“Explain yourself, Lady Arsen.”

Helena, the princess of the Furon Empire, spoke sharply.

“This ball is clearly an event between empires. Is this how Sepaia Empire welcomes me?”

What the princess pointed to was a pile of torn fabric, completely unwearable.

Originally, it was a dress prepared by the Sepaia Empire for Helena to wear during the latter part of the event.

“If you have a mouth, use it to explain!”

Flustered, Selina sent a distress signal to Eric.

‘What am I supposed to do?’

Eric, the Crown Prince of Sepaia, grimaced with a troubled expression.

Of course, he knew better than anyone that Selina Arsen was not the culprit.

After all, he had been with her at the time when the dress was torn to shreds.

However, he couldn’t bring himself to mention that they had been alone together elsewhere at that time.

No matter how close they had been since childhood, they were now a man and woman who had both completed their debuts.

Admitting they were alone together would do neither of them any good.

It was especially troublesome since Selina had been engaged for three years, and Eric had someone else he cared for.

‘You handle it somehow. I can’t help you.’

He conveyed his intentions through glances and gestures.

‘You call that an explanation?’

Selina glared at Eric, grinding her teeth.

Currently, the romance between the Crown Prince and a pretty baron’s daughter that transcended social status was attracting attention in high society.

Though kept quiet due to the watchful eyes of the Emperor and Empress, most nobles secretly supported the couple.

And the person who had secretly contributed the most to the Crown Prince’s notable romance was none other than Selina Arsen.

“Lady, are you ignoring me now? At least try to make an excuse! I’ve never been insulted like this in my life. I shall immediately inform His Majesty the Emperor of Sepaia……”

Princess Helena spoke even more sharply. Selina briefly considered how to avoid the worst outcome.

“I……”

‘If His Majesty learns about this, it will truly become unmanageable. This incident must end here, as a small mishap in the imperial guest lounge.’

“I did not do it.”

Selina barely managed to utter those words.

“Lady, don’t you think that explanation is far too inadequate?”

Since Selina offered no further explanation in a situation where even a detailed one might not be believed, Princess Helena spoke with exasperation.

If Selina had a good reputation, if she had been well-regarded, someone might have stood up and shouted, “Lady Arsen would never do such a thing!” to protect her.

“Perhaps she tore it thinking it was Lady Hazel’s dress that His Highness the Crown Prince had prepared?”

But no one stood up for her. Far from protection, the atmosphere had already judged Selina as the culprit.

‘No, I didn’t do it!’

Selina swallowed the urge to shout loudly.

Then, from among the gathered people, a young lady came forward, trembling.

“Lady, isn’t this going too far? Even if…… even if this dress had been meant for me, how could you do such a thing…… Lady, you’re truly terrible.”

Ingrid Hazel.

The poor baron’s daughter with whom the Crown Prince had fallen passionately in love.

Her trembling words combined with her pitiful appearance evoked sympathy from the nobles.

“Even if you hate Lady Hazel, you should have shown some restraint!”

“To offend Her Highness the Princess of Furon as well!”

“Whenever we tried to intervene, you boldly told us it was between you and Lady Hazel and not to interfere! Now there’s another victim. If you have a mouth, speak up!”

As the nobles’ reactions grew more intense, Eric became flustered.

Looking around to somehow salvage the situation, he spotted Selina’s fiancé and quickly said:

“Wasn’t Sel…… I mean, Lady Arsen with Young Lord Patel the entire time?”

“He was with us.”

“We were listening to his concerns about having such a vicious fiancée.”

“He said he plans to formally request his family to break off the engagement soon.”

Three close friends of Young Lord Patel spoke up as if they had been waiting for this moment.

‘You were just consulting me about your engagement crisis! And that’s your excuse?!’

Seeing Selina pounding her chest at this backfiring attempt, people began to whisper again.

“Look at her pretending to be wronged.”

“How tyrannical must her usual behavior be for her to face a broken engagement…… Well, just look at the state of that dress. She has no right to complain about being jilted.”

“Should we keep such a vicious lady in our social circle?”

As the situation failed to improve, Eric floundered helplessly before suddenly freezing.

“What have I done to make you hate me so much?”

Ingrid Hazel shed tears drop by drop with a sorrowful expression.

Eric instantly pushed past the people around him to approach her and offered his handkerchief.

“Lady Hazel, please dry your tears. As always, I am by your side.”

“Sob, Your Highness……”

Ingrid wiped her tears pitifully. Selina glared at Eric who was trying to appear gallant.

‘Even in this situation, you’re going to play your love game alone? You won’t provide my alibi but you’ll pursue your own love? I’m facing a broken engagement because of you, and now I’m entangled in a diplomatic issue?!’

It’s true.

Selina was the victim.

This was all a cruel play enacted under Eric’s command that wasn’t quite a command.

⁕⁕⁕

It all began three years ago when Eric fell in love at first sight with Ingrid Hazel at her debutante ball.

“Truly beautiful.”

The natural melancholy emanating from her face,

The innocence felt when she smiled with crescent eyes,

Even the strange atmosphere that couldn’t be found in other girls her age.

Many men fell for Ingrid that day.

Literally overnight, she became the first-love icon of high society.

But Ingrid couldn’t appear in public often.

Her low status as a baron’s daughter limited the places she could attend, and it was difficult to afford the proper attire each time.

Eric desperately wanted to see Ingrid more and spend time alone with her.

But his status was too noble to openly express his feelings to a baron’s daughter.

Watching the growing number of barons, viscounts, and counts pursuing her, Eric’s first action was to send anonymous gifts.

He sent dresses and matching accessories, but they were all returned.

The reason was that she couldn’t accept such excessive kindness from an unknown person.

Eric, falling deeper for Ingrid’s kind nature, eventually resorted to a method he shouldn’t have.

None other than creating a fake villainess.

Two years ago, Eric grabbed Selina’s hand when she entered the palace at his summons and said:

“Pretend to bully Lady Hazel.”

“What are you suddenly talking about? I’ve told you to speak clearly so people can understand.”

Selina slapped his hand away.

The two were childhood friends and academy classmates with a close relationship. Despite Selina’s refusal, Eric continued:

“For example, you could deliberately spill a drink at a ball and say, ‘Oh my, I didn’t see you.’ Then I could apologize on your behalf by gifting her a dress. What do you think?”

“What about my reputation? Are you telling me not to show my face in society anymore, or what?”

Selina grumbled. Eric tried hard to appease her.

“You already have a fiancé, right?”

“Yes.”

“And you promised to marry into the Patel family to benefit your merchant guild.”

“That’s right.”

“Then you don’t really need a good reputation at balls. It’s not like you’ll become a salesperson yourself and face people. Isn’t everyone attending balls just trying to make a good marriage? But you’re already engaged.”

Selina answered this absurd statement with a knock on Eric’s head.

“Ouch!”

“Stop talking nonsense. Her Majesty the Empress would faint if she knew.”

“You dare lay hands on a member of the imperial family! If you keep this up, I’ll have no choice but to say it.”

“What? Say what?”

Eric, who had been pretending to be angry, declared with utmost seriousness:

“By imperial decree, become a villainess.”

Selina was dumbfounded.

“You’re going to use the imperial decree that His Majesty allowed you to issue as your birthday gift for this?”

“Yes, I’m that desperate!”

“Are you a child? How can someone who has made their social debut tell me to become a villainess because you fell for a girl? Are you crazy?”

“Yes, crazy, insane, out of my mind. That’s what happens to people in love. Don’t you know? If not, you should learn. Won’t you have to at least pretend to love Young Lord Patel after marriage?”

Momentarily speechless with disbelief, Selina’s face hardened coldly.

“Those words will never make me become a villainess, so you should reconsider. Come to your senses. Grow up.”

As Selina turned to leave, Eric shouted:

“Exclusive rights!”

Selina stopped.

“I’ll support your merchant guild even after I become Emperor. Three items of your choice. I’ll promise you exclusive rights to them after you inherit the guild. How about that?”

Exclusive rights from the imperial family.

That was tantamount to promising enormous wealth.

And not just one, but three items. Selina turned around.

“I get to choose the items?”

“Essential daily necessities are off-limits. Like wheat or salt. You understand without me saying it. Apart from those, I’ll give you exclusive rights.”

Even Count Arsen, Selina’s father and the current Emperor’s comrade-in-arms, had never obtained exclusive rights.

For Selina, who aspired to become the head of her family and lead the merchant guild, this was an opportunity she couldn’t miss.

“Write a contract so you don’t change your words later.”

“Hey, I’m the Crown Prince. Would I go back on my word?”

“Just write the contract.”

“Fine, I’ll write it. But do your job properly. If anyone discovers this was a contract, everything becomes null and void. Understood?”

“Fine. I’m staking my reputation on this. You’d better keep your promise.”

The content of the contract was simple:

[Selina Arsen, legitimate daughter of Count Arsen, hereby contracts with Eric Constantinus Gable, Crown Prince of Sepaia Empire. The terms are as follows:

Selina Arsen will play the role of bullying Ingrid Hazel, third daughter of Baron Hazel, whenever they meet.

This will provide Crown Prince Eric with pretexts to approach Lady Ingrid.

As compensation, she will receive exclusive trading rights for three items, excluding daily necessities.

This matter shall be kept strictly confidential.

The contract period lasts until Crown Prince Eric becomes engaged to Lady Hazel.

Should either party breach this contract, the breaching party shall take full responsibility and provide appropriate compensation for damages.]

After signing, they each kept one copy.

Thus, Selina sold her reputation.

For her foolish friend’s love. For the exclusive rights that would secure her future.

The villainess work began modestly.

‘Close my eyes and just do it.’

Upon seeing Ingrid at a ball, Selina approached with fruit juice.

“Oh my. A mistake. But since it’s similar to the color of your dress, it won’t be noticeable, right?”

She spilled the drink on Ingrid’s shabby dress and made a show of it.

The next day, Eric would apologize on behalf of his friend and present a new dress as if he had been waiting for the opportunity, while Selina, feeling guilty, sent small accessories separately.

The accessories cost far more than the ruined dress, but she sent them with an apology message out of guilt.

Over the past two years, Ingrid’s appearances in society increased, as did the value of gifts from Eric and Selina.

Eric’s demands also grew.

“How can you lack creativity? Stop using drinks all the time. Can’t you do something bigger?”

“It’s not like I actually want to bully her, and people who don’t know the circumstances only criticize me. They avoid me saying my conduct is disgraceful—how will you take responsibility for that?”

“That’s why you need to be subtle and not get caught.”

“How am I supposed to not get caught? You need to step in when it becomes public.”

“Try something that makes me look more heroic. That’s how the lady will fall for me.”

“That’s easier said than done. For the past year, there’s been a group following Lady Hazel that’s extremely wary of me. If I even hold food in my hand, they form a human barrier. I’m struggling too!”

“How many times does the lady attend parties for you to complain like this? Do you know how difficult it is to promise exclusive rights? I made that promise fully aware of the consequences. Do you think that’s easy?”

After arguing heatedly without giving an inch, the two finally turned away with a “Hmph!”

“I’ll do my best to fulfill the contract, so please act quickly, Your Highness.”

“If you create one big incident, I’ll move faster too, Lady Arsen.”

And the major incident that occurred was the fountain incident three months ago.

Everyone, including Eric, believed it was Selina’s doing, but in fact, it wasn’t her at all.

⁕⁕⁕

That day was a celebration for Grand Duke Justia’s return from a victorious war.

Selina was rather satisfied seeing Ingrid wearing the pin and brooch she had gifted her.

As she sipped wine near the fountain, admiring Ingrid’s clear laughter, she was surprised when Ingrid suddenly approached her.

It was unusual for her to leave the group that normally protected her and approach alone.

Ingrid, looking scared but gathering courage, clenched her fists and said:

“Th-they say to greet properly if you want to become friends. Lady Arsen, hello.”

At that moment, Eric’s voice echoed in Selina’s mind:

“How can you lack creativity? Stop using drinks all the time. Can’t you do something bigger?”

‘Right, let’s show some creativity. I can apologize later. This is a necessary process for Eric and Ingrid to be together.’

Having made up her mind, Selina said with a cold expression:

“What did you just say, Lady?”

“To become friends…… greetings……”

“Don’t they teach etiquette in baronial houses?”

Selina deliberately raised her voice.

Eric looked toward where the two were standing.

“How long has it been since your debut, and you still can’t greet properly? When meeting at such occasions, only those of higher status can end with a simple ‘hello.’ Those of lower status should add a word or two as courtesy. It’s customary to mention the weather, so keep that in mind.”

“Ah, I just……”

Watching Ingrid tremble, Selina turned away with a satisfied smile.

Splash!

Startled by an unexpected sound, she turned back to see Ingrid soaked from head to toe, fallen into the fountain.

Staggering to her feet, barely able to open her eyes, she said:

“I…… I’ll be more careful in the future, Lady Count Arsen.”

Eric and Ingrid’s followers rushed over, looking pale.

“Take her to the lounge, quickly!”

Eric ordered. People whispered that Selina had pushed Ingrid.

‘I didn’t push her. I didn’t push her.’

Something felt strange. There was no one else nearby, so there was no reason for her to fall into the fountain. Unless she fell in by herself.

Finding the accusing glares unbearable, Selina finally left the banquet hall.

She couldn’t even congratulate the Grand Duke who had returned victorious from war, but she couldn’t stay there any longer.

“Ah……”

As she hurried out, Selina bumped into someone.

“Are you alright?”

Thanks to the other person’s steadying hand, she maintained her balance.

“I apologize.”

Without even looking at whom she had collided with, Selina immediately took a carriage home.

⁕⁕⁕

The following three months were hellish for Selina.

Word spread quickly that Ingrid had been bullied by Selina since her social debut.

Ingrid’s followers began demanding apologies for past wrongdoings.

The misfortunes didn’t end there.

“The lady seems to grow more vicious by the day. I wish to break our engagement.”

It was an engagement naturally formed when the Arsen and Patel families began joint trading ventures.

‘This is troublesome since we haven’t formally signed the trade agreement yet.’

Though she felt no affection for Morgan Patel, Selina feared bringing harm to her family and tried to persuade him.

“The rumors about me circulating in society are somewhat exaggerated. Perhaps you could reconsider breaking the engagement after I restore my reputation?”

At those words, Morgan snorted slightly and said:

“Lady, don’t you understand even such a simple matter?”

“What do you……”

“Do you think I’m here solely on my own accord? This decision has the approval of my family elders. I told them how terrible it would be to have a lady who attempted m＊rder become my wife.”

Selina, her face turning deathly pale, clenched her fists tightly and tried to steady her breathing.

She couldn’t understand why things had escalated this far.

“I hope you live more kindly in the future.”

Leaving these words behind, Morgan left the room.