Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 191

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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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Side Story 8
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‘Hmm. Though Michèle Grandbert doesn’t quite seem like the Fifth Princess’s friend….’
She gives off the impression of an ardent devotee instead.
When she’d lent articulated puppets to serve as bait during the battle with the Black Mage, I’d assumed she and the Fifth Princess had grown quite close, but Michèle’s demeanor suggested something beyond mere friendship.
“F-Fifth Princess. Is my face strange right now? I’m trembling so much.”
Michèle asked repeatedly about her condition with a pallid face. Her tightly clenched fists had been trembling faintly with tension since earlier.
“You’re naturally pale anyway, so you don’t look much different from usual. But are you really that nervous?”
Well, Deborah Simour was the saint who saved the Empire, after all.
Before, few people had recognized her true worth, but after the battle with the Demon, it was unmistakable that her followers had increased.
“I really… can’t believe it. I didn’t even expect it. I prayed, of course, but I’ve never been particularly lucky, so I never dreamed I’d be invited to this gathering. It’s such an honor, and I’m so grateful, Fifth Princess.”
Michèle Grandbert, who’d been invited to this tea party by the Fifth Princess’s whim, hadn’t slept since receiving the invitation. Everyone envied her for attending a tea party with two of the Empire’s most popular figures, but… I absolutely didn’t come because of the saint!
Michèle took great pride in the fact that she wasn’t a latecomer to fandom.
‘To think the master of Armand, whom I’d only vaguely imagined all this time, was none other than Deborah Simour! And she even has such a noble side job as being a saint.’
A tea time with someone she’d admired so much that she’d prepared puppet tributes as secret gifts and even written analytical papers about!
“I’m really successful. I’m glad to be alive.”
Michèle was moved to tears.
“I had no idea you’d been waiting outside the Imperial Palace since dawn. It’s a good thing I came out early.”
“If I were even a second late, it would be a disaster. So it puts my mind at ease to wait from dawn instead.”
“Well, I suppose that makes sense. But I’ve been curious since earlier—what’s that in your hand?”
“A script….”
“I don’t understand why you’d need a script for a tea party, but setting that aside, what exactly have you written down?”
The Fifth Princess showed curiosity as she watched the slip of paper Michèle had been clutching like a lifeline since earlier.
“…Things I want to say when I meet her. Various things.”
“May I see it?”
Just as Michèle hesitated, word arrived that Deborah Simour had reached the Imperial Palace entrance.
“Fifth Princess, I suddenly feel my t-tongue, dizzy….”
Michèle suddenly swayed and pressed her forehead.
“Get a grip. You’ve been waiting since dawn. If you collapse now, you won’t even see her for a second.”
“I’ll hold on.”
Michèle clenched her teeth and nodded with determination. Soon Deborah Simour appeared beyond the door, and Michèle barely suppressed a scream.
“I hope you’ve been well, Fifth Princess.”
Deborah Simour greeted her with her characteristic cold expression. But the Fifth Princess could now read the warmth dwelling in the depths of her eyes.
“Thanks to you.”
The two exchanged gazes and shook hands lightly.
“You’ve been well too, haven’t you?”
“Yes, thanks to you, Fifth Princess, I’ve been resting well and doing fine.”
“But we agreed to call each other by our names, didn’t we, Deborah?”
“That’s right, Vivienne.”
Watching the two affectionately call each other by their names, Michèle pressed down on her feet to resist the urge to jump up and down.
‘I’m so envious of the Fifth Princess. I wish she’d call my name so casually too!’
Though I was screaming dramatically inside, Michèle was skilled at concealing her emotions like a high-ranking noblewoman should be.
“Lady Michèle, it’s been a while.”
Deborah Simour greeted her while hiding her inner awkwardness. I felt a twinge of guilt—I’d written an analytical paper about Armand for her and even promoted it as a five-star restaurant, yet I’d been hiding my identity and pretending to know nothing all this time.
Moreover, I’d borrowed the dolls Michèle owned to lure the Third Prince onto a boat, and I’d dropped them all in the water without being able to return them.
‘Though she did say I didn’t need to return them….’
Perhaps she couldn’t bring herself to ask for compensation because I was the Duchess of Simour. I glanced at her cautiously, and Michèle’s pupils trembled as she barely managed to speak.
“Duchess, it’s been a while.”
“Thank you for so readily agreeing when I suddenly asked to borrow dolls for the boat.”
‘The Duchess remembered my dolls for such an important endeavor and even used them—it’s simply an honor! A tremendous honor! So there’s really no need for her to thank me so formally… sniff.’
But Michèle couldn’t voice the sentences racing through her mind. The pre-written script lines tangled with her thoughts, leaving her so disoriented that her vision nearly went white.
‘I should have just prepared nothing.’
“Michèle?”
The Fifth Princess called out lightly to Michèle, who seemed to have forgotten how to breathe.
‘I suppose I do make her uncomfortable.’
Seeing only Michèle’s expressionless face, Deborah Simour assumed the young woman was intimidated by her and opened her mouth with an embarrassed expression.
“Simour always repays its debts. It won’t be easy to find a work of art equal in value to a doll handcrafted by you, but I wish to compensate you.”
‘Wait, isn’t this my cue to deliver that line?’
Michèle suddenly remembered the line from her script and barely managed to part her lips.
“Compensation? Please don’t say such things. I sense a wall between us, Duchess.”
“My face is naturally rather cold….”
“…Perfect.”
“….”
“….”
The Fifth Princess murmured awkwardly after a moment of silence that was difficult to recover from.
“Ah, perfection is also a wall.”
“…I, I think I’d just like to go home. I’m so sorry!”
Michèle’s pale face flushed like a ripe apple as she shot to her feet.
“Pfft!”
Just as she was about to flee, unable to bear the embarrassment, the Duchess—who had been silent until then—suddenly covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking. At the sight of her laughter for the first time, Michèle’s legs gave way and she sank down.
“W-where is a handkerchief?”
Michèle mumbled incoherently.
“Why, you said earlier that excitement made you dizzy—now it seems you’re about to have a nosebleed?”
“No. When Deborah Simour laughed, the juice splattered all the way here.”
“….”
Meaning her laughter was as refreshing as fruit.
“I should wipe it….”
“…Shall we have some tea?”
“Yes. I’m so sorry.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for. I’m simply astounded by the wit of the Empire’s finest doll artisan… ahem, your sense of humor is truly remarkable. Every time you speak such precious words, I feel as though I’m facing the wall of another world. Of course, it’s perfect.”
Though it didn’t quite feel like praise, Michèle was satisfied nonetheless.
‘I’m embarrassed, but since the lady laughed, that’s all that matters.’
It was a script born from the vain desire to deliver a memorable line to the person she admired—and somehow, it had worked.
‘I got her.’
While Michèle was delighted beyond measure, Deborah Simour lifted her teacup with lingering traces of laughter on her face.
“The aroma of this tea is truly wonderful.”
“Yes, it’s absolutely lovely. Ah….”
“I specially had Father bring out the tea leaves he treasures, just for you two. I thought if there were any lingering walls between you, we might as well tear them down. Of course, it’s not perfect. Haha.”
“…I won’t do anything like that again….”
“Why not? It was fun.”
‘They’re both having a great time.’
The awkward atmosphere had transformed into warmth through Michèle’s jokes, and Deborah, finally among peers her own age, sipped her tea while listening to their chatter.
“Oh, by the way. Did you know purple amethysts are so scarce now that they can’t be sold?”
“Purple silk and thread are trending too. I tried to dress all my dolls in them, but there was a shortage.”
“I’m thinking of proposing that the Imperial Court change its symbolic color from sky blue to purple.”
“That’s going a bit far….”
Deborah Simour felt deeply embarrassed inside, but as always, it barely showed on her face. And that composed demeanor gave her an air of indifference to popularity.
“That’s cool.”
Michèle said suddenly.
“Well, of course. That’s my girl.”
“….”
‘They really are close friends.’
Deborah deliberately averted her gaze from their gleaming eyes, and absently touched her ring finger, which had grown cold with sweat. It was a habit that had developed since she’d begun wearing her engagement ring daily.
And both their eyes naturally lingered on that ring.
“Hmm. Lady Deborah Simour, I heard the rumor that you’re engaged to Duke Visconti. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“Um, well, actually….”
Michèle shyly bit her lip, then released it.
“At the wedding, would it be alright if I served as a bridesmaid? I-if there’s still a spot available, that is.”
In Asteia, on the wedding day, four or five of the bride’s friends stood as bridesmaids beside her, carrying flowers. It was one of the traditions stemming from the custom of protecting the bride from outsiders.
“The spot next to me is absolutely yours. Don’t even think about it, Michèle.”
“But the left side is still open.”
Watching the two bicker, Deborah Simour felt a peculiar emotion. There was a time when she was an object of fear, when not even a single young lady could meet her eyes properly….
Beyond these two, Margaret and Arin had also come to ask if they could serve as bridesmaids. I’d been so busy scrambling through life on my own, but now that I think about it, I’m genuinely surprised and delighted that there are so many people who sincerely wish to celebrate my wedding.
The lady’s sharp eyes curved slightly as she smiled faintly.
‘Dazzling.’
For a moment, the brightness was blinding, and Michèle covered her eyes….
‘Isidore, you lucky bastard.’
The Fifth Princess seriously considered going to find Isidore with her latest collection of offensive magical artifacts to pick a fight over a love rival.

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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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