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~Chapter 21~
The attendant looked at Aveline as if he’d seen a ghost.
“Oh, so this is the young lady who’s Ares’s twin…”
Aveline felt even more down seeing his shocked face.
She thought, I need to look strong.
So, just to try out Ares’s advice, she stared at the attendant with a sharp look.
I am a villainess. I am a villainess.
She tried to remember how villainesses looked in those stories she liked. She did her best to look fierce, instead of her usual soft expression.
The attendant, who had been watching Aveline’s eyes shift around nervously, suddenly froze when she glared at him.
Did I do something wrong?
He quickly apologized, confused and scared. That’s when Aveline’s fierce look turned back to her normal gentle one.
Aveline was just as confused as he was.
Did that really work?
She couldn’t believe it, but it looked like Ares’s advice was right.
Ares, who hadn’t noticed what just happened, looked at Aveline and asked,
“Why are you acting like that?”
“Nothing.”
“Nervous?”
He thought she was just anxious and laughed.
With the attendant’s loud announcement,
“Count Herolds’ Ares Herolds and Aveline Herolds have arrived!”
the doors to the hall opened.
Bright lights and the excited voices inside overwhelmed Aveline, and she had to catch her breath.
“It’s okay. Just breathe. Once we’re inside, I’ll find a way to get you out to the terrace for a break,” Ares whispered.
Even with his encouragement, Aveline’s legs shook.
Was it always this quiet?
When the people before them entered, it didn’t feel like this.
Now, except for the musicians, it felt like everyone had stopped talking.
Suddenly, her heel hit the marble stairs with a loud clack!
She was embarrassed.
Since she didn’t have proper shoes, she wore her mother’s, which were a bit too big.
Ares noticed her unsteady walk and quietly helped her without anyone seeing.
“Thanks,” Aveline whispered.
“You’re really nervous, huh,” Ares snorted.
“I just tripped, that’s all,” she whispered back.
People who didn’t know what the twins were talking about just watched, wide-eyed.
“Isn’t that the young lady from the scandal?” someone whispered.
“She looks like a debutante in that dress,” another said, staring at Aveline in her mother’s white dress.
Someone else noticed the shawl on her shoulders.
“Isn’t that the shawl Lady Lilliana always wore?”
As people kept staring, Aveline’s nerves grew.
Don’t forget—look strong.
She stared sharply at everyone looking at her.
People flinched, surprised at the fierce look that didn’t fit her gentle face.
Wait, this isn’t what I wanted…
Just then, she met eyes with someone standing nearby.
It was Melina Srun.
Melina was glaring at Aveline, furious.
The Countess Srun, standing next to her, also looked upset.
Aveline leaned over and quietly asked Ares,
“Hey, what would you do if someone said they liked you, but then bullied your family?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“Just answer.”
Ares thought for a moment, then said,
“That’s not real love.”
“Why not?”
“Who would bully the person they like’s family? Only someone really stupid.”
Aveline glanced at Melina and said,
“So you’re saying people who act like that are really dumb?”
Melina’s face turned red. She had definitely heard everything.
Now that she’s heard this, maybe she’ll back off… Or else, she really is dumb, Aveline thought.
But as she turned to leave, Melina suddenly grabbed her shawl.
“You—who do you think you are?!”
Ares immediately moved Aveline behind him, knocking Melina’s hand away.
Melina looked hurt, but then glared at Aveline, shouting,
“How can someone like you stand next to Ares? I’ll never forgive you!”
She was so obsessed with Ares that she forgot about everyone watching.
“Melina!” the Countess Srun rushed over, pale, and stood in front of her daughter, glaring at Aveline.
“Why does trouble always follow you?” the Countess shouted.
People began to gather, whispering.
Nothing’s changed with these people, Aveline thought.
Before, she would have panicked. But now, she felt calm.
Aveline stepped out from behind Ares to face Melina and the Countess.
“I must be the only one here who sees clearly. Lady Srun ran into me—I didn’t do anything.”
“I’m sure you provoked her!” the Countess insisted.
Aveline nearly laughed—this was just like four years ago.
She used to envy mothers who defended their daughters so fiercely. But now she knew:
Blind love can become poison if it goes too far.
“Lady Srun said she can’t stand me next to Ares,” Aveline said loudly, so everyone could hear. “But I’m his twin. Isn’t it weird to hate me for that?”
Melina glared, but Aveline held her gaze.
“You also spread rumors about me and even talked badly about my mother after the debutante. Right?”
“When did I ever!” Melina cried, but people were already staring at her.
“And Countess Srun, didn’t you criticize my parents’ way of raising us, too?” Aveline turned to the Countess.
Everyone knew it was rude to insult another family’s parenting in public. The Countess looked embarrassed.
“I-I don’t remember!”
“That’s okay. I do,” Aveline replied coolly.
The crowd started to murmur.
Now, they finally heard the truth about what happened years ago.
Melina, desperate, shouted,
“You hit me too! You’re not innocent!”
“If I remember right, your hand was on my hair too. Don’t people usually call that ‘mutual fighting’?”
People remembered how Aveline’s hair and clothes were a mess after that incident, much worse than Melina’s.
Melina, seeing the crowd’s cold looks, forced a laugh.
“So what, did you wear a white dress to redo your debutante, since you messed it up last time? Even after four years?”
