An Incomplete Divorce - Chapter 18

The atmosphere of the ball was in full swing.

Olivia and Elaine were soon surrounded by gentlemen holding champagne glasses.

Elaine chatted leisurely with them, occasionally bursting into laughter, while Olivia simply listened quietly to their conversation, sometimes offering a smile.

Just as the polite gentlemen were about to reveal their curiosity about Duke Johan Leopold’s former wife in earnest, the background music changed to a dance tune.

Elaine went out to dance with one of the men she had been conversing with.

“Would you like to dance?”

“I seem to have worn my new shoes for nothing.”

Olivia, who had declined the flood of dance invitations on the excuse of sore feet, stood alone looking around before turning to move to a cocktail table.

Sitting at the bar waiting for Elaine seemed the least awkward option.

As Olivia was just passing under a large tree, brushing past the illuminated statues, a group of women approached and surrounded her.

“Do you come to this party often? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

A woman with striking red hair addressed her. Her attitude was sociable, but her eyes were not friendly. Among the women standing a step behind her were some familiar ladies.

“This is my first time.”

Olivia smiled gently as she searched her memory. She didn’t know the woman.

“I thought so. If it weren’t, you wouldn’t be wearing that necklace.”

Olivia’s hand unconsciously touched her necklace at the incomprehensible words.

“Why do you say that? And before that, may I ask who you are?”

Goodness. How could she be so rude? Someone clicked their tongue as if sighing.

“Show some respect. This is Her Highness Princess Anblyn of Brite.”

Why would the princess of Brite…

Olivia wore a puzzled expression for a moment before quickly bowing.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness.”

“It’s nice to meet you. I’ve only heard rumors, but this is the first time we’re meeting in person, Miss Blanchet.”

The benevolent smile and gaze that met Olivia’s eyes turned back to her necklace.

“I wore that last year. I didn’t expect to see it again so soon.”

“Ah!”

Only then did Olivia realize why she was receiving reproachful glances and why a foreign princess had taken an interest in her.

“Is this perhaps against etiquette?”

Olivia asked politely.

“It’s an implicit agreement. An unwritten rule, as a sign of respect for others.”

The implication of those words was that Olivia had disrespected a princess of a nation. The princess’s gaze was proper yet cold.

The world of nobles seemed to be quite fastidious. Although it wasn’t readily understandable as a form of respect, Olivia decided to try to comprehend their ways.

“I didn’t know. If I’ve offended you, I apologize.”

From the moment Olivia appeared, ladies who recognized the necklace and their partners as well. Spectators gradually gathered.

“There’s no need to apologize, Miss Blanchet. It’s a world where money can buy anything you want, isn’t it?”

The princess continued with an extremely elegant and dignified manner.

“But just because we’re wearing the same necklace doesn’t mean we’re the same.”

The princess drew a clear line between her noble self and the lowly birth of an illegitimate child.

Princess Anblyn had been attending the Rose Ball at the Lancelot Hotel every year. That remained unchanged whether it was before her marriage or after she was married off, leaving behind her beloved Edgar.

The red dress she chose when she first attended became her signature color, and thereafter, red was worn only by Princess Anblyn.

When she wore the Anne Julbert collection last year, Edgar, who kissed her hand, complimented her for the first time since their reunion.

‘It suits you well.’

As Anblyn was contemplating her outfit for the ball, she summoned Madam Lauren.

‘I’ll wear Julbert again this year.’

She planned to make the legendary jewel Anne Julbert her signature along with the color red.

‘I regret to inform you, Your Highness. Someone has already made a reservation.’

‘Even though I say I want it?’

‘I’m sorry, Your Highness.’

‘Who is it?’

After a long pause, an unexpected name came from Madam Lauren’s lips.

Edgar Lancaster Lancelot.

It was truly an unexpected figure.

At that moment, Anblyn was certain.

It must be for me.

It couldn’t be anyone else. He had no official partner, nor was he the type to gift jewelry to scandal partners.

Anblyn wore a simple red dress to highlight the necklace Edgar would put on her, with no accessories other than a small pearl tiara. And yet.

Edgar was cruel. The plump flesh under her eyes twitched finely.

“Did your new lover give you that necklace?”

The woman was beautiful. So beautiful that the flashy accessory around her neck hardly registered. That made it even harder to bear.

“…Pardon?”

Olivia was perplexed.

“It’s a jewel that’s quite difficult to rent. Who is this amazing lover of yours?”

The spectators began to stir.

Olivia thought that this princess clearly wanted to humiliate her. Faced with that intention, Olivia responded calmly.

“I don’t have a lover yet, Your Highness. I was looking forward to today’s ball, but I haven’t found my match yet.”

The princess’s brow furrowed, but Olivia paid no mind.

“The necklace was Madam Lauren’s choice. She’s a designer my maid recommended, and I simply respected her design philosophy.”

Olivia, looking straight at the princess, gave a bright smile.

Carol and the other noble ladies of Rondos had disgusted looks on their faces.

The Olivia Blanchet who used to cower in the face of clear malice was gone. The wretched illegitimate child who used to hide in the darkness and swallow her tears no longer existed.

What on earth happened for a person to change like that?

A waltz was playing again, but no one was leaving their spot.

Those who knew Olivia’s past could only blink their eyes, trying to gauge the winner of the confrontation sparked by the necklace.

On this May night, amidst the intoxicating fragrance of beautiful roses, the ball was heating up in an unexpected direction.

Anblyn’s consistently composed gaze shattered.

Liar.

Since Madam Lauren wouldn’t lie, the person lying must be Olivia Blanchet.

And the meaning of that smile was clearly mocking her.

Anblyn found this situation extremely humiliating.

Her fingers curled in distant anger. As veins bulged on the back of her clenched hand, the gathered crowd once again buzzed, their attention turning to a tall man leisurely walking this way.

The man, elegantly suited in a black evening dress, was Edgar Lancaster Lancelot.

For a moment, his captivating presence made Anblyn forget about Olivia’s existence, and she unconsciously smiled, calling his name.

“Ed.”

Edgar was in the middle of greeting the noble guests attending the ball.

The rumor that the princess of Brite and the former Duchess Leopold of Rondos were at odds had been carried by the wind across the rose garden to the gazebo where he was.

Edgar, slightly furrowing his brow, couldn’t help but make his way there.

Edgar fixed his gaze on Anblyn as he took slow steps.

He couldn’t help but chuckle at the princess who, even while being on edge, showed expectation upon seeing him.

They were once beautiful lovers, but their relationship had ended with the princess’s marriage. The fact that she was acting as if their relationship had resumed along with her divorce was a nuisance to Edgar.

“It’s an honor to have you grace us with your presence, Your Highness.”

As Edgar bowed slowly with proper etiquette, he glanced at Olivia Blanchet. If she had any sense, she would quietly disappear by now.

Under the bright lights of the rose garden decorated with colored glass lamps, everyone’s attention was now focused on Edgar and Princess Anblyn.

Anblyn thought the violin melody carried by the cool breeze was romantic. All of it was the magic of Edgar.

Anblyn suppressed her trembling heart and extended her hand.

Edgar kissed her hand out of habit. As he straightened up, his gaze swept over where Olivia had been standing. Only darkness remained in the empty space.

Edgar smiled, and the princess mistook it as being directed at her.

Olivia, who had come quite deep inside looking for a quiet place, sat on a bench and caught her breath.

The white marble pagoda in the shape of a dome wasn’t hung with glass lamps, but it was bright all around due to the street lamps placed at regular intervals.

As the tension eased, her heels ached from walking too much. Olivia took off her shoes and frowned.

Blood had slightly seeped through where the skin had peeled off her heel. Olivia took out a handkerchief from her clutch and pressed it against the wound, then looked up.

She could see the brilliant lights of the ballroom. She couldn’t return there now. Not while wearing this necklace.

She should at least let Miss Elaine know she was leaving. But she couldn’t see her.

An unbearable fatigue washed over her. Olivia let out a short sigh, removed the handkerchief from her foot where the bleeding had stopped, and buried her face in her arms wrapped around her raised knees.

The cool night breeze stirred her chiffon sleeves, touching her skin. Olivia stroked her slender forearms.

Madam Lauren.

Olivia inwardly mulled over that name. Last year’s client was the princess of the Brite Kingdom. So the necklace was definitely not a mistake. How could such a mistake be made? It didn’t make sense.

But Madam Lauren had no reason to do this to her. She could have simply ignored the request of a lowly illegitimate child if she wanted to.

She should be angry, but somehow she felt bitter.

The sound of music and laughter coming from far away seemed as distant as another world.

She wanted to return to her room and lie down on the soft bed. If she closed her eyes and fell asleep, this night would be over when she woke up. It was then that the sound of neat footsteps echoed on the promenade’s flagstones.

Olivia stood up with a start.

The man who climbed the stairs with leisurely steps was none other than Edgar Lancaster Lancelot.

An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most

One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.

This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:

1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.

It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.

(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)

2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.

The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.

3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.

Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).

Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.

Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.

4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).

5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!