The elegant melody flowed through the banquet hall. The nobles at the edges gazed with curious eyes at a prince who had entered the hall a while ago.
“His Highness, the Prince, has arrived!”
The ever-present ‘Maria Etel Yeong-ae’ was nowhere to be seen. With a solo entrance that fell short, the prince, armed with sharp eyes, overwhelmed the banquet hall with courtesy but showed no other movements, as if searching for someone.
As if searching for someone.
“Is it Etel Yeong-ae, or Lady Madelaine?”
It was an ambiguous statement without a subject, but the nobles all understood instantly. However, no one readily provided an answer.
Neither Maria Etel nor Olivia Madelaine had yet entered the banquet hall.
Observing the reactions of those nobles, Viscount Hargis swallowed a sigh. Gossiping even when the diplomatic delegation from another country is present.
Approaching the prince quickly, Viscount Hargis whispered.
“Nobles are talking about His Highness entering alone. With the diplomatic delegation present, it would be better to engage in conversation with them now.”
“…Has the lady entered?”
“Yes?”
The viscount’s absentminded response didn’t register in his ears. Leopold looked around with a stern gaze.
His insides churned every time he saw a dress hem similar to the one he had gifted Olivia. The fleeting excitement, wondering if it might be Olivia, was short-lived. As soon as he confirmed it wasn’t her silvery hair that sparkled like moonlight, the elation seemed to crash to the ground.
If he had known, he would have sent a page to check Olivia’s departure time.
“If you know so well, then why don’t you, my lady, step forward.”
Even amidst this, the voice that had once come to mind didn’t seem to disappear. Memories of that day vividly recalled all the annoyance he had expressed toward Olivia’s trivial actions, the humid and high temperature, the aristocratic meeting that didn’t go as planned, and Maria, who made a fuss over a trivial matter. And…
“…No. Your Highness, I brought up unnecessary words.”
Even Olivia, who bowed her head while laughing, came to mind. Imagining her struggling with those green eyes that seemed somewhat hurt, Leopold unknowingly clenched his fist.
An unfamiliar emotion surged momentarily. The tangled feeling in his mind was so confusing that it defied description.
Leopold turned his head sideways.
It was just that the weather was not good that day.
It happened to be the day when Olivia joined the conversation.
Back then, my mood wasn’t good, so I vented my frustration… Leopold let out a silent sigh. Ironically, what he was doing now was making excuses.
I, who didn’t need to care about anyone’s opinion, was merely providing excuses based on a past day.
Why.
It felt like losing one’s way right in front of the destination.
Leopold struggled to grasp the emotions teetering on the edge of a cliff. However, his restless heart, unable to find an answer, shook in various directions.
“…Vert.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“…Olivia, no. Verify where Rib is.”
Leopold deliberately used Olivia’s nickname. Despite uttering just two syllables, he strangely felt at ease.
It won’t do. As soon as Olivia arrives, I need to take her to the Prince’s Palace, he thought.
“Excuse me, brother.”
An elegant voice resonated right in front. It was the princess.
“Could you spare a moment?”
The princess was the host of the banquet, the most reliable person who could at least confirm Olivia’s arrival time.
“…Fine.”
“Maria Etel, where is that fool?”
As soon as they entered the darkened terrace, the princess sharply asked. Following, Viscount Hargis was startled, lowered the thick curtain, and stood guard.
Seeing that, Leopold furrowed his brow.
“…It’s a banquet. Speak in private.”
“Regrettably, I already spoke privately. Brother, unless you are also aware and intend to ruin my banquet?”
The princess’s voice shook unstably. Only now did her unusually pale face catch Leopold’s eye.
“What are you talking about?”
“Haven’t you seen it until now?”
The princess erupted into a sharp laugh. The worry about the defeated emperor and the embarrassment in front of the nobles dyed her vision white. The princess violently drew back the curtain.
Brother, you should know when you see. What foolish things has the fool you chose done!
“Right now, my banquet is…”
“…Olivia.”
A suppressed voice interrupted the princess’s words. The prince, as if possessed, moved forward. Witnessing the prince’s strides, the princess felt as if her last hope had been severed.
“Oh, brother!”
The princess called out sharply to the prince, then hesitated. Only now did she notice the prince’s attire, which perfectly matched the banquet. It couldn’t be…
It couldn’t be true.
Perfectly adorned in the prince’s attire, the departing figure spoke volumes. Although the princess urgently left the terrace, the prince had already gone ahead.
At this moment, grabbing him would attract too much attention. Now, she had to find Maria Etel instead. Who could know her whereabouts?
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!!!
