Chapter 21
“Wha… what did you just say…?”
Hermia was unable to continue her words, unable to finish her sentence as she stared at her father, who was gaping like a fish out of water.
Not just the Count, but everyone in the mansion looked at her as if they had seen a ghost.
‘Did I say something wrong? I’m pretty sure I apologized.’
Ah, maybe my voice was too quiet. I should say it again.
“I’m terribly sorry!”
“Ahhh! Has she finally lost her mind?!”
At the Countess’s scream, Hermia instinctively covered her mouth.
The voice that had come out was definitely hers, but the words seemed utterly foreign to her.
Was I still drunk? Or maybe I’m dreaming? When did this start being a dream?
Carefully, Hermia opened her lips.
“Ah. Ah.”
Even after slightly removing her hand and clearing her throat, it was undeniably reality. The Countess was shaking her dazed husband vigorously.
“I told you something was off since yesterday! There was blood pouring out of her feet and she didn’t even blink! She suddenly said she was going to the Duke’s house, then jumped out of the carriage while it was still moving!”
“……”
“Arnold! Say something! Your daughter has gone mad!”
Seeing the Count, who looked more terrified than shocked, made Hermia suddenly realize the seriousness of the situation.
She thought it best to leave immediately. If she said anything stranger here, the Count would surely consider her a demon in the shape of his daughter.
“I… I think I’m still a bit drunk. I’ll go upstairs and rest. I need to sleep…”
Hermia mumbled in a panic as she turned towards the stairs. Her legs trembled from shock, but the servants stood frozen in place.
They were divided into two groups: those with curious eyes watching the spectacle or those hesitating about whether to help while gauging the Count and Countess’s reactions.
While she leaned on the stair railing to ascend, a loud thud echoed behind her. The Countess had rushed after her.
“Did you just drink with the Duke? All night? Alone?”
“What?”
The grip on her arm was rough and unyielding. It wasn’t surprising since it happened often, but for some reason today it irritated her.
The Countess turned Hermia around forcefully and began inspecting her from head to toe before sniffing close to her face.
“There’s no smell of alcohol. But your clothes and shoes are unfamiliar…”
“What’s going on?”
“Are you perhaps already… No, no. Regardless, privacy should be respected.”
“What are you talking about?”
The blue veins on Hermia’s forehead were visible with anger, yet the Countess forced a smile that looked like a grimace.
“You must have drunk quite a bit. Oh, go upstairs and rest.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Hermia replied absentmindedly and then realized what she had said, hurrying up the remaining stairs.
As she heard the door close behind her, she saw the Countess’s face filled with excitement as she descended.
“Arnold! Come here!”
While telling him to come over, she rushed to his side and whispered hurriedly.
“I think she’s definitely done something with the Duke. Her attitude changed so suddenly, this must be it!”
“What do you mean?”
“If she received some sort of confirmation from the Duke, then that explains why she’s acting so recklessly! It must be true!”
“Wha… what? Before even getting married…”
The Count clutched his neck in shock as he shouted, but his wife only laughed with delight. Her wide eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Hermia is definitely going to become the Duke’s wife. That clever girl knows exactly what’s going on.”
With that thought in mind, something clicked—an invitation! An invitation! She dashed off somewhere again.
—
Back in her room, Hermia sat in front of her vanity and stared straight ahead.
The reflection in the mirror showed herself with beautiful silver hair and jewel-like blue eyes… No, that wasn’t it. She shook her head vigorously and opened her lips again.
“…Am I really going crazy?”
This was coming out correctly; even her mouth movements matched. What on earth had just happened?
Even though she felt something was wrong, strange words came out uncontrollably. Even trying to stop midway proved useless.
“Maybe I’ve been eating too much lately and it’s messing with my brain.”
“Lady?”
“Knock before you come in! Please! Just!”
“Hik.”
Andy, who had entered without knocking, stepped back and quickly closed the door again.
Hermia grabbed at her hair in surprise; this too had been an unintentional remark.
She wished it were all just a dream. However, contrary to that hope, the vivid pressure on her scalp mocked her for even thinking such foolishness.
Hours later, Hermia finally managed to think clearly about everything that had transpired.
For reasons unknown to her, whenever she opened her mouth words seemed to spill out uncontrollably. No—more accurately…
‘It’s more precise to say that my inner thoughts are spilling out.’ This had become a conclusion reached after several tests conducted by herself.
“I am beautiful.”
So far so good.
“The Countess is also… um… um… the thief who stole my necklace.”
What she truly thought could be articulated correctly; yet whenever she tried to lie intentionally like just now—mysterious things occurred instead.
She quickly abandoned thoughts of visiting a hospital; memories of seeing someone who spoke strangely being dragged away by authorities back in town surfaced vividly in her mind.
With a gloomy heart, she looked down at the elegant card in her hand.
A tea party is being held tomorrow for selecting maids for Princess Elisabeth Müller’s twentieth birthday celebration at her private villa.
Noblewomen living in the capital would undoubtedly receive invitations; they would likely select girls around their age—about one hundred or so attendees expected altogether.
“Irene will be there too. Damn…”
Thinking about those who barked at her like hunting dogs made Hermia’s head ache again. Using illness as an excuse would be pointless now.
Since it was an opportunity to meet royalty—the Countess would surely drag her there by any means necessary; whether by putting a leash on or tying strings like a marionette!
‘Can I really endure this?’
With one hundred young ladies alongside their mothers and servants included—the crowd would be overwhelming; she’d have to hide away like a mouse before finding an escape route!
—
“Where is that girl?”
Elisabeth peered over a feathered fan and asked while scanning through dozens of tables filled with similarly dressed young ladies; spotting the infamous villainess among them wouldn’t be easy at all.
“Who do you mean?”
“Helen… what was her real name again? They said she has dull gray hair and torn wall-eyed looks.”
The uncertain description made one of the attendants tilt their head while scanning through their list.
“There are two named Helen here; however they’re both ladies—not young misses.”
“No, not them! The one engaged recently to Sir Walter!”
Only then did the attendant exclaim “Ah,” flipping through pages until they found what they were looking for at last.
“You mean Lady Vansen? Her name is… Hermia Vansen. She is also twenty years old like you, Your Highness.”
“Hmmm.”
Elisabeth instinctively twisted one of her platinum locks around her finger—a habit she unconsciously performed whenever something displeased her.
‘To think he would get engaged to someone with such bad rumors; Sir Walter must have inherited quite an impressive fortune.’
She firmly believed that Walter chose Hermia over herself purely for financial reasons based on what was written in his will—after all he would become hers within a year’s time but marrying someone who had already divorced felt quite humiliating for Elisabeth herself as well!
Thus when meeting personally—she intended to persuade him once more that his fiancée truly wasn’t worth marrying; perhaps he should reconsider carefully before proceeding further!
‘Whether or not she is truly a villainess doesn’t matter much.’
Although Elisabeth enjoyed reading novels like everyone else—she understood well enough that many popular novels often contained exaggerated elements within them too!
Had this rumor not involved Walter’s fiancée—it likely wouldn’t have caught any attention from Elisabeth whatsoever; hence why now she sought firsthand verification about this alleged villainess who dared take position beside Sir Walter!
“What could possibly be hiding behind such audacity?”
“Bring her here! I want to greet her first!”
Elisabeth said sweetly while sipping herbal tea gracefully—believing it would be healthier than black tea or coffee anyway!
Moments later standing before Princess Elisabeth’s tea table were both Count Vansen’s wife and daughter side by side together!
As soon as Hermia bowed politely while kneeling down—Elisabeth’s expression subtly twitched upon seeing this lovely sight before them!
‘What? She’s stunning!’
“Welcome Lady Vansen. And Lady Hermia.”
“It’s such an honor being invited here today, Your Highness,” exclaimed Count Vansen’s wife with an emotional face—but Elisabeth’s red gaze remained firmly locked onto Hermia instead!
When Hermia raised her head without saying anything while blinking repeatedly—the Countess tugged at the hem of her skirt. Elisabeth ignored that and waited for Hermia to speak with a gentle gaze.
“G-good… hello. I’m Hermia Vansen.”
And then froze with an awkward smile plastered across her face!
Not only the Princess, but also any other high-ranking noble, especially royalty, required the phrase “It’s an honor” when greeting them.
‘Surely I must have misheard.’
Feeling strange experiencing this situation for the first time ever made Elisabeth forcefully smile back awkwardly trying hard not to show discomfort whatsoever.
“It’s nice meeting you! You seem more famous than me lately; perhaps I should actually say that it is indeed my honor instead?”
“…Yes.”
“……?”
Hermia stayed silent for a moment, and with her mother’s urging, she finally managed to speak.
This time however Elisabeth’s expression darkened noticeably too—standing up from chair confirming inquiry further asking directly:
“Lady Hermia? Did I hear incorrectly?”
“…….”
Silence reigned once again as Elisabeth suppressed growing irritation asking once more insistently:
“Did I really have to say ‘it’s an honor’ to you, Lady Hermia?”
“…….”
“It’s not a request, it’s an order. Answer me.”
Hermia squeezed her eyes shut at the warning tone and muttered softly.
“…Do what you want.”
