Chapter 65

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 65

Chapter Title: Invitation to Humiliation

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Evangeline let out a sigh in utter disbelief.

"Are you seriously blocking me because you don't recognize me? Don't you know who I am?"

The knight blocking her path replied with an impassive expression that didn't waver in the slightest.

"I know perfectly well. Ruth Marquis's Daughter."

Only then did Evangeline realize that the knight's face looked familiar.

'Isn't that the knight I saw at the Delphin estate?'

That's right.

The one blocking Evangeline's path right now was none other than Sir Beltein.

He had received strict orders from Hilia that very morning to guard the entrance thoroughly.

"Guard the entrance to Artanus Hall closest to the Empress Palace yourself, Sir Beltein."

"Yes... so that no one can trespass..."

"No. It's a banquet. We can't have no one entering at all."

"Then?"

"Check the invitations meticulously. Don't let anyone without one in, and let anyone with one through."

Hilia said this with a subtle smile.

As if she had foreseen this very situation.

Sir Beltein simply followed her orders to the letter.

"Move aside already!"

"I cannot. I can only allow those with invitations to enter."

Their back-and-forth was starting to drag on.

That's when the doors to Artanus Hall swung open from the inside.

A woman in a deep green dress slipped out quietly.

The moment Evangeline saw her, her face twisted in fury.

"Do you think a lowly maid like you can get away with acting this bold just because your master's backing you?"

Every word came out laced with the sound of her grinding teeth.

Evangeline looked ready to charge forward and yank Annie's hair.

But with Sir Beltein blocking the way, it was impossible.

Annie, on the other hand, twirled once as if showing off—or perhaps taunting—flaunting the dress.

It was a striking gown of deep green velvet embroidered with intricate golden rose vines on the skirt, with delicate cream chiffon pleats cascading from the shoulders all the way to the floor.

Anyone could see it was far too lavish, luxurious, and uniquely designed for a mere maid.

It was the kind of dress fit for the banquet's star.

In truth, it was meant to be worn by Evangeline herself, and since they needed something grand enough to fool Hilia without suspicion, it was only natural.

Yet now, that exquisite gown was on a mere maid, putting Evangeline in the position of being compared unfavorably.

Her eyes burned with rage.

And there was one more reason fueling her fury.

'What the hell? It's the same design, so why does it look so different?'

Mrs. Philern was equally stunned.

'I deliberately made it sloppier and uglier than Evangeline's dress.'

She had seen Hilia during the final fitting herself, so the shock hit even harder.

'Same design, but why does it look prettier and more elegant on the maid?'

The other attendants thought the same, even if they didn't voice it.

And for good reason—the dress Annie wore had been meticulously refined over the past three days by Frida Wes, none other than Lady Solenu.

Lady Solenu's true talent as a designer lay in the finest details.

And now, it was shining through.

After that final fitting three days ago, Hilia hadn't discarded the dress.

Instead, that very evening, she had personally asked Lady Solenu, who had arrived.

"Can you make this dress even more elegant and refined with your skills?"

Once she learned the reason, Lady Solenu's eyes lit up.

"I will make it more polished and beautiful than that woman's dress, no matter what!"

And after pulling three all-nighters on her own initiative...

Her bold promise had come to fruition.

Annie snorted at the sight of Evangeline losing her mind.

'She tried to humiliate Our Duchess with a dress, and now that it's backfiring, she's throwing this tantrum. What a sight.'

The dress Annie wore was nearly identical in design, yet undeniably more beautiful than Evangeline's.

Her shoulders lifted with pride on their own.

Annie also held her head high.

To savor every detail of Evangeline's frustrated expression.

Evangeline snarled.

"Move aside right now! Or punish that insolent maid yourself!"

"I follow my lady's orders."

The loyal knight, of course, didn't budge an inch.

Annie leisurely enjoyed Evangeline's outburst, then pulled an invitation from her pouch—one marked by a golden seal and pink ribbon.

Mrs. Philern recognized it immediately.

"An... an invitation?"

"Yes, that's right."

Annie flashed a bright smile and waved it around.

"It seems like something our uninvited guests here might need. Or am I wrong?"

Evangeline ground her teeth as she shot back.

"Your master must have told you to hand it over, huh? Then hurry up and give it here and get lost—before I rip that dress to shreds."

Annie's eyes widened into perfect circles.

"Oh my, how scary. And Our Duchess didn't give any orders about the invitation, you know. It's too frightening, so shall I just head back now?"

Annie turned away without a second thought.

Unable to hold back any longer, Evangeline shouted.

"Don't you dare move from there?!"

Annie turned back with a smirk.

"Why is that, Ruth Marquis's Daughter? Do you need something, perhaps?"

"......"

But no matter how much it galled her, Evangeline could never beg a mere maid.

She had to get into Artanus Hall.

And to do that, she absolutely needed that invitation.

Especially now, with Mrs. Philern as the perfect witness in tow.

'To smear Hilia's reputation in front of Arpad, I have to get inside.'

She shot Mrs. Philern a terrifying glare.

Though indignant, Mrs. Philern slowly approached Annie.

"You... remember me, right?"

Annie's expression turned ice-cold.

"Of course. The opportunist who fawned all over Our Duchess one minute, then latched onto Ruth Marquis's Daughter the next."

Insulted by a maid, Mrs. Philern's face drained to a muddy pallor.

But she couldn't back down after being humiliated now.

"The invitation... could you give it to me?"

"Oh? But didn't you already take several from us, ma'am?"

"Well..."

She could never admit she'd mocked them at first, then burned them all.

"Ah, did you forget and leave it behind?"

"Y-yes."

"Oh dear, I had no idea your memory was that poor. That's troubling."

Annie prattled on about her concern for Mrs. Philern's memory.

Then, as if by accident, she dropped the invitation while pretending to hand it over.

It fluttered down right in front of Sir Beltein's feet.

"!"

Annie turned away with a beaming smile.

"Well then, I've handed over the invitation, so I'll be off."

As Annie vanished without a trace, Mrs. Philern ground her teeth and reluctantly bent down to pick it up.

Evangeline snatched it roughly from her hand.

Clutching it, she marched up to Sir Beltein with false bravado.

"Here, your precious invitation. Now get out of the way."

Sir Beltein had seen Annie toy with them before handing it over, yet he acted as if he hadn't noticed a thing, remaining stiff as ever.

Only after opening it and scrutinizing every letter did he finally step aside.

True to his principled nature.

Clang!

At last, the spear blocking the door was withdrawn.

Evangeline glared at Sir Beltein.

"I'll remember that face of yours."

"Do as you wish."

He couldn't care less.

Evangeline deliberately tried to shove past his shoulder, but the knight in full plate armor didn't budge.

'Tch!'

It felt like her insides were burning to a crisp.

Her plans and expectations kept going awry since earlier.

As if the world itself were mocking her.

Just then, the attendant at the entrance began announcing names with gusto.

"Mrs. Kesling. Mrs. Morel. Mrs. Philern. Lady Isilia..."

He paused deliberately before the final one.

"...And Ruth Marquis's Daughter. You may enter!"

"......!"

Evangeline shot the attendant a venomous glare, her face flushed with humiliation.

The announcement felt like mockery directed at her.

Or like proclaiming her defeat to the world.

Evangeline steadied herself.

'It's fine. Still fine. I haven't lost yet. I can turn this around.'

She still had plenty of cards left to play.

'I'll pick apart that dress issue, humiliate her, and ruin the banquet!'

And before that, she could mock the entire atmosphere.

Hilia could never pull off a proper banquet.

'Besides, the hall inside has to be completely empty anyway.'

All the invitations Hilia had sent via Mrs. Philern had been burned in her fireplace.

The capital's social elite were all at the Empress Palace ball right now.

Of course Artanus Hall would be deserted.

Even if that thing in the sky earlier really was a dragon, it changed nothing...

The moment the doors opened and Evangeline stepped inside, her eyes widened in shock.

"Wh-what? What's this?"

The hall was bustling with people.