Chapter 2 - I Got Clichéd While Trying to Twist the Cliché

Chapter 2 – I Got Clichéd While Trying to Twist the Cliché

Once our family responded to Duke Florence’s marriage proposal, the wedding was practically a foregone conclusion.

However, the moment I saw the Crown Prince’s summons that arrived afterward, I found myself thinking that perhaps this could be an opportunity to change my life.

“Is it because I’m trying to follow the original story that the original story is getting twisted?”

Standing in front of the glittering imperial palace, I stroked my chin.

This morning, as soon as the Crown Prince’s summons arrived, our household was thrown into complete chaos. Just yesterday we had accepted the Duke’s marriage proposal, and today came the Crown Prince’s summons—it was certainly enough to shock a mere commoner merchant family.

But regardless, I had to visit the Crown Prince’s palace. So here I was, properly dressed, standing before the imperial palace taking deep breaths.

Come on, it’s nothing special. We already know each other anyway, so why am I getting so nervous?

But then…

“I like you, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Please marry me.”

“Aaaaaahhh.”

I can barely stand upright with my sanity intact. I collapsed with a thud, covering my face with both hands. This was a different kind of shame from desperately sucking my fingers in front of Rubellian. It felt like confessing on the 8 o’clock news only to get rejected on the 9 o’clock news.

But to make some excuses, I was quite out of my mind at the time. Just the thought of needing to survive, paired with all the cliché knowledge I gained from reading novels, ended up backfiring on me.

Shaking my head, I resolutely stood up again.

In this narrow social circle, meeting the Crown Prince was inevitable—I would have to face him eventually anyway.

Besides, who knows? Maybe calling me here today will actually help twist the original story?

After giving myself this pep talk, I took a long breath and presented the summons to the knight at the Crown Prince’s palace.

“I’ve come at His Highness the Crown Prince’s summons.”

“Are you Lady Evangeline?”

The knight who checked the summons widened his eyes. Well, of course—after that day’s confession, there was hardly anyone in the imperial palace who didn’t know me.

A cheap woman who dared to seduce the Crown Prince with her extraordinary beauty and figure.

The imperial knights couldn’t possibly be unaware of me, what with all the scandalous rumors that had attached themselves to my name through gossip-mongers.

However, being quite professional, they calmly escorted me inside, and soon I was able to meet Viscount Tools, who served as the head chamberlain in the Crown Prince’s palace.

“It’s been a while, Lady.”

“It’s been a while, Viscount.”

Viscount Tools nodded as he watched me lightly grasp my dress and curtsy.

“Everyone is waiting for you in the garden.”

“…Pardon?”

Wasn’t the line supposed to be “His Highness the Crown Prince is waiting for you in the garden”? Why is he saying “everyone is waiting”?

I hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to suddenly take on a regretful male lead position, desperately grabbing me while shedding tears of remorse and groveling like a dog before I accepted him in some melodramatic scene, but this was too unexpected a situation for me not to tilt my head in confusion.

Seeing my furrowed brow at this suspicious feeling, Viscount Tools asked me with a face that seemed to say “didn’t you know?”

“Did you perhaps not know?”

“What?”

“Today is the day His Highness regularly hosts tea parties.”

“…?”

As soon as he finished speaking, I felt my head throb and took a long deep breath. So it wasn’t some regretful male lead position… he just called me to have tea together?

But why?

Where would I find the mental strength to sit and study tea ceremony with him? Is it this country’s custom to invite a woman you rejected for tea afterward? 

Could the Crown Prince be an emotionless sociopath? No, no, that can’t be. A romance fantasy genre author wouldn’t write such a male lead.

Right, let’s trust. Not trusting the Crown Prince, but trusting the author.

I squeezed my face like wringing out a rag to force a smile and followed the viscount who was leading me.

However, upon arriving at the garden, I ended up losing even the last bit of rationality I had left.

“Lady Evangeline of Clauda has arrived.”

The moment Viscount Tools opened his mouth, every noble at the long table turned their eyes to me. And in that instant, as waves of hostility crashed over me, I had to seriously consider if it would be quicker to flee, or more creative to just assassinate the Crown Prince?

I’m going to kill that male lead bastard. While we’re at it, let’s change the romance fantasy genre to a female-oriented fantasy where the female lead manages everything alone. It would be much more helpful for the female lead’s life to not have such a male lead. A genre change is urgently needed.

Wait, hold on.

The reason Rubellian torments the female lead is because he’s on the Crown Prince’s side, but if there’s no Crown Prince, there’s no reason for the female lead to be bullied, and then there’s no reason for the female lead to kill me…?

My goodness, the Crown Prince’s crazy behavior has opened a new path for me!

In this sudden situation, I forgot my ability to think and researched hundreds of ways to assassinate the Crown Prince in my head.

They were objectively quite impractical plans, but since I was already not in my right mind, there was no time to think about anything normally.

But there was definitely a reason I was acting this way.

Because…

Biting my lips tightly, Duchess Colica, who was sitting right next to the head seat, elegantly waved her fan and chuckled softly.

“Lady Evangeline, please sit here. What are you doing?”

“Yes, ah, yes.”

“Since you’re about to marry His Grace the Duke, it would be good to straighten your conduct and mind. Of course, well—it seems like you think you only need a body without necessarily having a mind.”

“…”

“My, it must be difficult for a person to drape such vulgarity all over their body like that, but how wonderfully Lady Evangeline manages to accomplish such a difficult task.”

Yes, this was exactly it. The reason I wanted to grab the Crown Prince by the throat for creating this situation.

How dare he invite me to a place like this? What kind of spectacle does he want to see?

After I confessed to the Crown Prince and got rejected, ending up on the social circle’s blacklist, several nobles who had been close to the Crown Prince particularly hated me, and one of them was precisely this family.

The Crown Prince’s mother’s—that is, the Empress’s—family, and currently the Colica Duchy, which wielded the greatest influence in the empire.

Watching Duchess Colica openly mock me, I gritted my teeth. I had hoped she might back down a little upon hearing about my marriage to Duke Florence, but she’s openly mocking me even more, isn’t she? Well, what would that family have to fear?

I sighed deeply. Across from Duchess Colica, two seats were empty, and obviously they were meant for Rubellian and me. So I calmly walked over and sat in that spot.

Every noble here was part of the group that followed the Crown Prince. At the same time, they were families connected to the Colica Duchy.

All except one—Duke Florence.

“I am, after all, incomparable in terms of beauty.”

I spread my fan wide and lightly covered my face.

Isn’t this the most common scene in the romance fantasy world? The possessed girl being teased and ignored. But ultimately overcoming everything with wisdom and gaining everyone’s recognition.

However, I had no such wisdom to use on these people. Honestly, I’m not someone who cares about honor, and if I had cared about such evaluations, I wouldn’t have acted that way in front of Rubellian in the first place. So I slightly narrowed my eyes and said:

“If there’s any flaw in me, it would be that I’m simply too beautiful. Of course, the malice that arises from that is countless, but what can I do? When I’m this beautiful.”

She seemed not to have expected me to retort like this, showing quite displeased emotions as she spoke:

“How vulgar.”

“If starting quarrels is madam’s role, then talking back is mine.”

“Quarrels? Lady, you’re being overly sensitive.”

“If that was meant to be sarcastic, I should express serious concern about the home education madam received. If my tutor had seen it, she probably would have given you 2 points out of 10 for sarcasm.”

Social circle power struggles are fun to watch, but unpleasant when you’re the target.

No, if someone has a properly attached mouth and a properly functioning head, don’t speak sarcastically—just say it outright. Or if you’re going to be sarcastic, do it properly with truly tremendous eloquence.

So I decided to use a direct approach. I didn’t want to engage in power struggles with these people, it was bothersome, and honestly I didn’t even know why I should be doing this, and what energy would I waste on people who would all be defeated once the female lead appeared anyway.

As I was quietly shaking my head, I heard someone’s voice from a little distance away.

“My, still vulgar as ever. Truly vulgar beyond measure. As expected, commoners don’t belong in places like this.”

When I turned my head, there was a young man sitting there with a swaggering expression.

Ah, Gellin Psik.

The eldest son of the Psik Count family, a famous playboy in social circles, and also the guy who had confessed to me, got rejected, and then spread stories about me.

Saying that I had been with numerous men, and whatnot—quite malicious rumors.

I never expected to see him here—the very person who spread rumors that insulted me not just as a woman, but as a human being.

Honestly, when I first started working and shadowed my supervisor, I heard all kinds of unspeakable things from nasty people, so those rumors didn’t faze me much—but seeing him now really felt like fate.

I looked at Gellin Psik and smiled crookedly.

“However vulgar I might be, could I be more vulgar than you, young master? If you got rejected, you got rejected—how pathetic to still remember and act like this.”

“When did I ever to someone like you…!”

“You said so last time, didn’t you? That you wanted to spend a night with me somehow? And then you got slapped by me and kicked in the shins—are your plans for offspring still safe?”

At my words while glancing at his pants, Gellin shot up from his seat. Watching him with a bright smile, I shrugged my shoulders.

Ha, after everything I’ve been through, can’t I handle just this one?

But this person, who knew me only as an innocent commoner woman, seemed unaware of how strong my mental fortitude was. With his stupid intellectual level, he hurled at me what he thought was the worst insult he could give to a woman.

“You… bitch who thinks that pretty face is everything!”

“I’ll return those exact words to you, young master, who once propositioned me for a night. Furthermore, for a noble, you use quite unrefined language.”

At least the Duchess didn’t say things like that. I snapped my fan shut and laughed leisurely.

So, so what are you going to do? Kill me? Not a chance—he can’t kill me. With my marriage to Rubellian approaching, if he has any sense, he can’t kill me.

Ah, could promising to marry Rubellian be such a gratifying thing? I chuckled inwardly and shrugged my shoulders.

“Do you think all the men in the world are like Duke Rubellian!”

“Of course not. Just starting with you, young master—you’re not as handsome as His Grace, you don’t have money, you don’t have a family line, you have even less of a title, isn’t that right?”

I made a pitying face. At this, his face, already cooked like barbecue, flailed about wildly.

“You vulgar wench!”

Gellin roared thunderously. Even the noble lady sitting next to him slightly covered her ears at his thunder-like shouting, but I sat there perfectly composed.

“People who habitually call others vulgar are never refined themselves.”

“What?”

“So if I am vulgar, what will you do about it? If I’m vulgar and lack refinement, then what exactly will you do about it, young master? Are you going to kill me?”

I held my teacup and looked at Gellin. When I smiled sweetly with my eyes crinkled over the teacup, he banged the table and fumed.

But there was nothing more than that. He too seemed to have grasped the situation.

If you can’t follow through to the end, why pick a fight?

In this place where a husband’s power is a wife’s power and a husband’s wealth is a wife’s wealth, I don’t know how to shed tears of injustice with the kind of grace that makes people sympathize.

If it’s a shitty world, I’ll act even more shittily. Will you even be alive tomorrow? I only live for today. Better to struggle with saying too much than regret saying nothing at all. And honestly, for someone who spread those kinds of rumors, this was me being merciful.

As I gave Gellin, who was fuming, a victorious smile, Duchess Colica sitting across from me made a disgusted face.

“To be this vulgar, truly a disgrace to noble ladies.”

“It’s the limitation of commoner origins.”

“That’s not something to be proud of.”

“But it’s not something to be ashamed of either. At least not in front of that person who spoke vulgarly first.”

So what are you going to do about it? Anyway, I had nothing to lose, so I was quite calm. As I smiled leisurely and shrugged, she continued:

“You don’t actually believe the Duke’s favor will last forever, do you? A woman’s beauty lasts only a season. You’ll soon be abandoned.”

“Oh my, how did you know that’s my dream?”

If Rubellian abandons me, I’d be very thankful. With a death route already predetermined, would I fear something like being abandoned? I really wish I could be abandoned.

I smiled pleasantly at the Duchess and elegantly ate a piece of cake in front of all the hostility directed at me.

Annoying, isn’t it? Then go tell Rubellian that he shouldn’t marry a woman like me.

Just then, I suddenly heard footsteps. When I turned my head, the Crown Prince and Rubellian were standing there.

Seeing this, I put down my fork and let out a big sigh.

“Your Grace, you’ve arrived?”

Everyone frowned at my attitude of completely skipping the Crown Prince who was clearly in front and greeting Rubellian directly.

But I was originally someone who held grudges, and unlike how I wanted to grab the Crown Prince by the throat, he actually had quite an easygoing personality.

Sure enough, the Crown Prince smiled with a face that showed no particular concern.

“I’m very pleased that we could all gather like this.”

Only you seem pleased though?

As I muttered to myself and pursed my lips, Rubellian came to sit beside me with a calm face, following the Crown Prince who sat at the head seat.

“Lady Evangeline, I’m sorry for calling you so suddenly.”

“It’s fine.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say it was an honor even if it killed me. I smiled brightly for one second, then hardened my face back to expressionless. The Crown Prince, who had been staring intently at my appearance, continued speaking.

“When I heard the news that you two were engaged, I thought it would be good to invite you to this gathering. Lady Evangeline will need to show her face frequently in social circles from now on.”

I curled up the corners of my mouth, then dropped them back down.

Rubellian, who had been staring at me from the side, asked me quietly with a somewhat bewildered expression:

“Are your mouth muscles perhaps cramping?”

“…They’re not.”

What’s with mouth muscles cramping? I looked at Rubellian incredulously. However, his face was quite serious, so I turned my head away primly.

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince continued speaking.

“I deliberately came late with the Duke to help Lady Evangeline adapt well to social circles. How was it, Duchess Colica? Did you teach Lady Evangeline well?”

What? He gave the pointless order to teach me well? Teach me well, my foot—she was acting like she wanted to devour me completely.

What on earth is the Crown Prince thinking? Could this guy possibly think of me as someone he doesn’t want to have but is too precious to throw away?

Is he just clueless? But in the original story, he wasn’t that clueless. He’s mysteriously making things difficult for me.

I snorted. How Duchess Colica would answer was obvious. As I glanced at Duchess Colica, she smiled gracefully and said:

“Of course, Your Highness. Lady Evangeline is so modest and wise that I had nothing particular to teach her.”

Wow, look at her lie without even moistening her lips with saliva. It was the expected answer, but it made me nauseous.

Unlike the person who had called me vulgar and whatnot just moments ago, she smiled gracefully while slightly curling up the corners of her mouth.

“However, since she’s seen and learned various things until now, she does make quite a few mistakes.”

“…”

“But Lady Evangeline will learn to improve wonderfully. Isn’t that right, Lady?”

Duchess Colica looked at me and smiled leisurely. She seemed to think I naturally wouldn’t be able to speak freely in front of Rubellian, appearing quite triumphant, and even the people around were going along with her behavior.

That made sense, because a modest noble lady shouldn’t tell her husband about being bullied in social circles. That would be against the virtues of a noble lady.

But who am I? Someone who’s good at everything except twisting the original story, and I didn’t have the hobby of enduring alone while digging my own grave.

If you’re going to mess with me, do it in front of me. With that thought, I flashed a bright smile and gently took Rubellian’s arm.

That polished attitude from moments ago disappeared, leaving behind a face as innocent as a lamb.

“Your Grace, actually I lack confidence.”

“…?”

“Because starting with this person, and extending to over there, everyone seems to dislike me.”

“…!”

“Especially that person over there, Gellin? Gellang? That person called me a prostitute… Goodness, words I don’t even want to utter.”

“When did I ever!”

“Didn’t you say that I seduced His Grace with my body?”

“Hey!”

“He called me vulgar, and said that His Grace, who was seduced by this vulgar body, was also vulgar… I don’t mind being insulted, but it really breaks my heart to see His Grace evaluated that way.”

“What, no! Your Grace! I never said such things!”

“And most decisively, he said he’d kill me… I’m scared, Your Grace.”

I spoke with a face that showed neither heartbreak nor fear.

Did you think only you were good at spreading rumors? I’m quite an expert in this field too.

Master of fishing, expert at random throwing, and queen of the rumor world.

Mix three truths with one lie, and that lie becomes truth too.

Honestly, when you were spreading such rumors behind my back, I was too out of my mind to do anything but laugh it off, but now that I’ve caught you today, you have to get beaten once by me and once by Rubellian.

I curled up the corners of my mouth and smiled innocently.

“Why, am I wrong?”

“I never said such things! When did I ever say I’d kill you—”

“Then the previous statements are true.”

As I smiled brightly at Gellin, who stood up and flailed about, Rubellian’s low voice resonated through the garden.

He was looking at Gellin with a colder face than anyone. From that face, both Gellin and I could clearly see his intention to bury Gellin in the ground, making us both flinch slightly.

However, I soon smiled nastily and said:

“Oh my, I absolutely wasn’t trying to tattle to His Grace.”

At my words, Gellin’s blood pressure seemed ready to burst from redness. Well, of course—if he had eyes, he’d know that I did this on purpose.

“I… I had no idea such a thing would happen.”

Even the Crown Prince looked at Gellin with quite a hardened face.

In the coldly frozen atmosphere, Gellin, who had been sweating profusely, bit his lips tightly, and I met Gellin’s eyes and mouthed silently:

‘Oh my, sorry.’

…!

Seeing Gellin’s face turn blue in an instant, I quickly turned my head away.

Rubellian was still staring at Gellin with cold eyes as he opened his mouth.

“Young master seems to need to learn something called manners.”

“N-no, um, Y-Your Grace, I’m sorry…”

“Sorry? This isn’t something that can be resolved with sorry. To try to tarnish an innocent lady’s honor while also trying to tarnish my honor.”

“Your Grace, please don’t be so harsh. He probably acted that way because he was angry after confessing to me before and getting rejected.”

“Such a thing happened?”

“N-no, Your Grace, I…”

“I had heard rumors that the young master was rude, but to confirm it with my own eyes today is even more astounding.”

At Rubellian’s cold words, Gellin grabbed the back of his head. He must have known how annoying I looked, swaying and fanning myself beside him.

However, in this situation, no one was willing to help him. The Crown Prince was also clearly showing anger.

In the end, Gellin received the punishment of being permanently forbidden from approaching me. At Rubellian’s order to unconditionally avoid me whenever he saw me, he made a displeased expression but had no choice. His language had certainly been excessive. Even the Colica family found it difficult to defend him.

Soon Gellin left, and the tea party continued, but the party that had already been ruined because of me ended early.

Rubellian had a face like he wanted to say something to me, but in the end only told me to go home early and rest since I must be tired.

And before long, rumors spread throughout the capital that a terrible hybrid would soon enter the Florence Duchy as the mistress.