Heroine On Strike

The man who spoke to her was Cullan. He was Ranhee’s favorite character from the novel. Cullan was the seventh prince from the Toiken empire, and he fell in love with Luciella on the day Ella and Cladis were supposed to fall in love with each other.

‘Kuitkarzan Dinor La Toiken.’

Although he knew Luciella would never return his affections, he couldn’t give up until the very end. His love for Luciella was so deep that he decided to stay at the Duffspe empire as an ambassador. Even though he wasn’t going to be the next emperor, he gave up a lot by deciding to stay. Readers like Ranhee fell in love with Cullan because of his kindness and his cold grey eyes.

As such, many readers had voiced their opinions that Luciella and Cullan should have been a couple. This happened every time a new chapter was released. There were even some readers who blamed Cladis for not falling in love with another woman instead. Ranhee, who wasn’t one of those readers, thought those claims were absurd. Her opinion changed as she watched Cladis courting another woman. It was unbelievable. And Cullan had appeared in such an ironic moment.

Ella found this situation to be very intriguing. She felt like she was actually inside the novel’s fan-fiction instead. Maybe, it was an opportunity for Cullan to be the main character this time around. Ella wanted to see that happen. She realized that she didn’t need to follow the novel’s original storyline anymore, so it didn’t really matter who was the main character. She used to like the character much and now had gotten an opportunity to make it happen, which made her want to let him enjoy the opportunity, even if he would not think of this situation as his opportunity.

“She’s Mellin’s daughter?”

Ella, trying to keep her excitement from distracting her, tried to focus on the information that he gave to her. She felt the urge to find someone else to love instead of Cladis, who was walking away with another woman. Unfortunately, Ella had to control herself. This was her party, and all eyes were on her. Even if the crown prince was spending time with another woman at his fiancée’s debut party, she couldn’t do the same with another man. What would nobles who joined the party think? That reputation was solely going to the name of Constance and it would look weird to Cullan. 

Then, Ella directed her focus back to Clara. Even if Ella could remember Clara’s first appearance in the novel, she wouldn’t have recognized her. The novel described Clara as someone who often glared at other people. But now, Clara’s eyes softened as she smiled, and she wasn’t even wearing eyeliner.

‘That’s the evil dumb woman who disappeared in a flash?’

She could hardly believe it. Clara was nothing like how she was in the book. So far, Ella found only two differences from the book. There were bound to be more differences to appear in the future. Ella then glanced over at Cullan. It was difficult to tell from the look of it. Was he going to be the third? Or will he follow the novel’s original storyline? Maybe this Cullan was different from the novel? Ella didn’t expect to meet him already. She tried to hide her worries and looked at him. Because of the way Ella was looking at him, Cullan assumed that she wanted more information on Clara. He began to tell her more about the daughter of Mellin.

“Don’t you think she’s very different from the rumors? She was known to be best friends with the daughter of Drolin since before her debut in society. I heard that six months ago, she had cut all her ties with Drolin when she joined the Academy. The rumor…”

Ella, who was about to say she knew Clara well, was shocked at the unexpected information that she heard. She immediately interrupted him. “Sorry for interrupting, but can you repeat that? Where did she go?”

Most women in the Duffspe empire did not enter the Academy. Only those of second-born sons attended to seize an opportunity as they were not given a title nor the right of succession while women were taught at home. Women never went to the Academy unless their families weren’t able to educate them. A perfect lady who was educated within their house was like the pride of their family. The Mellin could educate their daughter, so why did she go to the Academy? Moreover, after her debutante was being held. Why? How?

Cullan smiled at Ella’s remark and said, “She had joined the Academy six months ago, and befriended the crown prince a couple months ago. Wait… I also got to know her as well, thanks to that. If you have any more questions, I’ll tell you everything I know about her.”