Chapter 239
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 239
“Y-Your Majesty!”
“Your Majesty, are you alright?!”
I turned around, feigning a look of shock similar to the surrounding nobles. There, I saw…
“Empress!”
Empress Carmi was sprawled out on the floor. She had fallen right on the stairs leading up to the dais.
“My goodness. She was walking up just fine; why did she suddenly trip?”
“Exactly. And it’s not like she was alone—His Majesty the Emperor was escorting her…”
“Well, what can you expect from someone of her background? How pathetic.”
The cold, quiet sneers came from the elder nobles.
Empress Carmi had managed to exert considerable influence in high society through rigorous image management, but she had one fundamental weakness she could never shake.
The fact that Carmi was a former ‘maid’ who had snatched the seat of Empress through an ‘affair.’
Specifically, she had lusted after her own master’s husband and committed adultery!
Because of this, the elder nobles rarely attended imperial banquets. They usually felt it was enough to send the younger members of their families.
But today was different.
“What an interesting sight.”
“Hmph. ‘Vulgar sight’ would be more accurate.”
Since this was the coming-of-age banquet for the Grand Princess, who enjoyed the absolute favor of Grand Duke Asis Frezier, many of the old guard were in attendance.
Consequently, the mockery directed at Empress Carmi’s pathetic state was even louder.
Emperor Alexander was well aware of this, and his blood began to boil.
He helped Empress Carmi to her feet for the sake of appearances, but his eyes were incredibly fierce.
After all, Emperor Alexander’s original wife had been Empress Olivia!
She was a lady hailed as the noble among nobles, boasting perfect grace and etiquette.
And yet, his second wife, Empress Carmi, couldn't even walk straight and had to go and faceplant in front of these predatory elder nobles!
Could there be any greater humiliation?
Emperor Alexander lowered his voice and hissed through gritted teeth.
“Carmi! What on earth is wrong with you?”
“Y-Your Majesty…”
Empress Carmi’s eyes welled with tears from the pain and humiliation, but she didn't dare complain.
She knew exactly what he was thinking just by looking at his eyes.
He was comparing her to that damn woman!
“Get up here this instant! People will mock me again. They’ll say I’ve grown so old I can’t even look after my own Empress!”
“It’s not that…!”
Empress Carmi bit her red-painted lips hard and barely managed to follow the Emperor.
Even after taking his seat on the dais, Emperor Alexander continued to radiate a frigid aura.
“Your Majesty. Are you alright?”
The Head Maid asked in a small, anxious voice.
Conscious of the many eyes watching her, Empress Carmi forced a weak smile and waved her hand.
“Go and prepare a new pair of shoes.”
“…!”
The Head Maid whispered with wide eyes.
“Did someone perhaps tamper with your shoes…?”
Empress Carmi quickly shot her a look, mindful of Emperor Alexander sitting beside her.
“No. I made a mistake and the heel cracked. Just go and get them ready.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
She answered the Head Maid elegantly, but inside, Empress Carmi was a mess.
‘What in the world happened?!’
The heel of her shoe had snapped inside the folds of her lavish, trailing dress.
Given Empress Carmi’s personality, she would usually have beaten a maid to death in secret for negligence, but there were too many elder nobles glaring at her right now!
‘Those gloomy foxes…!’
They would certainly be watching her for a while. What would happen if Carmi was caught disposing of a maid by those stubborn old fossils?
It was obvious that the image she had built up would take a massive hit!
‘Arrogant old hags!’
However, acting out now would bring no benefit, so she had nowhere to vent her rage.
Empress Carmi was on the verge of going insane with anger.
‘Why did these expensive shoes suddenly break? And of all days, why today? And of all places, why on the stairs?!’
She couldn't even blame anyone; her luck was so foul she’d have to blame the heavens themselves.
Having lost every ounce of her dignity, Empress Carmi ground her teeth in silence.
* * *
[System] Benefit ‘Kingdom-Toppling Beauty’ has been used.
I swallowed a satisfied smile as I watched the text vanish into the air like light. To be honest, I was a bit surprised myself.
‘It actually worked.’
[You can physically ruin a ‘kingdom’ of any scale you desire! Use your imagination to its fullest!]
‘A shoe is a kingdom too, right?’
The Kingdom of Feet.
Of course, that was nonsense.
But to understand the true nature of this vague benefit, I had to start by exploring its effects on a small scale.
What if I used it recklessly and an actual country collapsed, society crumbled, the world ended, and the entire system was destroyed?
So, I needed something that was okay to destroy!
No, something I wanted to destroy!
I decided to test the benefit on Carmi’s shoe first.
After all, hadn't the system window told me to use my imagination to its fullest?
Those words lingered in my mind as if I were possessed.
So, I used the benefit. To break Empress Carmi’s shoe.
‘I never imagined it would actually work.’
I thought I had nothing to lose!
Empress Carmi might have just "tripped," but because she tumbled down several steps, she had effectively lost ten years' worth of dignity.
The Emperor beside her lost face as well.
If the Emperor had been agile enough to catch her the moment her heel snapped, she wouldn't have suffered the unsightly fall down the stairs.
A husband who can't even escort his own wife… If even regular nobles are mocked for that, would it be any different for an Emperor?
Everyone would be staring at Emperor Alexander’s crotch while pretending not to.
‘To mock him for no longer being man enough to handle things.’
“Tulia. You look quite happy.”
“Didn't you find it funny too, Grandfather?”
“Hmm.”
It happened to be the part of the dance where we turned. Grandfather, who had moved closer, gave a rare, mischievous smile.
“To be honest, it was quite hilarious.”
“Hehe.”
Grandfather and I danced joyfully. Afterward, I danced with Dad, but unexpectedly, Dad was…
‘Dad… are you crying?’
For a moment, I thought I had misseen. It was a reasonable doubt, because every time I saw him again after a turn, his eyes looked perfectly fine.
‘No. Before the turn, his eyes were definitely a bit red.’
Does Dad know how to use magic?
My confusion was short-lived.
As the music continued, I became certain.
‘He really is crying…’
I had already concluded that I was the real Tulia—that is, I had been Tulia since the moment I was born.
My affection for the Frezier family was already deep, but now even the thin veil that had been covering it had been lifted.
Perhaps that was why seeing Dad cry while trying to hide it made my own heart ache.
‘He must be thinking of Mom.’
I wish Mom were alive. Then everyone would be laughing right now.
I looked at Dad, feeling a pang of bitterness. Dad had a similar expression on his face.
It seemed we were thinking the same thing.
It would have been nice if Mom were alive.
It would have been nice if she were by our side.
In the end, it was Dad who smiled first. I also tried to lighten the mood by asking a question.
“Dad. How do I look today?”
At that, Dad looked at me and nodded.
“You are the most radiant person in the world.”
“I think so too, Dad.”
We both ended up bursting into laughter.
Only then did the dance end, and Dad gave me a polite bow.
“Hey! Tulia Frezier!”
Just then, Leon Frezier strode over and spoke arrogantly.
“It’s my turn to dance with you. I’ve been waiting specifically to give you this honor, so there’s no need to cry from the overwhelming emotion.”
I completely ignored Leon Frezier and gave Lisian a bright smile.
“Brother Lisian! Let’s dance!”
“I’d love to, Tulia.”
At Lisian’s smile, Leon Frezier shouted with a look of disbelief.
“Brother! You said you’d let me go first this time! Hey! Tulia Frezier! Why do you always push me to the end? Huh? Just because you’re the youngest? Is the eldest brother the only one who matters? Do you not even hear your second brother’s words? Huh?”
I let his words go in one ear and out the other as I observed Lisian, genuinely impressed.
He was wearing a silver-white suit today, which, combined with his clean silver hair, made him look like a snow fairy.
“Brother Lisian, you look really cool today.”
“What is wrong with her?!”
And so, I took turns dancing with Lisian, and eventually, with that fellow Leon Frezier.
The first day of being promoted to the female protagonist of a survival story…
Was more enjoyable and exciting than I had expected.
* * *
The second day of the banquet.
I swallowed a laugh as I observed Empress Carmi’s complexion, which had grown haggard overnight.
Glancing beneath her dress, I saw neatly decorated leather flats peeking through the hem of her sky-blue silk skirt.
‘She didn't even wear heels today.’
Yesterday’s incident must have been quite a shock.
‘But could I ruin those too if I used the benefit?’
Of course, I didn't use the benefit this time.
‘Look at Empress Carmi’s personality. She might have chalked it up to bad luck on the first day, but if something happened to her shoes on the second day too…’
She’s the type of person who would go crying to the Emperor, screaming that someone was out to get her.
Besides, even I would find it suspicious if the Empress had shoe trouble two days in a row.
So, it was better to be satisfied with the fact that everyone thought Empress Carmi was just clumsy yesterday.
‘Just try touching my carriage again.’
Next time, I’ll really…
Feeling like a predator for the first time in my life, I subtly scanned Empress Carmi.
To think I’d feel this way thanks to the benefit’s protection.
‘I like it.’
Furthermore…
“Grand Princess. The color of your dress today is truly exquisite. Is it now possible to make tulle with material that looks like it’s been sprinkled with stars?”
“When will we be able to see this at the salon?”
“My mother said she absolutely must have a dress made from this fabric…”
The power of the ultimate Beauty stat was magnificent! As people took an interest in me, they looked to my clothing to find the reason why I had suddenly become so radiant!
‘That’s exactly why I only wore White Tulip Salon dresses!’
Everyone, buy my clothes!
Everyone, throw your money at me!
With the mindset of a friendly salesperson, I answered the nobles one by one, then glanced at the clock and excused myself.
“Look at the time. Everyone, I must head to the floor now.”
“Oh my! We’ve kept you for too long. Grand Princess! It is indeed time for the dance!”
After exchanging warm farewells, I made my move.
On the first day of a coming-of-age banquet, it is custom to dance with family and relatives.
But on the second day, the dance partner changes. You dance with your closest friend of the same sex.
‘Tulia has gained quite a few ladies she could call friends.’
Though the relationships started for business and networking, I found many peers who were surprisingly like-minded through our letters.
Some of them had even sent letters asking if we could dance together on the second day of the banquet.
‘But I politely declined them all.’
Because I had already chosen my partner.
I could feel everyone’s eyes on me with every step I took.
In the past, I would have been nervous without realizing it, but now I wasn't intimidated in the slightest. I didn't even know when I had changed so much.
I stopped in front of a girl.
A face so similar to my old self.
the very face that reminded me of a past I wanted to forget.
The being who received the full love of the Temple and held the name of Saintess. Furthermore, a being that even the Frezier family would never mistreat.
‘Corico.’
Thanks to that, she stood in this Grand Banquet Hall wearing a dress that was noticeably lavish and precious.
“Corico, dance with me.”