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Chapter 43
However, contrary to everyone’s expectations, Chloe was nowhere to be seen.
“Come to think of it, if Chloe shows up…”
In the novel, Travis falls in love at first sight when he sees Chloe. Then… today, Travis would fall for Chloe.
“His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince, and Lady Chloe of the House of Ameron are entering.”
Just then, the announcement of Chloe’s arrival echoed through the banquet hall. Perhaps because she was the center of attention, the room immediately fell silent.
The door slowly opened, signaling that the main character had arrived. And there she was—Chloe, wearing a yellow dress identical to Rose’s.
“What is that…?”
To think she would wear the same dress as the most noticed person at the royal banquet! And she was even the partner of the Crown Prince, the master of the palace. Moreover, the dress, which didn’t suit Rose at all, looked perfect on Chloe.
Watching Chloe appear with a radiant smile, Rose’s pupils started to tremble.
“Same dress?”
People around had already noticed and began whispering. In high society, wearing the same dress as someone else was considered extremely rude.
“Did the commoners plan to match dresses?”
“Seems like it. Maybe commoners like this color.”
“Ugh, this is so annoying. Why did she have to wear yellow and make me look bad too?”
The crowd’s criticism fell on Rose. Combined with some subtle disapproval of Chloe, Rose felt even more humiliated. No one dared to directly criticize Chloe, standing next to the Crown Prince.
Unable to bear the scorn directed at her, Rose glared at me with wide eyes.
“Serves you right for being so naive.”
This was what happened because Rose had made the wrong choice. One shouldn’t commit the bad act of stealing someone else’s dress.
“Espin! This is all your fault!”
Unusually, Rose seemed to immediately grasp the situation and lunged at me, approaching ferociously as if to strike.
“Good. Let me take one hit first, then I’ll hit back three times.”
I had wanted to give her a few gentle taps anyway. If she struck first, I’d have a perfect excuse.
“You ruined everything!”
Before I could react, Rose’s hand shot forward.
“Stop.”
Just as I had closed my eyes, waiting for the impact, I felt nothing but a slight grab. When I opened my eyes, Rose was held back by Travis.
“I heard earlier that Lady Espin’s intended dress was stolen and worn by you. But how is it Lady Espin’s fault that the dress matches someone else’s?”
“Let go! Espin, you knew this all along! The tailor would never have let me make the same dress without telling me!”
Rose, oblivious to the people watching, lost her temper completely. She screamed, cried, and caused a scene.
People slowly stepped back, looking at her as if she were insane. A shocked countess hurried over.
“Rose, what is happening?”
“This is all Espin’s fault! She did it on purpose to ruin me!”
Surprisingly quick-witted, the countess quickly understood the scene. If only she had noticed earlier that I had deliberately shown the dress to Rose, none of this would have happened. How unfortunate.
“People are watching. Calm down, Rose.”
At the countess’s words, Rose finally scanned the crowd.
“Typical commoner, no manners at all.”
“See the Crown Prince’s expression? She ruined the prince’s entrance. That lady must have two lives.”
“This is why social circles need management. Too many strange people causing trouble.”
Hearing the whispers directed at her, Rose cried even louder. Then, spotting Haren behind me, she wailed in his direction. But when he looked at her with a cold, indifferent expression, she hid her face and avoided the crowd.
The countess followed her.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Thanks to you, I wasn’t even hit.”
“Why didn’t you dodge if you knew you’d be struck?”
“Oh…”
Ah, well, I planned to take one hit and then land three of my own. A single hit was nothing.
Since I didn’t explain this to Travis, he looked at me with a sympathetic gaze.
“Next time, if someone tries to strike the lady, dodge. She’s fragile and weak against blows.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
“By the way, you must have a lot of hardships, with your stepmother and stepsister.”
“Yes.”
As I nodded, Chloe appeared again, pausing at her spot in the banquet hall.
“By the way, that lady is really pretty, isn’t she?”
I cautiously pointed at Chloe. Travis’s gaze followed my hand.
1, 2, 3.
Three seconds. In the novel, Travis fell in love at first sight in three seconds. Surely, the same would happen today.
Why do I feel bitter?
It should have been fine if he fell for her; the original story could proceed, and I could continue my own plans. Yet, the thought of losing my partner unsettled me.
“I don’t know.”
Unexpected words came from Travis.
“Excuse me?”
“I don’t know. I can’t see what’s special about her compared to other ladies.”
“Don’t you feel your heart race?”
“My heart?”
“Yes. Falling in love at first sight, anything like that.”
Travis looked at me as if I were talking nonsense. Unlike in the novel, he hadn’t fallen for Chloe at first sight.
“Ugh, I’m so annoyed.”
Chloe, having come to the powder room after the royal banquet began, slammed her fist on the sofa.
This was supposed to be her moment. When she entered, people were meant to notice her and whisper, Is that the rumored lady? This was the moment she was meant to shine beside the Crown Prince.
But a strange woman had ruined everything—and was wearing the same dress as her.
“I’m supposed to be the star of this royal banquet.”
Instead of focusing on Chloe, people were busy pointing at both her and the other woman, calling them commoners.
Knock, knock.
“Chloe, may I come in for a moment?”
Hearing the Crown Prince’s voice from beyond the door, Chloe wiped her tears and hurriedly composed herself.
“Yes.”
The door opened, and the Crown Prince entered with a worried look.
“Are you alright?”
Having grown close quickly after dining together by the Empress’s invitation, the Crown Prince now spoke casually to Chloe. She secretly liked this, as it made them feel closer.
“Yes, I’m fine…”
Chloe lowered her head, nearly moved to tears by his warm, comforting words.
“I understand you’re upset. I’m upset just seeing you upset.”
“I am a little upset. I carefully chose a dress that suits the Crown Prince, but someone else is wearing it too.”
“Oh… I see. The tailor must have sold your dress to someone else. Usually they avoid duplicates.”
“Really?”
“Yes. They probably assumed you didn’t know about noble society, that’s why they did it.”
“How unfair. Treating me like this just because I didn’t know anything.”
“Not all nobles are the same. There’s hierarchy even among them.”
The Crown Prince patted Chloe’s shoulder.
“Then gain your strength as a noble.”
“How?”
“Make people take your side.”
Hearing the Crown Prince, Chloe felt a bright light return to her darkened mind.
Yes. Not all nobles were equal. To stand within and above them, it was essential to make people your allies.
