Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Lena Rubel's Personality
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Drops of water fell from her chin. Her face, drenched in champagne, felt cold. It wasn't just her face. The spilled champagne had soaked her neck and chest as well. Lena, who had been doused in liquor in an instant, stared at Rubid in a daze.
*What the hell...*
...is this? Stunned, Lena glanced around left and right. Some of the nobles laughed as if it were a delightful spectacle, while others looked shocked. Some were flustered. But no one was angry at this scoundrel's outrageous act. Reading their reactions, Lena closed her gaping mouth.
*So that's how it is.*
It was clear now. This guy was such a prominent noble that everyone fawned over him even if he ignored etiquette. He was even on a first-name basis with Cardinal Clavis, from a family that could stand shoulder to shoulder with him. There was only one power player of this age who fit that description.
*Rubid Plenus Grasha.*
The younger brother of Northern Duke Iura Plenus.
*So that's why he summoned me—because I'm from the North.*
Lena finally realized Rubid's identity and intentions. She'd wondered who sent the invitation, but it seemed the young lord of the North had stepped in because he couldn't tolerate some girl touching his retainer. Having grasped the situation, Lena whispered to Rubid.
"Was this at your father's request, by any chance?"
"Who's your daddy?"
Rubid shot back coldly. His irritable reaction confirmed it for Lena. He harbored open hostility toward her. Baring his teeth for a moment, Rubid then smiled again and pulled out a handkerchief. He dabbed at Lena's soaked cheek.
"Want another drink?"
Lena tried to refuse. But before she could speak, her lips stiffened. Rubid's hand, which had been wiping her cheek, slid lower. The handkerchief passed her nape and trailed down to her collarbone. Lena flinched at the excessive contact, but Rubid smiled like a tender lover. Then he slipped the wet handkerchief between her breasts, above the line of her dress. As the handkerchief disappeared into her dress, the men who usually caroused with paid women burst into vulgar laughter. It was something they often did to those women. The filthy treatment flustered Lena more than the champagne dousing. She wanted to yank the handkerchief out of her dress right away. But there were too many eyes on her. The nobles watching from all sides were hoping she'd squirm in embarrassment.
*What do I do?*
Lena desperately thought of a way to avoid becoming a laughingstock. What should she really do? Pour champagne on Rubid's face? Slap him and grab him by the hair? Slash him with a knife like Uni suggested? Part of her wanted to, but that would make her no better than him—like this unleashed beast. Lena suppressed her rising urge. Then she smiled gently at the sneering Rubid before her.
"You're smiling?"
Rubid furrowed his brow as Lena smiled calmly. Pretending not to hear, she plucked a flower from her hair. She smoothly pulled out the handkerchief from between her breasts and wrapped the flower in it. With the flower and handkerchief forming a corsage, Lena kissed the petals and used it to fill Rubid's empty glass. The watching nobles murmured as Lena repaid rudeness with a flower. Rubid looked surprised too. Lena smiled even more sweetly at his puzzled expression. Then she bowed politely and turned away.
***
Lena hurried down the corridor, ruminating on the bastard she'd just met.
*Rubid Plenus. Has to be him.*
Noble status. Dazzling blond hair. Beautiful face. Vile temper. Those four traits matched the rumors about the North's prince, Rubid Plenus. Lena gritted her teeth to erase the image of Rubid looming before her. What a disaster. A failure. She'd thought she'd smoothly made her presence known, but it all flipped at the end. Because of that punk Rubid Plenus.
*At least it wasn't the worst.*
She'd taken the champagne baptism without panicking and handled it coolly. She hadn't stooped to his level when he acted low-class. So today, this would be enough...
*No.*
No, it wouldn't. The losses outweighed the gains today. No one would think highly of her in this situation. The scene where she'd dominated the nobles would be forgotten. Instead, only the humiliation from Rubid would be remembered and gossiped about. She hadn't dressed up and come out here to be treated like this. As that thought hit her, Rubid's smirking face flashed again, and her clicking heels abruptly stopped. Lena took a slow breath. Stay calm. Settle your mind and judge carefully. She'd learned to stay cool through countless hardships. When hitting a wall, calm your breathing and control your emotions. That's how you find a better path. That was Lena Rubel's survival method, clawing her way here with nothing but herself. But people can't always be rational.
"Hah..."
Lena didn't bother suppressing the laugh that slipped through her lips. She'd learned cool-headedness through trials, but that didn't mean she was always calm. If she'd been truly rational and pragmatic, she wouldn't have yielded the altar to Lin. She wouldn't have swallowed the poison from the butler or sent that letter declaring war on her father. On the surface, Lena acted refined and demure, but inside, she wasn't like that at all. And when faced with someone who awakened her true nature, Lena smiled gracefully and ground her teeth.
*I can't just back down like this.*
She'd promised Uni too. That she'd win. Lena resumed her paused steps. Fine, Rubid Plenus. I'll crush you underfoot. You filthy scum.
***
"Poor Miss Lena..."
"When did you see her to call her 'Miss Lena,' you creep?"
Rubid, lounging on the sofa, snapped irritably at the voice beside him. Clavis had perched on the sofa's armrest, pretending to sob.
"How embarrassing for her. She came all dressed up so nicely for once."
"A hag dolled up is still a hag."
"A hag? She's quite the beauty."
Rubid stuck out his tongue and gagged at the word "beauty." Clavis stopped his fake crying and muttered.
"She looks a lot like Rubel."
"Bullshit."
Rubid's bored expression turned fierce in an instant. His already savage purple eyes grew more menacing, but Clavis giggled and draped an arm over his shoulder.
*Rubel sure is something.*
The North's king Iura and his brother Rubid. To earn the trust of those icy Northern siblings. What talent. Of course, Iura needed capable talents near him as Northern Duke. But how did she bewitch this self-centered brat? Clavis thought of Marquis Rubel's prowess and chuckled quietly.
*I wonder about Miss Lena.*
Like mother, like daughter. Clavis glanced at the side table nearby. There sat a champagne glass with a flower in it. The one Lena had given Rubid. He'd been curious how she'd react to the insult, but handing over a flower? White flowers symbolized the emperor. So nobles exchanged flowers before dances on the founding anniversary. It was a trend leading up to the holiday. Could she have meant that? As Clavis pondered the flower in the glass, the ballroom, which had been quietly humming, suddenly stirred. Clavis looked up, wondering what was happening. His eyes lit with delight at what came next.
"Rubid."
Clavis called to him, eyes fixed on the entrance. But Rubid, oblivious to the hall falling silent, snapped irritably. Clavis whispered to the dumb kid.
"Look over there."
Rubid grudgingly looked up. Then he frowned at the unexpected sight. The arrogant nobles had parted to the sides. A path opened from the entrance to the sofa where Rubid sat. At the end stood one person. A handsome young man in a form-fitting cerulean uniform. Judging by the color, a high-ranking Southern noble? Did the South have someone like him? Rubid didn't recognize him. Or so he thought. The stranger approached with brisk steps. Then he bowed to the seated Rubid.
"Care for a dance?"
Wasn't he a man? Rubid, who'd assumed as much from the clothes, narrowed his eyes at the surprisingly high voice. Looking up in confusion, he saw a delicate face. Makeup removed, the impression was slightly different, but not unrecognizable. Her hair wasn't short—it was tied back out of sight. As Rubid finally recognized her, Lena beamed and added.
"You won't say no now, will you?"
"You..."
While Rubid gaped in disbelief, Lena grabbed his hand. But he had no intention of letting her pull him up. Lena hadn't expected cooperation either. So she lightly twisted his wrist into a lock, jolting his nerves to make him stand on his own.
"Urk...!"
Rubid shot to his feet involuntarily. Lena immediately wrapped an arm around his waist. Enraged at being embraced unwittingly, he barked.
"You crazy...!"
But before the curse escaped, Lena twisted his wrist again. Joints can't be trained like muscles. They're not targeted like eyes or groin because dense muscles protect them, making strikes ineffective. Yet joints held infinite potential depending on use. Lena Rubel was a lady who knew this well and was skilled in practice. Just like this.
"Gh!"
Rubid staggered with his shoulder wrenched, taking clumsy steps, while Lena followed with graceful ones. Their movements looked natural enough. The nobles hadn't caught her gripping his wrist joint, so they thought Rubid had risen to the challenge. They sidestepped amiably to the center, looking every bit the perfect pair. At the ballroom's heart, Lena released his wrist slightly and whispered.
"Shall we dance?"
"Bullshit..."
"Even if you say no, we will."
As Rubid ground his teeth, Lena laughed brightly and tugged his arm. He resisted to avoid it happening again. But despite his resolve, he was dragged along once more.
*What strength...!*
Rubid panicked. Meanwhile, Lena pulled his waist close. Grinding his teeth against the surging humiliation, he said.
"Let go."
"No thanks."
Lena replied smiling. As Rubid's face twisted to yell.
"You okay with that? Yelling here?"
"What...?"
"It'd look so pathetic."
Rubid's expression froze at the mocking question. He swallowed his anger and belatedly checked the mood. Fortunately or not, the idiots still seemed clueless. But yelling would reveal he'd been dragged out by Lena. That wouldn't do. A ruler's blood could be rude and savage, but never weak or a joke.
*This psycho!*
In the end, Rubid swallowed his rage inwardly. He awkwardly followed Lena's steps, searching for an out. But the young master, who'd lived lawlessly his whole life, had no wit or resourcefulness for crises.
*She's just a girl...*
Unable to find a way, Rubid decided to shake her off with brute force.
*I'll make you crawl on all fours.*
Fuming, he waited for an opening. As the music brought their bodies close then apart, he struck. When they separated, he slammed away the hand gripping his wrist. Lena, as if expecting it, swung his arm wide. Instead of breaking free, the Northern prince spun in place. The music was lively, making it a fitting turn. Rubid panicked at still being held, and Lena welcomed him back with open arms after his spin.
"Damn it, let go...!"
Rubid growled low, and Lena laughed like a girl receiving a love confession. Then she whispered to the fuming prince.
"You couldn't read the mood since it was your first time?"
Her voice was gracefully soft.
"If you'd said you like it rough, I'd have matched you from the start."
But the thorns hidden within were sharp enough for even this fearless scum to notice.