Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 81

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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 81
Isidore experienced a strange phenomenon in that moment—among the throng of people, only one figure seemed to move in slow motion.
“Oh, what? Ah, my apologies.”
“That incredibly handsome person just now….”
“You startled me.”
He cut through the murmuring crowd in the Plaza and came to an abrupt halt before a woman draped in a black robe.
“…?”
Beneath the robe, eyes as crimson as rubies widened in surprise.
Isidore was equally startled. During the Spring Flower Festival, he had already known her movements and destinations, so even casual observation would have revealed her identity.
But this encounter was purely coincidental.
“Ah….”
She gazed at me, blinking slowly. Her long violet lashes fluttered like falling petals in the breeze. My heart raced from the sudden exertion, and warmth crept up my neck.
“Knight Isidore?”
* * *
Seeing Isidore appear so suddenly, I felt my heart plummet into an abyss.
‘Why can’t I ever get used to that face?’
And that radiant smile I’d just witnessed was breathtakingly beautiful.
“Deborah Simour, what a fortunate coincidence. What were you doing?”
He cleared his throat once before posing the question.
“Oh, just taking a walk. And you, Knight Isidore?”
Flustered, I stammered my response.
“I was heading to the Training Ground.”
Now that I thought about it, the White Knights Order Barracks, where Isidore was stationed, was relatively close to the East Gate.
“The fall semester begins next week.”
His unprompted reminder jolted me awake. The Academy operated on two semesters—spring and fall—with the fall semester commencing next week.
“Did you have a good break?”
“It was decent. How have you been, Knight Isidore?”
I spoke to him in a considerably softer tone than before. If my theory was correct—that he was the only key to uncovering the Master’s identity—then drawing closer would serve me better than maintaining distance.
“I’ve been well.”
Isidore’s eyes curved as he smiled faintly.
‘Have I been too guarded? I feel guilty for being pleased over something so trivial.’
“Actually, I’ve been busy treating my comrades. It’s all thanks to you wishing me luck in the tournament.”
“Congratulations on winning the tournament. My felicitations are late.”
“Everyone heartlessly bet their money on Diera. Surely you didn’t place a wager on that side as well?”
“That, that couldn’t be. Your martial prowess was truly remarkable! Ha, ha.”
Caught red-handed, my body stiffened involuntarily. Obvious bewilderment flickered across Isidore’s eyes as he saw through my poor acting.
“You were joking, but you’re serious?”
“The world of competition is merciless.”
I gazed toward distant mountains.
“Yet you gave me a handkerchief as a gift. I naturally thought you wanted me to win.”
“Honestly, I didn’t expect someone so handsome to be that skilled.”
“That’s playing dirty.”
Knight Isidore must be tired of hearing compliments about his appearance, yet he seemed oddly pleased as he rubbed his long neck.
“He’s really popular.”
I could have sworn the Equestrian Tournament Grounds had transformed into a private concert venue.
“You’re only noticing that now?”
“Sigh, I should just keep my mouth shut. Do I need to go to the Training Ground?”
“There’s still plenty of time. I participated in that tedious competition and brought honor to the Knight Order, so you should cut me some slack for being late.”
‘Tedious competition?’
“You didn’t want to participate originally?”
His gloved hand twitched slightly. It seemed like an unguarded slip of the tongue.
“Even though it was tedious, I decided to enter because the prize was worthwhile. It was quite a respectable sword.”
‘If it was just about the prize, why didn’t he participate in the equestrian tournament in the novel?’
As a third-generation conglomerate heir, he could probably buy hundreds of swords. Besides, as an only child, he wouldn’t have to split the family fortune with siblings. Feeling suspicious, I looked up at him intently, and Knight Isidore gazed down at me quietly.
“Is it obvious I’m lying?”
“Huh?”
“The equestrian tournament is good for looking impressive. Is that too childish?”
He spoke lightly, but I felt a heavy weight settle in my chest like a plumb bob dropping—as if he were saying there was someone he wanted to look good in front of.
‘And that person couldn’t possibly be….’
My brain had begun refusing to think. It was on strike.
“It’s tea time and I’m getting hungry. Would you like to go there?”
Knight Isidore changed the subject and pointed toward Armand.
“Th… yes, let’s go.”
If Knight Isidore visited the shop, the publicity effect would be significant, so I really should ask him to stop by just once.
“I’m a regular there. The atmosphere isn’t bad.”
He chuckles at my words.
“I should become a regular too.”
‘I should be happy that a celebrity is becoming a regular, but I keep getting headaches.’
My stomach felt queasy, as if I had indigestion.
That day, I returned home with Knight Isidore after having tea with dessert.
‘This is strange.’
I seemed to have been trying to figure something out about him, but our conversation was trivial and utterly ordinary. He ordered various types of cake and pushed them all in front of me. Looking back, it felt like we’d been on a date, which left me confused.
‘I keep getting swept up by his face.’
I pulled the blanket over my head and rubbed my flushed face while sighing.
* * *
Knock, knock—
“Come in.”
Having barely managed three hours of sleep, I was exhausted. Servants appeared near me, where I sat looking haggard, writing in the account book, carrying something bulky.
‘What gifts are these?’
I felt taken aback. When I unwrapped the packaging, there was a box containing premium tea leaves, and I could see Knight Isidore’s congratulatory card.
The Fifth Princess had also sent a gift and a card. What she’d sent were chocolates and an expensive-looking wine. It seemed that once my name was displayed on the Hall of Honor at the Academy, the fact that I’d been top of my class became public knowledge.
Not only gifts but letters addressed to me had arrived as well. I was beginning to truly feel that my standing had improved since I’d first tumbled into this wretched novel.
‘Originally, everyone disliked me, so I never received gifts or invitations. I’ve evolved considerably.’
The first letter came from Bert Marquis, the Dean of the Magic Department. It asked me to visit the Dean’s Office once the autumn semester began.
In truth, I wanted to distance myself from studies and focus on business, but I was anxious that if I abandoned my academics entirely, marriage talk might rear its ugly head. Though I didn’t know what my great-uncle wanted, there was no benefit to antagonizing the Academy, so I wrote back saying I’d visit him soon.
The other letter was an invitation to a small tea party from the Social Club.
‘A tea party, no less.’
Though it was likely a mass letter written by a secretary, I was finally beginning to feel that I’d truly joined the Social Club. For someone like me, whose entire club activity had consisted of studying a thesis on mana with the Fifth Princess alone in a place like the Haunted House, this was quite thrilling.
‘What should I wear?’
Contrary to my worries, that very afternoon my personal designer Helen arrived with a full collection of clothes for the autumn semester. The dresses lined up in a row perfectly displayed the styles currently trending in High Society.
‘They’re truly beautiful.’
I was happily admiring the magnificent dresses in a daze when I stopped at the very last one. Perhaps because it had less decorative flair and the fabric was arranged boldly, it was the most modern dress I’d seen in all this time. It wouldn’t look out of place even hanging in a department store.
As I stood quietly before it, Helen’s expression suddenly went pale.
‘What’s wrong with her?’
“M-My Lady, that is a dress in a style we’ve newly attempted.”
“Hmm.”
“O-Of course it may appear simple at first glance, but I’ve gathered the asymmetrical shirring to add variation to the otherwise plain feeling, and emphasized elegance by adding a sapphire with distinct brightness.”
‘The skirt isn’t that full and the fabric is soft, so it looks quite comfortable.’
“M-My Lady, this dress doesn’t suit your brilliant beauty, so I shall remove it from your sight at once——.”
“Why remove it? I’m taking all of them. Now go.”
“Th-Thank you so much! Then I shall take my leave.”
‘What is she thanking me for?’
Well, given my notorious reputation, many people are grateful simply for my not causing trouble. The history professor, for instance—he’d mutter his thanks each time a lecture ended safely, then flee the parlor as if escaping.
‘I always feel it, but this life as a scoundrel isn’t so bad.’
I nodded slowly, my arms crossed.

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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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