IGCHPM 61

CHAPTER 61………..

To Push Your Enemy off a Narrow Bridge

Three days later—the day of the banquet at Artanus Hall.

As scheduled, Madam Quinibel enjoyed the honor of hosting a ball within the Empress’s palace, under the Empress’s protection.

And just as everyone expected, Madam Quinibel’s ball was packed.

It bustled with noble ladies and young misses of the central capital who dared not risk falling out of the Empress’s favor, along with their partners and families.

“Oh my, congratulations, Marchioness. It’s been so long since I’ve seen such a splendid ball.”

“All I can do is thank Her Majesty the Empress for granting me this honor.”

“Surely it’s thanks to your unwavering loyalty to Her Majesty all this time.”

Then, one bold voice openly mocked the other ball happening that day.

“With this place so crowded, I imagine the other hall must be completely empty. Isn’t it enormous to begin with?”

The speaker was none other than the Viscountess Filleren.

Some ladies wore puzzled expressions, remembering how she’d been expelled from the Empress’s palace.

But when the hostess of today’s ball, the Marchioness Quinibel—one of the Empress’s confidantes—warmly acknowledged her, they quickly understood.

“That’s right, Viscountess Filleren. This is all thanks to your help in preparing the ball.”

The ladies exchanged glances.

So, there must have been some hidden reason she was thrown out back then.

Perhaps it was all at Her Majesty’s or Lady Evangeline’s command…

At the very least, she’s clearly been pardoned.

The sharp-witted ladies hurried to flatter the Viscountess.

“As expected, your taste is impeccable, Madam Filleren.”

“Indeed. Truly admirable.”

“Oh, it was nothing. I merely did as I had learned from Her Majesty the Empress and Lady Evangeline.”

At this, most of the noblewomen understood.

The humiliation and expulsion of the Viscountess a month ago—and her subsequent frequenting of the Crown Prince’s palace—had all been an act.

They exchanged knowing glances.

Lady Delphine will be devastated if she finds out.

What else can you expect? She was foolish enough to be tricked.

They were already poised to laugh at the loser.

Soon enough, Viscountess Filleren was basking in the luxury of being recognized as second-in-command at the gathering.

Good. Enduring that humiliation, cleaning up after that fool for a month—it was worth it.

A delicious thrill ran through her.

And from the second floor, looking down arrogantly upon the ballroom, stood Evangeline Ruth.

She gazed over the crowd as though she were a goddess surveying pitiful mortals.

In truth, her heart was not so different.

To her, every human in this world was like a flat paper doll.

The only real person here is me.

So it was only natural that the world should revolve around her.

Evangeline smiled sweetly.

The ballroom was crowded, filled with familiar ladies.

Not every high noble was present, but those who weren’t were the kind who rarely attended society at all.

That vast Artanus Hall must be utterly empty.

She felt a surge of triumph—followed by a sudden impulse.

Why not go see for myself? To find her alone in that empty hall and mock her to her face.

A cruel smile crept onto Evangeline’s lips.

Evangeline descended into the ballroom, where the noblewomen and young misses who followed her like handmaidens clustered about. She spoke with feigned concern, her angelic smile hiding a note of ridicule.

“She was once my friend. I can’t help but worry… she must have worked so hard, yet now she’s alone in that empty hall. The thought breaks my heart.”

“Lady Evangeline, your kindness is unmatched.”

“Indeed. Especially after all she did to you.”

“She never even apologized!”

“I don’t mind.”

Evangeline smiled pitiably, and the crowd’s voices rose as one to comfort her.

Such scenes were common in the capital’s social circles.

And of course, among her entourage was Viscountess Filleren—her eyes gleaming with anticipation.

After all the trouble I went through, placating that stupid girl for Evangeline’s sake… I must see the result with my own eyes.

Tonight Evangeline was dazzling, radiant as a rose in full bloom.

Even Filleren, full of resentment after enduring her whims, had to admit her beauty.

The teal gown, sparkling with beads like stars, made her golden hair and green eyes shine all the brighter.

Placed beside her, the comparison will be merciless.

Filleren already knew.

Hylia would be wearing the clumsy imitation dress tonight.

And she won’t even realize it doesn’t suit her.

In her malice, Filleren convinced herself that all her frustration with Evangeline had really been Hylia’s fault.

Only by witnessing her disgrace, laughing at her myself, will this past month feel worth it.

She recalled the pitiful words Hylia had whispered to her just three days ago, brows drawn in sorrow.

“Please, don’t forget to come, Madam Filleren?”

“Oh, don’t worry. How could I not? I’m Your Highness’s only friend.”

“Still, I can’t help but worry. Lately I’ve had nightmares… of standing alone in a vast, empty hall, not a soul in sight…”

“My, you must be under such stress.”

“And then… Evangeline came, to laugh at me… it was so… so shameful, so humiliating.”

Filleren could still see her trembling in fear.

Hearing that only makes me want to make her nightmare come true.

So she suggested to Evangeline:

“If you’re truly concerned, why not go yourself to comfort her, Lady Evangeline?”

“Go myself?”

“Yes. If she sees your compassion and kindness, she’ll surely be glad. Perhaps even apologize at last.”

“I don’t expect an apology.”

Evangeline lowered her lashes demurely.

But she had no intention of letting the bait slip.

After all, this was exactly what she wanted.

Before descending into the ballroom, she had privately ordered Filleren upstairs:

“Later, bring up the idea of visiting Artanus Hall.”

“What? You’ll go there yourself?”

“Aren’t you curious? To see just how pathetic it is. And… the direct comparison will be all the sharper.”

“Oh my, how our hearts align! I was going to say the very same thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“She confessed to me that her greatest fear was for you to come and mock her.”

“I see. If that’s what she expects, I can’t disappoint her.”

Behind her fan, Evangeline hid a mischievous smile.

Hylia’s disgrace is already certain.

And if Evangeline went in person, the humiliation would be doubled.

Their dresses would make it obvious: Hylia had tried and failed to imitate her.

Anticipation swelled in Evangeline’s chest.

Even Arpad won’t be able to deny it then—who is more beautiful, who suits him more.

And once her other plan bore fruit, it would all be over.

There was no way Arpad would keep a treacherous woman by his side.

Evangeline snapped open her fan to hide her wicked smile.

Thus, like storm clouds, those who longed to see another’s ruin gathered and made their way—

—to Artanus Hall.

Artanus Hall was, befitting the site of coronations, the grandest hall in the palace.

A vast building crowned with a domed roof, ringed by beautiful gardens and white marble colonnades leading up to its entrance.

The roofed colonnades kept visitors dry in rain or snow, while the open sides offered sweeping views of the gardens and the hall’s majestic façade.

Yet when the party arrived at the colonnade leading to Artanus Hall, the silence was uncanny—impossible to believe a banquet lay ahead.

They began whispering, unable to contain themselves.

“It’s certain no one came. If the banquet were truly happening, this place would be bustling.”

“Exactly. Just like Madam Quinibel’s.”

“With it this empty, there’s no need to even look inside.”

Mockery and laughter poured forth.

But something was odd.

Isn’t it too empty?

At the very least, attendants from the Crown Prince’s palace should be stationed here.

Filleren herself had seen the palace servants busy with preparations these past weeks.

If the banquet were underway, there should be attendants not only in the hall, but all around the entrance as well.

It was impossible for it to be this deserted.

Could it be they canceled and cleared out already, since no one came?

That would be troublesome.

The plan to mock Hylia to her face would collapse.

Just as the confused guests were murmuring, one of them spotted movement on the second-floor terrace.

“There! Look!”

Though distant, they could make out the figure of a woman.

The hem of a periwinkle gown rippled like waves.

Above it, soft curls of pale pink hair fluttered in the air.

There was no mistaking that unusual color.

Evangeline murmured in disbelief.

“…Hylia?”

But that couldn’t be.

The gown was entirely different.

According to Filleren—and the dress from the atelier Evangeline had bribed—she should be wearing a drab green gown.

A cheap imitation of Evangeline’s, ill-suited to her.

Yet even from this distance, it was clear: what Hylia wore was no shoddy copy.

Realization drained the color from Filleren’s face.

“N-no, that’s impossible…”

Then, Hylia stretched out her hand.

Into empty air.

As though beckoning someone, or giving a signal.

And with that gesture—an impossible sight unfolded before their eyes.

“!”