A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 48

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 48
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
I responded halfheartedly, acutely aware of the gazes around me.
The first dance carried great significance. Now that Lorelai had featured Sezare, everyone was surely gossiping about our relationship. My goal was to spread these rumors so widely that Hitten couldn’t even broach the subject of a political marriage.
Even if the Imperial Family wanted to meddle, they couldn’t dictate my love life—something even the Prelai Family didn’t touch. As for Sezare, I realized I should expect nothing more from him. Deeply disappointed, I abandoned my plan of “drifting along, dating Sezare, and marrying him.” I couldn’t marry someone who was merely pretty garbage.
That’s when Sezare suddenly asked me a question.
“Princess, would it be alright if I asked you something?”
“I’m tired. If it’s not something only I can answer, ask someone else.”
“Only you can answer this.”
At those words, I perked up and responded.
“Is it a math or science question? Then go ahead and ask.”
“…No, it’s not. It’s a question about the human heart.”
My interest evaporated instantly. This was precisely the field where I had the least confidence. I sighed once and answered honestly.
“Why would you ask me, of all people, about the one thing I’m most unsure of?”
“I just need to hear what you think. I have nowhere else to ask, so I’m asking you.”
Then I understood immediately.
“Ah, so you’re asking me because you have no friends. Fine then, I don’t mind. I don’t have much else to talk about anyway.”
“….”
In any case, having light conversation while dancing was perfectly ordinary. After all, people typically ask for a dance to have an intimate conversation between just the two of them.
Sezare skillfully wrapped his arm around my waist and asked.
“A young man has encountered some misfortune, and a young woman who had no prior connection to him is deeply worried about him. Why do you think that is?”
Wow, that sounded exactly like Melissa. I answered immediately.
“Well, she’s probably just an idiot philanthropist pushover who’s so incredibly kind that all she can do is worry?”
At my answer, Sezare tilted his head and murmured uncertainly.
“That doesn’t seem to be it at all….”
It’s not? Then there’s no particularly rational reason, is there? And if it’s not rational, then it must be an emotional matter. Having exhausted logical reasoning, I answered matter-of-factly.
“Then perhaps the young woman actually has feelings for the young man?”
“…T-t-t-that’s…the case?”
Sezare’s ears flushed crimson red.
‘What, is this about him? Did he leave some unrequited love back in the Levin Marquisate?’
Sezare’s heart, pressed close against me, was pounding frantically. Even his steps, which had been mechanical, wavered slightly. Anyone could see he was experiencing tremendous emotional turmoil.
“Count, you seem to really enjoy talking about this. Your physical reactions are quite telling.”
I maintained perfect rhythm while staring directly at him.
“You must be quite interested in women.”
“That’s absolutely not the case. Ah, wait a moment. Let me hold you a bit closer, Princess.”
Sezare’s eyes suddenly gleamed, and he pulled me closer. His firm chest pressed against mine.
Wait, this is making me a bit flustered and pleased.
“Pardon?”
“Lord Rodrigo over there is glaring at us.”
“Oh, good. Then let’s hold each other even closer.”
If Lord Rodrigo became upset in the process, that would be all the better.
Lord Rodrigo could never truly care for me. Yet the mere fact that I was in a romantic relationship with Sezare was considerable humiliation for him. After sending a marriage proposal, to be outmatched by a marquis of commoner birth from the provinces was quite the blow to his pride.
I despised Judith, disliked the Duke and Duchess of House Purbis, but the most irritating person was him.
‘How hollow he must feel, having lost both Melissa of House Prelai, whom he’d set his sights on since childhood, and me as well.’
The thought made me cling to Sezare even more possessively, like a lover utterly infatuated with him.
But then….
‘Was this dance always this sensual?’
Every time our pressed legs brushed and our arms overlapped, a subtle heat coursed through me. Suddenly, I noticed Sezare’s eyes were half-closed in a languid expression.
‘Why is he so close? Ah, well, it’s a dance, so it’s natural, isn’t it?’
He gazed down at me with affectionate yet heated eyes. When I saw his long, downturned lashes, my heart suddenly sank. Feeling something strange, I tried to compose myself, but he whispered playfully.
“…Doesn’t this suggest you never actually disliked Lord Rodrigo in the first place?”
I felt his breath directly, and the fine hairs on my skin stood on end. My body flinched at the subtle sensation of his lips grazing my ear. This feeling was entirely new to me.
‘Even when I was chasing after Lord Rodrigo, I never felt my reason slipping away like this?’
I barely managed to hold onto my fading consciousness and answered quickly.
“Well, but it’s true that I chased after him because I liked him back then. I really did want to marry Lord Rodrigo at that time.”
With the determination that I would never lose to Melissa. After I answered, Sezare asked subtly.
“Truly?”
His tone was leisurely yet somehow tinged with anticipation.
“You weren’t actually fond of someone else, were you?”
“Someone else? Who?”
“Ahem, ahem…. Well, perhaps the Crown Prince, whom everyone praises for his good character….”
What? Why is the Crown Prince coming up now? The strange, floating sensation I’d been experiencing suddenly crashed down. The heat that had risen because of Sezare plummeted in an instant.
“Not at all. The Crown Prince is….”
“Might you be confusing your feelings slightly?”
At his subtle question, I answered decisively.
“Confusing them? I definitely liked Lord Rodrigo when I was young. I had no interest in the Crown Prince whatsoever.”
“Perhaps because the Crown Prince is a bit plump? One can always lose weight….”
“No, I’m telling you I had absolutely no interest in the Crown Prince. I find Lord Rodrigo’s face just as repulsive, but that doesn’t mean I’d attach myself to just anyone.”
“Ah, just anyone, you say….”
Sezare’s expression showed slight shock.
“Anyway, let’s stop talking about the past.”
I spoke with deliberate coyness.
“Shouldn’t the present matter more?”
At those words, Sezare smiled slowly. Then he nodded with a seductive gaze.
“Indeed, Princess.”
Following the dance, the hand encircling my waist was gentle.
“You’re quite right.”
As our eyes met again, my breath caught slightly. Those golden eyes that held me completely….
‘Sezare wanted to change this eye color. He requested it from the Academy multiple times even before the regression.’
Yet they were far too captivating to change. They suited his image perfectly—like some languid, dangerous beast.
“But…”
Sezare whispered softly.
“Just for this moment, dancing with you here in the Imperial Banquet Hall, I wish to live in the past.”
“What? What do you mean by that?”
“It means I want to become that young man from before, just for a brief moment in front of you. As if I were dreaming.”
I shrugged indifferently at his wistful words, but then our eyes met again.
“…”
Something felt strange in that instant. His gaze was far too distant, too profound. It wasn’t the look one gives to merely the fourth woman they’ve seen—it was the gaze reserved for someone truly precious. In that moment, my heart constricted.
‘What is this? Is he even playing fair?’
No, that expression with those eyes was utterly unfair. My skin tingled with anticipation.
And just then, the music began its final measures.
I quickly composed myself. A flutter of excitement is one thing, but duty is duty, after all.
“Well then.”
So I gave Sezare a bright farewell and spoke at once.
“Now that we’ve had our first dance, shall we part ways as planned?”
Sezare and I had already shared our schedule inside the carriage on the way to the banquet.
“Count Levin, I have a favor to ask. With all these eyes watching, what if we danced just this once and then went our separate ways? I have something I need to handle alone.”
“Something you need to handle…?”
“It’s just one of those matters between friends.”
“But you don’t have any friends.”
“Exactly why I need to handle it.”
“Well, I understand regardless.”
Sezare didn’t ask further questions about my words. Besides, staying attached only to me throughout this banquet would be disadvantageous for him as well. With no standing in the Capital, it was important for him to expand his connections among the nobility at this opportunity.
This was none other than the birthday banquet of Hitten, the next Emperor, who faced no rivals for the throne. So the Imperial Banquet Hall overflowed with people—not just every noble in the Capital, but provincial nobles I’d never seen before crowded in, spilling even beyond the Garden.
And so the first song came to its complete end.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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