelle always carried herself humbly, showing only her easy going side to everyone else. So people tend to forget a very crucial fact.

She was the Saintess.

A noble being who is blessed with the power of God, and how large the forces behind her were. The denominations of numerous priests as well as her followers.

Upsetting Estelle was the same as upsetting the whole circle.

‘It’s an outcome that will send chills to anyone’s back, even the Empress won’t be able to escape from it.’

I could sense a much stronger halo behind Estelle, who is already shining brightly even before this.

Almost like a protagonist who levelled up after defeating a powerful boss.

On the other hand, the Empress could only bite her lip.

It was the only thing that she could do to repress her anger.

Even though she was a petty woman who often picked on Estelle over trivial things, she was still not reckless enough to want to pick another fight with the saint in this situation.

In the end, the Empress cleared her trembling voice and said with difficulty.

“After listening to the Saint, it seems that I was indeed too harsh.”

Then she turned her gaze to me and continued.

“If you felt offended, be at ease.”

Awesome.

For such an uptight granny to apologize to me–a lady of a Marquis house.

‘Hurray to being the female lead’s best friend!’

But, it would be a pity if I just obediently let her get away after making me go through something like that.

Instead of expressing my gratitude for her apology, I shook my head.

Not wanting to accept her apology but also not wanting to make this into a bigger situation, I made the most hateful face in the world.

“……!”

The eyes of the Empress, which had softened, immediately sparked, but I was not afraid.

‘No! If you mess with me, or the angel of friendship and love, Saintess Estelle, I will not forgive you!’

Whether it was through my eyes or Estelle’s, who stood next to me, the Empress did not attack me anymore.

“I hope to see you next time on a more pleasant occasion, Lady Pernia.”

With that, she disappeared, leaving behind a threat about what is to come next which was an essential part of being the villain.

Only after she left did I realize that I was very nervous.

My legs that were hidden under the skirt, trembled.

To avoid making it obvious as much as possible, I leaned against the table and breathed out a little as Estelle came to my side.

The woman, who looked so dignified in front of the Empress earlier, was now having a completely different expression.

Estelle looked at me with a helpless face and said.

“I’m sorry, Lady Nia. I have caused you to listen to things you didn’t need to hear because of me.”

“……”

A strange hot sensation suddenly rose, causing me to be emotional inside.

‘How are you so kind!’

I shook my head.

“Don’t worry about that. Thanks to you, I enjoyed the thrill quite a bit.”

“But……”

“And Estelle fought for me.”

I let out a little giggle.

“I was really happy.”

Estelle looked blankly at me. Soon after, she smiled softly, bending her clear eyes.

It was such a pretty smile.

At that moment, both Lucian and Carlix’s faces, who came next to us, hardened.

I could imagine how jealous they must’ve been of me, but I wasn’t afraid of them as much as I was before.

Because I am Estelle’s best friend.

────── 〔✿〕─────

The long banquet was finally over. The nobles left in their personal carriage that had been waiting for them.

Estelle was the only one who didn’t come by carriage.

‘She would probably walk her way back again.’

I then said to Lucian.

“Lord Kardien, why don’t we take Estelle home?”

Of course, I was confident that Lucian would never refuse that request.

However, Lucian’s reaction, who I expected would have agreed while trembling with fuss, was unexpectedly disappointed.

“Well, Miss Estelle doesn’t really like riding in carriages.”

“……Really?”

“Yes.”

Actually, I had felt it from earlier in the banquet hall, that Lucian didn’t look too happy.

This is not like him. I puffed my cheeks.

Then Estelle, who approached us, said,

“Lady Nia, I’m fine. His Majesty, the Emperor, said he wanted to see me, so I’m going to him for a while. Don’t worry and please go on ahead.”

The Emperor was not feeling well and did not appear at the banquet today. Even so, he still looked for Estelle.

As expected, he must have a deep affection for her.

I nodded as I recalled the Emperor who genuinely took care of Estelle the whole time, unlike Carlix, who has been acting like a dog even in the original novel.

“I understand.”

So Lucian and I got into the carriage.

“…….”

“…….”

‘This silence….It’s very uncomfortable’.

Eventually, I uttered a word to Lucian.

“Lord Kardien, I really can’t stand this silence. If you have anything you want to say to me, feel free to say it. I’ll listen for as long as you’d like.”

But surprisingly, Lucian’s red eyes trembled as if they had been stabbed. Eventually, his lips were no longer stiffly shut as he finally spoke out his honest thoughts.

“…You talked with Miss Estelle the whole time during the banquet.”

‘Is that the only reason?’

However, I wasn’t too surprised because it was exactly what I had thought as well.

As Lucian said, I had purposely talked with Estelle the whole time, because if not, then people would come and start to annoy Estelle instead.

I also had an ulterior motive to screw with Carlix who made Estelle suffer.

And as expected, people couldn’t approach Estelle easily, and Carlix looked at us with a pair of jealous eyes.

It was only unfortunate that Lucian, who had stood smiling next to us, also felt no different.

Once again, a new feeling of sadness crept inside me.

I know it’s hard to see the woman you’ve loved for a long time suddenly become very close to me, but I am still your fiancé.

‘Was it too much for you?’

Lucian muttered as I furrowed my eyebrows.

“I didn’t even know your nickname.”

“…Yes?”

“You are my fiancee, and I met you long before…..Nia.” (Note: He emphasizes that he’s known Pernia before Estelle.)

Lucian muttered as he ran a hand through his hair with an anguished look on his face.

“I mean….you said that I was the first one to shine in your eyes.”

‘…What is this development?’

So you mean…you’re not jealous of me…

“Are you really jealous of Miss Estelle?”

Lucian’s silver eyelashes trembled as if the truth he wanted to hide had been uncovered.

But instead of denying what I said, he continued to bring up another topic.

“And I was relieved about one thing…”

His eyes looked over me coupled with his chilling gaze as he shrugged his shoulders and said, “I was relieved that the dress the Lady wore is actually a matching dress with Estelle.”

‘Why the dress, all of a sudden?’

I remembered his reaction that I saw this morning.

His face was looking at my dress with a frown as if it wasn’t appropriate.

He didn’t want to be dishonest when I asked him about it and stayed silent.

At that time, I thought my appearance did not look pleasant in his eyes.

But then Lucian said something completely different from what I had expected.

“Actually, I thought you were trying to impress the Crown Prince so I was a little, no, very upset. So I couldn’t tell you the truth.”

“……”

Then Lucian reached out to me, his calloused hand touching my cheek.

A pair of red eyes met mine.

“You look beautiful.”

His voice was incredibly sweet.

“Today.”

“……”

“And on that day we first met.”

“……”

“And will continue to be so in the future.”

‘You’ll always be beautiful in my eyes.’

At that moment, my heart felt like it was about to explode at the sound of his voice, ringing loudly in my ear.