Is it wrong for me to like seeing the villain suffer [49]
According to what one of the maids told me, Martha said they would invite me when the party was in full swing.
So I still had plenty of time.
'Shall I go back to sleep...?'
I thought about it, but sleep wouldn't let me sleep.
I ended up staying up late and then had a snack.
After she washed and left, the maids entered carrying a dress in their hands.
One of them said:
“My master ordered that we accompany you to the concert hall as soon as you finished preparing.”
'Finally...!'
I changed into a bright white dress studded with light pink jewels that sparkled like starbursts, so the maids suggested taking care of my hair.
I sat quietly in the chair and let them do their work.
After a few moments of combing and styling, I heard one of them whispering:
“Madam Lizzie... you are like an angel.”
I looked at my image in the mirror and found it really attractive.
The half-tied hairstyle with two side braids of my long silver hair looked perfect for the dress.
As for the decorations they put in my hair, they were not exaggerated, but they caught the eye.
“If you have finished getting ready, we will escort you to the hall. Everyone is waiting for you.”
“Okay, let's go.”
So I started walking towards the concert hall.
❖ ❖ ❖
The hall was even wider than the ballroom.
I entered from the second floor, and saw from above a large number of attendees.
It seemed that more nobles than I expected had attended.
The atmosphere was lively, as the party was in full swing.
There, waiting for me, stood Martha, her hair pulled back into a neat chignon and her glasses off.
“Where do I kick?”
Martha asked one of the servants next to her.
“That, he...”
The servant hesitated for a moment, then whispered in her ear.
“……”
Martha looked at me resentfully, as if it had become annoying, and said:
“It's okay, I understand.”
'What's the matter?'
I wondered to myself, but had no time to think, as Martha quickly motioned to me again.
“Are you ready?”
I nodded lightly.
“I will go down first and start talking, and when I give you the signal, come down.”
She said that and then went down to the main hall on the first floor.
As for me, I hid behind the railing, silently watching what was happening down the hall.
Fortunately, everyone was busy talking, so no one noticed my presence.
As soon as Martha began speaking in the middle of the hall, the attention of all the attendees focused on her.
“Today we have gathered at this ceremony to toast in celebration of the recovery of His Majesty the Emperor.”
Martha raised her wine glass high, and the others raised their glasses accordingly.
As for the one who did not carry a cup, he placed his hand on his chest as a greeting and respect.
“For the throne, and for the empire.”
“For her-!”
Martha finished the toast and returned her empty glass to the server's tray, then wiped her mouth with a napkin before continuing:
“There is something else I would like to announce.”
All eyes were on her again.
“You must have heard of the recent rumors about Cayenne, regarding Aleheim’s daughter.”
The hall was silent.
No one expected Martha to bring up a topic that everyone was avoiding.
But her words didn't stop there.
“Is it a rumor that the missing daughter of Elheim is in the house of Cain?”
A heavier silence fell over the hall.
Some of the nobles showed signs of clear panic.
'They must have spread the rumor themselves.'
Perhaps they thought that Martha would take revenge on them, and their chances shuddered.
“Now I will reveal the truth about that rumor to you.”
Everyone held their breath waiting for what she would say.
“The rumor that there is a daughter of Alheim here… is true.”
The hall shook from the surprise.
No one dared to utter a word.
As always, Martha broke the silence herself:
“But there is a fundamental difference from what people say. I would like to make it clear publicly, Lizzy.”
She called my name.
That was the signal.
So I got up from behind the railing where I was hiding, and began to descend the stairs with calm steps.
I felt all eyes on me.
When I stood next to Martha in the middle of the hall, I could see the faces of the audience showing shocked astonishment.
“Unbelievable...”
“…….”
“She is truly the daughter of Alheim…!”
Troubled whispers filled the hall.
Suddenly, the voice of an old nobleman rose from the back of the hall, filled with panic:
"Duchess of Caen!! What are you doing...?! The Turks confess to a crime at a party held to pray for the safety of the throne?! The crime of kidnapping Eliheim's daughter?!"
Martha replied in a decisive tone, looking towards the source of the voice:
“What crime? I haven’t finished speaking yet. I said that Eliheim’s daughter is here, I did not say that she had been kidnapped.”
"Then why...?! Why would you be here?!"
Martha smiled steadily and said:
“The daughter of Eliheim has married Arkial Cain.”
“…….?!?!!”
The old sheikh's face froze in astonishment, as did the faces of the rest of the audience.
They received two successive shocks, each of which alone was sufficient to shake them.
Perhaps noticing their confusion, Martha took the initiative to clarify the matter again:
“I officially re-announce: My brother Arkle Kayin has married Lizzy Alheim. She is no longer Alheim's daughter, but is now a wife in the House of Kayin.”
“……”
“So Lizzy Alheim being here is not a kidnapping, it's her going home.”
However, those present remained astonished, as if their souls had left them.
Martha murmured, licking her lips lightly:
“I thought I could at least hear some words of congratulations...”
But amidst the astonishment, a woman's voice rose, addressing Martha:
“But, Duchess of Caen...! When you came to the capital before... didn’t you say that you would arrange for me to get acquainted with your brother?!”
Martha answered calmly:
“Ah, at that time I didn’t know that my brother actually had a fiancée… he hid it from me too.”
“But—”
“I apologize, and I will compensate you by introducing you to one of my relatives instead.”
Although the woman did not seem convinced, Martha's decisive answer silenced her.
Then a middle-aged man asked:
“So, by saying fiancée, you mean that Lord Cain and Lady Alheim have known each other for a long time?”
“Even more precisely: they knew each other, and they had exchanged a marriage promise.”
Another voice came from the other side of the hall:
“So what is the meaning of the disappearance of Eliheim’s daughter...?”
“She didn’t disappear, she just had her wedding.”
“Then why didn’t you tell Beth Eliheim?”
That familiar voice attracted me, and I automatically turned towards it.
“You claim that the pure daughter of Eliheim abandoned her ruler and family to choose Cain?!”
The man advanced at a steady pace, his voice filled with loneliness.
As soon as I saw him, I realized it was someone I knew.
“W-Hey, Lord Baron—”
He was followed by another man with silver hair and cherry blossom-pink eyes. I had never seen him before, yet I knew who he was in an instant.
He gave me a smirk and said:
“…It's been a long time, Lizzie.”
“It is true that I was surprised... but I thank God that you are fine.”
'Jane Alheim—'
His face is an exact copy of mine.
There was no doubt: he was my older brother, and the original hero of the story, Gene Alheim.
As for the one next to him, he was...
“It seemed like I did something stupid at that time.”
He looked at me with his bright emerald eyes.
“I didn’t know you were a married woman, so I intruded in something that didn’t concern me.”
I smiled and replied in a challenging tone:
“Didn’t I tell you then that it did not concern you, Knight?”
“I apologize. But since my lady, or rather miss, has also kept it from me, let us hold each other accountable equally.”
Martha and Jane were exchanging puzzled looks, as if they did not understand anything of our conversation.
Before Martha lost her patience, Barron brought it back to the point:
“Anyway, Duchess of Caen, do you mean that Miss Alheim left without telling her family a word?”
“……”
“Even if she had a hidden fiancé, for her to leave like this without informing her family is unacceptable.”
Baron's gaze was sharp as he faced Martha.
But she was no less cold and tough when she answered:
“She is no longer Miss Alheim, she is Lady Cayenne.”
“……”
“Then she did not commit a crime, so why should she reveal her private affairs to this crowd? She may have left because she was overprotective at home, or for any other reason that is difficult to reveal.”
Martha's harsh gaze moved towards Jin Alheim, and his body trembled unintentionally.
This was the first meeting between the heroine and the hero in the original story.
Even if events had deviated from their course, I nevertheless thought that both of them would follow the path planned for them as inevitable fate...
'But no, the story won't go the way it was.'
There is no romantic atmosphere here, as Gene seems completely terrified of Martha as she looks down on him.
Then I knew that I had to say goodbye to the last remaining remnants of the Red Moon plot.
'Goodbye... I loved your relationship, but I was the one who ruined it.'
While I was bidding her farewell in my heart with some longing, Baron turned to me and said:
“Then let us ask the lady herself. Is what Duchess Cayenne says true?”
“Lord Baron…!”
“Understand, family heiress. We must hear her answer.”
I raised my eyes to Baron steadily.
I didn't understand why he was with Jane Alheim, but it didn't matter.
'Well… that's exactly what I wanted.'
I was waiting for a question like this, a question that would make all eyes focus on me.
“I will tell everything.”
She spoke in a firm voice, and silence once again fell on the hall.
Martha, Jane Alheim, and Baron, they all turned their eyes to me.
“The reason I left Alheim without a word… is…!”
But before I could finish, I stopped and sent a signal to the second floor.
Suddenly—
Frrff—
Two maids holding the ends of a huge white cloth threw a curtain from above.
Then we clapped together, the hall curtains closed and all the lights went out.
“W-What's going on?!”
“What's wrong?!”
Those present were confused by the sudden event.
As for Martha, who knew about it in advance after taking her permission, she remained alone and composed.
Then a bright light emerged on the white cloth, and an image began to move on it.
“The reason Lizzy Alheim left her home! Watch this video first!”
It was the preview for my film.
Of course the content of the film had nothing to do with what was going on... but people's interest was immediately piqued.
'Even if the content is not relevant, it is enough to create an intriguing title.'
This was one of the tricks YouTube taught me.
*****
My translator friends and I opened a special channel to leak novels, chapter announcements, events, and also requests and promotions...and if I disappear, you will find me there.
Here is the channel link. Take a screenshot and go to Google Lens from it:
https://t.me/+OedqgPvPKXoyZDFk