The Reason Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion

The atmosphere in the ballroom was heating up. The orchestra’s melody had passed the climax and wound down to hint at the beginning of the next piece.

Noah respectfully held his hand out to Raeliana.

“Shall we dance?”

“With delight.”

Raeliana lifted the hem of her dress and curtsied to accept his invitation.

Noah asked the crowd that had gathered around them for a pardon and led Raeliana by the hand to the center. She followed behind him and nodded at them.

Finding the right moment in the rhythm, he pulled in Raeliana’s waist and brought their bodies together.

“Why the look of a country maiden sold to marriage?”

“Because I feel exactly like one.” 

“To be fair, that would be my role.”

Says the man who enjoyed everything. Geez…

As Raeliana furrowed her brow, Noah spoke quietly while leading her.

“Lighten up. How will you fool anyone with that face?”

He grinned and whispered. Raeliana smiled in turn and whispered back.

“Hypocrite.”

Noah did not back down.

“Blackmailer.”

“Using such vulgar words I see… Others should know that dear Noah is this type of person.”

“What does it matter? As someone says, I’m a hypocrite.”

This… this two-face…

Narrowing her eyes, she decided to use the skill she planned to use on Francis Brooks in the previous ball.

The ‘Break Up With Your Boyfriend’ skill hidden in her left foot!

At that moment, Noah’s foot came forward. Stepping the next step, Raeliana pushed her left foot forward in a faux mistake.

Noah’s foot with high-quality leather shoes was stomped and crushed by Raeliana’s high heel as she twisted it to the left and right.

“Oops, my mistake.”

Raeliana brought together her lips and winked. Noah’s grinning face leaned to the left.

“Hmm…”

With a long hum, he flipped Raeliana backward into his arms.

Huh…?!

As her body flipped backward, her sight blurred as if she were on a roller coaster.

When Raeliana inadvertently hugged him back in her vertigo, Noah fixed her in place with one hand on her waist and another on her thighs.

Noah’s cheerful face came up close to the tip of her nose.

“What are you…!”

As Raeliana made to cry out in protest, the crowd around them clapped and cheered at the dramatic performance.

“You should practice your skills more, Raeliana.”

Noah whispered into her ear. Raeliana struggled a smile and answered.

“I shall…”

***

Apparently, Nick enjoyed some cult following in high society. When he made a late arrival, a crowd of fairly well-known ladies rushed to greet him.

He gave out casual compliments about how this lady had pretty earrings and that lady had a delightful hairdo. This was his everyday routine. The ladies broke out as if they had received blessings.

That’s Monsieur Nick…

After the dance that set her face aflame, Raeliana stepped out to the side of the ballroom to take a break and watched Nick while sipping on wine.

Nick, who had been drinking champagne with his pinky out, noticed Raeliana’s gaze and greeted her with a nod.

As Raeliana smiled brightly to greet back, Nick wrinkled his eyes and pointed to his own eye.

Oh man…

After a silent groan, she nodded and flashed a refreshing smile. Nick put his thumbs up.

Having finished her task, Raeliana quickly averted the gaze.

The knights assigned to her chatted happily at the edge of the hall while keeping her in sight. Next to her, Noah gave various orders to the attendant.

I feel like someone is staring at me.

Raeliana looked around to see if anyone was staring at her, but could not locate the secret admirer.

Perhaps going into intermission, the orchestra stopped playing. With the gentle melody gone, the lively buzz filled the hall.

That moment, Raeliana saw a red­ haired woman entering the hall with her heels clicking.

People began murmuring.

With her chin held up high, she looked around with mellow eyes.

Raeliana did not know why, but the woman’s beautiful face caught her eyes. The wavy red hair that flowed to her waist, the contrasting pale skin like snow, the dazzling face that drew people’s attention.

Raeliana unconsciously muttered her name.

“Vivian Shamall?”

The woman who Nick called a vixen. The name sounded oddly familiar… Raeliana tapped her head.

Vivian Shamall had a main supporting role in the original plot. She was what one would call ‘the villainess’ who opposed Beatrice, the protagonist.

Although Vivian Shamall persistently wooed Noah, he never accepted her feelings.

In despair, she accepted the king’s proposal that she had received at the time. Currently, she was receiving lessons at the Royal Palace as the sole candidate for a queen.

Since the Royal wedding had to be arranged for a specific event, her becoming a queen was only delayed. So despite her still going by the name of Shamall, people treated her like a queen.

Vivian Shamall.

The woman who harassed Beatrice, the protagonist, in order to break apart the rosy love between Noah and Beatrice…

Vivian’s face suddenly darted toward Raeliana. Raeliana shifted her position to Vivian’s blind spot.

I can’t put myself out there.

Dealing with Noah alone was enough. She did not want to make her life harder by revealing herself to the villainess dumped by Noah.

As Raeliana slid between the moving crowd to evade Vivian’s gaze, Noah who had been searching for her tilted his head, bewildered.

“Raeliana…?”

Crouching with her head down behind a wide frame of one nobleman, she answered.

“Ye, yes?”

Noah leaned on his knees with his hands to meet her eye level.

“What are you doing there?” 

“Well… nothing. Oh… I feel so stiff.”

Avoiding his eyes, Raeliana slowly straightened up like she was stretching.

Noah scoffed and got to the point.

“Raeliana, I need you to remember what I said before.”

“Huh? What?”

“That you need to act like my fiancee when I need it.”

“What need would that be?”

Noah slightly gestured with his head. “For that woman.”

Looking at where Noah was pointing, Raeliana blinked.

“Noah, are you delirious because your foot got stomped on? She’s Vivian Shamall. No wait, you’re not saying…”

Is he trying to sacrifice me to that woman to avoid inconvenience?

Raeliana’s face fell.

“I’m perfectly fine. And the one I’m talking about is the one next to that woman.”

“Oh…”

Then Raeliana noticed a small woman standing next to Vivian.

“Pryse Eriteal. She’s Marquess Eriteal’s young wife.”

“Oh, the mustache…”

Marquess Mustache looked at least forty but Pryse Eriteal looked fresh as if she had just turned twenty.

What a thief. Raeliana shook her head.

“There is a social club among the wives of vieux riche.”

The club had no name nor known members. The rumor only had it that the wives of powerful personnel were involved.

Since each lady had influence over those in powerful positions, some even say that what goes on at the club is what goes on in the kingdom.

Noah picked two glasses of wine from the servant’s tray and handed them to Raeliana.

“So Raeliana, I’ll need you to get an invitation from her.”

Raeliana looked down at the two glasses of wine that she now held. The red wine swishing inside reflected her face.

Is he saying I should offer wine and act all friendly?

“Well then, go on.”

Despite asking for favors, the man looked brazen.

“Hm…”

Of course he had something in mind. Raeliana looked at Noah in annoyance then asked.

“Weren’t you suspicious of me?”

“…?”

He cocked his head as if to ask what she was saying.

“I’m asking if you are okay with me going into that club and saying this and that and everything?”

Noah let out a quiet laugh.

“If you can, then by all means… Also I’m an opportunist who takes advantage from any given chance.”

Taking advantage, how decent.

After letting out a scoff, Raeliana stood up with the wine glasses and walked toward Pryse Eriteal.

Suddenly, she stopped walking, turned around, and stomped to Noah. With her head held up high, Raeliana went right up to his nose and spoke.

“You owe me for this. Big time. I’m an opportunist who takes advantage from any given chance.”

Scrunching her face, Raeliana stuck out her tongue and turned around again. Noah looked at her back and laughed cheerily.

***

How should I approach?

Looking around, she zigzagged around the crowd. Though she tried to find a perfect timing, Pryse Eriteal apparently was friendly with Vivian Shamall and would not get away from her.

Well, rather than friendly…

Pryse stuck to Vivian’s side and acted like a personal attendant while Vivian half-heartedly handed her empty glasses or plates as if it was natural. Pryse then would hand those to the servants.

If only I could talk to her alone.

Looking down at the wine glasses and contemplating for a while, Raeliana began to move.

Though Raeliana was too busy avoiding Vivian’s gaze to notice, people’s eyes followed Raeliana whenever she passed them by.

The veil fluttered mysteriously with her every move while Raeliana with her pale face was quickly walking by with tight lips as if chasing something.

People caught up in conversations would turn their heads to look at her and whisper.

“Say, didn’t you talk about marrying Lady Raeliana some while ago?”

“Yes, I did.”

“You should have grabbed that chance, man.”

“Well, back then she was always skulking near the wall with her head hanging low… I didn’t know she was that pretty.”

“Man, this guy is always throwing away opportunities. Hey listen, can you believe what he did last time?”

The nouveau riche men who had been whispering broke out in laughter.

I can hear you all.

Maybe this was why I felt like someone was staring at me. Embarrassed, Raeliana darted her eyes around and trotted by the group with her head low.

She took ‘I didn’t know she was that pretty’ to her heart.

She first approached where Vivian and Pryse were standing. Then she carefully observed the attending servant and the two women.

Vivian took a bite of hors d’oeuvre and looking dissatisfied, almost threw the plate at Pryse.

…!

Raeliana made a move on Pryse as she handed the plate to the servant.

Pryse’s arm collided with Raeliana’s wine glasses.

“Oh!”

Pryse cried out as the wine churned. Swishing out of the glass, the wine showered Raeliana’s hand as well as a bit on Pryse’s.

The servant who was about to take the plate went pale and left to get towels.

Shocked, Pryse froze for a while and began to apologize profusely.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. What should we do…”

“I’m alright, Madame. But we should hurry and wipe your hand.”

Raeliana spoke looking at Pryse’s wet hand. She mumbled in agreement and looked down at her own hands.

Done.

As Raeliana smiled contentedly and made to get up, a shrill voice caught her in spot.

“My, isn’t this Lady Raeliana? We finally get to meet.”