47 – “Even a Villainess Is a Kind Sister If She’s Pretty (3)”:
The woman gracefully stepped between the two who had been fighting.
“What are you two doing on His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday?”
Her voice wasn’t particularly loud or commanding, yet everyone fell silent and turned their attention toward her.
Clear pronunciation, a steady, elegant tone, and a dignified voice.
All of it made it feel as though one must bow before her.
I doubt I was the only one who felt that way.
Soon, both the magician and the nobleman hurried up to the woman and bowed deeply.
Their behavior was as respectful as if they were standing before a fair and impartial judge.
But their words? All of them served their own interests.
“I did nothing wrong. The fault lies entirely with the other party. Please take my side.”
How selfish.
If I had been standing in that woman’s place, I would’ve told both of them to shut up and get lost.
But her expression showed none of that.
No, she looked almost indifferent to all of it.
She wore only a composed look, focused solely on settling the situation fairly—and even the most excited bystanders quieted to listen.
“That’s why I’m so angry! That nobleman insulted our young lady!”
“That’s my line! My daughter was pushed down by that lady! Her favorite dress is now covered in dirt, and her knee is scraped. What sort of barbarity is this, on a day she’s been looking forward to?”
“Enough.”
When the two looked ready to resume their fight, the woman raised her hand to intervene.
Even though she hadn’t raised her voice, both of them hung their heads like scolded children.
The woman paused thoughtfully, then finally spoke slowly.
“Magician, tell your master to offer an apology. Regardless of the circumstances, someone was injured—an apology is only natural.”
“…Understood.”
The magician nodded in agreement, and the nobleman smirked, pleased as if he had won.
But the woman wasn’t done.
“And that goes for you as well. No matter how precious your daughter is, no one has the right to insult another.”
The nobleman, who had been smirking moments earlier, bowed his head.
His face flushed red—perhaps from embarrassment.
After her words, a moment of silence followed.
Then, applause and even whistles erupted from the crowd.
Cheers praising the woman rang out from all directions.
It was truly a flawless judgment.
Would the outcome have been the same if someone else had said those same words?
I’m sure it wouldn’t have been.
As if she had finished her task, the woman walked back to where she had been before, gliding through the applause.
Her noble steps were so dazzlingly beautiful that it was almost painful to watch.
Silver hair so radiant it made your eyes ache, and silver eyes sharp enough to pierce through lies.
Even the shimmering silver dress, which might have looked tacky on anyone else, made her look like the literal incarnation of a moon goddess.
Now that I had seen her up close, I understood just how noble she truly was.
Diane Set Jupiter.
It was her.
I stared blankly as she slowly approached me.
Her beauty made it feel like even averting my eyes would be an insult.
Diane finally reached me and spoke.
“Let’s not watch such things again.”
Her lips curved like a crescent moon, and I blinked, momentarily entranced.
I didn’t even register what she meant.
She added, as if to explain:
“Those beautiful eyes of yours should only hold beautiful things.”
Her words slammed into my heart, making it race like it was having a seizure.
But the one who had delivered the emotional blow moved past me as if it was nothing.
As her silver hair fluttered in the breeze, her fragrant scent jolted me back to reality. I turned and called out:
“Excuse me!”
At my call, Diane stopped and turned her head slightly.
Her icy eyes pierced through me.
Eyes that could see the truth. I felt like I would stop breathing under that honest, piercing gaze.
God must really have a lot of time on His hands. How else could such a beautiful creature have been created?
Clutching my thudding chest, I opened my mouth.
“Wh-what’s your name?”
Diane closed her eyes once and opened them again.
Then she walked toward me without hesitation—stopping about a meter away.
She asked back, as if confused by the question.
“Why do you ask?”
Was this how it felt to meet a forest fairy?
Your lowly human question makes no sense. Could you try again?
Please, in the language of fairies.
That’s what her expression seemed to say.
As if answering her unspoken request, I replied.
As if she really were a fairy who didn’t understand human language.
Simply and clearly:
“Because you’re so beautiful.”
At my answer, her silver eyes—so full like a full moon—curved like a crescent.
The fluttering of her silver lashes looked like butterfly wings catching moonlight. So graceful.
Moved by her every gesture, I bit my lip.
Diane gave a soft smile, turned, and gave a short reply:
“Diane.”
With that, she disappeared without even looking back.
Like a fairy.
Her figure vanished in an instant.
But I couldn’t take my eyes off the spot where she had stood.
Over the past few days, what thoughts had I been wasting my time with?
I wanted to shoot a tranquilizer into the back of my own head for daring to think I could stand against someone like her.
“Odelia! What are you doing?!”
Baizen spotted me sitting on the ground, hands clasped like a praying nun, and helped me up by the shoulders.
But I barely noticed his arrival.
I just stared after where Diane had gone and sighed deeply.
Baizen frowned, clearly confused.
“I told you to wait in the carriage. What happened?”
“What should I do?”
“What do you mean? Do what?”
Baizen tilted his head.
I thought about kicking him in the shin for being serious, but I held back.
At this moment, I needed to think only lovely, pretty thoughts about Diane, who still lingered in my mind.
As Baizen waved his hand in front of me to snap me out of it, I opened my mouth.
“I… I met her.”
“Met who?”
“My first love.”
Closing my eyes, I even started forging memories.
Like how I’d run up to her while she read in the library and offered her chocolate milk.
Or how I’d scream during PE just to catch a glimpse of her profile.
Or how she’d let down her neatly tied silver hair after school, stealing the hearts of everyone who saw.
It felt like even memories I never had were being fabricated.
Pressing down on my pounding chest, I thought:
Yes. Her beauty is reason enough.
“Did you get hurt?”
Baizen asked, worried, as he looked me over.
“Yeah. I got hit…”
“Where?!”
He looked me over in a panic.
But he wouldn’t be able to see it.
My heart, which was laughing like a fool even as it bled and throbbed with pain.
When I opened my eyes, pressing on my chest, Baizen looked horrified.
Clearly, my expression didn’t sit well with him.
“I was… violently assaulted. Right in the heart.”
At my mumble, Baizen winced and twisted his face.
He clearly didn’t believe me.
Why wouldn’t he? My heart had been viciously attacked.
You didn’t see it, but I did.
She smiled at me. And it wasn’t just any smile.
It was a soft, delicate smile, like snow melting into spring blossoms.
Isn’t that amazing? How can a human smile like that?
Wait—maybe she’s not human. A person couldn’t be that beautiful.
Yes. I should report her. For marriage.
As I stood there suffering from the overwhelming aftershock, Baizen grabbed my shoulders and shook me.
“Odelia!”
Baizen stumbled back, startled by my sudden outburst.
But I didn’t care.
“I’ve found my goal!”
“Wh-what is it?!”
“To win over our sister!”
Baizen immediately grimaced.
And then muttered under his breath, “Another insane idea, as always,” before picking me up and carrying me to the carriage.
Thankfully, with the conflict resolved, the carriage moved faster toward the imperial palace than before.
But no matter how fast it went, it couldn’t outpace my racing heart.
Even when we arrived at the palace, every time I thought of Diane’s gentle smile, I ended up banging the carriage walls in frustration.
✦✦✦
At long last, we reached the imperial palace.
Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum!
Knock knock knock. We received a report that our sister is here.
Hand her over, or we’re coming in!
My head still wasn’t screwed on straight after being struck by the pretty sister.
“Odelia.”
“What.”
“Please. Get a grip. This isn’t the marquis’ estate.”
As soon as we entered the grand hall and I started looking around for Diane, Baizen couldn’t hold back and snapped.
Hmm. Maybe I did overdo it.
Honestly, I knew I was being a bit much.
Of course, I was seriously desperate to see Diane again.
But I had a goal to achieve today, so I had to get to work.
Even if I revised my plans regarding Diane, the rest had to move forward.
“But I need to meet Princess Diane.”
“Why? Because she’s your first love?”
Baizen scoffed.
Okay, yes, part of me just wanted to see her again because I love her, but it was also important for the plan—I had to win Diane over to my side.
And who knows? This might benefit Diane, too.
“If you want to meet her that badly, there’s a good way.”
Seeing me hesitate, Baizen sighed.
“Since Princess Jupiter is secretly engaged to the Crown Prince, if you look for him, you’ll naturally cross paths with her.”
“What if our sister misunderstands?!”
“Misunderstands?”
Baizen tilted his head in confusion.
Even if it was unofficial, everyone accepted the marriage talks between the two.
But what if Ian treated me too familiarly in front of Diane?
Wouldn’t that hurt her feelings?
No one would like seeing the person they’re going to marry flirting with someone else.
“I’m friends with the Crown Prince. I just don’t want our sister to get the wrong idea.”
“Most political marriages are like that. Don’t worry, nothing to misunderstand.”
“…Should I just wrap up the Crown Prince and give him to our sister as a gift?”
Thinking it was a perfect plan, I looked up at Baizen.
He gave me a deadpan look and flicked my forehead.
“Just… don’t say that in front of His Highness… He’ll cry.
