🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 07
Misunderstandings Born of Being “Good”
Before anyone realized it, the music and the dance had begun to slip subtly out of sync—but no one noticed.
No one except Lariel, who was dancing with him.
“You know very well that accepting a single invitation to dance doesn’t magically erase all the wicked things you’ve done so far.”
“Y-Your Highness, the tempo is too fast.”
“You’re a villainess. A devil. A woman who would gladly push others into the abyss if it benefited you. And now what— you’ve decided to become ‘good’?”
As if something had struck a nerve, Ferrick poured out harsh accusations and biting words.
Lariel couldn’t offer any reply. The dance had sped up so much that merely keeping pace was already overwhelming.
“I understand, so please, just a little slower—”
She barely managed to speak when—
Unable to withstand the pace, Lariel stumbled and fell forward. At the same time she squeezed her eyes shut, something firm meeting her palm.
The music cut off abruptly, leaving only murmurs filling the hall. A dense, unfamiliar scent washed over her nose, and Lariel slowly opened her eyes.
She was in his arms.
Startled, Lariel only blinked blankly. Ferrick met her gaze, his breathing perfectly steady.
He was far too close—close enough that she could see each individual eyelash.
Then Ferrick whispered something into her ear.
“I guarantee it. Your mask won’t last much longer. I’ll be the one to tear it off.”
Lariel’s eyes flew wide open. Before she could ask what he meant, Ferrick released her, turned away, and left the ballroom.
And just like that, their dance was over. Lariel stood there for a long while, clutching her chest.
Perhaps because of the sudden movement, her heart refused to calm down.
The few words he had murmured at the end seemed to echo endlessly in her ears.
After that, Lariel returned straight to the ducal estate.
Originally, she had planned to remain at the banquet and further display the “reformed” Lariel to the nobles—but the plan had gone awry.
The dance with Ferrick had been far more intense than expected. And the conversation they’d shared was even more so.
So much so that she had no mental energy left to do anything afterward.
“Haaah…”
Soaking her tired legs in lukewarm water, Lariel let out a soft sigh.
“Mmm…”
A low murmur escaped her naturally.
Rose petals floated on the surface of the water, drifting with the ripples, scattering far away before bumping repeatedly into the tub’s wall.
Watching their irregular movement, Lariel recalled Ferrick’s final whisper from a few hours ago.
I guarantee it. Your mask won’t last much longer. I’ll be the one to tear it off.
“A mask… isn’t that a bit harsh?”
Muttering her complaint belatedly, Lariel sank deeper into the water.
Someone decides to turn over a new leaf, and instead of encouragement, he hurls curses—at his own fiancée, no less.
“…Still, what do I do now?”
Her grumbling didn’t last long. Practical worries quickly filled her mind.
If she left Ferrick alone like this, her plan to escape the villainous ducal household might be delayed.
And what if the heroine’s storyline progressed even a little?
Just imagining it is horrifying…
Despite the water not having cooled yet, a chill ran up her spine, and Lariel shivered.
This won’t do. If it comes to this, she’ll just have to perform some unmistakable good deed—something even Ferrick can’t deny.
That was the conclusion she reached.
She’d already felt that claiming to be “good” just because she danced once with her fiancé was insufficient.
After being branded the villainess of House Tenebris for twenty years, she needed a deed grand enough to rival that infamous reputation.
If that’s the case…
Her feet, lightly splashing in the water, came to a stop.
Drip. Drip.
A few droplets fell from the faucet.
Then, at some point, Lariel rose from the tub with a faint smile.
Water spilled over the edge with a loud splash, filling the bathroom.
Between strands of red hair darkened by water, her green eyes—now brimming once more with motivation—gleamed with a meaningful smile.
Walking toward the bathroom door, she called out to the maid waiting outside.
“Ilia!”
“Ah—yes! You called, my lady!”
To the maid who hurried over, Lariel asked for towels to dry herself, a change of clothes—and one more thing.
“Oh, and could you also find out where the largest orphanage in the Kingdom of Trian is?”
“…Pardon? An orphanage?”
The maid echoed the request in surprise.
Wondering if her voice had been too soft, Lariel kindly repeated herself.
“Yes, that’s right. Did you not hear me clearly?”
“N-No! I heard you! I’ll go right away!”
The maid’s voice trembled as she ran off, responding to what sounded like a cold tone from beyond the door.
She… wasn’t mocking me just now, asking if I even have ears, right…?
Lariel’s consideration had somehow been interpreted as something bordering on a threat.
In any case, the maid disappeared.
Listening to the hurried footsteps fading away, Lariel gathered her hair in one hand and squeezed out the water, smiling with anticipation.
Of course, when it comes to good deeds, nothing beats donations and volunteer work! Surely this much will earn me the title of a good person, right?
As if making a declaration to the villainess reflected in the mirror, Lariel put on a proud expression.
Though the image staring back only wore an arrogant smile at the corner of its lips.
Ahem. Clearing her throat for no reason, Lariel forced herself to look away from the mirror.
Yes, what mattered was the intention to do good.
Soothing herself with that thought, Lariel waited eagerly for the maid to return with towels, clothes, and a list of orphanages.
This time, she was sure she could finally shed her infamy as the villainess—no, erase it completely.
The plan was flawless.
With the maid’s help, Lariel identified the largest orphanage in the Kingdom of Trian and immediately contacted them, expressing her wish to perform a good deed there.
To avoid any misunderstandings this time, she even drafted a formal donation certificate.
She dressed it up with refined wording, but in essence, it could be summarized in a single line:
“I truly just want to help, with no ulterior motives!”
She also applied to volunteer.
It took some effort to calm the frightened priest at the orphanage, who recognized her face, but in the end she managed to obtain permission.
“You won’t hit the children, will you?”
“No.”
“You won’t abuse the children?”
Isn’t that the same thing? In any case—no.
“You won’t bully or harass the children…?”
“No! I said I won’t!”
Recalling the exhausting back-and-forth, Lariel eventually smiled with a sense of victory.
Now no one can call me a villainess.
The day I smear the name of Tenebris is not far off.
With that reassurance, she went to bed the night before the visit.
“I never imagined I’d be volunteering alongside you. How deeply moving.”
Ah, for heaven’s sake…
Just before departure, her fiancé—the crown prince of Trian, Ferrick—appeared before her and said exactly that.
Sensing her plan already starting to derail, Lariel stood there blankly for a moment. She wanted to smile, but nothing came out.
Are you serious right now?
Her expression stiffened at his sudden appearance—an unmistakably blunt reaction.
Ferrick let out a sharp, mocking laugh.
“What a sight that expression is. I’m your one and only fiancé—couldn’t you greet me a little more warmly?”
“Oh—”
Only then did Lariel hurriedly force a smile onto her face, the kind anyone could tell was purely for form’s sake.
Ferrick noticed, yet didn’t back down.
Unable to hold it in any longer, Lariel asked him directly.
“But why are you coming to volunteer with me? What do you mean by that?”
“Didn’t you hear? When I learned you were volunteering, I sent a letter saying I’d like to join you.”
“Well, I don’t recall receiving anything…”
“That’s odd. I definitely sent it through my aide. An hour ago.”
An hour ago.
Standing before his handsome face, smiling as if to taunt her, Lariel protested inwardly.
Who on earth would read a letter sent just one hour before departure?
There was preparing to go out, arranging the carriage—so much to do!
He did it on purpose.
Lariel quickly grasped his intention.
But the question still remained.
Why would a crown prince who loathed Lariel—who had been forced into an engagement with her—insist on joining her volunteer work?
That part still made no sense.
No, seriously—why are you following me? You hate me. Later you’ll probably join hands with the saintess and hunt down everyone with the name Tenebris in it!
