~Chapter 38~
Sophieanne turned her head to look at Vessus, and gently placed one hand on his arm. It was a relaxed and elegant gesture.
I felt a little sorry for Simon. No matter how much he tried to teach me, I’d probably never be able to move with such grace.
“Dahlia, I’ll take you to your new room after the banquet.”
“Okay, that sounds good.”
Sophieanne gave Vessus a slight tug on the arm.
“Vessus, we have to go now.”
I should start getting ready too… Penny and Nathan are probably looking for me.
“Has it gotten that late already?”
“Yes, my room is on the other side, so I’ll go on my own. You go ahead. See you at the banquet later.”
Sophieanne spoke informally to Vessus! Somehow, it just made her seem even cooler.
As expected of the unstoppable Sophieanne!
Vessus obediently followed her. Soon, only Sophieanne and I were left in the room.
I really didn’t want to part ways, but I had to go get ready. I should… say goodbye…
Then it happened.
Suddenly, Sophieanne’s hand shot toward my face.
“Ah!”
My face twisted away. A dull pain shot across one cheek.
I blinked, confused, unable to grasp the situation.
What? What’s going on?
“Flirting with someone else’s man?”
Startled by the sharp voice, I looked at Sophieanne. Her face wasn’t the soft, smiling one from moments ago.
Her big eyes were wide, glaring as if they might pop out. Her previously soft, smooth face now looked like that of an angry wrestling champion.
“W-what…?”
“Vessus is my lover. I don’t care if you’re a princess or whatever. If you touch what’s mine, you die that very day.”
Finally, I realized what was happening.
So, I’d become Villainess #1 and was being punished.
Mom… I just got hit by my favorite person.
“What do you mean someone else’s man! I didn’t! I have zero interest in Vessus!”
“Don’t play dumb!”
Her hand flew at me again!
I summoned every ounce of athleticism I had—or didn’t have—and grabbed Sophieanne’s wrist.
Even with both hands, it wasn’t enough. Her hand trembled but continued moving toward me.
What does she eat to be this strong?!
Her hand reached right in front of my face, trying to grab my hair.
“I’m not! This is a misunderstanding!”
Sophieanne didn’t listen. Her eyes were practically wild.
Wow… reading this in a novel was satisfying, but experiencing it as Villainess #1? The injustice is unbearable, and the sudden attack is terrifying.
I’m not!
Hair grabbing versus hair defending.
We struggled for a long time, grunting like two cows wrestling.
“How dare you, so devoid of grace and dignity!”
Excuse me, you’re hitting me! Are you graceful?
Sophieanne cursed in frustration, unable to grab my hair.
I stared blankly at her furious face, filled with profanity.
Mom… now my favorite person is cursing at me.
Even hearing it didn’t make it believable. In the novel, the worst was censored. Here… it was full-on swearing.
I must’ve been too shocked to react.
Sophieanne shoved me forcefully. I fell backward, landing hard on my butt.
Ow! My tailbone!
“Oh my! Dahlia!”
Penny and Nathan came running. They must’ve been searching for me.
Ah, my butt… I rubbed it furiously.
Sophieanne watched intently.
Her eyes, once wild with anger, returned to normal, and she smiled slightly.
“I hope you’ve understood by now. I trust the princess will show proper etiquette.”
Elegant voice.
Isn’t this insane?
“Etiquette? You’re talking about etiquette after hitting me first?! How dare you strike a princess!”
I didn’t want to bring up status, but now I had to!
“Hitting? I just pushed you a little by accident. And who told you to flirt with someone else’s man?”
Sophieanne raised her eyebrow slightly and pouted.
Amazingly, she looked innocent despite everything.
Ugh… I’m so frustrated. I’m dying of indignation!
“Dahlia, get up.”
Nathan rushed over and helped me up. I clutched my sore butt and hung onto him.
Ow… I think my butt’s broken…
Sophieanne crossed her arms and appraised me from head to toe.
“Ah… so Vessus isn’t your first. You even have a much younger boy on the side.”
What? Do you think I’m crazy enough to touch a weakling kid? My husband is Etienne, in case you didn’t know.
Before I could retort, Nathan spoke.
“Lady Belmagne?”
“Who are you to speak so rudely and call me by my name?”
Her slightly raised chin made her look haughty, almost daring me to hit her. But our Nathan is just as sharp.
Go, Nathan! Assertive headbutt!
“And you, not knowing who I am, why respond so rudely?”
Exactly! Nathan thinks he’s the protagonist of the world!
“W-what?”
Even the calm Sophieanne’s face faltered.
Nathan gestured primly.
“I am Nathan of the Laurens family. I also made the dress you’re wearing.”
Sophieanne flinched and looked down at her dress, then laughed loudly.
“Nonsense. This was made by another designer…”
“The woman in the back alley of Xtuella? She was my assistant. You wore my dress but disrespected both me and my boss—ridiculous.”
“This dress belongs to this man?”
Sophieanne glanced back and forth between Nathan and me. You could feel her pride wounded in her tight-lipped expression.
Then suddenly she screamed.
“Disgusting! I wouldn’t wear this even if given!”
She bent forward and grabbed the hem of her skirt with both hands.
No way…
At that moment, a ripping sound echoed. Her bare calves were exposed, but she didn’t care.
Nathan’s masterpiece, the dress meant to make me money, was instantly ruined.
Wow… are you the Hulk?
Nathan and I stared at the mess in disbelief.
“Scammer, libertine, vermin!”
She threw pieces of lace at me, which fluttered weakly in front of my eyes.
Sophieanne twirled, skirt lifted to her knees, and stomped away rapidly.
I stood there, dazed, watching her leave.
“Are you okay?”
Penny pressed a cold pack to my cheek.
“Yeah… luckily I just grazed it.”
I sat there, lost in thought.
This had appeared in the novels before—Sophieanne slapping another woman trying to seduce Vessus. Her boldness and disregard for status were part of her charm.
But that was for villains, for competitors trying to manipulate Vessus. I never expected to be that person.
Where did it go wrong?
Was it because Sophieanne was there when Vessus touched my hair? Or before that?
Come to think of it, I had been seeing Vessus quite often lately. He had visited my territory twice. And yesterday, instead of dating time, he came to my room… even suggesting I become Empress?
I guess it makes sense Sophieanne saw me as a rival.
Still, separate from understanding, my sore butt hurt.
“If there’s a misunderstanding, shouldn’t we resolve it with a conversation?”
If she’d asked me, I would’ve explained everything. I did like Vessus before marriage! But right now, my mind is only on survival! My goal is just to stick with Etienne as long as possible, so no worries!
But the problem was, I didn’t get a chance to explain.
I banished Sophieanne from my favorite’s position in my heart. I liked her thinking she was a bit crazy, but after this… impossible.
Yes, liking her after being hit would make me a pervert.
“Well… if you keep applying the cold pack, the mark won’t be noticeable.”
I gave a hollow smile and looked at the corner.
“Ugh…”
“Why is she like that?”
Nathan crouched, holding the shredded dress pieces, eyes glistening with tears.
“She said it was dirty… it’s my fault… Dahlia, too…”
Ah, please.
Such a gloomy, pessimistic teenage boy. One moment he argues, the next he sulks like this.
Exhausting.
“It’s my curse! The world grants me no freedom!”
“You’re clueless. You were already fighting me before. You just don’t like me.”
“We just met today! Why would I dislike Dahlia?”
Well… there’s a reason.
Sigh… a long exhale.
“And if you weren’t going to wear it, you could’ve returned it nicely. Why rip the dress? I spent days making it… she’s really weird!”
“If she won’t wear it, it’s better this way.”
Half consolation, half truth.
Still, my head throbbed.
If Sophieanne doesn’t wear it, my business suffers. But I can’t wear it myself…
I would wear my old dress, not Nathan’s.
Even if deceiving Vessus is impossible, someone else could be the hidden force. My plan was still valid.
Sigh… now, how to sell two rooms full of dresses? Is this why they say not to start a business on credit?
I gave Penny a crooked smile.
Sorry, Penny. Your investment… the principal probably can’t be guaranteed…
“Waaah.”
“Quiet, Nathan. Go to that corner and cry while hugging this.”
I threw a cushion. Nathan obediently grabbed it and went to the corner. He removed his mask, burying his head in the cushion.
