🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 9
The Villainess Imprinted with the Male Lead
Luciana watched Mary, who was so excited that she was even humming a tune, with a dull expression and let out a sigh.
‘I wonder if I’ll at least gain something small when I meet the male lead later? Please let that happen.’
But why did she have such an ominous feeling?
Luciana forcibly ignored the heavy sensation rising within her for no reason and composed her expression as Mary approached with the necklace in her hands.
“I’ll put it on you.”
The pink pearl, which had been placed near the fireplace so it wouldn’t feel cold against her skin, gently settled against her pale, slender neck.
“Wow, you really look beautiful today!”
“Thank you.”
Mary admired Luciana, who looked like a single flower blooming in the dim light of dawn.
Matching her lovely, spring-like appearance, today’s outfit had pink and yellow accents. It wasn’t as extravagant as a garden full of blooming roses, but it possessed a soft elegance that naturally drew people’s attention.
“I should go down soon. You worked hard, Mary.”
Finally holding a delicate feather fan in her hand, Luciana left the room while being seen off by Mary.
For social activities other than small gatherings like tea parties, although it was not a formally established rule, it was considered an unspoken custom to attend alongside a partner.
Whether a man or woman, those who entered alone often became the subject of light teasing, so most people found a suitable companion before attending. For married nobles, it was their spouse; for the unmarried, it was usually a fiancé or someone from a family of similar standing.
Luciana was also planning to attend the New Year’s Ball with the partner she had already arranged to accompany her.
“You look especially beautiful today, Lady Leslie.”
“Thank you, Count Graham.”
In the Empire, it was customary for the person who requested to be a partner to personally come and escort them.
Holding the count’s hand, Luciana stepped into the carriage and headed toward the Imperial Palace while exchanging the usual polite conversation.
“Count David Graham and Lady Luciana Leslie are entering!”
After checking their invitations, the attendant guarding the ballroom entrance announced their arrival in a loud voice.
As Luciana lightly linked arms with the count and entered the hall, countless gazes turned toward the two of them for a brief moment.
“Lady, would you honor me with a dance?”
“Yes, Count.”
Following the count’s lead as he requested a dance according to proper etiquette, Luciana walked toward the dance floor.
Letting herself relax with the music, Luciana skillfully stepped through the movements of the social dances she had been forced to practice endlessly as part of noble lady training.
‘His reputation among the nobles isn’t bad. It seems his personality is decent as well.’
Unlike yesterday’s rude partner, the count’s hand around her waist was nothing but respectful.
As Luciana smoothly turned, her gaze briefly moved toward her partner.
The count, with ordinary brown hair and eyes, was a handsome man in his own right, though not quite as striking as Licht.
‘But…’
Unlike the warmth filling her heart with goodwill, Luciana’s gaze held a hint of disappointment as she clicked her tongue softly.
The count, who had been quietly watching her, slowly opened his mouth.
“Lady Leslie.”
“Yes?”
“I heard you graduated from Serlona Academy last year.”
“Ah… yes. I majored in Magical Engineering.”
The count’s voice was as pleasant as his gentle appearance.
“Magical Engineering. Then you must have considerable knowledge of magic.”
“You flatter me. I’m still inexperienced.”
Luciana smiled shyly at the count’s praise.
His gaze lingered for a moment on her cheeks, lightly flushed with a peach-like color.
As if calming the rising atmosphere, the melody softened. Taking advantage of the moment when their bodies were close together, the count asked quietly.
“Did you avoid having a fiancé until now because you wished to focus on your studies?”
“Hmm… I suppose so.”
“……May I ask if you still feel the same way now that you have graduated?”
Ah, as expected.
After carefully testing the waters, Luciana realized the count was subtly expressing his interest and trailed off.
It was completely natural for marriage discussions to arise while dancing with a partner. Moreover, the count clearly seemed to have a favorable impression of her.
‘……What a shame.’
Luciana also found the count appealing. He had a decent appearance, a calm personality, and the Graham family was well-known in high society.
‘Not long ago, I wanted to spend a sweet life with exactly this kind of respectable man.’
Someone kind and gentlemanly.
For Luciana, who had hoped to choose a suitable husband in the not-too-distant future and enjoy a comfortable married life, he was the perfect match.
“……Yes. I wanted to broaden my knowledge a little more.”
“I see……”
However, Luciana couldn’t leave even the slightest opening in front of the count, who was carefully expressing his feelings.
Her imprint with Licht.
As someone already bound to another man under the name of a partner, she could no longer form a meaningful relationship with anyone else.
“I will support your future endeavors, Lady.”
“Thank you.”
At that moment, the orchestra’s performance ended. The count released Luciana’s hand, which he had held throughout the dance, and politely greeted her.
‘I’m sorry, Count.’
The regret lingering in his eyes continued to bother her.
Seeing him accept her firm rejection without taking offense and end things with proper courtesy made Luciana swallow her bitter feelings.
Her words about wanting to pursue more studies were true, but she never meant she would completely give up meeting someone.
‘Licht and I don’t even like each other, and since the mark isn’t visible, no one would find out… But still, hiding the fact that I’m imprinted with another man while meeting someone else would be wrong.’
Luciana let out a deep sigh and stared at her wrist.
As she glared at the mark that seemed more and more frustrating the longer she looked at it, she remembered the crimson glow in Licht’s eyes as he had glared at her like he wanted to kill her in the bedroom.
‘When I read the novel, I thought he was wonderful. But after actually getting involved with him, he’s just a pretty shell with an awful personality. Of course, that’s probably because I’m not the heroine.’
If the person he had imprinted with had been the heroine, perhaps he would have been surprised at first but soon held a grand wedding ceremony with her.
‘He really thinks he’s the male lead. Since male leads are supposed to be warm only toward their woman and growl at everyone else.’
‘Staring at someone like he wants to kill them is probably the basic requirement, right? Well, he already threatened to kill me anyway.’
As Luciana grumbled while criticizing the duke who never hesitated to speak harshly to her—
“Duke Licht Cassio is entering!”
“!”
They say even a tiger appears when you mention its name.
The moment Luciana thought of Licht, the firmly closed ballroom doors opened.
No way. Duke Cassio!
Not only Luciana, but countless nobles immediately turned their attention toward the entrance at the appearance of such a rarely seen figure.
‘He came without a partner?’
Normally, someone entering alone would receive some ridicule. But considering who the person was, none of those watching the duke dared to make even a careless remark.
Perhaps because of his overwhelming appearance, which made him seem like someone living in a world of his own, his solitary entrance didn’t look pitiful at all.
Rather, he appeared elegant and noble, like a lone swan.
Without realizing it, Luciana stared at Licht, who was radiating the aura of a protagonist.
His black hair, which had previously covered his forehead, was neatly slicked back, and the formal uniform that fit him perfectly emphasized his naturally impressive physique, making him look even more magnificent.
Overall, he gave off the impression of a cold-blooded man. The fact that such a cold appearance suited Licht so well was almost the problem.
‘His personality is terrible, but his face alone is… Ah! What am I doing? This isn’t the time to leisurely admire someone else.’
It would be troublesome if she happened to run into Deborah.
Luciana belatedly scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes, but the noble lady with the heroine’s signature honey-colored blonde hair and violet eyes was nowhere to be seen.
‘Has she not arrived yet?’
Whatever the case, it was much better that the heroine wasn’t here. If Deborah accidentally saw her speaking with Licht, it would only make things more uncomfortable.
‘Fortunately, my parents and older brother haven’t entered yet either. I need to finish what I came here for before then.’
However, before she realized it, nobles hoping to establish even the smallest connection with the duke had already gathered around Licht, engaging in a subtle battle of wits.
