I, the Female Lead, Ruined the Original Chapter 132

“What the hell is that?”

 

“I’m planning to open a franchise cafe targeting commoners. The Benichi Salon is exclusive to the upper class. It’s time to expand our target audience, and the only idea that offsets the image of coffee being an aristocratic exclusive is that.”

 

“Well… if someone as delicate-looking as Nesia insults customers to eat and leave quickly, they wouldn’t even get mad, and the turnover would be great. Major shareholder number one approves.”

 

“Yes, yes. Number two approves as well.”

 

“Are you crazy? How am I supposed to live normally with that kind of image?” Even though she often spoke that way, Agnesia shuddered, shaking her shoulders.

 

“Why not? Just keep wearing those glasses. I guarantee their effectiveness.”

 

“F*ck, you’re really determined to ruin a friend’s life.” Though she muttered curses, a hint of curiosity appeared in her eyes. She had spent too long in the temple, hiding her true nature.

 

“What about me? Don’t you have any suggestions for me?”

 

“Aren’t you following Lea?”

 

“Well, yes…. But I’m not entering the palace, so shouldn’t I have some side income too?”

Michi glanced at Selleana with a sweet smile, and Selleana waved her hand as if to say, “Do whatever you want.”

 

“Do you want to run a tteokbokki franchise?”

 

“Tteokbokki? How are you going to do that?”

 

“Sigh… It hurts my pride to be manipulated by that mere god, so this time, I’m determined to fulfill my long-cherished project.” Doloret, who rarely showed her emotions, gritted her teeth.

 

“Mere god… There’s a limit to being blinded by business…”

 

“Hey, you don’t understand. She was always dismissing her staff early, talking about employee welfare and reducing business hours, claiming she was dating.”

 

Regardless of what Rosalli and Selleana whispered, Doloret folded the documents with the emperor’s seal and steeled herself.

 

“Since the kids had enough rest, I’m going to send them out for an expedition.”

 

Although it was only about a week, it was considered a long rest for guild members and staff.

 

“It’s time to show these fragile pre-modern people the spicy taste of our past lives.”

 

“I hope you succeed this time.”

 

“Ah, my mouth is already watering.”

 

“Shouldn’t we prepare a machine to make rice cakes in advance?”

 

“Leave that to me. With the future master of tower’s wife here, what’s there to worry about?”

 

Doloret and her friends had a long-cherished wish—to discover peppers of the same variety from their previous lives.

 

* * *

It was a month later. On a day near the end of the year, a banquet was held at the imperial palace. After the harvest festival and the end of the social season, it was unusual for the imperial family to gather the nobles. The official reason was to introduce the fifth prince as a member of the imperial family. Due to the empress’s trial, the imperial family’s authority had significantly diminished, and they were trying to restore public opinion.

 

“I apologize for disturbing you with the unfortunate events within the imperial family.”

 

The number of attendees was somewhat smaller than usual for an imperial banquet. After the empress’s trial, additional trials against her faction had led to some being imprisoned, stripped of titles, or exiled from the capital. Although they belonged to different factions, the suspicion of being involved in the empress’s conspiracy made their absence not very pleasant.

 

In such a setting, the only interesting thing at this banquet was the silver-haired man waiting to be introduced behind the emperor.

 

“I want to introduce my youngest son, whom I have not officially introduced before. Though he is the youngest, he happened to mature first.”

 

At Tashur III’s self-deprecating humor, a faint laugh spread among the attendees.

 

“You may have seen him at the harvest festival hunting competition…. This is my fifth son, Duke Ansi, Rakrensius, who has been in charge of the Magic Tower for the past three years.”

 

With Tashur III’s introduction and the ensuing applause, the fifth prince walked out slowly. Unlike usual, his silver hair, the only one in the imperial family, was neatly tied. His long bangs brushed to one side, revealing his neat forehead, straight nose, well-shaped blue eyes, and refreshing smile. His handsome appearance, befitting a prince, drew gasps from various parts of the hall.

 

“Though the fifth prince relinquished his succession rights by becoming the master of the Magic Tower, he made a significant contribution to exposing the empress’s corruption. Therefore, I bestow upon him Riishuryung territory.”

 

The mention of Riishuryung caused a stir among the audience. It was known for its fertile territory and was previously expected to be granted to the empress’s son, the fourth prince. As rumors about the missing fourth prince spread, Rakrensius knelt on one knee, and Tashur III handed him a rolled parchment decree.

 

“Though Riishuryung is a county, it is a key transportation hub with a developed commercial sector and fertile estates. I hope the fifth prince will wisely govern this prosperous estate to assist his brothers’ reigns.”

 

“I accept Your Majesty Father’s decree.”

 

Only Rakrensius and the Elards knew the full implications of Tashur III’s elaborate explanation.

 

The following sequence was the second part of the ball, starting with the first dance of the imperial family members. The protagonist of tonight’s banquet was undoubtedly the fifth prince, Rakrensius. Everyone eagerly watched, wondering who the lucky lady for his first dance would be.

 

In the shower of expectant gazes, the man’s long legs stepped forward without hesitation. “Lady Selleana, would you honor me with the first dance?”

 

Seeing that the chosen one was Lady Elard, exclamations arose from the crowd. The prince, dressed in his imperial attire, bowed elegantly and asked the most renowned unmarried lady in the social circle for a dance.

 

“With pleasure.”

 

As Lady Elard happily took his hand, everyone realized something significant. So, the person is said to be Lady Elard’s lover…! It wasn’t the crown prince but the fifth prince!

 

Receiving all those realizing gazes, Selleana accepted Rakrensius’ escort and moved to the center of the banquet hall. The attendees made room for the imperial family and their partners to dance the first waltz. To dance with Rakrensius…

 

“Is it customary to leave the middle empty?”

 

Naturally, she recalled their first meeting earlier that year. The masquerade ball at the Arnem Hotel that Selleana had planned to lure in Wilshe. Instead of Wilshe, a man so handsome and noble in appearance that even passersby would turn to look appeared, yet surprisingly ignorant of such social gatherings.

 

“Master of Tower.” With the start of the waltz by the imperial orchestra, Selleana spoke. “Do you remember this song?”

 

“Of course, I do. What about you, Lady?”

 

“Just bits and pieces.” Selleana stuck her tongue out playfully and smiled. “Whoever your dance teacher was, you learned very well.”

 

“Perhaps it’s because my dance teacher, who was drunk, taught me so roughly that it’s deeply imprinted in my mind.”

 

At Rakrensius’s jest, Selleana gave him a playful glare.

 

“Do you remember something else I taught you back then? If you have a partner you get along with, you can go to the layered terrace for some private time…”

 

“Well, that’s…”

 

His neatly combed hair couldn’t hide his reddening ears.

 

“Why? Don’t you get along with me?”

 

“That…”

 

“Don’t you want some private time?”

 

“I do, but….”

 

Keeping in step with the music, left three steps, right three steps, closely held, Selleana continued her tempting words. Though no one else could hear them….

 

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Lady Elard laugh so cheerfully…”

 

“The fifth prince’s eyes seem to drip honey…”

 

Everyone was convinced that a joyous event would soon occur in the imperial family, given their affectionate atmosphere.

 

It was after their first dance ended.

 

“First, you should mingle with His Majesty for a while. It’s both to thank him for giving you Riishuryung and because I don’t want to see Master of Tower dancing with someone else.”

 

“What about you, Lady?”

 

“I need to dance with my family members in turns.”

 

As they quickly discussed how to spend the next few moments, someone approached them.

 

“Brother.”

 

It was Pavellian, who had just finished his first dance with his partner, Eunice Jenon, right next to them. She gave Selleana a subtle nod.

 

“May I ask your beloved for a dance, Brother?”

 

“That should be up to her…”

 

“So, it’s alright then. Lady?”

 

Rakrensius looked surprised, but Pavellian, not understanding the situation, immediately held out his hand to Selleana.

 

“Would you like a dance for old times’ sake?”

 

“Ah…”

 

Selleana slowly examined Pavellian’s face. In his blue eyes, darker than Rakrensius’s, there was not a trance of the obsessive spark left. It was as if proving that he too had been manipulated by Arshilla.