Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Even Outsiders Dislike You
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Lena scanned the ballroom meticulously, like a scout spying on an enemy camp. The nobles gradually stopped laughing at her cautious demeanor. As they all puzzled over her intentions, Lena halted her survey and fixed her gaze on one man. It was the gentleman who had been the most boisterously stifling his laughter just moments before. The man was inwardly startled when their eyes met but soon composed himself to meet her stare. Even then, his lips brimmed with curiosity and mockery.
Lena stared blankly at his face before slowly appraising his entire appearance, from head to toe, from collar to cuffs. After scrutinizing every detail for a long while, she unfurled her fan. Then, hiding her face behind it, she burst into laughter.
The gentleman facing her was left dumbfounded. But that lasted only a moment—his face soon flushed crimson. The others still had no idea what was happening. But the man himself knew. He had just been blatantly insulted.
When their eyes had met, Lena's gaze had said this:
*How do you even go out looking like that?*
It wasn't an illusion or paranoia. Lena's eyes had truly been filled with ridicule and disdain. To look at someone that way and laugh... The gentleman, who had been enjoying the ball, found his mood soured in an instant.
While the man stood there flabbergasted, Lena locked eyes with another woman. It was a lady who had been glancing at Lena while nonstop whispering to the person beside her. Lena once again carefully observed the lady's appearance. Then, furrowing her brows in pity, she gave the lady a light nod of greeting.
"Huh?"
It wasn't ladylike, but the lady let out an involuntary gasp. *What the hell? Is that woman looking down on me?*
*How unfortunate, overall.*
Lena's gaze brimmed with sympathy, and that meaningful look stabbed at the lady's heart. A beautiful woman's pitying smile was more than enough to stir shame. In a flash, Lena had angered two people. But that was just the beginning.
Lena surveyed the nobles as if selecting prey. Whenever eyes met, she unfailingly provoked them—sneering, pitying, taunting, glaring openly, or sometimes ignoring them outright. Only then did the nobles realize what Lena was doing.
*She's looking down on us?*
Lena stood tall like an emperor, appraising the nobles at her feet. The nobles, who had naturally assumed their superiority, were stunned to realize it late.
And Clavis, watching it all, quietly burst into laughter.
*To think she'd play it like this.*
He had wondered what she planned to do, showing up alone so boldly. It seemed the other side had no intention of mingling amiably either.
*How bold, Miss Lena Rubel.*
Clavis gazed at Lena with a glint in his eyes. Bathed in the chandelier's sparkle as she looked down, she seemed arrogant yet beautiful. Lena naturally assumed the conqueror's pose, and the nobles gazed up at her in bewilderment. This wasn't part of their plan.
Approaching a stranger without invitation was a grave breach of etiquette. So the spiteful nobles had intended to leave Lena standing alone, mocking and judging her from head to toe. But they had overlooked one fact.
*What you can do, I can do too.*
Lena sneered at the nobles who didn't even grasp that simple truth. And Clavis, watching her, silently wondered.
*But can you handle it alone?*
Even under the same conditions, she was by herself, while hundreds of nobles filled the hall. This was one against a hundred—a battle of wills. And these weren't pushovers. Could she really manage?
The moment Clavis pondered this inwardly, Lena's eyes clashed with those of a noble lady famed for her fiery temper. The lady was just as incensed as Lena.
*How dare she act like this here!*
The lady glared furiously at the brazen intruder. At that overt hostility, Lena smiled sweetly and fluttered her fan.
*And where exactly is here?*
Then, snapping her fan shut sharply, she glared back at the lady. The two women's gazes collided fiercely. But it was only for a moment—the lady was the one who ultimately averted her eyes. She had no choice. It was nearly impossible for a delicately raised lady to withstand someone who had crossed death's threshold.
*That's enough, isn't it?*
Clavis cheerfully withdrew his concern. And Lena systematically subdued each noble glaring at her with resolve. But she didn't attack indiscriminately. There were plenty in the ballroom who harbored no ill will toward her— the young and kind, or those who disliked needless trouble. A lady with flushed cheeks was one such person. This young girl looked utterly perplexed, unable to understand why the social veterans were so agitated. Lena's gaze softly reached the girl. The watching nobles' eyes naturally followed Lena's, and the little girl, oblivious at first, belatedly startled and looked at Lena.
When their eyes met, the girl froze like a rabbit spotting a lion. Lena stared at her for a moment, then narrowed her eyes in a smile. She gave a gentle nod and shifted her gaze elsewhere.
"Ah..."
The unexpected greeting made the young lady's heart sink. The flush on her peach-tinted cheeks turning rose was inevitable.
In this way, Lena made enemies, stirred resentment, sparked curiosity, and even won favor. With each action, more eyes focused on her.
*I'm going mad.*
Clavis covered his blooming smile with his hand. For such a thrilling lady to appear... Clavis eagerly awaited the moment Lena would turn her gaze to him. He waited, anticipated, yearned.
Soon enough, as he wished, Lena's clear gaze captured Clavis. Hiding his impatient heart, Clavis softly met her eyes. The two stared at each other for quite some time. Just before it could spark misunderstanding, Lena smiled at Clavis.
*She smiled?*
At Lena's radiant smile, Clavis felt an indescribable thrill. He wanted to approach her right then. Draw closer, so close he could kiss her, and see her again from up close. See the colors of emotion in her eyes.
As Clavis swallowed his ragged breath, a few disgruntled nobles muttered.
"There's an ill-suited guest here."
"Indeed. Ruining such a rare occasion like this."
"Shouldn't we eject her before the mood is spoiled?"
Enraged by Lena's arrogance, the nobles called over a palace attendant as a last resort, urging him to remove the lady. The court official hesitated at the unusual command and approached Lena. But he couldn't escort her out. Lena promptly produced her invitation. As one who upheld palace protocol, he couldn't eject an invited guest without cause. The poor attendant, caught between both sides, awkwardly retreated.
Then, one watching lady vented her frustration.
"Do something about it! Don't let her keep looking down on us!"
Prodded by her, a nearby gentleman reluctantly stepped forward. He approached Lena with a smile, planning to engage her in conversation and pull her down from her self-assumed throne. But before he could even speak, Lena widened her eyes and blocked him with her fan. A clear signal: *Don't speak to strangers so casually.* Treated like a blatant rogue, the gentleman was speechless and had no choice but to withdraw in humiliation.
With the servant and gentleman successively yielding, the watching nobles grew even angrier. Then, someone laughed.
"Pfft."
The splash of cold water made the nobles frown, then gasp. It was none other than Clavis who had laughed so lightly. He chuckled as if it were killing him, then turned toward the sofa.
"Is this why you invited that lady?"
There sat a young man with sharp eyes and a fierce expression.
"Hm? Rubid."
At Clavis's mockery, the youth—Rubid—downed his glass in one gulp. Then, he roughly stood up.
...
*This should be enough.*
Lena assessed the murmuring atmosphere, pondering. She had shown all she could. Any more would grow stale or lead to mistakes. Truth be told, even Lena was struggling to hold out longer.
*They all look pissed.*
Not one or two, but dozens of nobles glaring daggers. This absurd standoff had worked because Lena had caught them off guard. They had expected a clumsy country bumpkin and let their guard down. So she had overwhelmed them utterly. But from now on, it wouldn't be easy. They had some grasp of her by now.
*Time to exit stage left?*
She didn't know who had set this trap, but thanks to it, her debut had gone splendidly. Ending it here would be perfect. Lena folded her languidly fluttering fan. She sighed as if bored. Ignoring the nobles' bristling displeasure, she slowly turned away, signaling utter disinterest.
That was when it happened.
"Lady."
A voice stopped Lena. She pretended to be startled again, ready to brush him off. But this time, he was faster.
"Thank you for accepting the invitation."
At the unexpected greeting, Lena turned. A young man with long golden hair tied back smiled at her brightly. She had never seen him before. But she could roughly guess who he was.
*Is this the one?*
The sender of the invitation. Lena kept her tension, smiling faintly. Having claimed a formal invitation, she couldn't ignore the host. So she couldn't push him away, and the youth calmly kissed the back of her hand.
"I'm the one who should thank you for the invitation."
Lena responded formally, the kiss unwelcome. Then she gauged the mood again. The nobles, bristling with defeat, now showed new curiosity.
*It's almost over.*
Regretfully, Lena looked at the man before her. He had an exceptionally—no, extraordinarily—striking appearance. He could be called the most beautiful man she had ever seen. His skin was clear as marble, his features sharply sculpted. His shoulder-length golden hair gleamed vividly, and his eyes were a gemlike violet. The dazzling beauty, Rubid, smiled sweetly.
"You're not leaving already, are you?"
"I couldn't get a dance partner. It's a shame, but I'll save the dancing for next time and take my leave for tonight."
At Rubid's question, Lena lowered her lashes in reply. Then, without further delay, she haughtily turned. But Rubid grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. The grip was rough enough to make her stumble. Forced to face him, Lena was quite flustered. Swallowing her agitation, she looked at Rubid. Despite laying hands on a lady so roughly, he was still smiling.
"If you're disappointed, stay longer. You can dance with me."
Rubid said, pressing down on her shoulder. The action went beyond rude—it was frivolous. At odds with his looks, Lena thought quickly.
*What's with this guy?*
The uncultured were shunned in society. Yet the nobles weren't scorning this youth; they watched him with delight.
*Why?*
Because he's handsome?
*No way.*
Because his frivolity was entertaining?
*No, not that either.*
Lena had felt the nobles' gazes since entering. If the invitation sender lacked influence, they wouldn't be so agreeable. After hasty deliberation, Lena reached an uncomfortable conclusion.
*This man...*
As Lena eyed Rubid's rude hand, he suddenly beckoned a servant. Ordering drinks. At Rubid's command, the servant fetched champagne from the lake.
"A toast before the dance? It's the champagne Clavis prepared for once."
Casually using the cardinal's name, Rubid offered Lena a glass. She unfurled her fan in refusal—a signal for a gentleman to withdraw. But Rubid ignored it. Far from minding, he grinned mischievously.
"If you don't like toasting, how about this?"
Rubid lifted Lena's chin with his fingertips. Then he splashed champagne in her face.