The Camellia Party was originally hosted by the imperial family.

As soon as the tyrant Nikolai ascended to the throne, he delegated the party to the Countess of Kensing.

The Countess of Kensing only sent invitations to beautiful young nobles from prestigious families and high-ranking officials.

Elizabeth, though the heiress of a large merchant group, was of common birth and had never received an invitation.

“Isn’t that Miss Elizabeth?”

“How strange! The Countess would never allow it!”

As I appeared wearing a butterfly mask, curious glances poured in.

The mask couldn’t hide my fiery red hair, blazing like the sun.

My tall, slender figure with generous yet graceful curves, and jewelry as expensive as any great noble’s, were equally noticeable.

I had chosen the plainest black silk dress I could find in Elizabeth’s dressing room.

I thought I wouldn’t stand out much, but how wrong I was.

Among the gaudily adorned ladies, the black dress stood out like an elegant black swan.

“She hasn’t shown her face at parties for a while. I wonder what brought her here?”

“Doesn’t it mean Miss Elizabeth has her eye on some handsome gentleman? Haha!”

I heard voices gossiping.

Cold sweat trickled down my back.

Could I adapt to the party? Wouldn’t I just dampen the mood?

My worries were short-lived. As soon as I entered the party hall, my body reacted first.

‘This air, this lighting, everything feels familiar. It’s as comfortable as coming home! Elizabeth must be a born socialite!’

As I relaxed, the food laid out on the tables caught my eye.

Kid goat pie, goose liver in sugar syrup, snail cream stew, and so on.

The unfamiliar menu and the corset crushing my ribs killed my appetite.

If it were spicy tteokbokki, yukgaejang, or chicken feet, that would be different.

‘I miss gochujang, cheongyang peppers, capsaicin. The taste of fire, the taste of extreme spice, the taste that sends you to the emergency room, the taste of hell…’

Unfortunately, this world had no chili peppers.

There was black pepper, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy a Korean palate.

Unlike the original Elizabeth, I didn’t think I could enjoy the party.

The loud music, the heavy scent of perfume, people huddled in groups whispering.

There was something else that made me uncomfortable.

‘The dress code is too revealing, isn’t it? That lady is being too stingy with the fabric around her chest! Are leggings fashionable even among men here? It’s so vulgar.’

My inner Confucian girl clicked her tongue in disapproval.

But I couldn’t return empty-handed.

I had asked Douglas’s sister Susan to give up her invitation to me.

Despite it being her first Camellia Party, Susan had readily agreed to my request.

She didn’t even ask why.

Susan had been like that since I first met her.

‘Susan is destined to fall head over heels for Nikolai when she meets him today. She’ll end up taking her own life after pining for the Casanova emperor. Susan’s death will be the catalyst that awakens Claudia.’

I had to prevent their meeting and seduce Nikolai myself.

But no matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t see the handsome emperor with black hair and green eyes.

That’s when Elizabeth’s followers swarmed around me.

“To think we’d see Miss Elizabeth at the Camellia Party! You look especially beautiful tonight.”

“You’re as mysterious as a fairy of the night! I wish I could be even the hem of Miss Elizabeth’s skirt for just a moment!”

They were tall, handsome men, but none were to my taste.

Their overly sweet way of speaking was the worst, like margarine deep-fried in oil.

‘What do you want to do as my skirt hem? If you’re sick, go to the hospital, you pathetic fools.’

In my past life, my parents had cheated on each other and divorced when I was five.

They both treated their only child like a burden.

As a result, I grew up bouncing between relatives’ houses.

I was always on edge, trying not to give anyone reason to find fault with me.

I never wanted to hear that I took after my parents.

How could I, born with the fate of a Confucian girl, look kindly on men who lusted after mere appearances?

I lowered my head to hide my disgusted expression.

Not understanding, the men cheered.

“Even your shy look is lovely, Miss Elizabeth!”

“Your beauty could make the moon and stars in the sky lose their luster!”

A noblewoman wearing a yellow nightingale mask watched this scene with irritated eyes.

‘If the Countess who hates me notices me, it’ll be uncomfortable to move around. Should I just seduce her?’

I considered it briefly before deciding against it.

Seduction didn’t work well on people who were hostile or had a negative perception of me.

Even if it succeeded, it left me feeling intensely fatigued.

The original Elizabeth didn’t know, but there were some people who were completely immune to her charms.

‘People with life-or-death convictions’

Claudia was a prime example.

‘The original Elizabeth didn’t know that and tried to seduce Claudia, only to be dragged to the guillotine. I should be satisfied with having protected Susan today.’

***

The thought of burying myself in a comfortable bed made my steps lighter as I turned to leave.

That’s when I heard a sneering voice behind me.

“The heat-crazed cat is running away. Has she finally realized her place?”

What a way of speaking. Tch.

The Countess of Kensing and a few people around her giggled.

Unpleasant, but I should at least exchange greetings.

“Forgive me for the late greeting, Countess Kensing.”

“You’re finally addressing me! I thought you were going to ignore me to the end.”

“How could I? If I’ve been rude, please forgive me, Madam.”

I lifted my skirt in an elegant curtsy.

The Emster couple had spared no expense in their only daughter’s education.

Elizabeth’s tutor had been a former imperial etiquette instructor, and she had been a rather bright student.

This meant that while she acted as she pleased, she could display refined manners when needed.

“How can I forgive an uninvited guest? Especially a lower-class person trying to cling to high society by selling her body.”

“I’ll take that as advice to mind my conduct.”

“Is that even possible for you? A black dress at a party that isn’t a funeral… You’re desperate for attention, aren’t you?”

“…”

“Now that your above-your-station engagement has been broken, I suppose you’ve realized? That a few coins can’t hide your innate blood. Hoho!”

This woman is crossing the line.

I had a policy of not avoiding fights I’d walked into.

I’d learned early on that being polite to rude people only led to my own loss.

Besides, wasn’t the Countess of Kensing the one who had goaded Elizabeth into breaking off her engagement?

“Countess. Did your family elders teach you the etiquette of sneering at someone to their face?”

I asked with a bright smile. The Countess of Kensing’s face turned bright red as she flared up.

“Are you talking back to the mistress of a Count’s household?!”

“No. I’m lecturing you.”

“W-What did you say?!”

“You may not have heard the saying that good medicine tastes bitter, but that’s enough. I’ll quietly take my leave now.”

“How dare a young wench…!”

“You don’t even know that proverb? I guess you don’t read books much.”

Laughter could be heard from around us.

It was an open secret that the Countess of Kensing had failed out of the academy she had donated to.

Humiliated in her own domain, the Countess of Kensing raised her hand to strike me.

“Low-born trash only learns when beaten!”

“Who are you to hit me?”

I swatted away the Countess of Kensing’s slender hand with a sharp slap.

Caught off guard by the unexpected counterattack, the Countess of Kensing gaped.

‘My nickname was “the assassin of rude customers disguised as a part-timer”. Don’t underestimate South Korean part-timers!’

Crossing a noble the wrong way could lead to big trouble.

But I had no intention of backing down here. An eye for an eye, right?

“You resort to violence as soon as you’re hit where it hurts. How impressive. Do you know that your husband owes the Emster Trading Company 60 million gold?”

“What? What nonsense is this!”

“Oh, you didn’t know. I guess you were too busy indulging in gambling to notice. Even as we speak, the interest is snowballing.”

“You lowborn wretch, now you’re lying too?”

“I may be lowborn, but promissory notes don’t lie. You should stop mocking His Majesty the Emperor now.”

“You bitch! Are you trying to slander me by mentioning His Majesty?!”

‘Did you think I came unprepared? I know everything you’ve done to Elizabeth!’

“Are you playing dumb? After selling invitations on the black market?”

I glared at the Countess of Kensing, who had nothing to boast of but her noble blood.

Cowed by my intensity, she took a step back.

“T-That’s…!”

“Nobles without townhouses in the capital try to make connections in high society, don’t they? Using a party entrusted by His Majesty to make money… What miserliness is this? Should I call it a beggar’s mentality?”

Murmurs of disapproval could be heard around us.

Those who had bought invitations on the black market couldn’t bring themselves to look up.

I whispered in the ear of the Countess of Kensing, who had frozen like a statue.

“Get out of here quietly. Before I spill everything about your torrid affair with the stable boy.”

It was a fact that Claudia would uncover much later, but that didn’t matter.

The Countess of Kensing staggered away from the party.

I called out in a clear voice to her retreating back.

“Let’s give a round of applause for the Countess who has worked so hard all this time! This might be the last Camellia Party held at the Kensing mansion, after all!”

***

A maid carrying a silver tray passed by me as I was surrounded by people.

On the tray was a chocolate cake topped with cherries.

‘That’s the only food Nikolai enjoys! Have I finally found him?’

I moved towards the terrace, following the maid.

My heart pounded at the thought of finally meeting the original villain.

“Sister Elizabeth!”

A noble young lady with pink hair and gentle eyes approached me.

It was Douglas’s sister Susan, who absolutely should not be here!

“I had to speak with you, so I got an invitation from a relative.”

I really liked Susan’s character, frail but strong-willed.

I had even left hate comments on the chapter where Susan took her own life.

But this kind of strong will was troublesome.

“I know it’s impolite, but is there no way you could cancel the break-up with my brother?”

“Susan…”

“Please reconsider just once. You’ve always listened to me, haven’t you? You’ve never held back your support either.”

“I’m sorry, Susan. Lord Douglas and I are over.”

“Then what about us?”

Susan asked. Clear tears welled up in her gentle eyes.

“I love you as much as my brother does. I’ve been waiting for the day we could become real family.”

Susan must have gathered all her courage to say these words.

I wanted to hug Susan, who was trembling like a rain-soaked fawn.

If Douglas hadn’t appeared, I might have really embraced her.

“Susan. What are you doing here?”

“Brother!”

“I escorted her because she begged me… I didn’t know she would trouble Elizabeth. I apologize on her behalf.”

Douglas bowed his head deeply.

He seemed very uncomfortable with this situation.

The fact that even his sister’s plea couldn’t change my mind must have pained him as well.

“I don’t want to lose Sister.”

“Even so, this isn’t right. How uncomfortable do you think this makes Elizabeth?”

“I’ve committed a great discourtesy. Please forgive me, Sister.”

The doe-eyed siblings clasped their hands together, their eyes brimming with tears.

I inwardly cried out.

‘If you keep doing this, it makes me feel too guilty! I’m not actually used to being the villain!’

The brother deer cautiously asked.

“Elizabeth. You don’t look well. Perhaps you should get some fresh air?”

“Let’s go together, Sister. That terrace over there looks nice!”

The sister deer pointed to the very terrace where the villain emperor was likely lurking.

“May I escort you, Elizabeth?”

The brother deer looked at me with modest hope.

Before I knew it, a cold voice escaped my lips.

“This is getting tiresome.”

The innocent Nettleton siblings’ faces turned pale.

Even if it meant being hated, I couldn’t let Susan meet Nikolai.

“Using your frail sister to try and persuade me, I’m really disappointed.”

“You misunderstand, Elizabeth!”

“Please leave me alone. I’d appreciate it if you’d disappear from my sight.”

I spat out harsh words I didn’t mean.

Susan let a tear fall.

“It’s all my fault. Please don’t hate my brother too.”

“I apologize for making you uncomfortable. But I am not so unprincipled as to use my only blood relative.”

Douglas seemed genuinely hurt.

Even as I thought it couldn’t be helped, it was hard to shake off the guilt.

‘If I’m going to play the villain, I might as well do it properly. Sympathy is poison.’

I coldly turned my back on the two of them and walked away.

It was a perfect villainous performance that even the original Elizabeth would have approved of.

***

I pushed aside the terrace curtain without hesitation.

It was a breach of etiquette, but it couldn’t be helped.

Three people were entwined on a plush sofa.

With a masked man at the center, two women were creating a suggestive scene.

‘Two at once? Should I stuff that in a garbage bag?! Classify it as burnable trash!’

I didn’t want to look, but my eyes kept being drawn to it.

I didn’t want to admit it, but the man was beautiful.

Taut chest muscles stood out through his unbuttoned shirt.

His shoulders were as broad as the Pacific, and his robust thighs were thicker than most women’s waists.

A deep sensuality flowed from his muscular body, which was both sensual and flexible, without losing its dignity.

Black hair falling over the mask.

Between the strands, lazy green eyes flashed like those of a satiated beast.

A forgotten fear swept over me.

‘What if I misspeak and get executed? Tyrants kill people on a whim, don’t they?’

Nikolai, who had been sharply observing me, asked in a deep voice.

“Do you want to join in?”