Chapter 74

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 74

Chapter Title: Shattering the Facade

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At that moment, Evangeline asked in a slightly eerie tone.

"Why do you have something like that…?"

I could tell because I'd dealt with Evangeline plenty of times before.

Right now, she'd barely managed to rein in her sanity after nearly blurting out something else.

'How the hell does trash like you have something so incredible?'

Evangeline's pupils blazed like burning coals.

The emotions roaring inside were pure jealousy and malice.

Her head tilted like some rickety wind-up doll.

If I hadn't steeled myself for today, I might've been startled.

I'd never seen her like this in any of my three previous regressions.

'No, maybe something similar.'

I recalled the words she'd spat right before I died in my last life.

"Ahaha! Now I'm the real heroine."

It felt like polar opposites, but in both cases, her facade had cracked, exposing raw, violent emotion underneath.

Right now, Evangeline was essentially saying to me:

'Why are you pretending to be the protagonist? That's my spot.'

In that instant, Evangeline's eyes darted wildly.

A chill raced up my spine.

Not from fear or unease. Pure exhilaration surged through me.

'I've backed Evangeline into a corner.'

I forced myself to look even more composed, utterly relaxed.

"Why does it matter that I have this? It almost sounds like you're interrogating me."

Evangeline's expression flipped in an instant.

Like she'd swapped out one mask for another.

"I... I was just so shocked and scared."

She hung her head low.

Her shoulders trembled pitifully.

If someone didn't know the full story and only saw her acting and words right now, they'd easily mistake her for the ultimate victim of some grave injustice.

Evangeline was still showing off her signature talent.

Making her sobs crystal clear even as she choked them out.

"Sob! It's like you dug a trap from the start and waited for a scapegoat to wander in!"

I had no idea what was so unjust about it, but watching her, I couldn't help a hollow laugh.

"Dressing the maid in that gown, preparing that magic tool ahead of time and even recording it…!"

Evangeline lifted her teary eyes and stared straight at me, shouting.

"You plotted this from the beginning, knowing it'd turn out like this, right?"

I let out a smirk.

I simply couldn't hold back the laughter.

And with complete confidence, I nodded and replied.

"Yes, I figured something like this might happen. So I prepared accordingly."

Evangeline looked a bit flustered. She'd clearly expected me to deny it and make excuses.

But seizing it as an opportunity, she pressed on.

"See! You're confessing! You were out to slander me from the start!"

I kept my composure, weaving in a touch of sadness anyone could recognize.

"Even as I prepared, I hoped I'd never have to use any of it."

"…Ah!"

Only then did Evangeline seem to realize her mistake.

Before she could say another word, I struck first.

"But you showed up at the Artanus Hall banquet wearing that gown. To mock me."

"Th-that's not…!"

I turned my gaze to Mrs. Filler next.

Still with that mix of calm, sorrow, and bitterness.

"Mrs. Filler, you recommended that gown to me yourself, yet you testified that I meant to insult the Ruth Marquis's Daughter."

"No! I... I was just doing what Miss Evangeline told me to…!"

"Shut your mouth!"

Finally, cracks were forming between them.

I felt like grabbing some popcorn. Or tossing in a snide jab to fan the flames. But I held back for now.

I was putting one of the best lessons Evangeline had ever taught me into practice.

Playing the victim.

I turned my head away from their disgraceful display.

And in a subdued voice, I said,

"I hoped something like this wouldn't happen since we'd been friends once… Guess that was just wishful thinking on my part."

My goal for this banquet was simple.

'I can't afford to look weak. I have to show off my power and abilities to the max.'

Until now, the image people had of me was this:

'Idiot Hilia. Foolish Hilia.'

'An accessory tacked onto the Delphin family.'

'The dull woman who keeps her fiancé's mistress as a friend.'

And even after the bride abduction, I still wasn't seen as myself.

'Arpad's spoils of war.'

'The woman Ludwig lost.'

'The Crown Prince's tool to solidify his position.'

At first, I was Ludwig and Evangeline's puppet.

Then, Arpad's trophy and instrument.

But I needed to drill it into everyone's heads that I was neither.

'I'm just me.'

Not manipulated or used by anyone.

I wanted to shout it loud and proud to the world.

Realizing anew how desperately I'd craved that during my three past regressions.

My chest felt refreshingly wide open.

This very situation was the realization of my deepest wish.

No one would dare see me as anyone's tool now.

'They'll fear me instead.'

It was necessary if I wanted to reign over high society as the Crown Princess from here on.

Proof came from the western nobles and even the central ones eyeing me with a hint of fear.

They figured crossing me might land them in the same boat as Evangeline or Mrs. Filler.

Exactly as I'd hoped.

Authority, dignity, fear. Awe.

I was certain they'd look at me that way now.

'But settling for just this feels a bit lacking, doesn't it?'

Evangeline had a real knack for one thing.

'Turning everyone around her into villains while playing the lone victim.'

And usually, the one cast as the villain and reviled was me.

"How could you be so cruel to our dear Miss Evangeline? That's too much!"

"No, it's all my fault… Sob, sob! I messed up. Hilia did nothing wrong."

"Miss Evangeline is too kind-hearted; that's why we're worried. There are these awful people always trying to use her."

On the surface, Evangeline always stayed the innocent, pure victim.

Punishing the villains? Her worshippers handled that without her even asking.

If I'd just flexed my power and issued my warning before backing off, Evangeline would've leaned into her specialty.

'Denouncing my ruthlessness while fishing for sympathy.'

That's why, after coming across so bold and dignified…

I let a sliver of hurt and bitterness show as I pulled back just a touch.

The wound would look all the bigger against that backdrop.

For some reason, most people felt drawn to someone through that—more approachable, more on their side.

Just like now.

The nobles who'd gazed at me with awe and fear moments ago now shifted to eyes brimming with sympathy.

It was working perfectly. Good.

Positive, sympathetic public opinion toward me started to ripple outward.

"Right, Her Highness the Crown Princess gave Mrs. Filler one last chance earlier."

"She wanted to believe they were friends."

"So merciful."

They were picking up the seeds I'd sown and running with them.

"Poor thing…"

"How tough must it have been all this time? She was basically at war with the entire high society."

One western noblewoman said that, startling the central nobles.

"At war with us? No way!"

"Exactly! Saying that makes it sound like we followed the Ruth lady and Mrs. Filler in shunning Her Highness the Crown Princess."

'…That's exactly what you did.'

But the central nobles, two-faced as ever, vehemently denied it.

Some even approached me, trying to act friendly and make excuses.

"Your Highness! That's not how we felt at all!"

"Yes! Please don't misunderstand!"

I'd seen it coming, but their hypocrisy was nauseating all the same.

I instinctively took a step back, and something soft brushed my head.

What…?

I looked up, meeting Arpad's crimson eyes.

"!"

Arpad's eyes crinkled in a smile as he swung his long arm in a graceful arc.

His red cape billowed like a painting in motion.

The next moment, his lips pressed to the corner of my eye as he pulled me into a deep embrace.

The wet, hot touch of his tongue against my skin sent goosebumps rippling across my body.

I wasn't the only one shocked.

Central and western nobles surrounded us, along with the Emperor and Evangeline.

They all froze in stunned horror at the sudden intimacy.

The only one moving freely was the one person utterly unfazed.

Arpad.

His low, husky voice tickled my earlobe.

Rough yet tender.

"Don't cry, Hilia."

"Cr-cry? …Me?"

I was dumbfounded. What nonsense.

Even touching it myself, it felt so dry and… Huh? Why's it so wet?

When my eyes met his gleaming red ones up close, his utterly delighted gaze locking with mine.

I realized.

'This guy's the one who licked it! Not because I was crying!'

But Arpad went even further.

"As you know, I'm dreadfully possessive. You're the wife I abducted on sight because I was smitten. I want your smiles, your tears—all of it—for myself alone."

Still holding me protectively, he glared at the nobles and declared.

No, this was a proclamation.

"So if anyone besides me ever makes you shed a tear, I can't predict what I might do."

Meaning they'd have to face the mad Crown Prince himself if they dared touch me.