Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 102

—————

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

—————

Chapter 102
Normally, people would quickly avert their eyes, but the young lady suddenly walked toward me at a leisurely pace.
‘Oh no. …Why is she coming over?’
Could Deborah Simour have done something to this young lady in the past? Anxious about the unexpected situation, I downed another shot of champagne.
“Good evening, Lady Deborah Simour.”
Fortunately, her eyes held no resentment.
‘But what kind of conversations do young ladies here usually have?’
They probably didn’t discuss things like the actual state of mana energy density changes and research trend analysis. Accustomed only to conversations with the Fifth Princess, I swallowed hard and looked at her.
She introduced herself as Lea Horens. In her tense eyes, a hint of affection lingered.
‘Ah, she’s the young lady who had trouble with her presentation last year because of Emmanuelle.’
I think the Fifth Princess mentioned it in passing.
‘The enemy of my enemy is, at least for now, my ally.’
“It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Deborah Simour.”
“It’s nice to meet you too.”
“And congratulations on successfully completing your first presentation!”
‘Successful? I caused quite a commotion.’
That’s why I had asked Isidore to move my presentation slot to the very end.
‘I’ve heard that at the Academic Conference, different Social Clubs often clash with each other, but I suppose if you win, it counts as success?’
Silence stretched as I considered what to say with appropriate dignity.
“Well. Yes.”
In the end, I answered flatly and picked up another glass of champagne. Lea also responded with an awkward smile.
As she and I faced each other and clinked glasses, Young-sik, who had been standing nearby, approached me and greeted me.
“Lady Deborah Simour. I’m Max Furnier. I presented a paper on the relationship between spirits’ power and the environment at this Academic Conference. I was the second presenter—do you remember?”
“That paper made quite an impression on me.”
Remembering his presentation about how light spirits benefit from photosynthesis, I had been carrying holy water tattooed on my arm in spirit form on sunny days.
‘And the weather was beautiful today.’
As I absently touched my arm, Max picked up a glass of champagne from the corner with a strangely melancholic expression. It must be my imagination that it felt like he was borrowing the power of alcohol to converse with me.
“I was also deeply impressed by your magical artifacts, Lady Deborah Simour.”
“That’s right. I thought they were truly revolutionary. Max and I marveled at them so much.”
It seemed the two of them knew each other, and Max appeared to have joined in to help Lea(?). As the three of us stood awkwardly exchanging formal pleasantries, the interior suddenly grew noisy, and my gaze naturally turned toward the entrance of the Frat House.
Even surrounded by countless people, I could immediately spot Isidore. His extraordinary height and the intense presence that transformed the atmosphere around him made it impossible to miss him.
He naturally revealed his position within the crowd and entered the hall with his retainers.
“You arrived early.”
I thought he would engage in conversation with the nobles gathered around him, but instead he smiled brilliantly and walked straight toward where I stood, causing my hand to tremble involuntarily. Countless gazes—far more than before—converged on me.
‘I have a slight case of attention anxiety.’
I quickly picked up a glass containing red liqueur. The sweet cherry flavor momentarily eased my tension.
“This is your first group gathering since joining, isn’t it, Lady Deborah Simour? It looks like you’ve already exchanged introductions with Lea and Max.”
“This is my first time meeting Lady Deborah Simour.”
“We were discussing our papers.”
“It’s wonderful to see such harmony. Though I’m late, shall we raise a toast to celebrate your entry into the group?”
As he naturally raised a toast and lifted his champagne glass, those standing in the hall rushed over in a flood, clinking their glasses together. The empty space around me filled instantly with people, and someone popped an expensive bottle of champagne.
Pop!
The loud clinking of glasses filled with golden liquid made my ears ring. The gazes of the Epsilon members looking at me weren’t particularly harsh.
‘This feels strange.’
I was used to being disliked here.
“A spell formula and magical artifacts too. We welcome the induction of Deborah Simour, who has been the most active this year.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”
Amid the welcoming greetings pouring in from all directions, white champagne bubbles rose into the air, creating a scene that felt endlessly unreal. It was as if I had stepped into one of those glamorous parties from the movies.
As I blinked slowly like Alice arriving in a strange land, Isidore spoke to me quietly.
“Have you eaten?”
“Oh, yes.”
“That’s good. Don’t drink too much on an empty stomach. This has quite a strong alcohol content.”
Isidore spoke while holding a liqueur with the same reddish hue as mine.
‘It just tastes like a delicious cherry drink.’
As I examined the red glass, the Fifth Princess approached from behind Isidore.
“Knight Isidore, popping champagne without me? I’m truly disappointed. I wanted to introduce Deborah Simour to everyone myself.”
“Just wait a moment.”
After that, executives like Thierry and Guillaume entered in succession, and the atmosphere became even more lively.
It turned out that Max Furnier, whom I had spoken with earlier, was also an executive. It seemed only one of the six executives was unable to attend due to work. The Fifth Princess mentioned that it wasn’t common for the leader to attend with five executives all gathered together.
“The seniors sent us plenty of gifts to celebrate the successful conclusion of the Academic Conference.”
Soon a massive three-tiered cake and expensive wine appeared, and the after-party venue became increasingly boisterous. It was so loud that you couldn’t hear the other person’s voice unless you spoke loudly.
And I was introduced to all the Epsilon members present today. True to an organization that valued ability, there were spirit summoners, top-ranked undergraduates, sword experts, and even talented individuals who had already secured job offers from the Magic Tower.
‘Now it finally feels real that I’ve joined the Social Club.’
But as time passed, I found it harder to concentrate on the conversation, so I narrowed my eyes slightly.
‘Could the alcohol be hitting me?’
Now that I thought about it, I had been sipping champagne and liqueur bit by bit whenever I felt nervous.
‘But I’m still fine. Still fine.’
Since I had drunk plenty of strong wine as gifts before without any problem, I thought this amount was manageable. For some reason, Isidore’s white-gloved hand kept catching my eye, but I dismissed it as nothing.
‘I’m not drunk yet!’
I was not drunk.
* * *
‘Deborah Simour seems perfectly fine.’
Miguel surveyed the party in full swing and spotted Deborah Simour standing with an upright posture. Every time I saw her, I felt it—she was dazzlingly gorgeous yet remarkably cold in appearance.
“To maintain that kind of atmosphere throughout the party. That’s truly like Deborah Simour.”
“…She seems drunk.”
At that moment, my lord standing beside me furrowed his brow and muttered.
“What makes you say that?”
Deborah Simour wore an expression so frigid it could sober up even the most intoxicated person, and she looked the most composed of anyone present. It felt like I should bow deeply just for her gracing us with her attendance.
‘She’s definitely different from usual.’
Isidore, true to his experience as a seasoned intelligence operative, narrowed his eyes keenly.
First, her complexion. Her face was paler than usual, but her earlobes were flushed an unusual crimson.
More tellingly, she was deliberately stepping only on the golden portions of the marble floor’s decorative pattern with her heels.
‘And… for some reason, I keep feeling like she’s watching me.’
Without knowing why, a chill crept across my palms beneath my gloves.
“Hm? It seems like she’s looking this way.”
As Miguel tried to discern where Deborah Simour’s gaze was directed, Thierry approached with a melancholic smile and a friendly demeanor, obscuring the princess from view.
“The closeness between those two is quite unexpected, yet somehow fitting… my lord?”
At the same moment, Isidore beside me vanished without a trace.
Meanwhile, Thierry was addressing Deborah Simour with a note of disappointment.
“Why haven’t you visited the Music Room lately? I’ve been practicing some difficult pieces recently.”
“…I’ve been busy.”
If you’re going to answer so coldly and curtly, why pause for three whole seconds? You’re raising my expectations.
‘I’m actually quite popular, you know.’
Thierry swallowed his tears and spoke again.
“Then surely you have some free time now? No matter how busy you are, surely you can spare five minutes, or even ten? We have loyalty between us.”
“…Ten minutes?”
Her crimson lips moved slowly.
“You could come visit?”
As I held my breath awaiting her answer, suddenly there came a loud splash, and the back of Thierry’s trousers were soaked. Guillaume had spilled champagne on him from behind. Thierry’s veins bulged across his forehead.
“What in blazes are you doing? I’m completely drenched! And of all places, you had to spill it somewhere that invites misunderstanding.”
“S-someone just tripped me! Was it a ghost?”
Guillaume muttered, his face drained of color.
“You probably tripped over your own feet.”
“That’s probably what happened.”
“Regardless, how are you going to take responsibility for my trousers? I was planning to run until dawn today.”
While the two of them bickered back and forth, Deborah Simour suddenly stepped outside. Behind the Townhouse, beneath a towering tree, she gazed upward at the stars visible between the leaves.
“Drink this.”
Isidore, who had approached without a sound, offered her a glass of water. Deborah Simour’s crimson gaze fixed once more on his hand holding the glass, and Isidore tilted his head in question.

—————

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

—————