Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 45

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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 45
The moment our eyes met—those emerald irises of his—my shoulders tensed inexplicably. Though inwardly flustered, I masked it behind an icy expression, feigning indifference.
“It’s been a while, Knight Isidore.”
“Indeed. Perhaps the first time since the last inquiry into that incident? I found the formula you refined quite impressive, my lady.”
He opened the conversation with a natural compliment.
“That’s nothing special to me. Hmph! Well then, I’ll be on my way.”
After my bravado, I tried to continue down the path, but the cat accompanying Isidore blocked my way, its yellow eyes gleaming.
“This little one is quite cautious, yet it seems to adore you, my lady. How curious.”
Well, that made sense—my shawl pockets were stuffed with catnip.
‘I’ve been visiting Blanche far too frequently lately.’
“Does it like you that much?”
Isidore knelt down, stroking the cat’s chin as it circled around me. From this vantage point looking down at him, his impossibly beautiful face appeared at the most flattering angle imaginable.
‘Ah, what a good life this has been.’
“By the way, have you found a partner for the Spring Blossom Ball?”
While I was experiencing an existential threat from his relentless facial assault, he looked up at me with an unexpected question.
“Why are you asking that…?”
Isidore’s eyes crinkled slightly, creating an adorable expression.
“If you haven’t, would you grant me the honor of escorting you this time, my lady?”
What—what?!
Shock rendered my lips stiff. Why would someone of his standing ask me specifically?
“I haven’t found a partner yet either. I heard you haven’t either, my lady.”
I genuinely didn’t have one, while he could line up willing candidates for miles if he wanted.
“Isn’t it your turn to meddle now?”
He brought up the time I’d helped him when he clashed with Philaf, his eyes drooping in an endearing manner.
‘He’s like a big puppy.’
Truth be told, I was the one who urgently needed an escort partner. The festival was only days away.
‘But something feels off about this.’
Why would he make such a proposal to me?
I hesitated before finally speaking.
“I’ll consider it for now.”
At my response, he broke into a radiant smile, his dimples deepening. It was almost blinding.
“So there’s a possibility then.”
“I-I do have my capricious moments sometimes. Anyway, I have an urgent appointment, so I should go.”
“An appointment?”
“Yes, well. I’ll be going then!”
Flustered by his fresh smile, I gave a stammering reply and quickly fled to Blanche.
* * *
Master! Where on earth did you go at this crucial moment?
I bit my lip anxiously.
“Lady Deborah Simour, if you’ll wait just a moment, he should arrive.”
My informant spoke hesitantly to me as I grew anxious. Soon word came that the Master had arrived, and I hurried into his office with quick strides.
Unusually, the Master—who typically remained as motionless as a doll—was breathing heavily with his shoulders heaving.
“Did I interrupt you while you were working?”
“No, no. I was just exercising.”
Ah, so that explained why despite being an informant with a regular exercise routine, he maintained such excellent physical condition.
“What brings you here so suddenly without prior arrangement?”
He gulped down water in one long drink.
“That request about Isidore Visconti from last time—could you show me the materials you’ve gathered so far? Something about him seems off.”
“Off, you say?”
His already cold, mineral-like face grew even more frigid.
“Yes. Out of nowhere, he asked me to be his partner for the ball. Quite suspicious, if you ask me.”
“What’s suspicious about that? It’s just a ball escort request—hardly a matter of great consequence.”
“I don’t know. Something feels off about it. Perhaps he’s trying to gain something through me to reach my father, or something like that….”
“I’m not sure why you’re being so negative about this, but let’s calm down first and review the materials I’ve gathered.”
Looking at the text written along the left edge of the paper, I narrowed my eyes.
“Master. It seems you’ve revised these materials quite a few times.”
For someone as overpowered as him to go through this much trial and error—Isidore was definitely no ordinary man.
“…Why is this here? The actual final materials are these.”
“Hmm.”
“They’re composed of six categories: appearance, wealth, power, ability, reputation, and character. I’ve expressed everything in the most objective language possible and extracted only factual information.”
As I carefully reviewed the documents he handed me, I felt profoundly deflated.
“That’s all?”
“Yes, for now.”
Summarizing his materials, Isidore Visconti was a perfect ten out of ten in all six categories. A perfectly filled hexagon, so to speak.
The most handsome man in the Empire. A tycoon who owned numerous gold mines, a swordsman rivaling Deborah Simour, an only son with a guaranteed position as family head, and possessed a character that was both humble and decisive….
‘This is nonsense. How can a person be this perfect? I could accept five of these categories, but character? How can you determine that so easily?’
“Master.”
I adopted a serious expression.
“Speak.”
“I’m not doubting your abilities, but could it be that you have some personal interest in Knight Isidore? The materials feel quite biased.”
The Master drank water without responding.
“While investigating, didn’t you feel something suspicious? You know, that kind of unsettling feeling?”
“Unsettling about that face…. Aren’t you the one looking at him through rose-colored glasses, my lady?”
Was it my imagination that his lips seemed to pout?
He really does seem to be a fan!
Caught red-handed.
“So there’s nothing shady about him at all, then.”
“Why do you keep saying shady… They say he only gives off a pleasant fragrance.”
Suddenly, I recalled the lovely scent that lingered around my nose when Isidore helped me into the carriage last time.
“Hmm. You speak as though you’ve smelled it yourself.”
“It’s a metaphor, a metaphor!”
“I understand perfectly well that Master’s intentions are laden with self-interest.”
“You’re quite suspicious. Your vigilance is strong as well.”
Noticing a hint of disappointment in his expression, I closed my mouth.
My suspicions about Isidore Visconti lingered beneath the surface, but I decided to suspend my investigation temporarily—revealing more skepticism risked shattering the trust I’d built with Master.
‘In the end, I have no choice but to confront him directly.’
I understood well that Isidore Visconti was a meticulous man who would never expose himself to blackmail. The fact that Master, who could extract secrets flawlessly, had found nothing and ended up becoming a fan spoke volumes.
‘His self-management is thorough too. No wonder he’s so popular.’
I clicked my tongue inwardly and stroked Cookie, whose eyes gleamed nearby.
‘This one grows cuter the more I see it.’
Of course, when it proudly displayed those long, pointed fangs, my heart would sink with an eerie chill. But when I tickled its chin, Cookie narrowed its eyes and purred contentedly.
Now that I thought about it, the cat that Isidore Visconti had been petting earlier had quite similar fur coloring. This world seemed to have many animals with golden fur.
“Since our business is concluded, I’ll take my leave.”
I stood up after placing down the commission fee, when he suddenly called out to me.
“My lady.”
“Yes?”
“Who are you planning to partner with for the Spring Blossom Ball? Not that I’m particularly curious—it just came up in conversation earlier.”
He asked casually while shuffling through documents.
“Since we’re on the topic, how about Master becomes my partner? I’ll pay the commission fee very generously.”
The moment I requested the leader of the Secret Organization to be my partner, his doll-like pupils vibrated rapidly as if struck by an earthquake.
“Of course, I was joking.”
“My lady, you have no talent for jokes.”
Though truthfully, I was half-serious.
‘Is there really no alternative besides Isidore Visconti?’
Thanks to Louis Gazel, I’d become a massive landmine everyone avoided. If I tried to forcibly recruit Young-sik, wouldn’t he break his own legs to escape?
Wandering the ballroom with Young-sik wearing that constipated expression was something I wanted to avoid too. Even a villainess deserves some romance.
“I’m going now.”
I waved my hand lightly at Master, who sat there blankly, and returned home.
That very night, I began composing a letter to Isidore Visconti requesting him to be my escort for the ball.
As I wrote, Isidore Visconti’s sweet smile—reminiscent of vibrant spring blossoms—lingered persistently in my mind.

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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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