Chapter 1.2

Finally, the day of the Founding Festival arrived.  

She thought she would die from exhaustion since she was woken up at dawn.  

With her eyes barely open, she was dragged into the bathroom.  

At first, she felt so awkward being bathed by someone else that she acted stiffly, but after a while, she had to admit it was just too convenient.  

Half asleep, she washed up and came back out.  

“Huaaam……”  

“Miss, you shouldn’t yawn so carelessly like that.”  

So strict. What’s wrong with a little yawn?  

She grumbled inwardly and closed her mouth.  

“Miss, please bear with it a little longer, even if it’s uncomfortable.”  

Right after, a thick facial pack was applied to her face.  

She reflexively shut her eyes tightly and waited patiently.  

How much time had passed? Just when she thought she couldn’t stand it any longer, Roni wiped off the pack.  

“There’s one more.”  

“What?”  

Another sticky pack was applied to her face.  

She waited again for a long time before the pack was finally removed.  

“This is exhausting……”  

“Before, you always said you didn’t care how long it took, as long as you could look as pretty as possible.”  

“…I’m just a bit tired today.”  

She cleared her throat and looked in the mirror.  

Even without touching it, her skin was so smooth, it looked like a peeled egg.  

She poked her cheek with her finger for no reason, then lowered her hand when told they would start makeup.  

“Should I do it glamorously again this time?”  

“No! Make it look natural, like I’m barely wearing any.”  

She jumped at Roni’s suggestion.  

Roni seemed puzzled at the sudden change in taste but agreed anyway.  

There was nothing to gain from standing out.  

She was only going to stay quietly like a sack of barley anyway, and she had no intention of getting involved with anyone.  

‘If I go all out and get the wrong guy’s attention, that would be a disaster.’  

She nodded to herself and closed her eyes.  

The ticklish brush swept across her face, and she was scared when the heated iron rod curled her eyelashes.  

Fortunately, Roni was skilled, and she was transformed perfectly.  

“Wow… Roni, you’re really amazing.”  

Even though it looked like she had barely any makeup, she looked much prettier than before.  

At her compliment, Roni blushed shyly, then hurriedly checked the clock and started moving busily.  

“Miss, it’s almost time for you to go.”  

“Oh, okay.”  

She hurriedly changed into her dress and put on her accessories.  

For some reason, all the accessories had big gems, so she struggled to find something with smaller stones.  

‘Just how much attention did she want?’  

The novel didn’t describe Ellie in detail, so she didn’t know much about her.  

‘I’ll have to completely change all the dresses and accessories after this is over.’  

Ellie’s taste was the complete opposite of hers, so it couldn’t be helped.  

When she rushed outside, a large carriage was waiting.  

Inside, her parents and Ellie’s younger brother, Rahil, were already seated.  

Her mother looked her over and nodded.  

“You look better today. On other days, you dressed so extravagantly that it looked tacky.”  

She thought her mother would be upset about the plain look, but her expression seemed satisfied.  

Looking around awkwardly, she just sat in an empty seat.  

Soon, the carriage rattled off toward the Imperial Palace.  

* * *

“Wow… This is incredible……”  

She got out of the carriage and muttered with her mouth open.  

The Imperial Palace was enormous.  

It shone brilliantly.  

Faint music could be heard from beyond the gates, and the entrance was crowded with people waiting to get in.  

She stood blankly, careful not to get jostled by the crowd, when her mother frowned and called her.  

“Ellie, what are you doing just standing there like an idiot?”  

“Oh, yes.”  

Just a moment ago, her mother had been right in front of her, but now she was far ahead.  

Not wanting to lose her, she hurried after her.  

Far ahead, the attendant was shouting at the top of his lungs every time someone entered, and she wondered if his voice would give out.  

“That must be really tough.”  

“…Who?”  

She mumbled quietly, but Rahil, who was beside her, heard.  

“That… that person, I mean.”  

Caught off guard by his question, she pointed at the attendant.  

Rahil turned his head that way and spoke indifferently.  

“That’s the attendant’s job. We don’t need to feel sorry for him.”  

“Well… I guess so.”  

So cold-hearted.  

She pouted inwardly as she replied.  

After a few minutes of waiting, they were finally allowed inside.  

Her legs already hurt, and she looked around for a place to rest, but there weren’t any empty chairs.  

Her feet were tingling from the high heels.  

Noticing her discomfort, Rahil whispered,  

“There’s a place to rest on the terrace. Go take a break.”  

“Oh, thanks for letting me know.”  

Luckily, her parents were busy talking to others, so she quietly slipped away to the terrace.  

She didn’t forget to grab a glass of champagne before she went.  

Entering through an open door, she found a wide sofa.  

She immediately went over and plopped down—it felt like heaven.  

“Ah… I feel alive……”  

She took off her shoes and put her aching feet up on the sofa.  

Then she sipped the champagne she had brought.  

The champagne must have been high quality; it tasted so good that she finished her glass in no time.  

She debated whether to get more, but since she still felt clear-headed, she decided to have another.  

She put her shoes back on and went outside, this time returning with two glasses.  

She sat down again and drank the champagne.  

“Ah, this is really good.”  

Back in Korea, she had been a heavy drinker.  

Even at company dinners, she was always the last one standing.  

She’d never gotten drunk before, so she didn’t even know her own limit.  

What she overlooked was that this was Ellie’s body, not Lee Soo-ji’s.  

Without realizing it, she just kept drinking.  

Whenever the champagne ran out, she went to get more.  

Before long, glasses were stacked high on the table, and she was tipsy.  

“Haa……”  

As she exhaled, the scent of champagne filled the air, warm and sweet.  

“Just one more… I’ll just have one more glass……”  

She staggered to her feet.  

Somehow, she managed to put her shoes back on and opened the terrace door.  

She had just taken a step when her legs gave out from the alcohol, and she almost fell forward.  

No, she would have fallen, but someone caught her.  

“Mm…?”  

“Are you all right?”  

It was a pleasant, low voice.  

She whipped her head around and saw a man.  

What stood out most was his silver hair and deep violet eyes.  

She didn’t get a good look at his face, but even at a glance, he gave off an overwhelming sense of handsomeness.  

“Who…?”  

“First, try to stand up straight.”  

The man supported her, but her legs were already too weak.  

Deciding she couldn’t walk, he finally said,  

“There’s a room upstairs. You should rest there until you sober up, then go back.”  

“Uh? I just want one more glass of champagne……”  

“No.”  

“Just one glass. Please?”  

She tried her best to look pitiful.  

Maybe he found her effort endearing, because he sighed deeply and handed her a glass of champagne.  

She grinned and finished the glass in one go.  

Her behavior must have been absurd, because the man let out a short, incredulous laugh.  

“Now, let’s go!”  

“…Go?”  

“Hurry!”

The alcohol quickly lifted her mood.  

As she bounced around, the man let out a deep sigh and started walking somewhere with her.  

“There are stairs, so be careful.”  

“Okay!”  

But her feet hurt so much.  

When she suddenly stopped, the man tilted his head and looked at her.  

“What’s wrong?”  

“My feet hurt.”  

“Excuse me?”  

“I want to take off my shoes.”  

These shoes needed to be thrown away.  

As she bent over, the man groaned, then suddenly lifted her up in a princess carry.  

“Huh? What are you doing?”  

“What else? I’ll carry you to the room like this, so just stay still.”  

“Okay, sure!”  

She liked the feeling of floating, so she kicked her legs playfully.  

The man, not seeming tired at all, strode over to a door, opened it, and carried her inside.  

He gently set her down on the bed and, kindly, even took off her shoes.  

Suddenly, she felt reluctant to let him go just like that.  

On impulse, she grabbed the man’s hand as he was about to leave.  

He slowly turned his head to look at her.  

“…Yes?”  

“Hey, can you help me take off my dress? I can’t do it alone.”  

She grinned, turning her back to him.  

The dress, tied with a ribbon, needed someone to pull it from behind to come undone easily.  

“Do you know what you’re implying right now?”  

“Huh? What do you mean?”  

She shrugged and swept her hair to one side.  

But the man didn’t react.  

Feeling a little disappointed, she let out a shallow breath—then suddenly, she felt the bed sink beside her.