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Chapter 59
I tried to think of this as just being in a slightly too-formal fine dining restaurant and focused on eating.
When the main course was nearly finished, Alexander made an announcement.
“Alright, let’s end the banquet with dessert.”
Desserts were different for each person. Alexander and Sophie got chocolate mousse, Michaela had fruit juice, I had crème brûlée along with Frederic, Charlier and Leo had éclairs, and Tiago drank another glass of wine instead of dessert.
Ah! So I get to eat the crème brûlée I missed earlier.
I scooped up a spoonful, my heart fluttering.
Oh my god! This is amazing!
I thought nothing could beat the crème brûlée from the Salon de Chat, but I was wrong.
I was so happy. Tasting this soft, melt-in-your-mouth crème brûlée made all the discomfort from tonight’s banquet feel worth it.
That’s when Charlier leaned over and spoke in a voice only I could hear.
“Don’t make it so obvious you like it, country girl. You’re embarrassing. I’m ashamed we’re from the same city.”
“….”
Charlier, not you too. Things are already bad enough here.
I ignored her completely and kept savoring my dessert.
Once everyone finished their desserts, Alexander stood up.
“Normally, we’d have a ball after this, but I’m busy with something else tonight. So let’s end here.”
When he said “busy with something else,” he winked at Sophie. She lowered her head shyly, smiling and blushing.
Wow… at this point, it’s not even an affair, it’s practically public dating.
I dabbed my lips with a napkin, watching them. I was sure everyone in the hall saw that little exchange—except for one person.
Michaela.
She sat there, pretending she hadn’t seen anything, her face red with anger. Her twisted, cold expression looked like she might do something any second.
“Well then.”
Alexander left first. Michaela and Sophie followed.
As soon as the three of them left, the guests collectively let out sighs of relief, like they could finally breathe again.
Seriously…
Was this a welcome banquet or a torture session?
I took another sip of wine. Only after Alexander, Sophie, and Michaela were gone did the “real” banquet start.
The nobles began exchanging names and making conversation.
I still felt a bit like an outsider. Everyone was polite, but I could sense that they were wary—not just of me, but of all of us from Shyro.
Politics in the palace… definitely no joke.
I wanted to go back to my room and rest, but I stayed because I wanted to talk to Tiago.
I’ll wait until he leaves, then catch him to ask if he’s the one who invited us—and if so, why he did it.
I lifted my glass and took a small sip of wine. Leo was already tipsy, while Frederic hadn’t touched his drink.
Charlier just wet her lips and looked bored.
“Ah, thank you.”
Every time I emptied my glass, the maid immediately refilled it, and I thanked her out of habit.
Charlier shot me a look—clearly annoyed.
As the conversations wound down, nobles started leaving one by one. Among our group, Frederic left first.
Makes sense. He must be tired—it’s been a long time since he’s been at something like this. Maybe it’s even his first time.
Frederic politely greeted those still at the table and left.
Tiago stood up next.
Just then, Leo also rose and said something to Tiago. I couldn’t hear, but it looked like Leo was asking to talk in private.
Tiago nodded, and the two of them left together.
Now, in the grand hall, only Charlier and I were left from our group.
…Great. I wanted to talk to Tiago, but I guess it’ll have to wait.
I sighed, got up from my seat, and that’s when Charlier spoke.
“Hey, follow me.”
She stood abruptly, her heels clicking as she walked out of the hall ahead of me.
What’s with her attitude?
I gave her an incredulous look before following.
Charlier was standing by a pillar near the stairs.
“Hey.”
She stood with her arms crossed, one foot propped up, her voice dripping with irritation.
So now that no one’s watching, she drops the act completely.
It was pure arrogance and rudeness. I answered her halfheartedly.
“What?”
“You’re embarrassing. Don’t act like that.”
“…? What the heck are you talking about?”
She let out a big sigh, rolling her eyes sharply.
“You’re embarrassing. Don’t fawn over maids. Don’t smile so much in front of the other nobles. That’s how they start looking down on you.”
“Why are you picking a fight?”
“I wouldn’t care if they just looked down on you. But since we’re from the same city, it’s embarrassing for me too!”
Her voice rang out in the empty hall, echoing off the walls.
Wow. As expected—Charlier’s temper is no joke.
The more heated she got, the calmer I felt.
“I think you’re more embarrassing—yelling in the royal palace hallway.”
Charlier jabbed a finger at my face, lowering her voice in a sharp tone.
“Do you even know what kind of place this is? Of course you don’t. This place is dangerous. You think you can just be nice and get by? No. This isn’t somewhere a thoughtless girl like you can wander around smiling. You can’t trust anyone here.”
She was trembling with anger, her voice full of thorns, sometimes even rasping.
“You have no idea what I’ve had to do to survive here. I’m only telling you this because it’s pathetic watching you act like an idiot.”
I answered flatly.
“Didn’t ask for your advice. Don’t need it. Don’t care. I don’t need to know what kind of life you’ve had here, or what this place is like. So don’t act like you’re here to teach me.”
“….”
She bit her lip, then muttered with obvious annoyance.
“Honestly… you’re really stupid. I was doing you a favor. But of course, you’d need brains to understand. I don’t even know why I have to be tied to someone like you just because we’re from the same region.”
She looked me up and down.
“I don’t get why Frederic helps a girl like you. No manners, no etiquette, no sense of propriety.”
Okay, that’s crossing the line.
“I’m curious too—why does Frederic even like someone like you?”
She snorted.
“You think he likes you?”
“I—…”
I froze, unable to answer. Charlier seized the moment.
“You weren’t hoping for his feelings, were you? If you were, wake up. You’re only working at the Peredy estate because you take advantage of Frederic’s kind heart. Be glad he’s nice.”
“Ah…”
I opened my mouth to argue, but nothing came out. She tilted her head, smirking.
“See? Struck a nerve, didn’t I? Delphine, know your place. You’ve been kicked out of your family and now you’re working for a baron’s household. Where’s all that confidence coming from?”
“….”
“Get your head straight. Got it?”
She lifted her chin, looking down at me.
“….”
It was humiliating. Not just hearing this from her, but also not being able to think of a comeback. What frustrated me most was that I’d let her shut me up.
Charlier smirked like she’d won.
“Think carefully about how you’re going to conduct yourself from now on, Delphine.”
She turned on her heel and walked up the stairs, her heels clicking loudly in the hall.
“….”
My head felt blank. This time, she’d definitely gotten the upper hand. Charlier… I didn’t expect her to pick such a direct fight. And here, of all places—the royal palace.
“What’s this about?”
Tiago stopped just outside the banquet hall. Leo spoke in a low voice.
“Let’s go somewhere we can talk privately.”
“….”
After thinking for a moment, Tiago lifted his chin slightly.
“Let’s go to my room—it’s closer.”
“Where are you staying?”
“The main building.”
The main building? This guy? Not even a duke or a titled noble?
Leo’s eyes widened. He tried to hide his surprise, but Tiago’s sharp gaze caught it immediately.
Leo’s reaction carried a hint of rudeness, as if someone like Tiago didn’t belong in the main building.
“….”
Tiago noticed, but didn’t comment. To him, Leo was less than a speck of dust, and what Leo thought of him didn’t matter at all.
The only reason he’d agreed to talk was to confirm whether Leo was the one who had cursed Delphine.
This guy doesn’t seem like he’s capable of using a curse orb.
Tiago thought as he led the way.
A curse orb affected not just the victim but also the one casting it.
At first, using it brought extreme pleasure. The more the victim suffered, the more happiness the caster felt.
