“It’s such a touching story that you were adopted after helping Countess Woodville in a carriage accident. You truly have a kind heart, Miss Joyce.”
“Thank you for saying that. But I think it’s the Woodville family that showed true generosity for accepting someone like me with no ties at all.”
The woman who had just given me a compliment suddenly changed her tone and asked a question.
“Then, before you came to the capital, where did you live?”
“I was in a region called Bria. It’s known as the sanctuary of culture and arts in the Coventin Empire.”
“Bria? I’ve never heard of that place before. I’m sorry, I have a weak constitution so I rarely go outside the capital.”
Yeah, right. Her bright and cheerful tone and expression were far from apologetic—she was clearly enjoying herself.
The young ladies around her began giggling and, as if coordinated, turned their attention to me and started mocking me.
“Miss Joyce, please help yourself to more of these treats. We’ve had them so often, they don’t feel special anymore, so we’ll let you have them.”
“Yes, better eat up while you can. It’s not like there’s a guarantee you’ll be able to eat like this forever…”
“Why not just ask Lady Vivian to pack some for you?”
The pack of hyenas, who had taken turns snickering and mocking me, soon burst into laughter together.
These were the noble ladies of the aristocrat faction who used to bully Luna in the original story, even though Vivian hadn’t ordered them to.
They took out their frustrations from being Vivian’s lackeys on Luna. They couldn’t say a word against Vivian, so they vented their anger on someone weaker, just like hitting someone on the street after getting slapped at home.
Every time that happened, Luna never said a word in return. She would just hang her head and endure the insults hurled at her.
She must’ve looked like an easy target.
But that wasn’t the character setup I had prepared.
In Korea, we call this type “pure-eyed crazy.”
When you’re outnumbered, you don’t go after everyone.
You go for the top. The leader.
So I coolly ignored the small fry and aimed to drag Vivian, who was enjoying this from the back, into the center of this mess.
“Oh, really? Then—Lady Vivian! May I take these desserts with me? This young lady here said that if I asked you, you’d pack them for me.”
Vivian, who sat across from me, didn’t respond. She simply stared at me in silence. Her gaze was sharp, like an ice pick.
“Pfft.”
After glaring at me for a while, she let out a soft, amused chuckle and called her attendant.
“Hey. Bring an empty box for that young lady to take the desserts.”
A moment later, her attendant handed me a paper box.
I smiled brightly and packed the desserts myself. The noble ladies around us stared in shock, unable to hide their expressions.
“I deeply thank Lady Vivian for her generosity. I wanted to bring these to my sister, who’s bedridden at home. Her heart’s been heavy lately because of some ridiculous rumors going around the capital.”
I deliberately added unnecessary comments to provoke her, and Vivian’s eyebrow twitched.
From what I knew, that meant she was annoyed.
“To think you’d actually take them. You’re not even blood-related, yet it seems you’ve got Woodville blood running through you, huh?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Isn’t it shameless enough that the daughter of a traitor family who once plotted against His Majesty is now in charge of his protection? Maybe that shameless nature rubbed off on you after living together for a few days.”
“Well, we’re family. It’s only natural for family members to resemble each other.”
Vivian finally said the line I’d been waiting for, unable to handle my unyielding demeanor.
“Are you saying you’re planning to cling to someone else’s man just like your sister?”
“Are you implying my sister clung to anyone?”
“Yes, your oh-so-great sister just can’t let go and keeps hovering around my fiancé.”
“Hah, that’s funny. Women always blame the unsuspecting girl, not the guy who strayed. They never even think that maybe it’s their fault for not keeping their man in check.”
I drew from my experience of playing the role of a shameless mistress to throw verbal jabs back at Vivian. Of course, neither Luna nor I were actually mistresses.
Vivian’s face turned bright red, as if it was about to explode. She had never encountered someone who fought back.
She stood up and slowly walked toward me.
“If you’re going to take the desserts, why not take some tea too? It’ll be hard to swallow without it.”
A cold herbal tea began pouring down on my head.
The soaking wet dress clung tightly to my body. The fragrant scent enveloped me, but it didn’t make me feel any better.
Seems like I was fated to get wet today. If I had known, I would’ve accepted my fate and brought a change of clothes.
Villains really have no creativity. When they’ve got nothing else, they just throw water.
Still, getting doused by Vivian meant he was about to appear.
Sure enough, Peredil came walking over from the distance.
His entrance matched the timing I already knew.
Vivian had called him here in the original story, hoping to see him ignore Luna.
“Did you summon me all the way here just to witness this commotion?”
“Oh, it’s nothing much. I was just teaching a recently elevated mutt her place, so she learns not to overstep.”
Peredil, with an indifferent expression, turned to leave—but then paused mid-step when Vivian added with a sneer:
“This young lady here is none other than the dear little leech, Luna Woodville’s adopted sister.”
Given his position as a diplomatic envoy, Peredil would’ve known all about the empire’s affairs. He couldn’t possibly have missed the fact that the Woodvilles adopted a country noble girl.
Still, Vivian revealed my identity on purpose—no doubt to torment the Woodville family for her own amusement. Even if I wasn’t Luna, I still bore the Woodville name.
“Let’s not take this too far.”
Peredil’s offhand remark as he turned away was, in truth, rather considerate—especially for him. Normally, he wouldn’t involve himself in others’ affairs at all. He must’ve been making an effort simply because I was Luna’s sister.
“Scolding the sister instead of the older one isn’t bad either. Consider it a warning to Luna Woodville, who you said follows you around like a stalker.”
As soon as Vivian finished speaking, I sprang to my feet and strode straight toward Peredil, blocking his path.
Our eyes met—his widening slightly in surprise at my sudden approach.
Then I slapped him hard across his right cheek.
