Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 56

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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 56
* * *
‘So that’s why he called an emergency assembly—he wanted to show her off.’
‘This is pure paternal pride.’
‘I’ll play along. Unless I want to end up like Lemon.’
Duke Simour arrived at the Classroom with every elder from the Magic Tower and his entire entourage in tow.
‘What in the world is this?’
The mages who had come purely for formula study straightened their hunched spines with haggard expressions. Moments later, as Deborah Simour walked up to the podium, the Classroom filled with a tension far greater than usual.
‘I must control my expression. Even if the lecture is childish or clumsy, I cannot let it show.’
‘I will summon every compliment I know from the depths of my being.’
‘How pathetic. I trained in a children’s choir. I can sing hymns all the way through verse twelve.’
The Magic Tower elders, orchestrating their elaborate performance with full mental exertion, soon found themselves genuinely impressed by her lecture. She had delivered it with the fervent enthusiasm of a top-tier hagwon instructor in Daechi-dong, promoting formulas with absolute conviction.
‘Oh. She’s quite good.’
‘She explains things clearly.’
‘Well, she’s the one who refined the formulas, so she naturally understands the concepts and applications better than anyone.’
The elders no longer needed to resort to empty flattery. Though once her lecture ended, they would need to shower her with flowery praise until their lips grew numb.
As the presentation drew to a close, one elder, gauging Duke Simour’s mood, ventured to speak.
“That was a magnificent lecture.”
“She would be worthy of appointment as a regular professor at the Academy.”
“Absolutely.”
Duke Simour, who had maintained a stern expression with his arms crossed throughout, began to twitch his thin lips.
‘He’s pleased!’
‘A father truly cannot resist bragging about his daughter.’
Then it happened.
Clap, clap, clap. At the sound of spirited applause from somewhere, the elders’ eyes sharpened.
‘Who dares to clap? She hasn’t even set down her chalk yet.’
“I was deeply moved.”
Count Almare was giving a standing ovation, his face awash with emotion. His acting was worthy of making opera singers weep.
‘This wet-behind-the-ears brat dares to make a move without regard for hierarchy?’
‘Life is all about timing. You understand, don’t you?’
‘So this is how shameless he can be? I’ll have to amplify the applause with enhancement magic.’
Soon the Classroom erupted in thunderous applause that seemed to shake the very walls. And so Deborah Simour successfully completed her first lecture.
* * *
I rubbed my eyes.
The tension had doubled from the presence of the gloomy figures in dark robes and Duke Simour, who had come to observe the lecture, and exhaustion crashed over me like a tidal wave.
‘I’m exhausted.’
Emerging from the Classroom in a state of complete depletion, I came face to face with the delighted Fifth Princess. Her yellow eyes gleamed like a cat spotting fish.
“Deborah Simour, did you hear that thunderous applause? Every mage in that room must have fallen for you. Just like I have.”
The Fifth Princess suddenly confessed her love and thrust a contract and quill pen toward me.
An inexplicable unease welled up in me, so I examined the terms carefully. There might be some toxic clause hidden in 2-point font.
“I find your prudence quite charming as well. You’re the first woman to make me this desperate. You’re making my palms sweat.”
She fanned herself with exaggerated vigor, as if pouting.
‘Anything is better than Aracron where Philaf is. I just want to go home and rest.’
“Should I sign here?”
“Yes.”
I reluctantly signed and handed over the membership agreement, and the Fifth Princess smiled with satisfaction.
“What’s done is done… anyway, Epsilon is truly an excellent organization. The leader is the most handsome man in the Empire, and you have so many talented individuals like yourself. I welcome your membership.”
Wait. Did I just hear something suspicious about what’s done being done?
‘Perhaps I’m so exhausted that I’m hearing things.’
The social club matter that had plagued me endlessly was resolved so simply—I tried to convince myself it was a good thing. But it didn’t take long before I discovered that Epsilon was composed of rather unusual members.
* * *
“Congratulations, Your Grace.”
Following Deborah Simour’s successful lecture, when news arrived that she had joined Epsilon through the Fifth Princess’s enthusiastic recommendation, the Aide offered his congratulations.
“She’s my daughter, so that much is only natural.”
Though Duke Simour spoke as if it were nothing, his Aide keenly noticed the faintest upturn at the corners of his mouth.
“The young lady will shine even more brilliantly from now on.”
“By the way, Epsilon was overwhelmingly dominant in my time—is it still the most thriving club these days?”
“Yes, it’s undoubtedly the most popular club.”
“Who’s the leader?”
“Knight Isidore Visconti, sir. Come to think of it, he was the young lady’s dance partner at the ball. His appearance is refined, and he’s a capable young man whom the Crown Prince himself holds in high regard….”
The Aide, who had been reciting information about Visconti, fell silent upon seeing the Duke’s cold expression.
“Ahem. Well, that’s how it is.”
“That fellow—how dare he surpass my daughter and become this year’s flower.”
The Crown Prince, who was on intimate terms with Visconti, had pushed the matter jokingly, but when many enthusiastically agreed, an unexpected result emerged. Since the Spring Flower Festival wasn’t a solemn affair, everyone accepted the outcome cheerfully.
Everyone except Duke Simour.
“That shameless bastard just accepted it without hesitation?”
“Y-yes, indeed.”
The Aide, exercising his professional instincts, offered his agreement.
“I don’t like how that man is so polished and gleaming. Those types always live up to their looks.”
When Duke Simour—whose beauty was second to none in the Empire—spoke of living up to one’s looks, the Aide was inwardly dumbfounded and could not speak for some time.
* * *
“Deborah! Did you really sign the Epsilon membership agreement? You can’t just sign anything that comes your way. That’s not acceptable.”
Duke Simour’s reaction upon hearing of my membership was the complete opposite of what I expected.
‘What’s the reason?’
Since Duke Simour had once been the leader of Epsilon and the Duchess had been a member, I was certain he would be pleased.
“I understood Epsilon to be a club with many excellent seniors like Father. That’s why I thought you’d be delighted.”
The Duke sighed and shook his head firmly.
“The club itself isn’t the problem—it’s the leader… Tsk! These so-called prestigious club leaders are all the same. It’s disappointing.”
“….”
So it was Isidore who was the problem again.
“What in the world possessed him to entrust a complete incompetent with such authority! The end times are upon us, truly. I fear for the Empire’s future—it weighs heavily on my heart.”
The Duke, who had been unexpectedly fretting over the Empire’s prospects, abandoned his garden stroll midway, claiming fatigue, and retreated to the Annex Building.
‘Well, to the eyes of a 7th-class mage, everyone must appear utterly insignificant.’
I scratched the back of my neck, thinking that the tendency of the aged to dismiss the younger generation was much the same here as elsewhere.
* * *
We welcome the entry of Deborah Simour with open arms.
-Epsilon Members
‘Good grief! What is this now?’
As I crossed the Courtyard, I caught sight of an embarrassingly enormous banner plastered near the Social Club’s promotional bulletin board, and an awkward sensation washed over me.
“Impressive, isn’t it?”
Without my asking, someone suddenly emerged from behind and offered an explanation.
‘You startled me.’
“The Fifth Princess herself instructed that welcome message be hung. It seems she wished to boast of it to Aracron.”
As my gaze met those dark eyes, Thierry Orgo broke into a grin. His drooping eyes and tousled black hair suited him well enough, though his characteristically frivolous demeanor utterly undermined his otherwise refined appearance.
“Your cold stare makes my heart flutter so. I’m rather tender-hearted, you see.”
In a voice entirely unconvincing, Thierry brazenly wiped his chest with exaggerated concern.
“Since we didn’t properly introduce ourselves at the Ball last time, allow me. I’m Thierry Orgo. For now, at least… I’m a prosecutor.”
Unlike his brother, he was not the conscientious type.
“Deborah Simour.”
I answered with measured coldness, and he scratched the back of his neck.
“You’re as aloof as the rumors suggest. You’d be quite popular if you were just a touch kinder.”
“And you’re as frivolous as advertised. A strong breeze would blow you away.”
“Ha, well. I’ve nothing to refute that with.”
As I conversed with the grinning Thierry, a massive man emanating killing intent approached from the distance.
“Got you, you bastard.”
Thierry’s face flickered with distress.
“Just as I was about to share something amusing with the lady, an uninvited guest arrives. I’ll take my leave. If you’re ever bored, do visit the Frat House. I’m always in the music room there.”
“You con artist! You swore that putting money on horse number six would be a guaranteed windfall! So why did you put it on number three yourself?”
“Don’t you know a racehorse’s condition can change at any moment? Did you trade your flexibility for bread?”
“You shameless liar!”
From Thierry’s frantic escape and the large man’s words alone, the situation became instantly clear.
‘So he frequents the racetrack. But how did such a ruffian and wastrel ever get into Epsilon?’
Was it truly the prestigious club I knew of? Could there be another counterfeit club bearing the same name?
Swallowing an inexplicable sense of unease, I made my way to the carriage to head to Maison D. The previous evening, I had received a note from the Master mentioning he’d discovered a delicious cake.
‘That must mean he’s found a promising property listing.’
The moment I stepped into Maison D, now as familiar to me as my own home, the Shop Manager guided me to my usual seat, and I began perusing the menu.
‘Strange, where is it?’
Bewildered, I flipped through the menu and called for the Shop Manager.
“What happened to the coffee that was listed here?”
“I apologize, but that beverage sold so poorly that we ultimately removed it from the menu.”
‘Has the Master stopped bringing in coffee beans?’
I hurried toward the Master with growing unease.

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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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