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Chapter 25
‘Did the original story change because I possessed Harnah’s body?’
I had just hoped to stay out of their love story. The villainess always died in the end, and I didn’t want to be her.
That’s why I stopped bullying people weaker than me and tried to live peacefully with a comfortable family, wanting nothing more.
But now, constantly getting entangled with the main characters, I felt uneasy—terrified of what future awaited me.
“Are you here? I have something to tell you.”
Pale with shock, I glanced back and forth between the protagonists. Trin, having spotted Cardin from afar, quickly ran toward us.
“If it’s not urgent, speak later. I must remain with my goddess.”
“Lady Juren, my apologies, but may I borrow the duke for a moment?”
Trin clenched his jaw at the word “goddess” but forced a smile and nodded.
“Since the duke’s goddess has given permission, please go.”
“Harnah, I was speaking with you—”
“Then, excuse us for a moment.”
Our hands separated. Trin hurriedly dragged Cardin away.
Once they were far enough, my strength drained, and I spoke to May.
“Feeling suffocated. Should we go get some air?”
“Yes! Let’s go to the terrace from earlier—ah!”
Suddenly May’s pale green eyes widened in shock as she looked at me. I turned around instinctively.
Crash!
“Ah….”
It happened in an instant.
May saw the falling wine and spun me around, shielding me. Because of that, our positions swapped, and she ended up being drenched by the wine meant for me. Red wine soaked into her white dress, blooming like blood.
Beside her stood a young lady holding an empty wine glass, looking more shocked than either of us. Anger flaring, I raised my voice at her.
“What do you think you’re doing!”
“I—I was just passing by and my hand slipped… I’m truly sorry.”
“You think that makes sense? And your apology should be for May, not me—”
I stopped mid-scolding. The surrounding nobles had begun whispering while staring at us.
Ignoring the trembling girl, I checked on May.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“You didn’t get hurt?”
“No. Just wine on my dress, that’s all.”
Trying to reassure me, May leaned close and whispered secretly.
“Unnie, that wasn’t an accident. I saw her deliberately throw the wine at you.”
“I thought so.”
I replied and moved to a nearby table. I transferred the food tray to the next table and pulled off the white tablecloth.
“Let’s put this over you for now. I wish I’d brought a shawl. Sorry.”
“It’s okay. Really.”
I remembered what happened in the original story.
It was her first big party. May had been so excited after receiving the invitation that she couldn’t sleep. She had chosen her best dress and attended with a pounding heart.
And now her precious first party was ruined because of me.
Biting my lip, I pulled the small May into a hug. If I had been hit instead, I would have slapped that girl without hesitation. People would have expected that from Harnah anyway.
Unable to hold back, tears spilled out.
“Unnie, are you crying? Don’t cry. I’m really fine, I promise.”
“Sorry… and thank you.”
After holding her briefly, I stepped back and glared at the trembling young lady.
“I’ll speak with you later.”
Realizing she wouldn’t get away with this, the girl flinched and fled.
I dropped the icy stare and hurried to take May outside—when a man’s jacket landed across my shoulders.
“Your Grace?”
Cardin stood before me—who knows when he returned—scanning me to check for injuries before letting out a relieved sigh.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you, Harnah.”
His voice was low with anger as he looked at the wine on my dress. Even though May blocked most of it, some had splashed onto my chest because she was shorter.
“I’m fine. You should worry more about May—”
“Trin.”
At Cardin’s command, Trin walked over and draped his coat over May’s shoulders.
“Thank you.”
May thanked him. At the same moment, a warm hand rested on my shoulder.
Startled, I looked over to see Cardin’s gentle eyes. At his warmth, the anger that had been boiling inside slowly melted.
“We should head to the resting room.”
I nodded quickly, not wanting him to notice how suddenly calm I’d become.
We left the ballroom.
* * *
Seara’s hand trembled as she covered her face with her fan.
‘Why…?’
Cardin, who always looked at Harnah with emotionless indifference, had suddenly changed.
He hugged her with a gentle smile, danced with her like a man in love, even offered her his coat without hesitation, and left the ballroom escorting her.
‘Could it be… that magic? No. It shouldn’t have succeeded that easily. And even if it did, he wouldn’t look that completely unaffected…’
Biting her nails anxiously, she heard a baron’s daughter beside her plead desperately, face pale.
“Lady Poron, I did as you asked. Please don’t cancel the contract with our family.”
Useless thing.
This was the baron’s daughter Seara had ordered to spill wine on Harnah. Without giving her a glance, Seara spoke coldly.
“Fine.”
It didn’t matter anyway.
‘The real entertainment will begin soon.’
Trying to hide her unease, Seara covered her face with her fan and bit her lip while watching Harnah and Cardin leave together affectionately.
* * *
Upon arriving in the resting room, I asked a servant to fetch the maids from the Juren carriage. I also told him to bring spare dresses; he nodded and left.
Even if I didn’t act like a villainess, I had assumed something like this could happen. So I had prepared multiple dresses and instructed my exclusive maids to wait in the carriage beforehand.
They should be here soon.
While waiting, I examined the room. As expected of the palace, the walls displayed extravagant paintings, and luxuriously made sofas, tables, and refreshments were arranged neatly.
Unlike me—who was used to luxurious furniture at the Juren estate—May looked fascinated as she explored the elegant room. But noticing me staring sadly at her stained dress and wet hair, she hurried over.
“Did you call me?”
“No?”
“Really? Hm, strange. I swear I felt your intense ‘May, come here’ stare.”
Even though I was still angry thinking about the girl who spilled the wine, May’s cute teasing made me laugh involuntarily. My anger dissolved.
“Your hair’s a mess.”
I took out a handkerchief and gently dried her hair.
“To receive the honor of using Unnie’s handkerchief again… I’m so happy.”
Blushing with gratitude over a simple handkerchief—May was as adorable and lovable as the heroine should be. My heart pounded on its own.
I’m getting flustered over a girl. Get it together!
As I attempted to calm myself, a man suddenly drooped his ears like a puppy and pushed his face near mine.
“Harnah, I’m here too. You didn’t forget me, did you?”
“Oh—Your Grace. You can go ahead. You shouldn’t be away from the ballroom too long.”
“Where you are is where I must be.”
Behind him, Trin looked like he couldn’t deal with any more of this and turned his head away.
I ignored Trin—shaking, whether from laughter or misery—and May stepped forward after reading my troubled expression.
“I’ll stay with Unnie, so you don’t need to worry. Why don’t you go back?”
“How can I trust the lady who failed to fully protect my goddess?”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“I mean she should have protected her perfectly. Not a single drop of wine should have touched Harnah.”
“Oh, I see! I’m deeply sorry. Though I’d rather not hear that from someone who wasn’t even nearby when she was in danger.”
Sparks practically flew between them.
I didn’t expect them to fall in love at first sight, but the fact that the male and female leads looked like they hated each other was… strange.
Laughing awkwardly at their growling faces, I looked away.
But where’s Father? Hasn’t word reached him?
“Harnah!”
My father burst in, orange hair flying, loudly calling my name.
“Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere? I’m so sorry. I should’ve been with you, but Lord Naron kept babbling nonsense and wouldn’t let me go…”
“I’m okay. But May got hurt because of me…”
Before I finished, I felt a prickling behind my head. When I turned, I saw May grinning victoriously and Cardin looking at me like an abandoned puppy.
“Ah—of course the duke helped too.”
I quickly acknowledged him. Cardin’s pitiful expression vanished instantly. He then shot May a proud, mocking glare.
“Ahem.”
Meanwhile, my father finally noticed Cardin behind me and turned pale.
“Duke Retorno.”
“It has been a while, Marquis Juren. You were surprisingly difficult to meet.”
“Thank you for helping my daughter.”
“I only cared for the woman I love, Harnah.”
At my father’s awkward thanks, Cardin responded firmly and seriously.
The woman he loves…
To say something like that so casually in front of my father—it embarrassed me.
My father, too, widened his eyes in disbelief, rubbing his ears as if he heard wrong.
“Since the marquis is here, we will return to the ballroom first.”
Trin, who had been lingering behind like a shadow, rushed forward and covered Cardin’s mouth before he could voice another objection.
Cardin braced his legs as if refusing to leave, so I waved at him. At that, his face twisted into deep despair, and he was dragged away by Trin.
It was so funny I couldn’t help laughing.
