Chapter 238
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 238
“...!”
I found myself reflexively holding my breath.
‘That’s it.’
Only then did everything finally make sense.
The Divine Tree had died while waiting for the real Tulia.
And so, when the real Tulia returned, the Divine Tree sent a ghost—no, a spirit—to help her and exact revenge.
If my true self was ‘Tulia’ and not ‘Han Ina,’ then this entire situation was logical.
While goosebumps prickled my skin, I also felt a sense of absurdity.
‘Seriously. If you’re a Divine Tree, shouldn’t you be a bit more broad-minded?
Did I choose to live as Han Ina because I wanted to? I didn’t even live a happy life; I lived a miserable one!
I, who had not a single lingering regret for that past life, suddenly felt my heart drop with a heavy thud.
‘A life I didn’t want.’
And did the Divine Tree want a life without a Guardian?
Of course not.
If so, the answer was...
‘Isn’t there only one?’
Corico. That mysterious woman who appeared wearing Han Ina’s face and wanted to become me.
I began to feel a chill. A truly horrific hypothesis had just flashed through my mind.
If that was the case...
‘Was the life I lived as Han Ina also, perhaps...’
Corico.
Just what on earth did she do?
What was her true identity?
* * *
The coming-of-age banquet, held exceptionally in the Grand Banquet Hall by imperial decree, was nothing short of magnificent.
Since coming-of-age ceremonies were held four times a year, there usually weren't many people present besides the celebrants and their families.
However, this particular ceremony, with the Grand Banquet Hall thrown open, was entirely different from those of the past.
Empress Carmi, anticipating a massive influx of nobles, had been forced to do her absolute best to prepare a beautiful banquet, much against her will.
In her heart, she wanted to order the decorations to be made of wilting flowers and the heaters to be filled with cheap charcoal that billowed smoke. But for Carmi, who had to maintain her benevolent image as the ‘Sunshine Empress,’ there was no other choice.
“It is a truly beautiful banquet. Your Majesty the Empress’s taste is as exquisite as ever.”
“It’s more perfect than the Debutante balls held every year. The young nobles coming of age this spring are truly lucky.”
“Actually, everyone says it’s all thanks to Grand Princess Tulia Frezier.”
“My child was jumping for joy, saying they got to have such a lavish coming-of-age ceremony because of the Grand Princess.”
Empress Carmi, who had even given up her rest to prepare this, smiled outwardly while gnashing her teeth internally as she overheard these comments.
Why on earth was the credit for her hard work going to that arrogant Tulia Frezier!
“Grand Princess Tulia Frezier has arrived! Heavens, they say she arrived riding the Shining Sun!”
The nobles of Brillant, who adored all things beautiful, had already dubbed Tulia’s art-like carriage ‘The Shining Sun.’
Carmi deeply regretted not being able to destroy that carriage.
‘And then Ferdinand... that thing even threw a bloodied knight at me before leaving.’
Despite the internal fury, Carmi maintained a peaceful expression and gave an order.
“Tell the orchestra to begin the dance music.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
This was a common social tactic used to prevent someone entering the hall from capturing everyone’s attention.
The nobles were caught off guard when the dance music started earlier than expected. Not everyone had arrived yet...
Regardless, a few ladies and young lords, buoyed by the excitement of their coming-of-age, were nudged by their parents to take their siblings' hands and head onto the floor.
Just as Carmi’s mood was beginning to improve slightly—
“Oh my, the members of the Grand Ducal House are here! Saintess Corico is here as well?”
“Well, she is the Grand Princess’s cousin, after all...”
“But where is the Grand Princess...? Gasp!”
The small commotion at the entrance quickly spread like a massive wave, stealing everyone’s gaze. The music from the orchestra gradually faded.
Even Empress Carmi bolted upright from her seat.
“...His Majesty the Emperor!”
It was because none other than Emperor Alexander was escorting Tulia Frezier into the hall.
“Greetings to His Majesty!”
“Glory to the Emperor!”
The nobles near the door scrambled to offer their greetings, and Emperor Alexander, wearing a much more satisfied smile than usual, guided Tulia inside.
“What do you think, Grand Princess Tulia? I opened the Grand Banquet Hall just for you. The Empress also understood my wishes and decorated it perfectly. Congratulations on reaching your adulthood with such a memorable ceremony.”
“I am deeply honored, Your Majesty.”
The moment she stepped into the Grand Banquet Hall after paying her respects, her eyes widened at the new status window floating in the air.
[System] You have successfully reached adulthood, resulting in a change to your stats!
[System] The grace period points for the ‘Beauty’ stat have been permanently removed.
[System] Beauty: 10
[System] You have achieved the maximum Beauty stat and acquired a new permanent benefit!
Tulia gasped as she read the text that followed.
‘What is this?’
[System] You have acquired the permanent benefit ‘Kingdom-Toppling Beauty’!
[System] Benefit ‘Kingdom-Toppling Beauty’: You are now able to physically ruin ‘nations’ of any scale.
‘Ru—ruin what?’
Nations? All of them?
While Tulia stood there dumbfounded—
[System] Permanent Benefit: Kingdom-Toppling Beauty
[System] A beauty that topples nations? That’s nonsense! How could a nation fall because of a single beautiful person? It’s just a case of monarchs and officials ruining the country and then shifting the blame onto a convenient beauty! Truly petty and biased!
[System] However, this permanent benefit is different! You can physically ruin any ‘nation’ of any scale you desire! Use your imagination to the fullest!
As Tulia blinked her eyelashes involuntarily at the instruction to use her imagination to the fullest, tiny fragments of stars were scattered over the text that always glowed with rainbow light.
In the transparent air, text that only Tulia could read appeared. The soft, permeating light was like a galaxy that would shine forever.
[System] With the acquisition of the permanent benefit ‘Kingdom-Toppling Beauty,’ your status has been updated!
[System] The updated status is finalized and will not change!
[System] Previous Status: A villainess who dies if she breathes wrong
[System] Updated Status: The sole female protagonist of this survival story
* * *
‘A survival story?’
For a moment, I felt more of a sense of ‘I knew it’ than surprise.
‘This system brat is finally coming clean!’
Exactly!
For a villainess who dies if she breathes wrong, staying alive is obviously a survival story!
‘But now I’m the female protagonist...’
Is that a good thing?
Technically, it sounds like being the sole protagonist of a zombie apocalypse.
‘Then both are equally grueling.’
I moved my feet, wondering if what this system had given me was a pile of dung or a bar of gold.
Since this was the first time I’d acquired a benefit with no cooldown and no specific limit on usage, I felt quite good.
It felt almost like an attack skill.
‘I feel like an A-Rank for the Main Quest is just around the corner, too.’
Just then, the Emperor glanced at me and spoke.
“The Grand Princess is certainly worthy of being called the greatest beauty in the Empire. I didn’t realize you were this striking.”
“You flatter me, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor’s sudden praise was only the beginning.
The whispering voices of the nobles from all around began to prick at Tulia’s ears.
“But was the Grand Princess always that beautiful? I mean, she was always a beauty, but today she’s somehow even more...”
“It’s obvious that dress is a new arrival from the White Tulip Salon. Maybe that’s why she stands out so much?”
“How can a person shine like that just because of a dress? Does that even make sense?”
“No, look. My father is called a handsome middle-aged man when he’s out, right? But when he’s wrapped in a straw mat at home, his face is just...”
“Ah...!”
It seemed that maxing out the Beauty stat worked the same way in others' eyes.
Catching a glimpse of myself in a mirror as I passed by, I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but...
‘Tulia is glowing.’
The setting was originally that of a very beautiful villainess, but now I boasted a beauty that truly overwhelmed my surroundings.
‘Ha. To have a face like this...’
It was already a face that invited trouble. This is bad...
“Your Majesty. It was an honor to be escorted by you personally.”
“The pleasure was all mine, Grand Princess.”
Emperor Alexander laughed heartily and headed toward the dais with Empress Carmi, who had come to find him.
Empress Carmi gave me a gentle smile when our eyes met, but I only scoffed inwardly.
‘You tried to destroy my carriage, didn’t you?’
Yeah. If I just took that lying down, I wouldn't be Tulia Frezier, would I?
Seeing how happy I felt just planning my revenge, I suppose my nature really is that of the villainess, Tulia Frezier.
As I was smiling to myself, Grandfather spoke to me.
“Tulia. Would you like to dance with your grandfather?”
“I’d love to!”
The coming-of-age banquet lasted for three days.
On the first day, it was customary to dance with family members or relatives.
Since the Frezier family was full of handsome men, I was going to be very busy today.
Taking Grandfather’s hand, I moved toward the floor.
Riding on his coattails—at Grandfather’s appearance, all the nobles caught their breath and quickly cleared the way. I suppose everyone finds Grandfather terrifying.
I focused on walking to the center of the floor with a smile on my face.
And then.
3, 2, 1.
“Kyaaaah!”
A scream rang out at the exact moment I finished counting in my head.