Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Helga's Death
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Villa second floor, Grace Hall.
The Rolland Troupe, invited for today's party, was in the midst of performing the play *Helga's Death*.
I swallowed a laugh inside as I gazed toward the front seats from afar.
'Seduce her, you rascal.'
I could see the back of Riki's blond head, seated next to Lizbet.
No need to even unfold it—the note left read Lucifer's Choice.
Riki, who had tried to exclude Lizbet, suddenly found himself stuck as her partner for the entire party.
"Simon...! My sun!"
Meanwhile, the drama ripened.
The voice of Sera, playing the heroine Helga, filled the quiet hall.
The nobles, captivated by her performance you couldn't tear your eyes from, held their breaths in immersion.
"The actresses' costumes today suit them so well, don't they?"
"Right? They used to be a bit flashy before. The new outfits match the play's mood much better."
Two young noble ladies right in front of me whispered.
"The dress Sera Viego wore when she arrived before going onstage had a similar design."
"Oh, did Lady Seton see it too?"
"It caught my eye because it was a design I'd never seen before."
"It was so elegant and mature—I kept looking at it. She looked so slender too...."
The two whispering girls glanced back subtly.
I was the only one who had come wearing a dress of exactly the same design as Sera's, peeking through the lavish lace, so of course they were curious.
I pretended not to notice the two girls scrutinizing my dress with hawk-like eyes.
"Rubette."
Then someone approached quietly and sat in the seat next to me.
It was Lillia.
"Are you insane? What on earth are you doing?"
"Shh."
I pressed my index finger to my lips toward her, who was about to raise her voice in fury.
"Manners when watching a play."
"You...! Hmph!"
Lillia ground her teeth in frustration before finally pressing her lips close to my ear and whispering.
"What are you doing to our Riki?"
"Oh, what did I do to Riki?"
"Gonna play innocent? Didn't you know he deliberately didn't invite Princess Lizbet?"
"Oh my, really? I had no idea."
"As if. You stole an invitation on purpose to bring the princess, and then sabotaged sending her away!"
"Hmm, well...."
"Do you have a grudge against Riki or something?"
I let out a soft chuckle without taking my eyes off the stage.
"It's something I truly don't know, but I can answer that ridiculous question."
"...."
"Of course he's my enemy. Just thinking of everything you two have done to me so far makes me bolt upright even in my sleep."
Only then did Lillia flinch at my fierce glare as our eyes met.
She blinked in panic before forcing a nonchalant laugh.
"So what, you're getting revenge? How childish."
"Childish?"
"We figured you were sulking lately, so we've been leaving you alone. Mom said not to fight with you needlessly too. Be satisfied with that one dunking you gave us and stop tormenting Riki."
"Pfft."
Ah, this really was comedy gold.
I swept my cheek with a sigh-mingled laugh.
"Hey."
The moment my smiling face hardened, Lillia froze stiff.
I leaned in close to her and whispered in her ear.
"If it felt childish, then from now on, I'll dunk you in ways so massive you'll graduate from kid stuff."
"W-What?"
"And don't relax thinking only Riki will suffer. You're on the dunking list too."
"...."
I flashed a bright smile at Lillia, who stiffened in bewilderment.
Now she surely knew for sure.
Whether I was still the fool who just took whatever torment came my way, or the rabid dog who had turned 180 degrees after narrowly escaping death.
My ambiguous stance so far must have confused her....
"Got it!"
"Gasp!"
I thrust my chin forward to startle her, and Lillia reflexively tucked in her neck.
At that ridiculous sight, I snickered, crossed my arms, and turned back to the stage.
Clap clap clap clap—!
"This sister's a rabid dog, you know."
"Whoa!"
"Amazing!"
Right on cue, the play curtain fell, and applause and cheers erupted from the audience.
Even in the darkened hall, Lillia's flushed face from holding back her anger was a sight to behold.
When the stage lights came back on after a moment, I stood up.
'Feels electric.'
Sera, standing center stage preparing her bows, spotted me and winked.
'Perfect.'
Today's plan was a smashing success.
I blew her a secret kiss before gracefully exiting the hall.
* * *
"Everyone couldn't take their eyes off Sera Viego!"
"Oh ho. Must've been thrilling."
"You bet. Of course, as I left the party, eyes poured onto me too. The ones who frowned at my unheard-of dress going in were practically burning with envy staring me down on the way out."
"At this rate, won't the duchess soon lead the capital's fashions?"
"Pfft, maybe?"
Severn Street.
Even at this somewhat late hour, Lark was jogging alongside me as I ran diligently, something we hadn't done together in a while.
He was a great listener with solid reactions.
I chattered excitedly for a good while about everything that happened at today's party.
"Haa, shall we rest a bit?"
"Sure. Here."
Lark uncapped and handed me the canteen he had been carrying for me.
"Thanks. Oh, and the hairband gift from earlier today. It matched my dress perfectly."
"My eye for style's pretty good, huh?"
"Perfect."
Lark burst into pahaha laughter at me thumbs-upping him.
"Thanks for looking after Lizbet. Must've been tough minding every little thing for a kid not used to that sort of place."
"Mm, not at all. She picks things up fast, just like Your Highness. She adapted great."
"Good to hear."
"And this."
Hiding a sly grin, I handed Lark a small business card.
Blanc de Ruby
-Madame Becky Whiteman
-Renten Commercial District, Boutique Street 486
-Operates by appointment only. Inquiries by direct visit please.
"What's this?"
"A chance to be an awesome big brother to your sister!"
I added like a smooth-talking salesperson.
"It's a shop of a tailor I know well, and soon you'll have to wait a full year just to get a dress made because the backlog's that long."
"Ah, is this where the duchess got today's dress made?"
"Exactly. Princess Lizbet will probably throw a fit at Your Highness in a few days. Insisting on getting a dress here right away."
I added with a smile.
"When that happens, just bring this one card, and Madame will prioritize your reservation. Consider it my thanks for the gift Your Highness gave me today."
Lark alternated looks between me and the card before chuckling pahat and nodding.
"Got it. Thanks."
"Here. You drink too, Your Highness."
As we prepared to run again, I handed him the canteen, and Lark drank familiarly.
We picked up pace side by side and started running.
Dusk had settled, but the moonlight was bright enough—thank goodness.
After running a while, Lark asked.
"By the way, was young master Raizer at today's party too?"
"Cedric?"
Why bring up that trash all of a sudden.
"Yeah. Wherever the twins are, Cedric's almost always there."
"Hm, right. The duchess must've been happy to see young master Raizer's face."
"Huh?"
I stumbled mid-stride.
"Whoops."
Thud—!
Lark swiftly grabbed my arm before I could fall.
"Careful."
"What are you talking about all of a sudden? Why would I be happy to see Cedric's face?"
Lark shrugged.
"You like him."
"Huh?"
"I heard you've been in love with him for seven years."
Got it. Victor.
I swallowed my anger at my loose-lipped oppa.
'When the hell can I shake this lovesick label.'
It was Rubette chasing Cedric around, not me.
'But I'm Rubette and Rubette's me, so I can't deny it, whatever.'
With a sigh, I admitted straightforwardly.
"Yeah. But I've dropped it now."
"Really?"
"I wasn't gonna say this out of embarrassment, but in my future, I like Cedric right up until I die. So, for all 45 years of my life."
Lark looked genuinely surprised for once. Eyes wide, he froze with an "Ah...." for a long moment.
"Doesn't make sense, right? Looks weird, huh? Clinging to someone who doesn't like you your whole life."
"Uhmm...."
"But I had no choice. Every time I tried to let go, know what Cedric said to me?"
"What?"
"'Sometimes you make my heart flutter,' 'I don't even know who I like anymore,' 'I keep thinking of you before bed,' 'Sorry for being harsh'...."
That was straight-up Cedric's 'fish tank management,' no delusion or misunderstanding on Rubette's part.
"Of course it was all lies. To Cedric, I was probably just... a girl he didn't want to keep but hated to toss. The kind you miss when she's not around?"
"Trash."
I startled at Lark's blunt reaction before bursting into laughter.
"Anyway, after seeing that pathetic future all laid out, how could I not cut ties cleanly? Plus, looking back, he's not even my type. I like...."
I puffed out my shoulders and added.
"...a more reliable kind of guy, like this."
"I see."
Stroking his chin and nodding, Lark playfully puffed out his chest.
"Puhahaha...!"
Laughing, I lightly smacked his shoulder and said.
"No need—everyone knows you've got a great build."
"No joke."
"Ah, you're hilarious...."
Thanks to Lark's decent sense of humor, I was tearing up a bit when he, giggling along, suddenly raised one brow and asked.
"So, you've definitely moved on now?"
"Don't even ask. Now just seeing his face makes me shudder."
Cedric, Cedric, Cedric.
Gritting my teeth, I recalled the trash's memories etched so painfully through 45 years.
"Collecting just the tears I shed over him would probably fill Lake Gratia in Praha and then some."
Even though I'd turned back time, I felt newly depressed at how wasteful and heartbreaking Rubette's feelings poured on Cedric had been.
"...."
I felt Lark's gaze on my downcast face.
Then suddenly, his hand reached out carefully to brush under my left eye.
"...?"
Looking up, Lark's expression, backlit by moonlight, was oddly peculiar.
"You've got a tear mole. Explains why you cry so much."
"Ahh...."
Touching the spot where his hand had lingered, I suddenly.
'Hm?'
Remembered my first meeting with Cedric at the mask festival—the one that doomed me to a lifetime crush.
"You've got a tear mole. Explains why you cry so much."
An uncanny sense of déjà vu hit me.
I flinched and stared at Lark.