Chapter 16
“Of course you forgot. No wonder you’ve been so relaxed since morning. Just a few days ago, you were thrilled about this party—said it was the perfect chance to eat desserts without restraint.”
“You’re right. That’s why, Mei, please make sure my dress has plenty of room. And don’t lace the corset too tight. Last time, because of that corset, I couldn’t eat a single bite of dessert. It still haunts me.”
Rodelia pressed her cheeks in regret, and Mei clicked her tongue.
“Honestly, do you have a hungry ghost clinging to you? How are you planning to cram all that into such a tiny stomach?”
“Eating is all about momentum! If you want to eat, nothing’s impossible.”
“Oh dear, my lady’s inventing strange words again. What on earth is mukbang?”
“It’s a thing—it just means you’re dead serious about eating.”
“I have a dream, you know. That someday, my lady will become calm and ladylike like the other noble girls. So that I, Mei, can slack off without worry.”
“Mei, you’re still clinging to false hopes. Me becoming calm is as likely as the sun rising in the west.”
“Yes, yes… it does seem that way.”
Sighing, Mei urged her mistress to hurry back inside.
Rodelia just smiled sweetly, gliding down the corridor like a fluttering butterfly.
After that cheerful morning walk, Rodelia set out—done up to perfection thanks to Mei.
The young ladies’ social gathering was being held at a grand cafeteria in the heart of Barnard’s capital.
They had rented out the entire three-story café.
The official purpose was “to foster friendship among debutantes,” but in truth, it was a chance to scope out who fancied whom.
As Rodelia was looking for a seat—
“Lady Ferris.”
Someone called her name. Naturally, everyone’s eyes turned her way.
“We meet again. Sit here.”
The one who called her was none other than Princess Nanael.
She smiled faintly, pointing with her fan to the empty seat beside her.
‘Ah, right. Nanael also debuted this year… I thought I wouldn’t be seeing her again so soon.’
Rodelia’s heart shrank to the size of a bean.
‘Don’t panic. She’s the one in the wrong, not me.’
Straightening her back, she walked toward Nanael’s table.
“It’s an honor to meet the empire’s shining star. To see you again at such a gathering is truly delightful.”
She gave the polite greeting and was just about to sit—
“Not there. Sit here. Right next to me.”
“…Pardon? But—”
Rodelia hesitated.
The spot Nanael pointed to was already occupied by another young lady.
As expected, the girl in the seat looked flustered.
“I-I’m sorry, Your Highness, but someone is already sitting there.”
When Rodelia pointed this out, Nanael let out a sharp little laugh.
Then she turned to the girl beside her.
“Roti. How long are you going to sit there cluelessly? Move. How much longer will you keep clinging to me?”
“M-my apologies, Your Highness.”
The young lady—Roti Beige—scrambled to her feet, her face burning red with humiliation.
Rodelia’s gaze naturally went to her.
“There. Now a seat’s free, isn’t it?”
Nanael tapped the chair next to her with an elegant smile.
Poor Roti stood awkwardly off to the side.
The other young ladies at the table? They acted like nothing was happening. Some even giggled behind their fans, clearly entertained.
Rodelia instantly understood.
From a young age, Nanael had enjoyed “playing with dolls.”
But her dolls weren’t toys—they were people.
As a child, she was infamous for constantly changing her attendants, treating them like playthings. And after her debut, her games grew even crueler.
In the original story, Rodelia recalled, Nanael’s “doll” had once been none other than the heroine, Summer.
Before Summer, though, the doll had been Roti Beige—the same girl now standing humiliated before her.
Rodelia remembered how it happened. Summer had once accidentally stepped on Nanael’s fine lace dress while helping Roti. Summer, a poor girl supporting her family, couldn’t afford to replace it.
Nanael seized the chance: she forced Summer to become her “companion,” publicly branding her as Nanael’s plaything in society.
That was how Summer had been trapped.
Rodelia, however, was no Summer. She wasn’t righteous or self-sacrificing.
Her only goal in life was to stay safe and live peacefully. To her, Nanael spelled nothing but trouble.
‘If I get involved, it’s over.’
Sensing danger, Rodelia pasted on a bright smile.
“Oh dear, I just remembered—I left my bag behind! There’s something extremely important inside, so I’ll just pop out quickly—”
She didn’t even get to finish.
“My lady, I brought your bag!”
Mei came bustling in, cheerfully holding out Rodelia’s handbag.
Mei… know when to stay quiet!
Rodelia screamed inwardly, but took the bag anyway.
“Oh, so you had it. Thank. You. So. Much.”
Her eyes shot daggers at her maid, but Mei only tilted her head in confusion.
“How fortunate, then,” Nanael said sweetly. “Since you don’t have to leave, you can sit right here.”
Mei finally caught the strange atmosphere and made a face like ‘Oops, did I mess up?’
But the damage was done.
Rodelia had no choice but to take the seat beside Nanael.
She forced a laugh. “See? My Mei is just so dependable, haha…”
You’ll pay for this later, Mei.
Feeling her mistress’s sharp glare, Mei quickly looked away, pretending not to notice.
These regular gatherings for new debutantes were managed directly by the imperial palace.
The goal was to help the young ladies learn proper etiquette and build connections.
This year was especially significant because the Third Princess, Nanael, had joined. So her mother, Empress Rosaria, oversaw the events.
Rosaria Barnard—once a princess of a fallen kingdom, now consort of the emperor. She had given birth to the Second Prince and the Third Princess, and because the Empress was frail, Rosaria handled most domestic affairs.
Outwardly, she was known as virtuous, even getting along with the Empress. But secretly, she schemed to put her son Cesare on the throne.
Of course, only Nanael—and Rodelia, thanks to her knowledge of the original story—knew this.
“The Empress Consort has been delayed with urgent matters. While we wait, please enjoy some desserts.”
At that, the café staff laid out trays filled with all sorts of sweets.
Naturally, the most extravagant tray was placed before Nanael’s table.
Rodelia’s eyes lit up.
‘Oh my—look at that!’
Among the desserts, one in particular gleamed like treasure: fig cream-cheese cake.
Glossy cream, perfectly coated figs sparkling with sugar—
‘Sitting next to Nanael isn’t so bad after all, if it comes with this!’
Cheered at once, she reached for the tray, hiding her excitement with a calm smile.
She loaded her plate enthusiastically.
Only then did she notice the atmosphere.
“…Hm? Aren’t you all eating?”
Her plate was already full, but none of the others had touched a single dessert.
They just sat stiffly, waiting—as though they needed someone’s permission.
That’s when Nanael spoke.
“Lady Ferris, you must really like sweets.”
Her tone was soft, but her eyes gleamed with amusement, like a cat catching a mouse.
“Of course. Who doesn’t like desserts?”
Rodelia gave her a look like she’d just stated the obvious—like saying lemons taste like lemon.
Nanael’s smile widened.
“How convenient. Then why don’t you eat them all?”
The ladies around the table turned pale.
Roti Beige even clapped a hand over her mouth, looking ready to be sick.
‘Ah. So this is the game, huh?’
