Chapter 81
Estelle took one step after another toward Marinef.
“I told you before, remember?”
The closer Estelle came, the more Marinef retreated, inhaling sharply.
But she couldn’t step back for long.
Because behind her stood Robel and Baritas.
When Marinef stopped, Estelle quickened her pace.
She strode forward and stopped right in front of Marinef’s nose.
“The only ones allowed to block my way like this… are members of the Imperial family.”
Estelle spoke in a calm voice as she stared straight at Marinef.
“……”
Marinef’s pupils shook wildly.
First of all, it was already wrong that Estelle had cut her off earlier.
Marinef had intended to speak with elegance and make Estelle realize her mistake.
But Estelle’s voice had been faster than hers.
And now, she couldn’t bring up the words she had planned to say a moment ago.
The topic had already changed, and bringing it up now would only make her look petty and hung-up.
Yet she also couldn’t argue against what Estelle was saying now.
Because Estelle was right.
Estelle inwardly mocked Marinef as she watched the woman’s flustered expression.
Outwardly, she only tilted her head at Marinef, who couldn’t say a word.
“Oh! Was that it, perhaps?”
Suddenly, Estelle leaned her head back and clapped her hands sharply.
“You thought you were royalty—so no one should dare stand in your way… something like that, right?”
At the sound of her clapping, the surroundings instantly fell silent.
And as Estelle’s voice rang out clearly, dozens of eyes turned toward Marinef.
Interest, displeasure, amusement, suspicion, disappointment—countless emotions mixed together.
And in that moment, Estelle continued.
With an innocent, pure expression and voice.
“Isn’t that impersonation? And not just anyone— impersonating a member of the Imperial family. I think you’re the one who should be reported, not me.”
Inside, Estelle felt triumphant.
Marinef had once gathered everyone’s eyes on Estelle and pinned disgrace onto her—so Estelle was simply returning the favor.
Marinef finally reacted.
Unable to speak earlier, she now began trembling violently.
“Y–You…!”
Seeing this, Estelle smiled faintly.
★
Marinef couldn’t hold it in anymore.
How dare she insult me!
And in front of all these watching eyes and listening ears!
Marinef no longer had the reason or composure to care about dignity.
No—rather, she felt that if she held back any longer, that would disgrace her dignity even more.
Grit—
With the sound of grinding teeth, veins bulged on Marinef’s forehead.
Her eyes turned bloodshot, and her jaw tightened so hard it jutted forward.
Clenching her fists, Marinef stomped toward Estelle.
One heavy, furious step at a time, making thudding noises with each step.
At that moment—
“P–Please calm yourself, Lady Marinef!”
Someone grabbed Marinef from behind as she tried to lunge toward Estelle.
It was Robel and Baritas.
Clinging to Marinef’s arms, both wore anxious, desperate expressions.
Of course they did—if she caused a scene and ruined her reputation, they would be the ones punished.
For failing to properly manage her, their families would never let them off.
So both of them were desperate.
“We know you’re angry, but you can’t do this.”
“Exactly. Too many eyes are watching right now.”
People were already whispering about them.
Robel looked around, feeling cold sweat soak down his back.
Baritas’ voice trembled like a bleating goat as she held Marinef back.
Meeting eyes, Robel and Baritas exchanged a small nod.
They had decided to bring up a distracting topic so Marinef wouldn’t cause further trouble.
Receiving Baritas’ signal, Robel opened his mouth.
“I have something I want to ask you.”
He quickly continued before anyone could interrupt.
“You. How could you know Lord Aris? And you even looked close to him…”
The subject he brought up was highly provocative—
Estelle and Aris’ relationship.
It was something everyone, including Marinef, had wondered since the entrance ceremony—and still wondered even now.
Estelle appeared close enough to casually talk with the second son of the prestigious Genofesia family.
And this topic was perfect for erasing the image of an enraged Marinef from everyone’s minds.
No matter how Estelle answered, the story would spread and twist as rumors always did.
People pretended to despise such gossip but secretly delighted in it—it was vulgar, contemptible, and irresistibly stimulating.
Eventually, in everyone’s minds, Marinef would fade and only Estelle would remain.
As someone vulgar and contemptible.
Regardless of whether it was true.
“Isn’t it obvious? She must’ve thrown herself at him!”
Before Estelle could answer, Marinef spoke first.
Just as Estelle had cut her off earlier, Marinef now cut Estelle off deliberately.
But that wasn’t all.
Blinded by fury, Marinef even spat out crude, vulgar words—exactly what Robel had wanted to push her toward.
Her pretense of elegance evaporated completely.
Then—
“Oh my. Isn’t that a rather dangerous thing to say?”
A clear, cheerful voice rang out, snapping the atmosphere in half.
Who—?!
Who dared ruin the plan?!
Just a little longer—just a little more—and everyone’s mind would’ve filled with Estelle, not Marinef!
Robel and Baristas bit their lips and glared around.
They had to see who ruined everything. And take revenge later.
But when they identified the owner of the voice, they realized they couldn’t.
“Y–You’re…!”
Bright sky-blue hair and blue eyes.
The precious only daughter of Count Anax—
Havoni Anax stood there.
★
“Isn’t it obvious? She must’ve thrown herself at him!”
At Marinef’s shrill voice, Estelle grimaced.
Me? With that guy?
Estelle moved past anger into pure disbelief.
What kind of mind could even produce that kind of idea?
They barely even knew each other, yet Marinef was spinning a scenario like that?
Estelle found it incomprehensible.
And embarrassingly stupid.
Trying to humiliate her publicly by dragging in another person—
And that person being the second son of the Genofesia family, whom they all admired.
Haah…
Estelle sighed inwardly.
The thought of having to respond to such vulgar nonsense made her sick.
But she couldn’t stay silent.
If she didn’t refute it, ridiculous rumors about her and Aris would surely spread.
Just imagining it makes me feel ill.
Estelle shook her head sharply as if trying to shake away the thought itself.
Then she looked Marinef straight in the eyes, ready to fire back.
“Oh my. Isn’t that a rather dangerous thing to say?”
Before she could speak, a voice Estelle had never heard before cut in.
A confident, leisurely voice that drew everyone’s attention—including Estelle’s.
“Y–You’re…!”
Shiny sky-blue hair, sparkling blue eyes.
A confident face and stride.
“It’s been a while, all three of you.”
“H–Lady Havoni…”
Even hearing her name, Estelle still didn’t know who she was.
She seemed to be a noble—being addressed as “Lady.”
But the only nobles Estelle was familiar with were Claude and Aris.
Still, from the atmosphere she carried, and from Marinef’s group’s reaction, Estelle could tell this was no ordinary noble.
“Wh–Why are you here, my lady…?”
“I happened to hear my dear friend’s name while passing by.”
Havoni passed Estelle and Cial, then stood directly in front of them.
As if placing herself as a wall so that Marinef and her group could no longer approach Estelle.
