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Chapter 3
By the time the sun had set and night arrived, the glow of magnificent chandeliers softly illuminated the ballroom.
The banquet attended by countless nobles was lively and noisy.
The sounds of clinking glasses blended with the music, making the gathering feel like the very herald of autumn’s beginning.
And in the center of it all sat Rizeana, alone and aloof despite holding a status higher than any noble present.
With a bored expression, she slowly surveyed the ballroom.
As though an invisible wall separated her from everyone else, not a single person dared approach her—but such treatment was already familiar to Rizeana.
The moment her gaze landed on one young noblewoman, the girl startled and quickly fled the area.
“Have you heard? This time, the Marquis of the Deriana family disappeared without a trace.”
“Wasn’t he one of the factions opposing the Crown Prince’s business ventures?”
“It must be the Crown Princess pulling strings behind the scenes again.”
Everything was unfolding exactly as it had in the past.
The same music, the same atmosphere, the same nobles spreading rumors about her.
And just like before, not even a strand of Laiphin’s hair could be seen anywhere near the ballroom, despite the fact that he should have been escorting her.
But that was actually better for her. If she saw his face, even she didn’t know what she might do.
Ignoring the whispers surrounding her, Rizeana called over a passing servant and requested a cocktail.
Holding the glass in her hand, she merely waited for the banquet to end.
Enduring this ridiculous farce will soon be over.
The day she had planned was drawing near.
That was why she could withstand reliving all these experiences after returning to the past.
But then—
“Rizeana, is that you?”
“Father.”
Rizeana frowned as she looked at the man approaching from afar.
The starting point of the hell her life had fallen into—Duke Filorencia, a man unworthy of being called her father.
Despite her obvious displeasure, the duke stubbornly stopped in front of her.
An overwhelming urge to leave immediately surged through her.
Before she could even turn away, the duke looked her up and down disapprovingly and spoke.
“Why are you sitting here all pitiful and alone?”
“Pitiful…?”
“I asked what you’re doing here by yourself without His Highness the Crown Prince. Don’t tell me you still haven’t managed to win his affection?”
“What a harsh greeting for a daughter you haven’t seen in so long.”
Her father had always been like this.
He never cared about her well-being. Instead, he only calculated what benefits she could bring to House Filorencia in the future.
Rizeana had no desire to continue speaking with him. She already knew exactly what he would say next.
“A useless girl with no value whatsoever.”
Rizeana, who had begun turning away, shot him a glare.
Until now, she had lived exactly as Duke Filorencia wished—doing everything he ordered.
In the end, she had truly fallen in love with Laiphin herself, but the one who manipulated her into becoming Crown Princess had been Duke Filorencia all along.
Rizeana clenched her teeth.
“And is House Filorencia really worth sacrificing everything for?”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
“I asked what meaning there is in a family that only commits filthy deeds behind the scenes while hoarding wealth.”
Each word that flowed from Rizeana’s lips was more than enough to provoke the duke.
Since childhood, he had educated her with brutal strictness.
His imposing figure still intimidated her even now, but this time she knew she had to stand her ground.
“It seems you’ve finally gone insane. The moment you see your father, you start spewing such absurd nonsense.”
Narrowing his eyes at her, the duke gulped down his champagne.
Judging by the way he gritted his teeth and coughed afterward, his insides were probably burning with rage.
“Well, whether they’re absurd or not… we’ll find out eventually.”
“I don’t know what gives you the confidence to talk like this, but if you don’t want to be disciplined by me again, you’d better shut that mouth.”
This time it was Rizeana whose eyes trembled.
Discipline.
Could that truly be called discipline?
But the duke always referred to those horrific times that way.
When she was young, he had begun training her early so she could debut in high society as soon as possible.
He gathered tutors for every subject and refused to let her leave her room until she had mastered everything perfectly. Even after the tutors left, she had to be taught once more by the duke himself.
Above all, he never hesitated to strike a child who disobeyed him.
Confined within the estate and forbidden from going outside, she had no choice but to submit to him.
“You may watch all you want. I have nothing left to lose anymore.”
“What exactly are you planning?”
The duke’s brow furrowed deeply at her words.
Of course, Rizeana still feared him—as a father and as a person.
But strangely enough, tonight at the ballroom, she felt she could endure him.
“In fact, you should be begging me to spare you. I know every nauseating crime House Filorencia has committed.”
“What will I expose first, I wonder? Care to guess?”
Before the reckless defiance within her could fade, Rizeana continued speaking.
“Oh, and don’t bother trying assassination. I’m not my mother—I won’t die so easily.”
“Rizeana!”
Unable to tolerate any more, Duke Filorencia shouted her name and instinctively raised his hand.
The Rizeana of the past would have stood there helplessly and taken the blow.
But the current Rizeana had no intention of allowing him to strike her.
Crash!
Instead, she lightly let the champagne glass in her hand fall to the floor.
The unexpectedly loud sound visibly startled the duke while instantly drawing everyone’s attention.
As fate would have it, the music ended at that exact moment, causing all eyes in the ballroom to focus on her even more.
“Did Her Highness the Crown Princess just throw her glass?”
“That didn’t look accidental… Did she really behave so rudely in front of her own father?”
“What a terrifying father-daughter pair. Just look at their eyes—they’re full of hatred for each other.”
As expected, the nobles began whispering while glancing back and forth between Rizeana and the duke, and the sudden attention was enough to silence him.
“You…!”
Though the duke glared at her with a face red and blue from rage, Rizeana merely smiled lightly and ignored him.
“And please show some proper manners before the Crown Princess, Duke.”
Twisting one corner of her lips upward, Rizeana looked straight at her father, exhilaration shining in her narrowed eyes.
The duke had no choice but to leave with clenched fists.
As a result, she earned yet another title—that of a rude woman—but even so, she maintained her smile.
That was simply the sort of position a Crown Princess occupied.
“His Highness the Crown Prince of the Avid Empire and Lady Delisa Lupe Crodonne are entering!”
At the servant’s announcement, the ballroom’s attention instantly shifted from Rizeana to the entrance hall.
Rizeana knew exactly why Laiphin had not appeared until now.
He had been enjoying himself with his lover, Delisa.
Watching the two enter arm-in-arm affectionately, Rizeana could only down another cocktail.
Yet the more she drank, the colder her mind became.
“Oh my, Your Highness the Crown Princess.”
Spotting Rizeana standing alone, Delisa pulled Laiphin along and stopped before her.
Frowning deeply, Rizeana glared at the pair blocking her path.
They were faces she truly never wished to see again. Thinking of them as nothing more than a pair of cockroaches filled her with disgust.
Delisa tugged Laiphin closer to Rizeana. He seemed reluctant.
“Were you alone?”
After glancing Rizeana up and down, Delisa let out a faint laugh.
Then, pretending otherwise, she widened her eyes and spoke in a voice dripping with concern.
The Rizeana of the past might have been shocked to see Laiphin appear with Delisa like this.
But to someone who already knew the future, it was hardly surprising.
“Because I wanted to be alone tonight. I don’t think Lady Crodonne needs to concern herself with it.”
“Oh, don’t be so cold, Your Highness. I said I was perfectly fine, but His Highness Laiphin insisted on worrying about me.”
Delisa rested her head affectionately on Laiphin’s shoulder and laughed softly.
Under the flickering lights, Rizeana could see Laiphin’s face reddening at the gesture.
Watching them like this left her feeling hollow.
Just what exactly had I endured all this time…?
How had she lived while tolerating this?
Why had she believed their relationship would someday end casually?
“Your Highness Laiphin also feels sorry, you know. Hurry and apologize to Her Highness.”
“An apology won’t be necessary.”
Before Laiphin could speak, Rizeana cut him off.
An apology? There would be no sincerity in it anyway.
Furrowing her brow, Rizeana examined Delisa, who was dressed more extravagantly than ever.
Half of her ten fingers were adorned with enormous gemstone rings. Her dress was embroidered with luxurious jewels and decorations as well.
Without even asking, it was obvious Laiphin had showered her with expensive gifts after being charmed by her.
“You’re especially sparkling today, Delisa.”
“Pardon?”
Delisa blinked in confusion at the unexpected compliment.
“I was wondering where the imperial treasury had been leaking to. Now I finally understand.”
Naturally, Delisa failed to grasp the meaning behind her words and simply blinked.
But unlike Delisa, Laiphin immediately understood Rizeana’s implication, and the slight twist in his brows revealed his irritation.
“Calling it extravagance is unfair. I was the one who gave them to her, Rizeana. Don’t speak carelessly about her.”
“Then that makes it even more problematic.”
“What do you mean?”
“Shouldn’t the imperial treasury be used for the stability of the imperial family and the empire rather than elsewhere?”
“…It’s a ball. Surely even you understand a lady’s desire to look her most beautiful at such an occasion.”
At his response, Rizeana let out a hollow laugh while staring at Delisa, who had already hidden behind Laiphin.
A man who used his fiancée to protect his own standing, and a woman who hid behind such a man while indulging in luxury.
They truly suited each other perfectly.
“Now that I think about it, the two of you really are a perfect match. Why didn’t I realize it sooner?”
Gracefully lifting the hem of her dress, Rizeana smiled brightly at them.
“I sincerely hope the two of you remain together forever through every hardship and trial.”
“Oh my, thank you, Your Highness.”
“Rizeana…?”
Failing to notice the sarcasm in her words, Delisa smirked mockingly from behind Laiphin.
Meanwhile, Laiphin appeared bewildered by the sudden coldness Rizeana had shown him these past few days.
But Rizeana owed him no explanation whatsoever.
Still, his confusion lasted only a moment before the two resumed smiling and clasping hands together.
Watching them, Rizeana clenched her teeth and chose to leave the ballroom.
As she looked at the pair gazing at each other exactly as they had when her own life faded away, she made a vow.
I’ll give you a truly devastating revenge.
Morning arrived.
Rizeana rose from bed and pulled back the curtains covering the large windows.
Brilliant sunlight poured into the room.
Closing her eyes, Rizeana basked in the warmth of the morning rays.
Because today was finally the day Delisa Lupe Crodonne would be kidnapped.
