‘Why on earth is the Belvedere duchess here…? No, more importantly, why with that bastard child?’

Leonie became instantly discomfited upon realizing Vivian had an unexpected friendship.

‘Not knowing your place, you dare to mingle with high nobility?’

Though she couldn’t understand how Vivian had managed to entice the duchess to chat so merrily, Leonie couldn’t stand by and watch.

The evidence of an illegitimate union should not be allowed to do such things.

Moreover, Ludovica Belvedere was the sister of Dietrich Belvedere, whom she would soon marry.

The place beside her should be hers, not Vivian’s.

‘Red-eyed madwoman or whatever, seeing her associate with that mongrel, it must be an exaggerated rumor.’

Even if it wasn’t, it didn’t matter. Given their soon-to-be family relationship, she wouldn’t be foolish enough to lay hands on her.

Leonie released her hand from Vivian’s waist and said in a coy voice:

“Sister, are you alright? Did you spill any wine? I’m so sorry. I was just too happy to see you.”

“Ah, y-yes. I’m fine.”

A strangely dejected voice.

Vivian smiled a smile that seemed painted on, but Leonie could read the uneasiness hidden within it.

Suddenly, memories from childhood surfaced.

From the day she learned that the sister she had only envied was actually born of a different womb, Leonie began to take countless things from her sister.

Family love, financial support, and even friends.

Using her position as a child of the legal wife as a weapon, she manipulated her sister’s life countless times.

Being an illegitimate child was a disgraceful thing in noble society.

Even those who were close to her at first, not knowing she was born out of wedlock, distanced themselves from Vivian once Leonie pretended to casually reveal that fact.

‘This time will be the same reaction anyway.’

Seeing Vivian stiff with tension, Leonie inwardly sneered.

Then, with a shy face, she naturally wedged herself between Vivian and Ludovica.

“By the way, sister… who is this person? She looks impressive.”

“Ah, yes. She’s my friend.”

To Vivian, who was struggling to speak, Leonie smiled brightly.

“A friend? I didn’t know you had noble friends too, sister! How interesting.”

“…”

“Hello! I’m Leonie Schmidt. I’m Vivian’s younger sister! It’s nice to meet you.”

Passing by the frozen Vivian, Leonie showed a lovely smile towards Ludovica.

“Ah, younger sister.”

“Yes! Oh, perhaps you didn’t expect a sister? Strangely, everyone reacts that way.”

“Ah…”

“Do we not look that alike? I’m upset. I want to resemble Vivian too. Vivian is so pretty after all.”

Though outwardly wrapped nicely, her words were full of sharp thorns.

After all, it was a statement meant to imply her illegitimacy.

Ludovica, who had been quietly listening, smiled coldly.

Vivian, quickly noticing the atmosphere, grabbed her sleeve and shook her head slightly.

Was she asking her not to intervene?

Ludovica immediately grasped her intention.

It was indeed like Vivian. An attitude of enduring rather than causing a disturbance.

However, unfortunately, Ludovica had no intention of going along with it.

“Vivi, can you give me your hand?”

Though Vivian wore an expression of not understanding, she quietly complied with Ludovica’s request.

But then…

Slap!

A violent cracking sound filled the entire banquet hall.

Leonie’s head, which had been facing forward, was suddenly turned to the right.

Her pale cheek, piercing through thick makeup, instantly swelled red.

‘W-what? Is this a dream?’

Vivian felt her brain might stop from the excessively shocking situation.

‘So, Ludovica just used my hand to slap Leonie’s cheek instead, right?’

No matter how she thought about it, this couldn’t be reality. No, it shouldn’t be reality.

‘Have I been under too much stress lately? To have such a dream.’

But something felt odd. It was clearly a dream, yet somehow a hot sensation was felt in her hand.

As if she had really slapped someone’s cheek.

Vivian froze for a moment.

She wanted to deny it with all her might, but the heat in her hand kept telling her that this situation was real.

“Lu-Lubi?”

In an anguished voice, she hurriedly called her friend’s name.

‘How on earth are we going to resolve this…!’

Vivian’s face contorted with worry and bewilderment.

The agitation was easily readable in her trembling eyes.

However, unlike her who seemed on the verge of tears, Ludovica remained calm.

“Are you alright, Vivi?”

Ludovica nonchalantly examined Vivian’s hand with a concerned gaze.

“Oh dear, what should we do? Your hand got dirty from touching something filthy. We should go wash it. Right?”

“Uh, eh?”

In this situation? Suddenly go wash hands?

Dumbfounded by Lubi’s incomprehensible thinking, Vivian couldn’t even give a proper answer.

Lubi whispered softly in Vivian’s ear, just loud enough for her to hear.

“I’ll take care of the aftermath, so don’t worry.”

After uttering that short sentence, she pushed Vivian’s back.

“Go on.”

“Huh? O-okay…”

Pushed in that direction, Vivian began walking without even looking back, heading outside.

Not having the courage to see the situation behind her, not knowing what would unfold next.

‘Wow… What should I do, really?’

Vivian squeezed her eyes shut and slipped out of the banquet hall.

Meanwhile, after confirming that she had completely gone outside and disappeared, Ludovica turned her gaze to her surroundings.

In the meantime, several people had gathered around due to the loud slapping sound.

Unlike the murmuring crowd, silence fell between the actual parties involved.

Ludovica calmly looked down at Leonie.

The sight of her clutching her slapped cheek with trembling hands seemed both furious and terrified on the surface.

However, Ludovica could feel the sharp anger emanating from her.

It seemed her rage was rising uncontrollably, but to Ludovica’s eyes, all of it looked merely laughable.

How dare someone like you think you can do anything to me.

Ludovica knew very well about these weak-willed people who only oppress the weak and can do nothing against the strong.

The most detestable kind in the world.

Fortunately, she also knew well how to deal with them.

Ludovica opened her mouth in a deliberately chilling voice.

“Leo? Ah, yes. It was Miss Leonie, wasn’t it?”

“……”

Leonie gave no answer.

It was because fear had begun to frost over her heart, which until just now had been full of anger.

This mad woman is fully capable of harming me. Her instincts rang alarm bells, informing her of this fact.

‘I must somehow break out of this situation.’

Leonie tried hard to calm her excitement and devise a solution.

“It’s quite pathetic, isn’t it? I can hear the sound of that tiny brain of yours working hard all the way from here… Why couldn’t you foresee a situation like this earlier?”

At that moment, a large hand was placed on top of Leonie’s head. It felt as if her legs would give out and she would collapse at any moment.

If Ludovica applied even a little force to her hand, it was clear her skull would be crushed.

Leonie broke out in a cold sweat from the tension.

Fortunately, the threatening hand was soon withdrawn. However…

A purple liquid soon obscured her vision. Ludovica had poured wine over her head.

By now, people had surrounded them in a circle, watching the situation.

Dozens of eyes were focused on only one place.

It was humiliating. To taste such degradation in front of so many people.

But what was most unpleasant was herself, unable to resist out of fear of violence.

“It’s truly unfortunate that you’re Vivian’s blood relation. I can’t just kill you as I please.”

The chilling voice echoed in her ear.

The nobles’ gazes turned once again to this sudden situation.

Leonie, trembling like a drenched mouse, rather came to her senses at the pouring gazes.

‘You can’t kill me anyway, right?’

As long as that evil woman didn’t lay hands on her, it was easy enough to win in this situation.

Leonie had long known how to sway public opinion.

She sank to the floor, covering her face. Then she sobbed in a deliberately loud voice.

“I-I’m sorry, Lady Belvedere! I just wanted to be close to you… P-please forgive my impudence.”

The banquet hall filled with murmuring voices.

“What’s going on? What happened?”

“Can’t you see? It must be another fit of madness, as usual.”

“To do such a violent act on this glorious day…”

“I knew this would happen when those red eyes entered the banquet hall!”

Amidst the commotion, someone emerged from among the people.

“What is this uproar?”

Long red hair reaching the waist, blue-green eyes. An undeniable elegant and cold atmosphere.

The protagonist of the banquet, Imperial Princess Veronica von Agrian, appeared exuding a powerful presence.

To this, Ludovica responded calmly, as if she had expected it.

“My, Your Highness. It’s been a while.”

“Duchess Belvedere, answer my question.”

The princess asked, pointing at Leonie who was sitting on the floor crying.

“I asked what this commotion is about, Duchess Belvedere.”

Ludovica tilted her head with a face that seemed not to understand what the problem was.

“Commotion… you say? I merely scolded a young lady who was behaving rudely.”

“Sigh… Duchess Belvedere. Do you intend to do this every time a banquet is held? How far must I indulge you?”

Veronica pressed her temples with a fed-up expression. Ludovica maintained an expressionless face and spoke calmly.

“Well, why did you summon me when I was perfectly fine where I was? If you called upon me, with all the rumors of ‘madwoman’ and ‘evil woman’ swirling, you should have at least anticipated a situation like this.”

“……”

“If not, you should have cleared away such things that would irritate my nerves from my sight.”

In the atmosphere that had turned as grim as a sinking ship, Leonie shed tears pitifully.

“Your Highness. I-it’s all my fault. I’m sorry for causing a disturbance.”

Sympathy arose for Leonie, who was apologizing instead, in a situation where she had been slapped and doused with wine by the ‘madwoman’.

“The Viscount Schmidt always boasted about his daughter, and indeed her heart is as kind as they say.”

Amidst the people buzzing with Leonie’s story, the viscount couple, who had belatedly noticed the commotion, appeared.

“Ah, no! What is this! Leonie! What on earth happened here!”

The viscount and his wife blanched and wrapped around their precious daughter protectively.

After confirming the state of his lovely daughter, the viscount began to shout angrily.

“Duchess Belvedere! What in the world is the meaning of this! How dare you lay hands on this delicate child?”

“You should be grateful. Didn’t I personally take care of your daughter’s education for you?”

“Y-you! Such nonsense!”

Ludovica quietly watched the viscount couple making a fuss and shouting, then uttered a single sentence.

“Is it alright for you to bellow like that? What if my madness flares up again?”

With the elegant tone contrasting her unrefined statement, the viscount, whose anger had reached its peak, grabbed the nape of his neck.

“Y-you…!”

“Is that all you have to say?”

“Th-this is outrageous…!”

“I’ll be taking my leave first. Belvedere’s time is precious, you see.”

Ludovica smirked as if it were ridiculous, then moved her steps outside the banquet hall.

It was time to comfort Vivian, who would be too frightened to do anything.