Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 71

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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 71
“It seems to be quite delicious. Some of the knights are drinking more.”
The knights were faithfully serving as promotional ambassadors for my shop. It was similar to how beverage companies sponsor sports drinks to athletes for free.
And today’s mounted tournament was so popular that, compared to my previous life, it could be likened to an all-star game. There was no better stage for promotion than this.
“They really are drinking it with gusto.”
“In this heat, how could anything taste bad?”
“But even high-ranking noble knights are drinking it.”
The most encouraging thing was that Isidore and Diera, the popular stars of this event, were also gulping down the beverages that Armand had provided.
‘I’m grateful to both of them.’
At this point, I had achieved my initial goal by over 200 percent. I had directly demonstrated the necessity and convenience of takeout, and I had successfully introduced the new ion drink menu.
Watching the remaining matches with a relaxed mind, I tilted my head in confusion as the competition unfolded in a completely unexpected direction.
‘I can’t believe Diera is struggling that much. This is strange.’
The mounted tournament was currently in the semifinals. I had naturally expected Diera to win by default and advance quickly to the finals, but a dark horse had appeared.
The Unknown Knight, who had performed brilliantly in the previous two matches, was fighting quite well against Diera, and everyone was on the edge of their seats. Remarkably, despite his large build, the Unknown Knight moved with surprising agility, skillfully evading Diera’s direct attacks.
He fluidly deflected Diera’s lance as he charged forward recklessly.
Clang!
Another exchange of blows occurred, and the Unknown Knight struck Diera’s shoulder forcefully as he passed. Meanwhile, Diera’s lance struck the wooden shield and bounced off disappointingly.
‘Just now, that Unknown Knight scored the higher points.’
A truly shocking upset had occurred, and the tournament grounds fell into a deafening silence.
For the first time today, Diera had lost a round to his opponent. While this didn’t determine the winner of the best-of-three semifinals yet, the fact that the genius of the Orgo House had been bested by an unknown knight was shocking in itself.
The score was one to one.
The final match proceeded even more fiercely, and after five intense exchanges, Diera barely managed to defeat the Unknown Knight. However, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the referee had been somewhat more lenient toward Diera.
‘Perhaps that’s only natural.’
Diera was from the Duke Orgo Family, a renowned house of swordplay. What was interesting was that the Unknown Knight, the loser, was receiving far more attention than the victor.
“Who is that person? He looks quite young.”
“Just looking at his shabby armor and horse, he doesn’t seem to belong to any famous knight order, yet he’s truly remarkable!”
“The renowned knight orders will surely be keeping their eyes peeled to scout that knight in the future.”
Diera secured a hollow victory and barely advanced to the finals.
In the other semifinal, Isidore faced the third son of the Serig Family from the Blue Knight Order, and Isidore won without much difficulty.
‘Diera doesn’t seem to be in good condition.’
The meticulous and righteous Diera appeared troubled by the somewhat biased nature of the previous match, sitting with a stern expression. Ultimately, Diera failed to demonstrate his true skill from the first round, and he was ignominiously thrown from his horse by Isidore’s attack, losing the match.
“This year’s champion is Knight Isidore Visconti, vice-captain of the White Knight Order!”
Roaaaar!
Amid the roaring heat of the crowd, I could only sit there with a bitter taste in my mouth.
‘I had placed a bet on Diera’s side.’
I had thought that knowing the match results from the novel, not betting on gambling would be foolish.
‘It’s like trying to swim while standing on land.’
The fact that I was concerned about Isidore and hadn’t placed a large bet was a blessing in disguise, I suppose.
‘The novel’s content has diverged again.’
Certainly, in the novel there was a scene where Philaf jealously raged at Diera’s victory, but beneath the canopy bearing the Montes House seal, there was no one but Duke Montes and the Duchess.
‘Now that I think about it, where did Philaf vanish to?’
Caught between confusion over the divergence between the novel’s plot and my current reality, I heard my name called from the Knight Order’s podium in a gentle voice.
“Today, I dedicate the glory of victory to Deborah Simour, who blessed me with fortune and good omens.”
Isidore untied the handkerchief that had been bound to his lance handle and waved it lightly. At this point, the crowd should have erupted in enthusiastic cheers, but the moment his words ended, an awkward silence fell over the spectators. As if they’d coordinated it beforehand, everyone turned their heads toward me.
‘What in the world is happening now….’
It was common for a champion to dedicate his glory to a lady, but the atmosphere turned strange precisely because the recipient was a reckless fool like me. Strong skepticism and utter disbelief shone in their eyes—the same gaze I’d felt acutely at the ball before.
‘If Isidore is light, then I am darkness itself.’
Indulging in such melodramatic thoughts, I narrowed my brows slightly. The nobles who had been staring at me in shock seemed to sense my murderous expression and hastily averted their gazes, lowering their eyes.
Fortunately, a performance celebrating the champion began at just the right moment, and the atmosphere was somehow salvaged.
‘Suddenly being the center of attention makes my stomach churn.’
I was naturally timid and suffered from something like attention anxiety.
“You waved the handkerchief three times just now, right? So Knight Isidore is being threatened just like me.”
“If you’re being threatened with assassination by Deborah, wave the handkerchief three times in the direction of the window.”
Beleck Simour muttered gravely while recalling what he’d said at the last ball, and I felt genuinely exasperated.
‘I’m not threatening Isidore!’
* * *
The carriage ride home was silent as a tomb. Neither my father nor I spoke. Since my father looked exhausted, I held my tongue.
I rested against the plush seat of the carriage—its ride quality rivaling a limousine—and as we approached home, Duke Simour’s thin lips moved slightly.
“Deborah, that fellow….”
“Yes?”
“Never mind.”
He drew out the silence once more, stroking his sharp jawline with his hand, when he suddenly changed the subject.
“For a husband, an accomplished mage would be far more suitable. Knights and spirit mages are beneath your level, making intellectual conversation with them utterly impossible….”
‘What, me, a husband?’
Lost in exhaustion, the sudden thunderbolt of those words struck my ears and jolted me awake. I still had two more years before marriage age, hadn’t saved a hundred billion yet, was still having nightmares about Louis Gazel transforming into Thompson Gazel and chasing me—what possessed him to utter such a horrifying word?
Was he testing the waters now that my debutante ball was approaching?
Desperate to enjoy the five-star hotel-caliber infrastructure of the Simour Family Estate for as long as possible, I hurriedly opened my mouth.
“I, I intend to devote myself solely to research for the time being. There is no room for anything else.”
“Research?”
“Yes. Starting with magical stones, there is so much to research that twenty-four hours is insufficient.”
As I began speaking with gleaming eyes about my passion for magic, the Duke’s fierce gaze widened.
“And I’m currently undertaking something even more astonishing. Ha, ha.”
Desperate, my mouth moved of its own accord like madness, launching into a torrent of nonsense.
“I had no idea you were so passionate. Though I’ve heard the servants often see you studying until dawn.”
‘That was probably from staying up all night drawing the café blueprints.’
The coursework from my undergraduate days had been grueling and tedious, but thinking of it as my own shop made it so thrilling and delightful.
“As Simour blood and your daughter, an endless thirst for knowledge is only natural.”
Sensing that Duke Simour was developing a favorable misunderstanding, I didn’t forget to offer some timely flattery.
Moved by my scholarly enthusiasm, Duke Simour refrained from broaching the subject of marriage again. He even gently patted my head once.
“Very well. Work hard.”
“Yes.”
‘Phew, that went smoothly.’
Indeed, parents refrain from meddling in their children’s futures when they believe their offspring are studying diligently. Yet today, the desperate need for 10 billion became unavoidable. Simultaneously, I found myself bitterly regretting the 100 gold I had squandered so carelessly on the mounted tournament wager.
Ah, how many smoothies would I need to sell to earn back 100 gold?!
In the original work, Diera Orgo was certainly the champion… but now that I’ve unexpectedly become the Academy’s top student, the original narrative has twisted again, and my head aches from the complications.
The mounted tournament held considerable significance in the original work—it was the part where Miya’s volunteer service and dedication would be recognized by all.
‘The whispers began around this time, calling Miya the very embodiment of Saint Naila herself.’
Diera Orgo’s victory remarks after winning the tournament created quite a stir.
“I dedicate the honor of this championship to Miss Miya Binoshu, who spares no effort in caring for patients at the Medical Center. Furthermore, I pledge my sword to her beautiful devotion as she walks in the footsteps of Saint Naila.”
Diera’s moving remarks—rivaling even a year-end awards ceremony—earned the heroine thunderous applause from the countless spectators, making her the true star of the mounted tournament.
But that was the novel, and in reality, the atmosphere has grown awkward because of me…
It seems I keep finding myself stealing the spotlight or gaining advantages over the heroine, all because of Isidore’s meddlesome nature.

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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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