Chapter: 01
Prologue. The Villainess’s Honey Is Sweet
Elegant music filled the ballroom.
The ladies, dressed in dazzling gowns, were each as lovely as flowers in full bloom.
Among them, however, there was one lady who stood out above all the rest.
“Lady Lopes, you’re as beautiful as ever today.”
“You’ll save the next dance for me too, won’t you?”
Surrounded by gentlemen, the young lady blushed brightly and smiled shyly.
“Oh my… You’ll embarrass me if you keep saying such things.”
Seraphina Lopes.
Alongside Lady Claudius, she was hailed as one of the most beautiful ladies in high society.
Her soft, light-green hair and deep emerald eyes resembled the lush greenery of spring.
Combined with the mermaid-line gown that hugged her graceful figure from top to bottom…
She looked like a real mermaid.
“There’s no need to be embarrassed. I only ever speak the truth.”
“Where could anyone possibly find someone as beautiful as Lady Lopes?”
Just as the gentlemen continued showering Seraphina with endless compliments…
Another lady entered the ballroom.
The hall immediately erupted into murmurs.
“Who is that lady?”
The young woman stood with perfect posture. Even under countless curious gazes, she showed not the slightest hint of shrinking back.
Instead, she answered them with a composed, confident smile.
A moment later…
Those who recognized her widened their eyes in shock.
“W-Wait… Could that really be Lady Ansi?!”
Lariette Ansi.
The closest friend of Seraphina, who was known as the Lily of High Society.
Though behind her back, people secretly called her something else.
Seraphina’s doormat.
Her gloomy appearance.
Her unfashionable dress, completely unsuited for a ballroom.
Even the way she constantly hunched her shoulders made her seem even more insignificant.
Because Lariette was always standing beside her, Seraphina had shone all the brighter.
But today’s Lariette was nothing like her usual self.
“This can’t be…”
“That’s the gloomy, dreary Lady Ansi?”
The gentlemen who had been busy trying to win Seraphina’s favor unconsciously turned their heads toward Lariette.
Tiny diamonds glittered like stars across her thick black braid.
Her silver gown shimmered faintly like morning mist.
Gone were the long, ghost-like curtains of messy hair that had become Lady Ansi’s trademark.
Gone too was the awkward dress that had always been too short, exposing her ankles.
Today’s Lariette was dressed to perfection.
Meanwhile, the ladies’ sharp eyes instantly recognized every piece she was wearing.
“Isn’t that gown from Madame Soberno?”
“And that diamond hairpiece! It’s the newest design from the Chelsiani brand!”
From head to toe, Lariette was wearing only the finest luxury brands in the Empire.
Everyone stared at her in astonishment.
Then Seraphina’s gaze suddenly turned icy cold.
“…”
Maintaining her bright smile, she approached Lariette.
“Lari, you must have been really looking forward to today’s ball. You certainly put a lot of effort into your appearance.”
Although her voice sounded friendly, the way she looked Lariette up and down was filled with pity.
“But what should we do? I don’t think that dress and those jewels… really suit you.”
“…”
Lariette looked back at Seraphina expressionlessly.
Seraphina deliberately lowered her eyebrows in feigned concern.
“To be honest, your features are a little plain. Isn’t such a flashy outfit a bit… out of place on you?”
“…”
“If you were going to spend this much money anyway, you should have asked me first. I could have chosen a dress and jewelry that truly suited you…”
Just then—
“Was that comment meant for me?”
Click.
Click.
The sharp sound of heels echoed across the marble floor.
Eyes as blue as a lake gazed arrogantly at Seraphina.
“L-Lady Claudius?”
Evangeline Claudius.
If Seraphina was the Lily of High Society, then Evangeline was its most magnificent rose.
The only daughter of the Empire’s sole ducal house.
Radiant honey-blonde hair.
Eyes that sparkled like polished sapphires.
Beauty, status, wealth—
There was nothing she lacked.
She was one of the Empire’s most noble ladies in every sense.
With a slightly mocking tone, she addressed Seraphina.
“I personally chose everything Lari is wearing today, from head to toe.”
“W-What?”
Seraphina’s face instantly turned pale.
Ignoring her reaction, Evangeline continued coldly.
“And yet, in front of everyone, you’re saying that Lari’s dress doesn’t suit her…”
“Y-Your Grace!”
“Are you indirectly insulting my taste?”
“T-That’s not what I meant! I was only…”
Seraphina hurriedly tried to explain herself.
But Evangeline had already lost all interest in listening.
“Hmm. To me, Lari looks absolutely beautiful.”
She smiled leisurely at the ladies and gentlemen who had been nervously watching the scene unfold.
“What do the rest of you think?”
“Of course! We completely agree!”
“I had no idea Lady Ansi could be this beautiful!”
“Your Grace truly has impeccable taste!”
Everyone rushed to agree with Evangeline.
To be fair, the transformed Lariette really was stunning.
…But more importantly, no one dared oppose Evangeline’s frightening glare.
“Honestly, in my opinion…”
Evangeline’s smile deepened.
“Lari is far more beautiful than Lady Lopes.”
“…”
“…”
At that moment—
Everyone exchanged uneasy glances.
She hadn’t called her “Lady Ansi.”
She had called her “Lari.”
A nickname.
Which meant…
Evangeline considered Lariette someone close to her.
After all, she had never once addressed anyone else by a nickname.
After a long silence, Seraphina clenched her teeth before her lips began trembling.
“Lari… How could you?”
Her emerald eyes filled with tears as she looked pitifully at Lariette.
“How could you treat your friend like this? I only wanted to help you, but just because you’ve become acquainted with Her Grace, you’re looking down on me…”
Since she couldn’t openly challenge Evangeline, she redirected her attack toward the easier target—Lariette.
However—
“Lady Lopes, isn’t that rather childish?”
“Your Grace!”
“You’ve been an adult ever since your debutante ball. How long do you intend to keep dividing people into ‘my friends’ and ‘your friends’?”
Tsk.
Evangeline clicked her tongue loudly enough for everyone to hear as she glanced disdainfully at Seraphina.
“How immature.”
“…!”
Seraphina’s face flushed bright red with humiliation.
After giving her one last look of disappointment, Evangeline glanced toward Lariette.
“I don’t see any value in speaking with Lady Lopes any longer. Let’s go, Lari.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Lariette smiled brightly and walked over to Evangeline’s side.
“…”
“…”
Everyone stood frozen, blankly watching the two ladies walk away together.
A short while later.
After stopping in a quiet corner of the garden, Evangeline spoke with an indifferent expression.
“About that dress… Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t prepare it because I like you. It would simply be embarrassing if someone standing beside me looked so shabby.”
Staring into the dark garden for no particular reason, Evangeline quietly clasped Lariette’s hand.
“…So don’t wander off anywhere else. Stay by my side. Understood?”
“Of course.”
Lariette looked quietly at the hand holding hers.
Then she broke into a radiant smile.
“You’re the only one I have, Eva.”
Seriously…
Our villainess is simply the best!
