“What?”

 

Why…

 

He still hasn’t come to his senses.

 

Who likes whom?

 

Ash narrowed the distance as if he was going to hand over his hair.

 

“You probably know that today is the day to select the grand princess.”

 

The eyes were drawn to wonder about the conversation between him and me. Contrary to the rumor that I was like a leech to Ash, everyone seemed surprised by his friendly appearance.

 

“The reason you caught the eyes of my father and me in a situation like this…” Ash whispered quietly in my ear. “I feel like it means you want to become the grand princess.”

 

There is a saying that ‘misunderstandings are also a disease’. However, even among the villains, I was the so-called cultured villainess.

 

“I thought so.”

 

“…”

I stared at Ash. His eyes, nose, and even his well-drawn lips. Is he nervous? As soon as our eyes met, I felt Ash’s jaw tighten.

 

“Unfortunately, you’re not my cup of tea anymore.”

 

“…What?”

 

“If you want to be in my eyes, try growing your hair a little longer and working out your upper body a little harder.”

 

He fluttered his eyelashes and panicked. He seemed quite shocked when he, who had been praised would become the crown prince, had his appearance pointed out by me.

 

“It would be nice if the bridge of your nose was a little higher and your eyes were longer and sharper.”

 

“…Huh.”

 

In fact, Ash was one of the most handsome men I’ve ever seen in my Nth life. But the real crown prince is a hundred times more handsome than this man. The only problem was that my baby, who hadn’t yet seen the light of day, was too handsome.

 

Come to think of it… I didn’t know why I was thinking of Redian every now and then.

 

“Siani Felicite, you’d better be obedient when I offer to accept it.”

 

People were paying keen attention. So, I could feel Ash holding back his emotions as much as he could.

 

“Do you think there is a man in the capital who can deal with you other than me?”

 

But the crown prince is in my basement. Those words almost came out of my mouth.

 

“Don’t let me say the same thing over and over again. It’s pathetic.”

 

“Siani!”

 

I didn’t want to deal with him anymore. As I was just about to take a step back.

 

“Kyaak!”

 

What? My shoulder collided with someone, and there was a clanging sound. But the tearing scream wasn’t mine.

 

“O-Older Sister.”

 

“Luna?”

 

The plates were broken to pieces on the floor, and sliced cakes and refreshments were rolling around.

 

“I-I’m sorry, Older Sister!”

 

Suddenly, Luna started shaking her hands.

 

“Y-you haven’t had breakfast. That’s why I tried to bring you this.”

 

She then knelt down on the floor where the glass fragments were scattered and bowed her head. “Please f-forgive me, Older Sister!”

 

“Oh my gosh, what’s going on?”

 

The nobles, watching, covered their mouths and whispered. Even their servants waiting nearby glanced at this place.

 

“Seeing that she’s called her older sister, I guess she’s the adopted daughter of the Felicite family.”

 

“Ah, that kind of person… Tsk.”

 

“How much pressure did she have to endure to come out here and do food errands like this?”

 

“Lying on the floor in front of everyone. She’s so pitiful.”

 

Oh, I can feel it. What kind of situation is this? The cliche scene is something I’ve experienced so many times that there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.

 

“O-Older Sister, t-the cake on your dress, I’ll wipe it for you.”

 

Luna, approaching on her knees, wiped my dress with her sleeve.

 

“Oh my gosh, Lady!”

 

At that time, Luna’s maid ran from afar and didn’t know what to do. It was a familiar face to me too. She was one of the maids who fearlessly cursed at me in the duchy’s front yard.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

“Yes? Older Sister’s dress…”

 

I looked coldly down at Luna, who was trembling.

 

“Princess, Lady Lev probably didn’t mean it, so calm down.” That’s when Ash tried to grab my arm, pretending to mediate. 

 

Slap—! After shaking off Ash’s hand, I slapped someone on the cheek.

 

“Older Sister!” Luna’s eyes widened in embarrassment.

 

“How do you serve your master?”

 

“I-I’m sorry, Princess!”

 

The person who was slapped by me wasn’t Luna or Ash but Luna’s maid.

 

“I would have definitely told you to change Luna’s habit. Why is she still doing this?”

 

The hall, which had been buzzing, became calm.

 

“Her habit of kneeling down and begging has appeared again out of nowhere.”

 

“…O-Older Sister.”

 

“Because you’re so kind all the time, you haven’t even been able to control your maids.”

 

I kicked my tongue low. “Tsk, even though I taught you to protect Felicite’s dignity.”

 

Being naive and kind were Luna’s strengths. But in this world, her strength could soon become her weakness.

 

“It seems that no matter how much I teach you, your habit of wandering around still remains. It’s kind of pitiful.”

 

“But, even if she grew up in the duchy, would that change her natural origin?”

 

The targets of those who like to make noise changed in an instant. It wasn’t surprising.

 

“I-it’s not like that.”

 

Luna turned pale as if the situation was different from what she expected. Her attempt to frame me was an expected procedure. Because I knew there wasn’t such a thing as a good protagonist. However, Luna was still too immature to deal with me.

 

“Get up now.”

 

Irik, who had been watching the whole time, tried to support Luna. Thanks to that, their view was blocked, and I whispered so that only Luna could hear.

 

“Did you learn it on the street?”

 

“…!”

 

“I guess this kind of framing worked there.”

 

I felt Luna’s shoulder stiffen.

 

“You entered the duchy but still can’t change your childish behavior.”

 

Obviously, I didn’t intend to fight Luna. However, that didn’t mean I was willing to be pushed into a fight either.

 

“Don’t kneel down, Luna.”

 

So, it would have been better to inform her properly from the beginning.

 

“If you look at me this way, it’s your loss. You will only be ridiculed because of your origins.”

 

“…”

 

Although she wasn’t given an official last name, Luna was Felicite’s adopted daughter. This kind of behavior was nothing more than lowering your level with your own hands.

 

“Wherever you are, act like a member of the Felicite family.”

 

“…”

 

“Not a poor, pitiful orphan.”

 

I was once an adoptive daughter and orphan who was despised. So it was advice I could give.

 

This welcoming ceremony was also the day Luna officially showed her face to society and met Ash.

 

“I’m sure you understood because you’re smart, right?”

 

It was her loss to get attention in such a shabby and uninteresting way.

 

“What are you doing, Irik?”

 

“…”

 

“How long are you going to leave her like that?”

 

Irik was frozen. While he was trying to help Luna, he seemed to have heard everything I said.

 

“…Come on, Luna. Don’t make a fuss anymore.”

 

What’s going on? I thought he was going to glare at me, but instead, he pressed Luna.

 

“…”

 

Eventually, Luna, who was kneeling, stood up scrambling. Her dress, which was supposed to be pretty for today, and her hair, which was supposed to be clean, were a mess.

 

When I turned my head around, people faltered as if they had seen a ghost. Even if they pretended not to, they would have been itching to say a word to me.

 

I’m not interested. My purpose had been achieved, so I had no reason to remain here. Although I received a bit more excessive attention than planned.

 

“Wait a minute, Princess.”

 

As I was leaving the banquet hall, Ash called me.

 

What?

 

When his gaze met mine, the surroundings became quiet again. The relationship between me and Ash, or more precisely, Siani’s unrequited love for Ash, has always been a spectacle in society.

 

“Take this with you.”

 

At Ash’s words, the grand duke’s butler came carrying a wooden case wrapped in silk.

 

“I made a special request to a famous vineyard while I was back at the estate.”

 

Ash handed it to me.

 

“You like red wine.”

 

“Ah, come to think of it, the area near the Grand Duke’s estate is a famous wine-producing area.”

 

“How can he be so sweet?”

 

The ladies looked at Ash with heart-shaped eyes.

 

Sweet? Not that his welcoming ceremony is ruined, he’s trying to take care of his image.

 

“…Pardon? Me?” I opened my eyes wide. “Oh, I guess you got confused again. I’ve told you so many times that I’m allergic to grapes.”

 

“What… Allergic?”

 

“As expected, you don’t remember. There was a time when I almost fainted after drinking red wine.”

 

As I lowered my gaze, Ash’s mouth twitched.

 

“Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m the lady who likes red wine, Grand Prince.”

 

I didn’t mind if he managed his image, but using me is no longer an option.

 

“I don’t know which woman you were mistaken for, but please think again.”

 

I waved my hand lightly and left. It was a very fun party after a long time. 

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