Disqualified as a Villainess - Chapter 15

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

#15.

The moment the service concluded, Admiral Kelsedny rose from his seat faster than anyone else and departed.
Was the matter of state merely an excuse? Perhaps he simply wished to leave as quickly as possible—evident from how he’d claimed the rearmost seat.
I felt the weight of curious gazes upon me, wondering about the scandal involving the Admiral.
The Princesses wore expressions of keen interest, yet propriety prevented them from asking directly.
‘Well then, shall I finally accept that invitation to the Princess’s birthday celebration I never received?’
I rose immediately and made my way toward May, Second Princess, whose birthday party was scheduled for this evening.
Despite the terrifying rumors—that she froze her enemies’ blood and tortured prisoners from hostile nations to death—she carried herself with an air of refined elegance, her lustrous golden hair framing eyes of crimson.
Because I had leveraged my family’s influence to actively support Prince Dominic and even altered the succession order, May, Princess had naturally paid me no attention.
“Oh my.”
As I passed by her, I deliberately let my jewel case slip from my hands.
Clatter.
The case’s lid sprang open upon impact, revealing the radiant luster stone within, gleaming with brilliant splendor.
I had acquired it at auction for an astronomical sum.
Of course, that money had come from Baron Ravishi.
“A luster stone?”
April, Princess, the youngest, tapped her elder sister May on the shoulder.
May’s eyes blinked twice—she had apparently noticed it already, her passion for gem collecting evident.
High-purity luster stones were rare minerals, difficult to obtain.
“What a magnificent luster stone. Where did you acquire it?”
May, Princess asked in an aristocratic tone—her way of saying she must have it immediately and for me to name my price.
I feigned an embarrassed smile and picked up the case containing the luster stone.
Her crimson eyes followed the stone’s movement.
“In truth, I prepared it with great difficulty as a gift for Your Highness’s birthday, but since I didn’t receive an invitation, I brought it hoping to present it here.”
At my wistful tone, she started visibly, her golden hair trembling as she responded.
“You didn’t receive an invitation? But I’m certain we sent one…”
While May, Princess fell into thought, I heard April, Princess murmur to herself, “Why does she suddenly seem more sociable?”
I extended the luster stone with a smile.
“Will you accept it?”
“To think you prepared something so precious as my gift… I’m truly grateful.”
The Princess who received the luster stone grasped my hand warmly, her expression apologetic.
“The invitation must have been lost. Please do attend tonight’s banquet without fail. Is it possible you’ve declined invitations frequently because you never received them?”
Her voice had grown considerably warmer, whether from the precious gift or my connection to the Admiral.
Until now, Octavia hadn’t attended, and I couldn’t go for fear my reputation would suffer. Thus, I’d had no opportunity to build rapport with the Royal Family.
Besides, I hadn’t felt any particular need to.
“Yes, that seems to be the case.”
“There will be no such misunderstandings going forward. I thought you couldn’t attend because you were heartbroken over Prince Dominic. I do hope you’ll come tonight—I’d very much like to talk with you at length.”
“Thank you for your consideration. I shall certainly attend, Your Highness.”

Favorability increased [+10]

She was delighted to receive such a precious gift, but that was the extent of her personal affection toward me.
May, Second Princess, possessed a rare Grade-2 Frost ability, coupled with exceptional talent and an iron grip over high society, making her an ambitious schemer in political machinations as well.
‘A calculating nature that won’t be swayed by bribes into trusting others easily—I like that. I should cultivate a close relationship with her.’
Indeed, she was precisely the type I sought: someone capable of sharing mutual interests rather than affection, a cold and pragmatic alliance.
Those who delight and grow emotional over trivial matters posed far too many risks.
“That’s strange. The Butler has never made such a mistake before.”
May, Second Princess, turned back with a tilted head.
Though her cordial demeanor was an act, that statement was no lie. May had genuinely sent the invitation.
‘Someone intercepted it midway and gave it to another person instead.’
I’d investigated precisely because the invitation that should have arrived never came.
Still, as a direct heir of the Kingdom’s leading Major Corporation, she would have sent it out of courtesy regardless of connections.
By now, Dominic had finished healing his arm, and I could see him frowning as he suppressed his fury.
‘That’s the expression of the culprit who intercepted the invitation.’
Rather than bringing Chloe as a partner without an invitation, he’d stolen my invitation to get her admitted, then helped her win May’s favor.
The matter of the name change on the invitation could simply be blamed on the Butler later.
Living as a possessed soul, I was discovering all sorts of petty schemes absent from the original story.
‘Sometimes I wonder if Dominic suits the role of the villainous young lady better than I do.’
So I intercepted the gaudy luminous stone he’d prepared to give Chloe as a gift for the Princess.

***

Evening, Royal Palace Banquet Hall.
The lavishly decorated hall bustled with guests who had come to celebrate May’s birthday.
Upon spotting someone among them, several nobles unfurled their fans to cover their mouths.
“Imagine thinking of gifting a luminous stone to the Princess. There’s nothing quite as meaningless as a relationship bought with money.”
“It’s the way of the nouveau riche with nothing but money. They’ve even managed to captivate the Imperial Prince—just how wealthy could they be?”
“Though men do say they only look at appearances…”
The moment they caught sight of Octavia Ludovisi standing elegantly before the towering champagne tower, bathed in the golden light of the chandelier, their mouths fell silent.
‘Men truly are…’
It was a unanimous sentiment.
The Prince, who lacked for nothing, had clearly fallen for her beauty rather than her wealth.
Octavia Ludovisi, dressed in a lilac silk gown with the skirt billowed and layered like a full-bloomed rose, was undeniably the most striking presence in the room.
In the best light, she wore daringly designed dresses and draped jewels worth an entire mansion without being overshadowed by her stunning beauty; in the worst light, she remained a fixture on gossip lists for her arrogant nature and ruined reputation.
The world’s assessment was that she was a demon wearing an angel’s face.
The gazes of those who enjoyed observing and gossiping about others turned toward their next target.
“The lady from a fallen house has arrived. Her divine abilities are at the lowest rank, aren’t they?”
A woman with dark hair adorned with subtle violet luster, green eyes, and modest clothing chosen with careful attention to her circumstances.
She was Chloe Arsenes, the young lady of Baron Ravishi—the protagonist of this novel.
“Lady Arsenes has prepared a handmade brooch. Though the Princess isn’t one to be moved by sincerity.”
“For a poor fallen noble, that’s probably the best she can manage, isn’t it?”
They were the type of people who lived for the simple pleasure of belittling others, regardless of their character or status.
Chloe was presenting her gift to the Princess.
May accepted the gift with a perfunctory smile and expressed her gratitude.
“You made this yourself? How thoughtful. But tell me, did you receive an invitation?”
“Yes, it was an honor.”
At Chloe’s response, the Princess’s cool gaze turned toward Dominic.
“It seems the name on the invitation was changed. The person I invited almost couldn’t come. It was my mistake, so don’t worry too much about it.”
Chloe’s cheeks paled slightly.
Dominic was struggling to suppress his anger and maintain composure.
Had Octavia not mentioned the invitation to the Princess, he would have let it slide. Or if it had been Chloe who was gifting the luminous stone.
Because Octavia had purchased the luminous stone first, he had tried to prepare another expensive gift in haste, but Chloe had firmly declined.
Her reason was that she wanted to prepare a gift filled with sincerity.
‘It’s because Chloe is too kind and naive.’
Dominic murmured inwardly.
Unfortunately, the world was no fairy tale, and there was no chance a calculating princess would be moved by such things.
Wasn’t the atmosphere entirely different when she received Octavia, who had given the luminous stone?
“It’s a jewel that repels the evil aura of chaos and spirit magic. It would be good to keep it with you always, like a sacred relic.”
However, Chloe knew that May was concerned with the spirit magic and curses of the Chaos Faith.
“Is that so? Would you explain in more detail?”
Only then did the Princess begin to show interest.
‘How very protagonist-like.’
Such was Octavia’s observation as she watched Chloe.
‘I recall that the female lead of the daytime drama had rather lengthy passages of self-pity and lamentation.’
Lost in reminiscence, she noticed Dominic gesturing for her to follow him—he seemed intent on confronting her about disrupting his plans.
Octavia dismissed him lightly and tilted her champagne glass to her lips.
“Octavia.”
Dominic approached her regardless and pressed the matter.
“Did you really have to inform her about the invitation? You possess far more than Chloe does, yet you must deprive her of every opportunity and monopolize everything to be satisfied?”
“…I forbid such clichéd remarks.”
As though she already knew every word he intended to speak, she smiled knowingly.
“Whether it’s currying favor with the Imperial Royal Family or the Princess, or whatever you’re doing…”
“I also forbid you assigning meaning to this. Whether you pity Chloe or regard her as an incompetent wretch incapable of accomplishing anything alone—that is your concern to manage, Your Highness. It does not justify my suffering the indignity of being omitted from the guest list. Shall we both withdraw our attention and simply live our own lives?”
Her tone was measured and crisp, as though she were methodically crushing something beneath her heel.
Yet he remained oblivious, mistaking her changed demeanor for a manifestation of love-hate—a sign that she still clung to him.
“Octavia. If you go to May and tell her that you helped Chloe obtain the Radiant Stone, I will forgive all your actions thus far.”
“And if you don’t forgive me?”
“I will never acknowledge you again. Not a single word will pass between us.”
Observing Octavia’s expression harden like stone, he believed his threat had struck home.
‘As if she could truly let go.’
She remained useful enough that if he coaxed her appropriately from the shadows and left the door open, she would come crawling back to him eventually.
He was convinced he held the upper hand in this dynamic.
He seized her wrist, then—as though the memory of her broken arm flashed through his mind—he hastily released it with a guilty expression.
“Go and deliver the message at once.”
“I beg your pardon? You wish to dance with me?”
Yet Octavia suddenly raised her voice and widened her eyes in feigned surprise.
To any observer, the situation was ripe for misunderstanding, and Dominic’s face paled.
“What are you—”
“You approached me intending to exploit my family’s abilities, pocketed the benefits, and immediately switched to another woman. Isn’t that so?”
Having heard every word that followed, the surrounding guests turned toward them with wide eyes.
Dominic’s face drained of color as though frozen against an icy cliff.
His infidelity had been one of the reasons for her tyranny all this time.
She smiled knowingly and whispered to him.
“I admit I am greedy—my desires are countless, and I must possess them all.”
Life and wealth, a peaceful existence, and even the hatred of others—I must claim it all.
Then, in a voice utterly at odds with her radiant smile, she added coldly:
“But Your Highness does not appear on my bucket list.”
Unless it were a raven-haired beauty in uniform whom I despised enough to kill.

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