Chapter 7: Engagement (5)

The Social Scene,

It refers to gatherings where the upper class, such as royals and nobles, come together to interact. In the real world, the social scene often feels like an exclusive community for the elite.

Though it varies slightly by country, for women, the social scene is much like a marriage market. The typical path involves making a debut in society and then meeting men of similar rank to eventually marry.

However, in romance fantasy, commonly known as RF the social scene differs greatly from reality. Due to the heavy female-centric nature of RF, the social scene rarely adheres to historical accuracy as it would in the real world.

Who would read a romance fantasy where the social scene is depicted as merely a marriage market in a story led by a female protagonist? As a result, the social scene in these RFs carries far more significance than in reality.

It’s the most important social platform in the nation, where politics and even policy discussions can be overheard. This is the social scene in a romance fantasy.

-Sip.

If you’re wondering why I’m talking about such a boring topic, it’s because I’m currently participating in that very social scene.

Adele was running a little late, still getting ready, so I entered the banquet hall first.

‘...It still feels uncomfortable.’

In truth, calling it a “social scene” is a stretch; it’s more like a gathering of beasts, biting at each other with masks on or admiring their own trappings.

Even after eight years of attending these events, the unique atmosphere of the upper class in this setting still makes me feel uneasy.

Thinking that, I leaned against the balcony railing and gazed up at the night sky. Stars glittered, each shining brightly, creating a beautiful scene.

“You’re here again tonight, aren’t you?”

I turned at the sound of the voice behind me. There was a woman in a pure white dress, with golden hair. Her eyes gleamed like gold, and her skin was as pale as porcelain, her long eyelashes completing the picture.

“...I greet the Empire’s little star.”

“Hm... I told you before, of all people, you don’t need to say that to me.”

“As a loyal subject of the Empire, I’m just offering the proper greeting.”

At my words, she responded in a tone of mild amusement.

“How amusing. Someone who dislikes the imperial family more than anyone else is greeting me, a princess, like this.”

“...Why have you come to find me?”

“Do I need a reason to see you?”

“Don’t you?”

The princess gave a small laugh and replied.

“You’re right. I don’t have much to say to that.”

Aria von Schufenheim.

She is the only princess of the Arie Empire and one of the few people in this social scene I can tolerate. Most importantly, she’s the only member of the imperial family helping me in my efforts to bring down the empire.

“What were you thinking when you got engaged to her?”

“Are you referring to Lady Este?”

“Yes. I assume you had your reasons, but... Surely, you didn’t get engaged just to target the Este Trading Company, did you?”

“Of course not.”

She looked at me, tilting her head slightly in confusion.

“I doubt you’d announce an engagement simply out of love...”

“I need her.”

“You need Adele? Adele von Este, the notorious villainess?”

Aria stared at me in disbelief. It’s only natural for her to react that way, given how little she knows about Adele.

Outwardly, she’s only known as a notorious piece of trash. But to me, she holds a different meaning.

“Yes. She’s the key to the core of my plan.”

At my words, Aria shook her head, clearly unable to understand, and spoke.

“Every time I meet you, I’m reminded how impossible it is to grasp your thoughts.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

With a sigh of exhaustion, she spoke in a tone tinged with sarcasm.

“Let me ask you one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Has everything been going according to your plan so far?”

“For now, yes.”

“...Alright. Then, I need to tell you something. I won’t be able to provide information about the imperial family for a while.”

“...That means...”

There was only one reason why the princess would be unable to provide information. It could only mean that the imperial family was on the move to eliminate someone.

As if reading my thoughts, she nodded and said,

“Yes. The imperial family has officially started to act. They’re moving to capture the Crow.”

“...Thank you for the information.”

“It’s nothing. It’s only natural for people with the same goal to cooperate.”

“Is that so.”

“I’ll take my leave now.”

“Yes, farewell.”

Once the princess disappeared from view, I rested my chin on my hand and fell into thought.

Today was the day Adele Este and I would announce our engagement. The fact that the imperial family had started to act at this exact moment... Could it be a warning directed at me?

I have no intention of summoning the Crow again. The Crow was always meant to be bait in the first place. While I was lost in thought, a familiar-looking carriage approached the front entrance.

‘...It seems she’s arrived.’

Adele must have arrived.

I adjusted the white gloves on my hands and left the banquet hall, setting down the wine glass I had been holding on a table with no owner.

I felt a few gazes on me, but they quickly dissipated. They all knew I disliked these kinds of banquets, so no one dared to approach me first.

I walked toward the carriage that had just arrived at the entrance.

As soon as the door opened, I extended my right hand.

“Shall we, Adele?”

“Yes.”

Adele, already accustomed to my gestures, naturally took my right hand.

Stepping down from the carriage with her hand in mine, Adele took a deep breath, clearly nervous. It was only natural for her to feel that way. After all, this banquet could very well be her last chance.

Even though she can return infinitely through regressions, the fact that the save points are random must make it hard to relax. If a save point is created after a failure, there might be no turning back.

“Are you nervous?”

“...Yes.”

Normally, she would have boldly claimed she wasn’t nervous at all. But it seemed she was genuinely anxious this time.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of her trembling, wondering if this really was the same Adele who was supposed to become the bloodless, tearless psychopath of the original story.

“Hold out your hand.”

With stiff movements, Adele extended her hand. I took a small candy out of my pocket and placed it in her palm.

“What’s this?”

“It’s peppermint candy.”

The white candy with red stripes was a type of magical peppermint candy. Adele unwrapped the candy and popped it into her mouth.

“How does it taste?”

“...It’s calming me down. How on earth...”

She looked at me curiously and said in amazement. After all, the candy is similar to a calming pill in this world. Of course, since it’s enhanced with magic, it’s quite expensive, but not to the point where it’s burdensome for me to buy.

“It’s meant to have that effect.”

“...Thank you.”

“I’m glad it helped.”

With that, I escorted Adele inside the banquet hall. The hall, which had been full of lively conversation, fell silent as soon as we made our entrance, as if cold water had been splashed over it.

The silence stretched for a moment, and soon the room buzzed with whispers. Judging by their expressions, they weren’t saying anything pleasant.

They were probably gossiping about Adele. While I thought this, a man began approaching us.

Golden hair that seemed to shine and golden eyes. A face so handsome that there was little else to say. His thick, golden eyebrows were furrowed, showing clear dissatisfaction.

“Lady Este.”

The Crown Prince, Leo von Schufenheim, was heading toward Adele. Adele and I both bowed our heads slightly in greeting.

“We greet the Empire’s little star.”

“How did an uninvited lady manage to show up here?”

Ignoring our greeting, he spoke, and a slight crack appeared in my poker face. Even as the Crown Prince, being this rude in front of me, a Duke, wasn’t wise.

If the Emperor were here, he might have clicked his tongue at this scene. While I thought that, Adele responded to him in a calm tone.

“It seems you’re mistaken. I’m here today as Abel’s fiancée.”

Even so, she couldn’t hide the slight tremble in her voice. Was she still afraid?

Well, it made sense. In the original story, most of the reasons she died early on were because of the Crown Prince. It’s only natural she’d feel that way.

“Is that true?” he asked, turning to me. I responded with a slight smile.

“It is true.”

Perhaps my smile irritated him. Leo’s face twisted with anger as he looked at Adele and threw out another remark.

“I suppose you’ve forgotten your disgrace from back then. Now that your engagement to me is broken, you’ve latched onto a Duke.”

“Who knows,” she answered through clenched teeth, but he pressed on, his words coming out quickly as if to push her further.

“So, why did you return to society through the Duke of Hardenberg? You didn’t come back just to harass Estelle again, did you?”

‘...What a spectacle.’

Estelle von Louis.

She’s the protagonist of the original story as perceived by Adele and the woman the Crown Prince fell for. It’s said he was captivated by her pure character and beauty... but frankly, such things are of no concern to me.

What’s important here is that the Crown Prince dared to mention Estelle von Louis by name in this formal setting, and openly insulted Adele, who is now the Duke’s fiancée.

If he had even an ounce of common sense, he’d know that this was not something to say in public.

But that’s the problem with the male leads in RFs. They say whatever they want without thinking about the consequences.

Just as he moved to approach Adele, I raised my hand to stop him.

“That’s enough, Your Highness.”

“What did you say?”

“There are eyes on us. I would advise against acting recklessly.”

At my words, Leo finally seemed to notice the stares from the crowd around us. He made a strange sound—“Tch”—before addressing Adele.

“...Remember this. This isn’t over.”

With that, he disappeared from our sight. Once Leo was fully gone, I sighed and muttered under my breath.

“What a fool.”

“...Excuse me?”

“It’s nothing,” I replied calmly, as if nothing had happened. After all, she was the only one who heard it, so it didn’t matter.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

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