What? Whose love? Did he just call me that? Or, was there someone else hiding?
I glanced behind me in surprise. However, no other individual existed on this restricted platform.
“Excuse me, why would I be your Highness’s love?”
He loves his people that much, would surely be what he implied, right?
I gazed at his figure, an absurd complexion on my face. Prince Paryan seemed wounded by my reaction.
“Of course you are my lover.”
There was no lie existing in his eyes.
“Serrine, are you upset by the fact I have a Crown Princess selection? As I explained before, I do not possess the power to disobey his Majesty.”
Crown Prince Paryan retorted gently as he smoothed his golden hair.
“Do not fret, Serrine. You are the only one I love.”
Crown Prince Paryan reached out to brush my cheeks. Startled by his actions, I hurriedly retreated.
“Serrine.”
He held back his hands, a sad expression embracing his face.
“Was it true?”
He seemed like he was about to cry any moment now.
“Did you really lose your memory?”
Something feels strange. The moment he uttered ‘my lover’ while addressing me, something seemed off. The words wouldn’t leave my mind.
Prince Paryan questioned once more, all hairs on his body shriveling at my eternal silence.
“Have you forgotten the love you swore to me before?”
What? What did I swear? The more I heeded his nonsense, the more spectacular the whole situation became.
“Although we have a tragic love that may not be disclosed to others, don’t worry about anything.”
Oh my god.
My complicated thoughts sorted in an instant.
Things became more complex as I understood the current circumstances.
Tragic love, that may not be disclosed to others?
“The only person I love is Serrine. You are the only one for me.”
So you’re telling me that Prince Paryan, the male protagonist, and Serrine, the antagonist, were indulged in a secret relationship that was ‘disclosed’?
Even before the female protagonist, April!
“Serrine, are you alright?”
As my face cringed, Prince Paryan faced me. His prideful stance was truly stupendous.
‘This… This crazy Serrine!’
I speechlessly spit a scoff. Paryan seemed to have taken it as a positive sentiment and beamed.
“Do you believe me now, Serrine?”
At the end of the day, was this man just a bastard who weighed between two women and abandoned Serrine for April?
‘So this guy was a son of a b*tch!’
Was I too empathetic? As soon as he dared shamelessly ask me to believe him, I splashed the champagne gripped in my hand to his face.
Splash!
A moment of silence emerged. Although my impulsive actions startled even myself, I had no regrets.
Champagne dripped from his silky golden hairs to the floor.
“Just now… What.”
Paryan wiped his face using the back of his sleeves. He seemed flustered.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince!”
Paryan reached his hand to me before hurriedly withdrawing as a group of people flocked towards the scene. He drew an artificial smile once more, securing his mask.
“Are you alright? W-what happened?!”
The crowd seemed shocked as they alternated glances between me, the empty glass in my hand, and the soaked Paryan.
“Haha, everyone, please calm down. It is nothing. I simply helped Lady Latni from falling off the balcony. The champagne happened to settle on me as a result. Hahaha!”
Do you think others would believe your nonsensical words?
It was ridiculous to see everyone nodding while facing him, their expression sympathetic.
Or, perhaps they didn’t believe in his words but held trust in the man named Paryan.
Paryan, turned his eyes to stare at me and politely asked for my condition.
“You must have been more surprised than I was… Lady Latni, are you alright? It seems you haven’t fully recovered from the shock.”
I’m not fine. I am shocked. Very!
I was stunned once more over the fact you and Serrine were like this, and of your trashy personality!
“Sister Serrine!”
I glared Paryan’s way when a familiar voice called my name. It seemed Diletsha had noticed the significant amount of people gathered near the corner.
“Diletsha.”
Diletsha hurriedly ran next to me and silently questioned what was happening. She seemed surprised at the sight of the Crown Prince.
“Oh my god! Your Highness! Are you alright? D-did you… Accident!”
“Hahaha. I’m fine.”
“If you don’t mind, please wipe yourself with this!”
Diletsha clenched her lips and carefully held forth her handkerchief.
Paryan nodded and received Diletsha’s handkerchief.
“What do you mean by accident?”
At that time, a noble wife standing nearby covered her face with a fan and irritatedly voiced her thoughts.
“Our Crown Prince caught Lady Latni from nearly falling from the balcony, and this was the outcome.”
“Th-that…”
Surprised, Diletsha turned to me.
‘Pretending to know what happened without being there as a witness.’
I’m growing tired of these aristocrats.
“I-it must be because my sister hasn’t fully recovered yet. I am truly sorry. Please do not rebuke my sister too much!”
Diletsha lowered her head on my behalf, her face pale.
Why would you do that!
Paryan dismissed her apology as he shook his hand, while the crowd clicked their tongues before my rude actions in contrast to Diletsha’s.
“Your Highness, please come this way. It is chilly, you must change as soon as possible.”
Paryan smiled foolishly as he passed the crowd before fully disappearing. He didn’t glance my way once. Diletsha stepped in to interrogate me only after no trace of him remained. She seemed troubled.
“S-sister, are you alright?”
“I’m alright.”
“Should we head back if you aren’t feeling well?”
“No, I think it’ll be fine if I take a short rest.”
I smiled and gently patted Diletsha’s hair in assurance.
“Don’t worry about me and go play a while longer.”
I had to check up on the person Diletsha liked, but my head was currently too occupied.
I needed time to sort my thoughts.
The quick-witted Diletsha nodded in return and reminded me to call her if I was in trouble before leaving.
‘The male protagonist was no better than trash.’
What are all these anomalies?
No matter how much I pondered, a laugh couldn’t help but escape my lips.
Serrine truly loved such garbage?
The answer to my question was one only she would ever know.
If it were me, I would never fall for a man that kind.
‘If she truly loved the Crown Prince… Why did Serrine leave him?’
There were many knots to be untied.
So, to keep it simple, Serrine lost her love to April, and ultimately abandoned their friendship to regain her ex, sequentially dying with the title of a wicked woman?
Such a pathetic title of a villainess!
Should I even call her a villainess at this point? If you are a villainess, live as one and die as one!
As I clenched my hair in frustration, someone rushed to me from behind.
“Serrine!”
Of course, I anticipated it to be Diletsha, but the voice calling me was unfamiliar.
It was a clear, intricate tone.
I glanced behind to find a woman running brightly.
Soft brown hair and brilliant golden eyes.
Her beauty was atypical.
“I can’t believe I’m seeing you at the ballroom! I rushed all the way here because I was so delighted to see you!”
I don’t even have to give this a second thought.
“If I run like this, my father will scold me… hehe.”
Unlike other young ladies, her appearance emitted a bright spotlight.
“I was informed you came back from your trip. I also heard you were involved in an accident… Are you alright now?”
A kind person who puts up with Serrine’s brutal personality.
A foolish woman who smiled helplessly no matter what Serrine threw at her, never doubted a person, and continued to trust others even as she fell into endless traps.
“April.”
She was April, the female protagonist of this novel.
April’s eyes widened in surprise at my call.
“I can’t believe you called my name!”
I thought I wouldn’t involve myself with the main protagonists in the novel… There was no need for that. I was already deeply tied to them.
I am childhood friends with the female protagonist and in a secret relationship with the male protagonist.
‘The sub-male protagonist discovered my true identity.’
I couldn’t help such circumstances. I’d have to put up with everything if I didn’t wish for my precious neck to be sliced.
“April.”
“Yes?”
“Do well with His Highness. You two suit each other.”
The male and female protagonists must connect.
If I didn’t want to die as a miserable villain.
“Huh? Wh-what are you talking about, Serrine! You’re making me embarrassed!”
April blushed cutely as she fidgeted, matching her stance on the female protagonist.
‘As expected of the female protagonist.’
Even such an appearance was full of grace.
“No, you can do it.”
I placed my hands over April’s shoulders, a solemn expression on my face.
“I fully support you.”
I had no choice but to hope for their relationship to advance as soon as possible.
There was little place for me to intrude as a wicked woman.
‘I don’t intend to intervene anyhow.’
***
As the anticipation amidst the ballroom reached its peak, the Crown Prince contestants were called, one after the other.
There were a total of four candidates.
These four would enter the Imperial Palace for a certain period, receive education, and be judged based on performance. Conclusively, three would be thrown out, excluding the winning competitor.
What a trashy act! What if the bastard doesn’t like one of the candidates?
What if he was in a secret relationship with a noble such as Serrine!
Are you saying that if the prince is of the royal family, he could do whatever he wants?! Or what!?
However, contrary to my thoughts, the four selected individuals, April included, jumped in excitement as if they had accomplished a great achievement.
‘Did everyone like Paryan?’
It was completely incomprehensible to me. If they called me, I would’ve raised my hands and shouted ‘Exclude me from that list now!’
‘It’s a relief that I’m not on that troubling record.’
But it’s truly disgusting. Didn’t Paryan say he loved Serrine? Then he would’ve included her… or not?
‘Well, nobles are nobles.’
They could never seem good.
“How unexpected.”
As I folded my arms and observed the situation with my back leaning against a wall, a man’s voice rang beside my shoulder. I turned my head to see Lennox approaching me, his hands tucked into his pockets.
I couldn’t sense his presence throughout the ball, so I anticipated he previously left. He seemed to have remained.
“What?”
Lennox pulled his hand and swept his chin.
“Was the effect weak?”
“What are you saying?”
Was he talking to himself? If he was, he could lower his voice a bit.
I glared at the man, but he only shrugged and lightly spun his glass of wine.
I sent him a cheeky expression, preparing to spit out vulgar words.
“There are five adult candidates.”
***