Coarse swearing echoed, incongruous with the elegant classical music.

Soon after, a vase crashed against the baby angel wallpaper and fell.

“Why! Why is Anette suddenly avoiding me?”

Serdis, stomping on the scattered porcelain pieces on the floor, vented his anger.

Things had been going well with Anette. At some point, he became certain she was interested in him when he saw her hurriedly fixing her disheveled hair or adjusting her clothes whenever she encountered him.

“Even the marriage talk was a lie. Do you dislike me so much that you have to lie to me?”

After collapsing on the terrace, she acted coldly as if drawing a line. Surprised by the marriage talk, he asked Count Leanberia, who said it was also untrue. There was no way he could understand Anette, who had changed overnight.

“Your Highness…”

The servant trailed off, intimidated by the ominous atmosphere.

“But why? Why?”

Even the long-time servant who had been watching Serdis’s tantrums swallowed hard.

It was because he had openly taken out his frustrations on the servants and maids when he was in a bad mood.

As Serdis tried to brush back his disheveled hair, the servant flinched in anticipation. Irritated by this, Serdis snapped irritably.

“What are you standing there like a pole for? Are you here for a show?”

“Th-that, Your Highness.”

“Can’t you speak properly without stuttering?”

The servant hurriedly pulled something out from his breast and handed it over. But Serdis didn’t take it and just gestured with his eyes. It meant for the servant to recite it himself.

“Among the information about Lady Leanberia that Your Highness asked to look into, there was something interesting, so I brought it.”

Serdis showed interest, raising his eyebrows. The servant quickly brought out the prepared books.

“These are the books that Lady Leanberia enjoyed reading since she was young.”

“Books?”

“She mainly enjoyed reading novels, it seems.”

“Is this all you found out?”

“Ah, no! Of course not.”

The servant hastily opened one of the books.

“All these numerous books are romance novels.”

Serdis let out a hollow laugh at the ridiculous answer.

“There’s a common characteristic among the male protagonists in these books!”

“Characteristic?”

“Yes. Would you like to take a look at this part?”

Serdis looked closely at the part the servant opened, then frowned.

“This kind of criminal is the protagonist?”

“That’s right. And in all the books, the male protagonists showed an unacceptable level of obsession, as Your Highness mentioned.”

Indeed. The books Anette read prominently featured obsessive male leads. Anette, who enjoyed reading romance fantasy novels even before her possession, continued to enjoy books with obsessive male leads after being possessed.

And even if it wasn’t Anette’s taste, such books were trendy and thus widely published.

“So that means…”

Serdis recalled when Anette had changed. His own image of gently covering her with a blanket on the terrace, personally brewing and bringing her soup. His gentle self, contrary to these novel protagonists.

He had tried to be gentle because most people said they liked gentle men, but…

“So Anette likes this kind of man.”

At the somewhat softened voice, the servant nodded vigorously.

“That’s right! It must be. Otherwise, she wouldn’t like books with only these kinds of men!”

“What if she rejects me again this time?”

“It’s what they call playing hard to get. She’s a shy person, after all. Don’t worry and push forward!”

The servant was just doing his best to improve Serdis’s mood at the moment. He didn’t know what consequences his words would bring.

***

Several days had passed since my memories returned.

The mansion had no peaceful days due to visitors coming almost every other day.

“My lady. The prince has come?”

“Yeah. Tell him I’m sick and can’t meet.”

“He says he’ll nurse you himself.”

“Say it’s contagious.”

“He says he knows it’s a joke?”

“Just tell him I’m stark naked. Because I have a fever.”

It was because my father, who had gone to work at the imperial palace, had told Serdis that I had no marriage prospects and even spilled that I was ‘single’. Perhaps because he became anxious due to my cold attitude, Serdis stepped up his courtship.

When I kept refusing to meet, he sent jewels and gifts. He even created a private garden for me in the mansion’s empty lot.

‘The garden’s name is Darling, they say?’

Is this the same person I knew?

The thought that what Serdis had shown so far was just the tip of the iceberg made my arms break out in goosebumps.

“Ugh. I need to find a husband quickly.”

Despite not being fully recovered, I finally left the mansion.

I didn’t touch any of the things he sent, just storing them in the warehouse, and secretly looked for a husband candidate.

Casian?

He’s just a friend.

And I’ve long noticed that Casian isn’t his real name. I’ve met three Casians in person.

None of the three were Casian.

But it didn’t matter.

‘Casian must have his own life too.’

I can’t just suddenly thrust my circumstances on him and ask him to marry me.

So I deliberately diverted my parents’ attention to Casian and took the opportunity to search for a husband candidate.

It was a trick.

Like how when you fail a test badly and react excessively saying, “My life is over. I’ll never be good at anything,” parents actually scold you less.

If I could find a man with slightly better conditions than the four Casians,

Even my parents, who would have refused originally, would have no choice but to accept, thinking, ‘At least he’s better.’

The prince would be disappointed, but my parents wouldn’t be able to hold me back indefinitely.

I don’t want to become estranged from my parents either.

“One of the two will agree.”

As a result of requesting the information guild.

There were exactly two noble young men who met the conditions I asked for.

I memorized the faces on the two documents.

About 1 year. I just need to endure until that point when Serdis could fall in love with Violet, then divorce.

“My lady. I’ll trim your hair.”

As I put the documents in the drawer, Betty came in just in time.

“But my lady. Is it okay to use such a simple yellow flower as a hair ornament?”

“Yes. Hurry and put it on. It’s time to leave.”

Betty reluctantly pinned the decoration to the side braid. She looked displeased, but I was satisfied.

A dull teal dress that looked shabby at first glance.

The thick makeup on top of that gave off a strangely dissonant feeling.

“Are you really going to go like this?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

Betty, looking worried and hesitant, finally brought in the box placed in front of the door.

Judging by how she was furtively glancing around, it must be a gift from Serdis.

“Is it from the prince?”

“Yes. Should I put it in storage like before?”

A letter envelope was also enclosed on top of the box wrapped with a gold ribbon. Normally I would have told her to throw it away, but today I made a different choice.

“Let’s open it.”

“Yes!”

Betty excitedly untied the ribbon with good skill and opened the box lid, then made a surprised expression.

“This is…”

It was the famous dress that Anette wore to the banquet in the original story.

The one with aquamarine jewels giving off a mysterious light in blue-green color.

“It looks similar to what you’re wearing, my lady.”

Of course, the dress Serdis sent was much more expensive, but it gave off a similar vibe.

I ignored Betty’s words and opened the letter envelope to read it. I quickly burned it over a candle flame, though it contained predictable contents.

***

At the entrance of the banquet hall with an unusually calm atmosphere.

The carriage of the Charpenen ducal family arrived.

The one who got off alone without any escort after the carriage stopped was Violet.

Her figure walking in gracefully holding the hem of her dress, with long purple hair flowing down, was undoubtedly that of a noble.

Though her face was expressionless, she exuded a sorrowful yet noble aura befitting the female lead of the novel.

I quietly called out to her before she entered the banquet hall. It was to reduce the bad karma I would accumulate at today’s banquet.

“Lady Violet.”

Violet, who was about to climb the stairs, immediately turned her head to look at me. She recognized me at a glance.

“My lady. I am Anette, daughter of the Leanberia Count family. I have something to tell you briefly.”

“The banquet will start soon. Let’s talk inside.”

It seemed she didn’t want to talk with me separately.

Of course she wouldn’t.

The scandal between Serdis and me was spreading publicly. She must have even heard recently that the prince was frequenting a mere count’s house. Even if Violet were a saint, she wouldn’t see me in a good light.

“Once we enter the banquet, we won’t be able to have this conversation.”

Today’s banquet was not a simple one.

‘The death anniversary of Saint Dahlia.’

In the original story, it was the episode that signaled the beginning of the trash.

When Violet, who secretly liked Serdis, asked the empress for the position of crown princess, an angry Serdis plotted.

He deliberately sent Violet a flashy dress as a gift that contradicted the purpose of the banquet,

And shamed her at the banquet held to commemorate Saint Dahlia’s death anniversary.

“How pathetic. Lady Violet. You will never be my match.”

“This… His Highness…”

“Anette. Come here.”

On the other hand, he gifts Anette a dress suitable for the banquet, promotes her, and asks her for the first dance.

That memory leaves a deep scar in Violet’s heart.

It was a natural progression for Anette to become a bitch in Violet’s eyes.

That’s why I decided to make Violet my ally before the banquet started. I abruptly led Violet by the hand into an empty powder room.

“I’m sorry for bringing you here so suddenly, but.”

I swallowed my breath, which had quickened from sneaking in to avoid the eyes of other nobles.

Violet just blinked her long eyelashes calmly, waiting for my next words.

“Please take off your clothes right now.”

I spoke in a tone devoid of any playfulness.

Violet’s expression didn’t change. She simply calmly repeated the words a few times before asking. It was an etiquette that didn’t deviate from proper manners.

“An explanation seems necessary. For what reason should I take off my clothes?”

Her dress was brilliantly yellow and white jewels reminiscent of spring flowers sparkled with every movement. It would probably shine brighter than anyone else under the chandelier in the banquet hall.

But she wouldn’t know.

That Serdis had given her the dress as a gift with that intention.

“Do you know the significance of today’s banquet, my lady?”

“I understand that Her Majesty the Empress herself held it for the prosperity of all the nobles in the capital.”

“Who told you that?”

She drew a gentle curve on her lips, painted with light orange lipstick that matched well with the bright yellow dress.

“I heard it from my brother.”

I thought so.

There was a reason why Violet came to the imperial palace alone today.

The two brothers who couldn’t acknowledge Violet as their family came dressed in the appropriate dress code.

How could the powerful Charpenen ducal family not know the significance of this banquet?

They just didn’t feel obligated to tell their unsightly sister.

Moreover, since both young masters had taken the side of supporting and endorsing Serdis, they would view her even more unfavorably.

I smiled deeply and firmly denied her words.

“No. This banquet wasn’t held by the will of Her Majesty the Empress. Do you know what day it is today?”

“The Imperial calendar year 827, the fourth month and ten days…”

She must have realized what day it was, probably more than anyone else wanting recognition from her family.

“We’ve gathered to commemorate the death anniversary of Saint Dahlia. For the reason that we cannot modestly observe the death anniversary of Saint Dahlia, who loved and cared for all people in the world during her lifetime.”

Most nobles would have forgotten.

But if high-ranking nobles above the rank of marquis dressed so extravagantly as if to show off, they would surely fall out of favor.

Violet also noticed this fact and let out a troubled sigh.

“Exchange clothes with me. I’ll wear your dress, my lady.”

She slowly looked over my simple appearance, then quickly averted her gaze, realizing it was impolite behavior.

“Why, are you helping me?”

“Because I don’t like you misunderstanding me.”

“What misunderstanding are you talking about?”

Violet seemed displeased.

“That His Highness Serdis and I are dating.”

I acted autocratically, disregarding her feelings. In fact, even if I wanted to beat around the bush and speak indirectly in her style, time was pressing.

Violet’s upright eyes looked directly at me.

“That’s what I understand, but whether it’s true or false doesn’t matter to me.”

I could almost hear the words ‘Because I’ll be the crown princess regardless of who the prince meets’ following.

I shook my head as if to say her words were wrong.

“Don’t be so sure. The chances of me becoming the crown princess are higher.”

“What do you…”

Violet’s dry lips quivered.

“You’re asking why? Because His Highness Serdis is in love with me right now. Every day, letters full of passionate feelings along with jewels rare even in the capital pour into the mansion.”

I cut her off mid-sentence and spoke arrogantly. I deliberately provoked her, speaking like a mistress who had monopolized a man’s love to his legal wife.

“When I said I was weak, he even personally cooked soup. The prince, who wouldn’t even let water touch his hands, said he would nurse me himself.”

“Stop.”

At last, Violet’s expression, which had not revealed her true feelings, became honest. The wrinkle etched between her fine brows plainly revealed her emotions.

“Moreover, he’s the one and only prince in the empire. That means there’s nothing His Highness can’t achieve if he wants to.”

“…”

“If I were to run to His Highness right now and ask him to marry me, he would probably hold the ceremony immediately.”

Violet, who had swallowed hard, asked in a cracked voice.

“You clearly said until just now that you didn’t like being misunderstood. Why are you suddenly acting like this?”

To Violet, who finally revealed her anxious inner thoughts, I said.

“Because I’m sick of it.”

“I… didn’t hear you correctly?”

“Think about how it feels when someone you don’t like acts like that. It’s burdensome and uncomfortable. I don’t have any feelings for His Highness.”

I pointed once to the dark circles that had come down around my eyes. Even the goosebumps that rose on my arms at the thought of Serdis.

“Are you serious?”

Violet asked with a look of disbelief even after hearing it.

“Yes. Helping you is also for my sake. It’s a win-win situation for you too, my lady.”

As she tilted her head slightly, her purple hair resembling brilliant dawn light cascaded down.

My reflection appeared in the wavering woman’s eyes.

I brushed back the princess’s brilliantly disheveled hair and undid the hooks of her dress.