《The Main Character Is A Villainess》 Chapter 0 - Prologue Translator and Editor: Gina and Tea ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤Chapter 0 ¨C Prologue ¡°I have someone I love. Elysia, you are suffocating me. Please let me go!¡± From birth, Elysia was different from others. Born of an orthodox bloodline through the meeting of two historic families, she was the Count¡¯s only child. Her grandfather was the late Emperor¡¯s teacher, and her mother was the eldest daughter of a wealthy household worthy of controlling the Empire¡¯s capital. So, Elysia learned proper Noble behavior even before she could speak. Just because she was a noblewoman, it didn¡¯t mean she was the same as the others. Elysia¡¯s family, the Hellen household, didn¡¯t mix blood recklessly and was one of the few historically high-ranked families in the Britelbin Empire. And perhaps because of that, it was only natural for her to become engaged to the only child of the historical Duchy of Rayden. The two were promised to each other by the elders before they started walking and were like air to each other. Some were envious, considering they would still be inferior even if they were born again, but most were respectful, looking forward to the birth of a powerful family. Elysia was smart, rational, and nobler than anyone else. At any time or place, she never lost her dignity; and as she was taught, she grew up with the proper mindset of a social leader. ¡°Please let me go! All of you, your family, and you! I¡¯m suffocating to the point of going crazy. I feel I¡¯m not Conrad Rayden but someone who was born to be your fianc¨¦!¡± So, even when she heard the contemptuous voices of her long-time fianc¨¦ and his first love, Elysia was not shaken. She wasn¡¯t the weird one. As a noblewoman, she had learned to live her life in this kind of situation. As much as she had to enjoy, there was much to protect; therefore she must sacrifice her personal happiness. And that way she felt joy. Elysia didn¡¯t like everything about him. However, the promise between the Rayden Duchy and Hellen County wasn¡¯t a pledge that could be judged by such simple emotions. ¡°Conrad Rayden, I think you¡¯re making a big mistake, but I¡¯m not saying I want to date you. And surely, I¡¯m not asking you to love me. Rayden and Hellens shared skills, distributed and combined capital, and signed a contract taking into account future loss of interest. Even if I don¡¯t say more, you already know the countless benefits. Can you afford to impose such emotions in a huge contract between the two families?¡± She thought it didn¡¯t matter if he was shaken by another woman, the reason why she was upset was that his un-noble feelings interfered with such a great promise. But Elysia soon realized that he was able to feel shaken, but not her. He abandoned all and let himself be shaken. He abandoned not just the family¡¯s promise but also the old memories. Just because of a passing Viscounty¡¯s woman. Nearly twenty years abandoned at once. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any reason to keep this engagement. As Lord Rayden confessed to me, you¡¯ve got a crush on someone.¡± Elysia maintained her dignity. Instead of crying and clinging to him, she tried to protect her life in her own way. Because love games couldn¡¯t break an old promise. The benefits a Viscount¡¯s young Lady could give him were not comparable to the benefits she could give him. Duke Rayden was a person who knew that too well. ¡°Why are you saying such important things without discussion? Have you really gone mad? Did you go insane because you¡¯re jealous? That person is the only one I have. You¡¯re the one who needs to step back. You already have everything!¡± ¡®You were the only one I have, too. And I trusted you.¡¯ However, instead of clinging to him, Elysia reminded him of reality. ¡°Look carefully from now on. You¡¯ll come to realize what you have. In the end, you¡¯ll have to place that woman and the things you hold in your hand on a scale and do the arithmetic. That love you praise so much will turn into a vain thing.¡± Nevertheless, it also happened to Elysia. Someone who made her want to believe in such useless emotions. A wretched Prince who was abandoned by the Imperial Family and wandered around the battlefield. And the Emperor¡¯s illegitimate son, who soon became her elder brother, Havern Norton. ¡°Even after I left, I didn¡¯t expect to see you as a family.¡± A wanderer who did foul things to survive. ¡°You¡¯re not even my real sister yet, so you shouldn¡¯t be greedy. What if I look away and you break our father¡¯s marriage?¡± Only Elysia could recognize it. His light tone was just a mask used to escape the control weighing on him. ¡°Then bring it. Something attractive enough for me to hold her hand.¡± Her fianc¨¦ of 20 years ravaged her heart, and Havern became Elysia¡¯s support. It was a friendly hand that comforted her wounded heart. And when she was finally left alone, it was the only hand that reached out to her, who was abandoned after losing everything. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, why don¡¯t you trust my background? I¡¯ll make you the mother of the Empire, not just a Duchess.¡± ¡°I will take revenge. Because I was taught that the nobility must properly pay back what they receive.¡± Elysia willingly took his hand. She couldn¡¯t tell if she was truly vicious or just sick and tired of everything. Because in reality, the protagonist wasn¡¯t a kind, innocent woman, but a victorious villain. And Elysia had never imagined a world in which she was not the main character. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Join our discord to receive the latest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 1 Translator and Editor: Gina and Tea ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤Chapter 1 ¡°She is a very pretty baby. Congratulations, Madam.¡± Born with everyone¡¯s blessings, the baby smiled softly as if she knew her future. She had curly platinum blonde hair and purple eyes, and even though she was a baby, she seemed to exude elegance. ¡°Elysia, I¡¯ll call you Elysia. You will be the child who will brighten up the Hellen family and this Empire. You will become a greater child than anyone else.¡± It was the birth of Elysia Hellen, a child born in the venerable, historical, and orthodox Hellen family. The child was very smart and clever. And, if anyone ever wanted to picture a child who didn¡¯t act their age, they would talk about Elysia. ¡°Ellie, come and try it too. This is so much fun!¡± Duke Rayden¡¯s eldest son, Conrad, was the boy with brown hair so light it looked almost blonde crouching on the side of the garden catching ants, and he had been chosen as her fianc¨¦ from a very young age. Elysia shook her head slightly, gathered her still short legs, and sat down. She was so mature no one would think that demeanor came from a seven-year-old child. ¡°Tch. No fun!¡± Conrad grunted at her as she held a glass in her small hand and drank clear tea. ¡°I was taught that playing with life is bad. If you are going to be a social leader who will rule the people in the future, you must set an example. Even though the Young Master learned such a thing, why don¡¯t you apply it?¡± Conrad had lost his excitement at Elysia¡¯s point and approached her with a frown on his face. ¡°Hey! Then why don¡¯t you listen to me?! Aren¡¯t we friends before being engaged? I said it was okay to talk informally between friends! If you keep behaving like that, I won¡¯t marry you!¡± Elysia sighed a little and held out a handkerchief. ¡°Okay. If you really want to, I¡¯ll do it. Wipe off the dirt first.¡± As Conrad¡¯s eyes widened and his body stiffened due to the sudden informal speech, Elysia slid from her chair and approached him. ¡°You can¡¯t go around looking like this. The nanny and the maid will be scolded for not taking good care of us. Do you like it when your people get in trouble because of you?¡± Feeling a bit daunted, Conrad shook his head slightly. ¡°It may not be fun, but you should know. About our position.¡± ¡°Why should I? It wasn¡¯t even my choice. It¡¯s not like I was born like this because I wanted¡­¡± Conrad was an average boy of his age. He was still too young to understand responsibility or social weight. ¡°No one can be born the way they want to be born, Conrad. But we¡¯re lucky though. Just think carefully until you got here. Have you done one thing with your own hands?¡± As Conrad shook his head, Elysia looked at him meaningfully as she meticulously wiped his palms. ¡°But they didn¡¯t let me! I can do it too, I wanted to do it. By myself. But they didn¡¯t let me. I would be able to change clothes, wash, and come all the way here by myself!¡± He complained as if it was unfair. Actually, it wasn¡¯t just about that. The world was still too difficult for a child to understand. ¡°Then go and tell the Duke immediately. Give up the title and live as a commoner. Then you can do everything yourself, by yourself. Instead, you won¡¯t be able to talk recklessly until you get permission from a high-ranking person, and you¡¯ll have to attend to other nobles during this time instead of playing in the dirt. Which one would you choose? You can¡¯t have both.¡± Conrad¡¯s small rebellion was thwarted by her decisive answer. Elysia sighed as she looked at his sullen face and explained in a way that her fianc¨¦ could understand. ¡°That¡¯s why we are lucky. Because I can act on my own, not for others. However, Conrad, with that much responsibility, we have a lot of people below us, and we¡¯re like mirrors for them. If we make a mistake, not just us, but also the people below us will be criticized. And we might get a little scolded, but those people¡¯s lives depend on us. We might say we did it just for fun, but it means that they might lose the bread that goes into their family¡¯s mouths today. Conrad, always be careful with your words and actions from now on. That¡¯s the responsibility.¡± [tl/n: damn gurl, you¡¯re only seven?!] Elysia was raised strictly since she learned how to speak and was mature for her age, so Conrad felt intimidated and uncomfortable around her. ¡°What if you really want to play? There will be times when even nobles want to play, too. My mom and dad sometimes go out to play.¡± After wiping off all the dirt, Elysia folded the handkerchief, handed it to the maid, and straightened his collar. ¡°The opportunity comes when you live well. You just have to do your part and don¡¯t do things that¡¯ll catch trouble for you later. Then, no one will be able to say anything to you. Did you memorize everything you had to memorize about Imperial Law today?¡± At Elysia¡¯s question, Conrad shook his head with a prickly expression. For some reason, it seemed that Elysia was scolding him. ¡°Look at it. You don¡¯t seem confident either. Why are you doing something to fuss about? Others are evaluated according to the reputation of their superiors no matter how well they do, but we are not. We¡¯re the only ones who need to do well. Stop playing with the soil, wash up, and do what you have to do today. You don¡¯t have to come if you don¡¯t do everything you have to do in the future.¡± Conrad thought Elysia was outstanding, but on the other hand, he felt uncomfortable. Whenever he was with this child, he felt as if he had made a huge mistake. ¡°How do you know all these things? You¡¯re the same age as me. Why am I the only one who doesn¡¯t know? It was a childish question, but Elysia vaguely understood the emotion it contained. ¡°You learned it too. You shouldn¡¯t play with soil, you shouldn¡¯t treat life recklessly, and thoroughly study what you have learned. These are all things you kept hearing while growing up. I¡¯m just reminding you.¡± Elysia explained it well, but Conrad was still upset. ¡°Tch¡­ If that¡¯s what you want, then okay. Everyone says that. We¡¯re just kids, so it¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Right. We¡¯re young, so we¡¯re still learning. But when you grow up, if you act irresponsibly, you have to pay the price. So start practicing now, Conrad.¡± Conrad eventually ran out of the garden with tears in his eyes, perhaps upset that she was so cold-hearted that she never lost any argument. ¡°Miss, is it okay leaving him like that?¡± When the nanny approached and asked, Elysia nodded. She hadn¡¯t even entered the academy yet and couldn¡¯t chase after a child. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It wasn¡¯t that I couldn¡¯t say anything. He¡¯ll be attending various meetings soon, I can¡¯t let him act recklessly any longer. I might just teach him, but other people will swear and hate him. It¡¯s not that they¡¯ll insult him only, but also his family.¡± It was also a promise to herself. Never, never, under any circumstances, do not show any flaws, and do the right thing in the right place. The nanny pitied Elysia. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to act childishly or play recklessly. A child born with such social responsibility was oppressed and unable to express herself. ¡°Miss, shall we build a sandcastle together as the Young Master did earlier? I¡¯ll keep it a secret from Madam.¡± Elysia¡¯s eyelids fluttered at the somewhat unconventional proposal. Those eyes were full of regrets that anyone could read. After looking at the half-collapsed sandcastle that Conrad had built for a long time, Elysia shook her head. ¡°No, I have to prepare for what I will learn tomorrow. A lot of time has already passed. Let¡¯s go inside.¡± Once again she felt pity for the young Miss who tried hard to move her eyes fixed on the sandcastle, but the nanny couldn¡¯t suggest anymore. Because no matter how young she was, she made her own decisions. ¡°Yes, Miss.¡± * * * ¡°Mom, Ellie says this: Because we are social leaders, we are responsible and should not make things to be reproached for. But what does that mean?¡± After returning home, Conrad had been childishly behaving in his mother¡¯s bed and conveyed Elysia¡¯s words as if he had suddenly remembered them. His mother smiled as she swept her son¡¯s hair. ¡°What should I explain first? Do you understand what the social leadership¡¯s responsibility means?¡± As Conrad shook his head, his mother found her son so cute that she sat him on her lap and patted him on the back. ¡°What does our Con do when he has something he wants?¡± Conrad answered confidently as if the question was too easy. ¡°I tell Mama,Papa, or the butler.¡± ¡°Then you could always have it, even if it took a long time, right?¡± He nodded hearing the soft voice of the Duchess. ¡°Exactly. Being able to have what you want is power. But Conrad, what happens to the things Con cares about the most if you fight with your friends or don¡¯t do your homework?¡± Recalling what had happened last time, the child dropped his small shoulders. ¡°Dad takes everything¡­ He didn¡¯t even let me see my friends for a whole day.¡± ¡°Then what should Conrad do to protect his precious things?¡± After thinking hard, he answered, his eyes shining brightly. ¡°Do homework well, don¡¯t fight with friends, and listen to Mama and Papa well?¡± As if the answer was correct, the mother smiled sweetly. ¡°That¡¯s right. Conrad, that is your responsibility. Our Con was born with a lot of things. The mansion where my son was born, the food prepared at every meal, and these wonderful clothes are all owned by Con. You need that kind of responsibility to keep these things. There will be more things to protect in the future. What should Con do to do that?¡± ¡°Well¡­?¡± Warmth radiated from his mother¡¯s smile and her hand wiping his hair. ¡°Right, it¡¯s always good to keep this in your heart, Con. To protect your favorite toys, do your homework well and not fight with your friends, so people won¡¯t blame you for anything. If you get in trouble, you¡¯ll feel bad and they¡¯ll take away your precious things. You must not make such things happen.¡± Conrad nodded as if he finally understood. ¡°However, Ellie pretends to know everything and it¡¯s not fun. She¡¯s not even a teacher, but she always says something to me.¡± In the end, he found out that everything Elysia said was true, but it was unavoidable to still feel hurt. ¡°My Con, are you in a bad mood? Ellie did it with a good heart. Basically, what you know and what you do are very different. Because there are many times when you know but don¡¯t know how to do it. My son doesn¡¯t know how lucky mom feels to know Con has a good friend named Ellie by his side.¡± ¡°Really? Even though I feel uncomfortable when I¡¯m with her because I feel as if I did something wrong?¡± His mother nodded confidently. ¡°Of course, Ellie and my Con will become good friends. Good friends who will fill each other¡¯s shortcomings.¡± That was Conrad¡¯s last conversation with his mother. The Duchess was weak and became increasingly ill and could no longer hold conversations, and she eventually passed away, leaving young Conrad behind. * * * Thirteen years passed since Count Hellen died in war, and fifteen years since Duchess of Rayden was deceased, and Elysia and Conrad became adults at the age of twenty-two. The mature Elysia grew up as the epitome of nobility, and Conrad, still a little reckless, became a first-class groom through Elysia¡¯s help. ¡°There are many rumors that the Countess will ascend to the vacant seat of Empress. Is that correct?¡± Conrad asked Elysia, who was reading a book. Countess Hellen was Elysia¡¯s mother. Not long after Conrad¡¯s mother died, war broke out, and Elysia¡¯s father had gone to war to fulfill his noble duties and never returned. Madam Hellen had prospered running the Hellen household single handedly and seized the opportunity to secure strong support, and the Imperial Family gained enormous wealth thanks to this, so eventually, it was decided to hold an Imperial marriage. ¡°Mng. That¡¯s what it is.¡± As if her silver-blonde hair bothered her, Elysia moved her hand slightly to tuck her hair behind her shoulders and looked back at the book. Pensive purple eyes were hidden under her rich eyelashes. ¡°Is that it? Is that all? Are you okay? It may be the Empress seat, but there are other Imperial princes, and you won¡¯t be treated like a princess, would you?¡± Elysia put down the book she was reading and looked into Conrad¡¯s eyes. He recognized those eyes. Anytime she held such a gaze, she would pour out the words he hated so much as if scolding him. ¡°Should I care? Of course, I¡¯m not at ease either. But when you look at the whole household, it¡¯s a good thing. In the name of the Imperial family, import and export items can be expanded, and the Hellen family can enjoy the wealth of the Imperial family, so the Britelbin Empire will grow stronger. I¡¯m not gaining a father. The Hellens and the Imperial Family are maximizing their profits through each other.¡± After finishing her speech, Elysia picked up the book that she had put down. Long, white, soft fingers wandered over the book cover. ¡°You are too stern. How can a person think that way? Even if not a real father, you¡¯ll have a father on paper. And, again, what about the princes? Do you think they will treat you nicely? Don¡¯t you know how scary the Imperial family is?¡± Conrad was still emotional. Elysia advised him to control it every time, but in the end, he couldn¡¯t fix it. She shook her head as she watched him ruffle his hair as if he didn¡¯t understand at all. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t love my late father. But if I pose that I would never accept someone else as my father, will my dead father come back alive? My father died while fulfilling his duty for the Empire. We who survived must do our job, too, and live fulfilling our duties. It¡¯s not about betrayal or forgetting my father. Just because His Majesty the Emperor accepts my mother as the Empress, he cannot become my father, nor can the hostile princes and vassals of the Imperial Palace call him my father. That¡¯s it. His Majesty will still be His Majesty.¡± Despite Elysia¡¯s kind explanation, Conrad left the room with a face showing thorough confusion, and couldn¡¯t understand a word of what she said. ¡°This place is like that.¡± Elysia muttered and focused on the book again. To be a part of the Imperial Family, you must behave correctly and judiciously at all times. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Join our discord to receive the latest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 2 Translator and Editor: Gina and Tea ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤Chapter 2 ¡°Milady, I brought a dress for the Foundation Festival. You said Lord Rayden would wear a black outfit, so how about this one? I tried to match the colors to some extent without making it look too dark.¡± The biggest event of the Britelbin Empire was the Foundation Festival. It was held over three days and was the only festival that everyone, regardless of class, could enjoy. ¡°Because the shoulder line is low, it might feel a little too revealing, can you add a little bit of thin lace over it?¡± Elysia and Conrad were affianced, so it was customary to custom-make clothes to match, but Conrad said he did not want to be bound by tradition, so Elysia had no choice but to prepare hers separately. Even so, the quality won¡¯t be as good as matching it with the same fabric from the same boutique. ¡°Yes. I will prepare it like that.¡± The mansion visitors left, and Elysia made her preparations and set out on the road. No matter how well she knew the streets of the capital, it was right to avoid dangerous places. At that time, the road would be crowded, so she had looked around in advance. Knowing Conrad¡¯s personality, he would be obviously excited and would want to look everywhere, so she had no choice but to be careful. ¡°Get out the way! Look out!¡± It was just at that moment when a young merchant overburdened with his luggage leaned over and was about to fall in front of her. Her escorts had no time to react in such a situation, so Elysia closed her eyes tightly to prepare for the incoming pain. ¡°Oh¡­?¡± She opened her eyes slightly, not feeling the pain that she anticipated. ¡°You didn¡¯t get hurt, did you?¡± In a split second, a man took Elysia in his arms and asked while looking at her. A strong neck and jawline were exposed under the robe¡¯s hood. ¡°Thank- you.¡± Elysia blinked her eyes at the scene that happened before she could even notice it, and barely said thanks. Food was crumbled and smashed at her feet. If this guy hadn¡¯t helped, she would have been covered in debris. ¡°Ah, I think I should say it properly again. I was in a bad position. Thank you so much for your help.¡± As Elysia hurriedly stood up straight and thanked him politely, the corner of the man¡¯s mouth curled up under the hood. Somehow, it was a familiar mouth. ¡°Still the same. You haven¡¯t changed at all.¡± A face flashed in her mind momentarily, but Elysia erased it. She looked at the firm forearms still supporting her arm and gave him a puzzled expression. ¡°Excuse me, but do you know me? Because I don¡¯t recall.¡± Only then did he take off the hood covering his face and chuckle. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember me, model student?¡± The sun shone brightly behind his smile. A broad smile that looked almost mischievous. The raised corners of his mouth contrasted with black hair and sun-tanned face, which were rare in the Empire, and even the folded, slightly droopy eyes. The way he talked, his voice. All that¡­ ¡°It¡¯s me. Your first love.¡± It was him. * * * While attending the academy as a student, Elysia was a person who could not be touched lightly. The fact that she was the fiance¨¦ of a strong family was one of the reasons, but her sharp, decisive personality played a big part. ¡°Young Lady Hellen, it may be sudden, but I have watched you for a long time and dared to long for you. I know you have a fianc¨¦, but¡­¡± Elysia¡¯s answer was always the same as she picked up the flowers that were held in front of her eyes. ¡°Put it away.¡± Or ¡°Throw it out.¡± Contrary to the lovely name of Elysia, her attitude was no different from that of an iron wall. Male students who approached her just because of appearance started to avoid her when rumors around said ¡°To talk to Elysia, you have to be at least the Duke¡¯s heir.¡± There were various reasons why she rejected them, but they narrowly judged that Elysia only wanted to associate with people who fit her family and status. ¡°How did you arrive at the answer to question 3?¡± He was the only man she spoke to first in the academy. The so-called lunatic Prince, the abandoned Prince Havern Norton. With his black hair and amber eyes, rare in the Empire, he also radiated a strangely dangerous atmosphere, so he had a lot of hidden followers in the academy. However, some frowned at his unruly behavior, never following the rules. Although he was the child of a concubine, no one could stop him because he was the Emperor¡¯s son. The only reason Elysia was curious about such a lunatic was because he solved a problem that she couldn¡¯t get right, more accurately, a problem no student could solve. ¡°If I explain, will you understand?¡± His first words to Elysia¡¯s question were another question. ¡°Yes, at least¡­ Aren¡¯t you going to tell me?¡± ¡°Even if I explain it, if you were someone who would understand, you would have answered correctly on the test. Don¡¯t you think so, model student?¡± His arrogant attitude hurt her pride. Elysia had thought that she would never fall behind in terms of her head and that she wouldn¡¯t lose anywhere in terms of studies, but being treated like this by such a lunatic? She was annoyed. ¡°Yes, I got it.¡± Dig a hole and die. It was difficult to solve because it was a problem that all the professors, creating it to prevent students from getting it right in the first place, created by putting their heads together. But in Elysia¡¯s head, only the words of that lunatic prince, who mocked her, lingered. ¡°I solved it. Even if you didn¡¯t tell me, I figured it out myself, so.¡± Elysia stayed up all night for two nights and finally determined the answer. When she brought the solution with a triumphant attitude, the prince pulled out his answer sheet from under his desk and smiled. ¡°Are you this passionate about everything? I just got this right but it won¡¯t change that you are number one.¡± ¡°As long as someone knows what I don¡¯t know, I¡¯m not really the number one.¡± Seeing Elysia matching his answer sheet with the solution she brought, Havern smiled thinly. Her reply aroused his interest. She was a human being of a kind he had never seen before in his life, so he felt curious almost instinctively. ¡°Admirable, very.¡± It was the first compliment she liked completely. Elysia didn¡¯t want to show it, but she couldn¡¯t control the corners of her mouth rising involuntarily. ¡°I solved it well. I learned it thanks to you, Your Highness the Prince.¡± As she was about to turn around, Havern pulled out another piece of paper and asked, as if seducing her. ¡°Have you ever wondered how I solved it in the first place? I¡¯ve got some things tabulated.¡± The papers gently placed on the desk danced provocatively. Elysia bit her lip as she looked at them. ¡°If you don¡¯t need it, I should throw them away.¡± Elysia hurriedly approached him and grabbed his hand, which he had moved as if to tear the papers apart. ¡°You want them?¡± She was embarrassed because her body moved before she knew it, but Elysia immediately regained her composure and asked. ¡°You seem to have worked very hard on it, are you okay with that? Just discarding it¡­¡± Reading the nervousness contained in that question, Havern just smiled and began to tear off the back pages of his note one by one. ¡°Give to me. Please.¡± Even with a fast glance, she could tell it was better organized than any other thesis. She just couldn¡¯t believe its owner and creator was this jerk. ¡°Okay.¡± Elysia looked at him quietly as he unexpectedly handed it over smoothly. ¡®What¡¯s up with this notebook that has all the important parts marked? He was someone who never attended class properly and was always sleeping in class in the first place.¡¯ She looked at him in disbelief. ¡°What¡¯s your real game here? Are you trying to make fun of me?¡± At Elysia¡¯s question, he only tilted his head slightly. There was a mischievous light in his eyes, and a smile full of interest hung from the corners of his mouth. ¡°Is it like that? ¡®I don¡¯t study, but I¡¯m usually good at it.¡¯ Are you going to say something like that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s a secret. I live so hard.¡± He absurdly left her with a question unanswered, so Elysia had no choice but to care for that lunatic. However, he only appeared for exams to avoid flunking after that, and then he disappeared from daily life without even giving her time to pay attention to him. By the time Elysia graduated, all she had heard of him were rumors about how the third prince was sent to the border area. * * * ¡°Prince Havern?¡± When Elysia recalled old memories and called his name, he shrugged and righted her. ¡°You really haven¡¯t changed at all. Has it been four years or five years? But that¡¯s good. You¡¯ll always be like that.¡± She had heard that after graduation, he wandered around the battlefield, but he had become so big that she barely recognized him. Indeed, now that he¡¯s twenty-seven, he is a completely mature man. In the past, he couldn¡¯t completely erase his teen appearance, but now he was exuding a strong male aura. ¡°Exactly five years. The last time I saw you was before graduation.¡± Although she graduated in the same year as Havern, there was a considerable age gap between them. It was an open secret that he was sent to the battlefield before entering the academy because he was an eyesore, so he enrolled late. He might have been tired of the battlefield, but it was an unexpected choice to voluntarily return there after graduating. ¡°By the way, you do know that your pronouncement needs to be corrected as well. Because I have never held in my heart His Highness, Prince Havern.¡± Contrary to his first words about being her ¡®first love,¡¯ Elysia had to correct him since there had never existed any feelings between them. ¡°I know you were shaken.¡± ¡°Me? No way. When?¡± When Havern made a strange expression without saying a word, Elysia frowned as she recalled ¡®that day.¡¯ ¡°Tell me not to go.¡± ¡°What?¡± On a day not long before graduation, he approached Elysia with a face that looked as if he were about to cry and said that. However, she wasn¡¯t the type to speak carelessly. ¡°Choose me, and tell me not to go.¡± Although she was stunned by such a distressed appearance as she was seeing for the first time, even in that moment, Elysia remained possessed of reason. ¡°If you¡¯re asking me to break my engagement, I can¡¯t do that. There¡¯s no benefit for me to choose His Highness. And especially His Highness now.¡± ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Join our discord to receive the latest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 3 Translator and Editor: Gina and Tea ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤Chapter 3 ¡°Weren¡¯t you rejected?¡± When she asked, Havern shrugged and smiled slyly. The boyish beauty of the past was glimpsed in the unique mischievousness permeating his smiling face. ¡°The two of us exchanged hearts.¡± Those who didn¡¯t know anything were likely to misunderstand. Before Elysia could say anything, he brought her close from her stance on the side of the road and dusted her off, adding, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see each other again, but I didn¡¯t expect to become family even more. You should call me elder brother, would that be fine? How could you only see me as a brother?¡± He asked about the Emperor¡¯s remarriage as if he had heard the news. Elysia, thinking it wasn¡¯t worthy of replying to his playful face, swept past him. Right, as he said, no matter the past they were meant to be a family in the future. If her mother marries the Emperor, they, their children, would be step-brother and sister. ¡°Now that we are family, don¡¯t be too cold-hearted. This older brother may be by your side for the rest of your life.¡± Elysia, concerned about the word family, turned and looked at him. He was much taller than when he graduated from the academy, so she had to look up. ¡°It seems that Your Highness still has strange lingering feelings. Don¡¯t be fooled as His Highness said, we will become a family. My family doesn¡¯t stick around like this.¡± Leaving a reply that was as cold as the blowing wind, Havern smiled as if he couldn¡¯t help it and looked at her. ¡°Yeah. What if I still find my not-yet younger sister attractive? What if my eyes are drawn to you and I accidentally end up breaking our father¡¯s marriage party?¡± From the day he first felt curiosity, the gaze that never fell once, was fixed in her back. * * * The first day of the Foundation Festival arrived. Elysia chose sapphire as her main jewelry, which highlighted her light gold hair, and a black-based dress with diamonds to match Conrad¡¯s suit. ¡°Milady, you are perfect. You are probably the most beautiful girl in the Empire today, no, in the whole world.¡± When the maid, who had been with her since she was little, praised to the fullest, her rigid back stiffened even more. Knock knock- ¡°Prince Rayden has arrived.¡± If it were a normal party, she could have loosened the lace comfortably and wouldn¡¯t need an escort, but since she planned to walk the streets at the festival she had to adjust the hem of her dress to walk alone. When she went down the stairwell of the mansion, as always, Conrad was waiting for her in a neat banquet outfit. ¡°Have you waited long?¡± While heading to the carriage, it was strange that he didn¡¯t talk to her first or make eye contact as usual, so Elysia naturally folded her arms and asked. ¡°Oh, no. The dress is beautiful.¡± When Conrad gave a formal compliment, Elysia nodded and gave a formal reply. ¡°Because I matched my dress with my fianc¨¦ as per the dress code. I would like to consult with you in advance. Because sometimes there are dresses in other colors I want to wear.¡± Normally, he would have said something about her nagging starting again, but even after the wagon departed, Conrad was quietly preoccupied. ¡°Conrad?¡± At her call, he hurriedly turned his head from the carriage window and looked at her. Elysia felt an unknown feeling. It was a strange, uncomfortable feeling that she had never felt before. ¡°Gloves. I said before, it¡¯s polite not to show your hand in public.¡± At her words, Conrad rummaged through his inner pocket and nervously tucked his hand into his glove. ¡°It¡¯s a festival, can¡¯t we have some fun? On a day like today, even if it¡¯s a bit messy, no one will point it out. You¡¯re too obsessive. It suffocates me more than this cravat that is strangling me right now.¡± Elysia stared at him, his response was more nervous than usual. ¡°Those eyes! Those eyes, too. I¡¯m not in a position to learn from you, so why do you look like that? Elysia, I¡¯m your fianc¨¦, not a student you should teach!¡± She didn¡¯t know why Conrad was acting more sensitively than usual. Her taking care of things like this was something he had agreed with and thanked her. ¡°If you were a student, I wouldn¡¯t have taught you. Because you don¡¯t have anything to teach to those who can fix themselves but don¡¯t. I¡¯m saying this because I¡¯m your fiance¨¦, if someone other than me points this out, it would be a disgrace to you, so I¡¯m just forestalling it before it happens.¡± The moment he opened his mouth with a tearful face, the carriage stopped. ¡°We have arrived at the plaza, would you like to get debark?¡± When the coachman asked politely, Conrad let out a long sigh and stepped down first. Elysia naturally held out her feet, thinking he would be waiting to escort her, but he had already walked far away. She couldn¡¯t even call out to him. If she drew attention, everyone would know this situation. One of the guards tactfully escorted Elysia. ¡°Thanks.¡± She opened a wide parasol to cover herself and walked. She tried to catch up with him, but his stride was too much. Knowing that she would never catch up with him with her heels, Conrad seemed to be walking vigorously. ¡°Melanie.¡± Elysia called a close maid and asked, ¡°Am I doing something wrong now? Is there anything unreasonable?¡± The maid shook her head. ¡°No, Milady. After all, when you¡¯ve been together for a long time, sometimes you don¡¯t understand each other, so I think that¡¯s something the Young Master is experiencing.¡± As she had always learned, Elysia pulled her chin and slightly lowered gaze upright, and straightened her back. ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s probably it.¡± She thought it was due to his tendency of being like a loose cannon. As he learned, he would go in the right direction. She slowly walked down the street trying to find him, but couldn¡¯t find her missing fianc¨¦ due to the large crowd. ¡°Milady, how about having a cup of tea at the cafe? I will find the Young Master and bring him to you.¡± No matter how much her guards protected her, it wasn¡¯t easy to walk around the large crowd. ¡°Okay, Melanie. You¡¯re working hard.¡± Elysia moved to the luxury cafeteria indicated by her maid. As it is one of the most famous places from where you can watch various parades, there were hardly any seats, but that was no problem for the Lady of the Hellen family. It was because the investment made by the Hellen household was considerably large, so they could be treated to VIP seats whenever they went. ¡°My Lady! The Young Lady also came to enjoy the festival?¡± At the owner¡¯s words, Elysia nodded her head slightly. ¡°There are a lot of people this year. I guess I¡¯ll have to stay here until sunset because the sun is hot.¡± The store owner agreed with Elysia and led her through the crowded terrace seats on the first floor and up the stairs. Unlike the noisy downstairs, the second floor was calm and quiet. ¡°I left your favorite window seat empty because I thought the young lady would come. You like to watch the sunset from here.¡± As she thanked him for his consideration, the owner, who smiled shyly, looked around. ¡°By the way, the Young Master¡­¡± Elysia, who had been smiling all the time, hardened her face, yet it was so slight that he didn¡¯t notice it, and she quickly answered with a smile. ¡°I lost him in the crowd. If I wait here, he¡¯ll come. You know each festival we come here, so I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll come for me.¡± The owner, after nodding and greeting her, stepped back. Alone, Elysia sat quietly and looked out the noisy window. It was strange to be alone in the midst of so much noise, but it wasn¡¯t bad. ¡°Milady, I prepared the tea you always drink. And this is a cookie made by our store, please taste it. It won¡¯t be too much. Anyway, I wanted you to taste it once.¡± The owner of the store, who laughed loudly, was the same as when he was the owner of a small local dessert shop. It was here that Elysia, who recognized his true worth, rolled out personal capital for the first time, so she had a deep history with him. ¡°Thank you. I will enjoy it for sure. You know my taste better than anyone.¡± When Elysia lifted the teacup, the owner who finished all the settings stepped down. It was not to disturb her time. ¡°The wind is nice¡­¡± She enjoyed this quiet and relaxing time. Actually, it¡¯s like that for everything. It would be fun to get caught in that crowd and wander around, but if you take a step back, your vision will widen and you will see things that you can¡¯t see at that time. For example¡­ My fianc¨¦ whispering too closely with an unknown woman¡­ The guard noticed that Elysia¡¯s eyes stopped in one place and said after looking in the same direction. ¡°Shall I bring him?¡± They looked friendly. To those who didn¡¯t know, they even looked like an engaged couple. Elysia was curious. She knew Conrad¡¯s schedule and all his acquaintances. ¡®But when did he find someone I don¡¯t know?¡¯ ¡°How does it look to you? Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s rather too friendly?¡± The knight didn¡¯t respond, yet, he waited for his Master¡¯s command. ¡°I asked a difficult question. What should I do¡­¡± It was a difficult decision. ¡®Should I go and humiliate both of us in front of everyone, or should I let it slide and pretend I didn¡¯t see anything?¡¯ Her face hardened at the moment she saw the woman smiling and leaning on Conrad¡¯s shoulder, and his acceptance of her. ¡°I¡¯ll bring him with me.¡± The knight moved swiftly as if he had read his Master¡¯s mind. ¡°No. I have to go.¡± As Elysia stepped out, the knight looked at her with a worried face. The people of the mansion cared for her as much as she valued the residence and household. ¡°But, My Lady, you have many eyes around.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I won¡¯t make a fuss.¡± Realizing that he couldn¡¯t stop her, the knight took the lead, followed by Elysia. ¡ª¡ª Happy holidays to everyone and Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it~! ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Join our discord to receive the latest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 4 Translator and Editor: Gina and Tea ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤Chapter 4 ¡°Ahk- Milady! Have you come down already? But no matter how much I search for the Young Master¨C¡± Melanie, whose bangs were sweaty, approached her and then shut his mouth. Because his eyes headed to where his Master¡¯s sight pointed. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ what¡­ such¡­¡± ¡®Yeah, I was dumbfounded myself, the same for this kid.¡¯ ¡°You did a great job, Melanie, but I didn¡¯t learn this lesson, so I¡¯ll ask. Is that something I should comprehend and move on?¡± ¡°Oh my gosh, my Lady That¡¯s just asking for directions¡­ Don¡¯t you know, the Young Master is kind by nature.¡± Her maid, who had been serving Elysia for a long time, knew her character better than anyone. She was a person of principle and was the noblest among nobles. When others do dirty things using their status as nobles, she acts upright, saying a noble should live to be worthy of their status. So Elysia was the scariest of them all. Elysia walked ahead without changing her face. Those who recognized her cleared her way, and a path was created that led directly to the dating site of Conrad and the unfamiliar young lady. Realizing that the surroundings had become quiet, he looked around and met Elysia¡¯s eyes. ¡°E- Elysia, it¡¯s not¡ª¡± She couldn¡¯t stand to hear him make such lousy excuses. She didn¡¯t even approach him for that in the first place. Elysia held the cheap ornaments they were looking at in her hand. ¡°You looked so happy seeing something like this, Con, do you want one? I didn¡¯t know this was your taste.¡± Elysia spoke while looking at the woman hiding behind her fianc¨¦. ¡°No, Ellie, listen to me. We just¡­¡± Elysia liked the coarsely carved turquoise mirror. It was exactly like the current situation. ¡°Us? Young Master Rayden, it¡¯s not me and the Young Master but you two?¡± Even in this situation where she could be angry, Elysia maintained her dignity and was conscious of the people¡¯s eyes. Sweat dripped from Conrad¡¯s temple as he shook his head hastily. He didn¡¯t even move his body an inch, but he was sweating. It didn¡¯t fit his status. Elysia smiled and handed him a handkerchief. ¡°Oh, oh¡­ Thank you. I just bumped into her¡­ I accidentally spilled a drink and we were talking about future compensation.¡± Even though she looked fine enough to claim she had spilled something, Elysia was conscious of her surroundings and decided not to make a fuss. ¡°Right, I told you that eating something while walking on the street is not a good thing.¡± At her usual nagging, Conrad smiled as if relieved. In the midst of this, the woman, still hiding behind him and glaring at her, was irritating, but now wasn¡¯t the right time. ¡°Oh, yes, so, I really bumped into this person just by accident. Really by accident! Yes, it was an accident.¡± She wanted to shut that mouth blurting the same nonsensical excuses because the situation was annoying and shameful enough as it was. ¡°Why are you making excuses? Did you do anything wrong? I was just looking for my lost fianc¨¦ in the crowd.¡± Elysia looked behind him, and locked eyes with the other person. As if she had seen something scary, the woman grabbed Conrad¡¯s arm and cowered behind him. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that. Didn¡¯t you like the fountain square? Shall we go there?¡± Elysia¡¯s sharp eyes did not miss his friendly touch of holding the woman¡¯s hand on his forearm while removing it. ¡°No, there are a lot of flies this year. I¡¯m not very attracted to it.¡± Elysia replied with a smile. As Conrad escorted her, placing his hand around her waist, the woman standing next to him glared at Elysia as if to kill her. But Elysia didn¡¯t care. If it was someone who would become a worthy opponent she wouldn¡¯t have kept her mouth shut. Yet, poisoning eyes wouldn¡¯t do anything. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the carriage.¡± Elysia whispered inaudibly. In the eyes of others, they seemed rather friendly lovers. ¡°Um, Ellie¡­¡± They didn¡¯t say a word until they reached the mansion. Conrad had been restless the whole time and could not bear it so finally spoke. ¡°What?¡± Elysia asked with a completely indifferent look. ¡°You didn¡¯t misunderstand, right? It was a really simple accident. She said she is a Viscount¡¯s young Lady from the countryside. As you know, the foundation festival was delayed. So, she said she was lonely in this place with no one around. We were just talking about things like that. You know, just the kind of frivolous greetings among nobles.¡± ¡®Why is it the more you talk, the more suspicious you look?¡¯ But Elysia didn¡¯t point that out. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°But why do you keep looking like¨C?¡± ¡°We are here.¡± Before Conrad could say more, the carriage stopped in front of Count Hellen¡¯s residence. Elysia looked at him silently. ¡°Haaa.¡± After sighing, he got out first and escorted her. ¡°Thanks.¡± Conrad pointed out when he realized she was about to go in as if nothing had happened. ¡°Are you really okay? You believe me, right?¡± She couldn¡¯t understand the meaning of his words. ¡°Does today¡¯s incident change depending on what I believe or don¡¯t? If you¡¯re confident about yourself, that¡¯s all that matters. Don¡¯t you think so?¡± He sighed once more at her answer and let go of Elysia¡¯s wrist. She thought as she turned around. Whether he was actually shaken or, as he said, it was an accident, didn¡¯t matter. After all, he was her fianc¨¦. The fact that they were bound by this promise of engagement remained unchanged. Because emotions were not something that could shake the contract. However, it was just Elysia¡¯s arrogance. The cheap and consuming emotion of love made even the cowardly Conrad strike Elysia and stab her in the back. * * * ¡°Let¡¯s break up the marriage. I have someone I love.¡± I¡¯ve heard a lot of people say they love someone. It was a story that appeared frequently in the secular novels that were popular among commoners, and also in meetings of young noble ladies who occasionally had tea time. But I had never imagined that those words would come from my fianc¨¦¡¯s mouth. ¡°What¡­?¡± Usually, I didn¡¯t let anything startle me, but at that moment instinct took over. ¡°Please break the engagement. We didn¡¯t get along from the beginning. You must be tired. I was also frustrated. I think I found true love. So, let¡¯s break up.¡± It was a series of sentences that I couldn¡¯t understand at all. ¡®First of all, is it necessary to get married thinking about if you fit or not? And found true love? Where the hell?¡¯ My head was filled with all sorts of questions. ¡°You remember the woman I met at the founding festival? I want to marry that person. That woman¡¯s position is a little low. It won¡¯t be good for my family, so you give up.¡± The shameless attitude allowed me to regain my reason. My head was organized as if I had poured cold water on it. ¡°That means you know that the Rayden family will never allow that marriage unless I bring up the subject of breaking up first.¡± Conrad smiled awkwardly at the cold voice and drew closer. ¡°It¡¯s not like that. We¡¯re still friends, can¡¯t we help each other? You don¡¯t like me either.¡± It was funny. And I felt a bit empty. I couldn¡¯t believe that this was the level of the person that had been my fianc¨¦ for such a long time. It felt like a confirmation that no matter how much education, he wouldn¡¯t change. I pressed my teeth and chewed the flesh inside my mouth. Still, I believed you were my person. I believed that at least there was more than friendship between us. Because I cared and liked you as my person. [tl/n: she means that even if she didn¡¯t feel love, she cared about him as someone part of his life, like her companion] I had a lot to say. I wanted to pour my heart out as much as I could and resent him pathetically. However, I lifted my trembling eyelashes at him and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll go back. Tell the Duke I¡¯ll be visiting soon.¡± Returning home, Elysia thought of his last appearance. ¡°Ellie, then I ask you for this favor.¡± He wasn¡¯t just a friend. He was a fianc¨¦ who had been with me for more than twenty years, and I had no doubt that I would live with him in the future. But then, he asked me to break up the marriage. Not because of any other reason, but because of having a loved one. I couldn¡¯t talk about it with anyone. If I say something, wouldn¡¯t it be like spitting in my own face? I went out the front door with a story carved into my heart that I couldn¡¯t tell. I wanted to walk recklessly wherever, but¡­ ¡®You are Count Hellen¡¯s Young Lady. You can¡¯t show a weak appearance to people.¡¯ I turned to the garden and walked endlessly. Deep in the garden, wild grass blossomed through a gap between the long wall. That reminded me of what Conrad said when he was very young, picking flowers and handing them over to me. ¡°Will you marry me?¡± ¡°We will get married anyway.¡± At that time, it was a promise full of certainty. The shape of the flowers hanging between the walls was the same as mine. A foreign object between a man and woman trying to get closer to each other. ¡°Oh¡­?¡± It was strange. It was neither a sad nor difficult situation, but tears came out. When I became aware of the tears that formed on the tip of my chin and tried to wipe them, they flowed between my fingers without stopping. ¡°I¡¯m not sad. I¡¯m not sad.¡± It feels unfair even to cry. It must be because the surroundings are quiet and I¡¯m all alone. There was no one to see, so useless tears were flowing. I was over-emotional, and they were just tears of my heart pitying myself. But no matter how hard I tried, the tears poured nonstop. In the end, I leaned against the wall and crouched down. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Join our discord to receive the latest updates as soon as possible!