Chapter 3

You haven't received a single dance request at this hour, my lady?"

Only then did Daphne realize her mistake and raised her hand to cover her mouth. Then her dance card, densely filled with names, became visible, making the contrast even starker.

"Yes. Because I'm engaged to someone extraordinary."

"Is that the only reason?"

"Then what other reason could there be?"

"...Enough. And the reason I came here was to see Daphne."

'Of course you did.'

I nodded and subtly pulled my arm free, as if to step aside.

This was a scene that had been presented as a cathartic moment in the novel, but experiencing it firsthand, I felt nothing but disgust.

Perhaps it was because of the pity-laced sneers and sighs from the people that hadn't been described. I wanted to run away immediately, but without Felix's permission to leave, I had to stand there—and that fact itself was pitiful.

I hadn't even ruined Daphne's dress like in the original, so how was this supposed to be cathartic?

'Is this really a villainess? Or am I just a pushover?'

I hated this too. I barely held back from saying "Just take me out of your little love story" and lowered my head, counting the jewels embedded in my dress.

"Me, not Lydia?"

"Don't misunderstand. I didn't come as a man. I want to discuss that business proposition I heard about last time in more detail."

Daphne glanced at me nervously, and the stares piercing into me grew more intense, making my skin prickle.

'Really. Did it have to be at this hour? In the middle of a party?'

Having lived in the modern world, I could immediately see this was just obvious flirting. But Daphne, being innocent, seemed to believe it.

I couldn't bear to watch this nauseating play any longer.

"I apologize, Your Highness."

As I interrupted, people began to murmur. They'd surely make up more rumors, but at this point, I didn't care.

"May I take my leave? I have things to do."

"Lady Fry may go."

"Thank you."

I left in genuine gratitude. I knew exactly what would happen next. Everything would unfold as I'd read.

Felix would see the names of all the men filling Daphne's dance card, grow jealous, and conspicuously take her away in his carriage.

If I hadn't left now, I would have had to watch them ride off together, enduring the people's concern-disguised mockery.

'Ha, I held it together well today.'

It was only two hours, but it felt like I'd suffered for 200.

I didn't even want to know when Felix had fallen so hard for Daphne.

Just knowing that the duchess had been pushing Daphne to meet Felix and subtly applying a light fragrance to her every time she went out was already exhausting.

"Take me to the duke's residence."

"Pardon? You're going in first, my lady?"

"Daphne has someone to bring her back. Let's go."

"Yes, understood."

The moment I got into the carriage, I sprawled out lazily, abandoning all pretense of dignity. Finally, it seemed my exhausting day was coming to an end.

Splash—

Ice-cold water was thrown onto my face as I was sleeping soundly. Before I could even gather my senses, someone forcibly pulled me up.

By the time I barely came to my senses, the furious duchess was standing before me, and I was forced to my knees in front of her by men on either side.

'What is this all of a sudden.'

There was no time to grasp the situation.

"I've hated you from the very beginning. Do you know why I never raised a hand against you?"

"...Because you're kind, my lady."

"No. It's not because I'm kind—it's because you're not worth it. And for the sake of my daughter, who might be alive somewhere. So she wouldn't be treated the same way as you."

"..."

"Your tone, your expressions, your gestures—everything about you that has been resembling my daughter more and more has been disgustingly unbearable. My heart burns not knowing where or how my daughter is, while you mimic her, trying to gain attention—it was detestable. Yet I taught you without the rod, and this is how you repay my kindness."

"I don't understand what you're—"

"I don't want to hear your excuses. I only believe what I see and hear with my own eyes."

"Pardon?"

"Roll up your skirt."

'Roll up what?'

As I stood there blankly, the duchess's maid approached, made me stand, and rolled up my nightgown to expose my calves.

Even in that moment, the duchess maintained her elegant posture, lifting a long switch adorned with feather-shaped decorations and began striking my calves.

I had received about seven lashes without knowing why, when—

"Stop it now! Nothing happened with Lydia. It's just that..."

"It's all right. Go on, dear."

"The Prince... gave me such an overwhelming confession that I couldn't help but cry."

I finally grasped my stinging calves as the beating stopped. My legs were trembling so much I could barely stand.

Thanks to my healing ability, it would heal quickly, but pain was still pain. And I was extremely annoyed.

'Why did you say that after I took all the hits?'

Above all, the fact that I was beaten just because Daphne had cried made my blood boil.

Thanks to that, I had to stay up all night trying to cool my simmering anger.

The next morning, after hearing the full story, I was even more dumbfounded.

I had simply been tired and fallen asleep early after returning. I had only come back first because I knew Felix would bring her—but from the moment I returned alone, the duchess had been on edge.

Then Daphne had come back crying late, so it was understandable she'd suspect me. But beating someone who was sleeping without hearing the full story—what kind of etiquette was that?

"Lady Daphne is too much too. When asked what happened, she just cried and said nothing happened."

Exactly. Lilia sniffled as she applied ointment to my reddened calves.

It would have been better to be struck by lightning in my sleep—waking up in such a foul mood and getting beaten—and then hearing about it afterward? An overwhelming confession?

"It's not even funny!"

"My lady! If you get that angry, the wounds will open more."

"You know it heals quickly."

"Even so. And please don't be angry, but tell me... nothing really happened with Lady Daphne, did it?"

"...Lilia. I'm disappointed. Nothing happened, truly."

"I'm sorry, my lady! When the madam asked if anything happened with Lady Lydia, she cried even louder, so I thought maybe..."

"She said she received an overwhelming confession from His Highness. She must have felt guilty toward me."

From what I remembered, Felix's feelings for Daphne developed not just because of her appearance, but also because of her knowledge of magic and her skill with herbs.

I thought he was only in the stage of simple attraction. I never expected it would take only a month for him to fall into this kind of dramatic love.

Even if Lydia was a villainess, wasn't Felix—who harbored another woman while engaged—the worse person?

Unlike the novel's Lydia, I had never used my position as a duke's daughter to bully anyone, yet I was getting punished for nothing—it felt so unfair.

"Honestly, I'm a little upset."

"About what?"

"About how you're too... never mind."

"Too what?"

"Too... too foolish!"

Lilia, shocked by her unfiltered words, covered her mouth with a gasp.

"Huh?"

When I didn't get angry and just looked at her blankly, Lilia, emboldened, began pouring out her words.

"It's true. I understand rumors spread fast since we're a prominent ducal house in the capital, but still, you've done so much volunteer work. Everyone has received help from you at least once, yet they all talk behind your back—it's too much. When did you ever pretend to be aloof or act like the empire's only duke's daughter?"

"There was a rumor like that...?"

"You never asked to be brought to the duke's house—the duke brought you himself. And it's a fact that you share his blood!"

Thanks to her, I learned even more gossip about myself that I hadn't known.