The Villain is Being Suspiciously Kind

Chapter 47

After finishing their meal and leaving the restaurant, Desian saw Citrina off at her townhouse.
When she returned home, Citrina decided to think calmly about her feelings for Desian.
But just before Citrina had time to think to herself, Adilac showed up.

“Citrina, there’s been a strange rumor.”
“What kind of rumor?”
“A weird craftworker is pretending to be the maker of the blue diamonds that make love come true. That’s what Citrina worked hard on!”
“…really?”
“Yes! I heard he proudly showed off a blue diamond. Blue diamonds are ours, right?”

Adilac took some juice out of the cupboard as she fumed. She poured out her anger while pouring juice into a cup.
Adilac gulped down the juice and then slammed the cup on the table. Citrina spoke calmly.

“I’ve already dealt with that person.”
“…”

Drip, drip.
The juice spilled out of Adilac’s mouth.

-That’s messy.
Gemma said heartlessly.

Adilac stood there, dazed. Citrina was glad she couldn’t hear Gemma’s disgusted voice.

“Huh, how? How did you deal with it?”
“It’s a long story…”

-Hurry up and give me credit!
Gemma swept back her hair.
Citrina gave Gemma and glance and waited for Adilac to calm down.

Adilac seemed to have quite a lot to ask. And Adilac was talkative, which anyone who had met her for ten seconds would know.
Citrina looked her in the eye and explained what had happened so far.

“Wow, so on the street, you conned the con man?”
“Yes. I also got a craftworker who was being abused.”
“Then you can still offer the blue diamond to the princess?”
“No, I’m going to revise my plan a little bit. First of all, more and more people know that I have the blue diamond.”
Citrina said sweetly and smiled.
“How are you going to fix it?”

Adilac didn’t seem to understand Citrina’s words yet.
She didn’t explain her whole plan to Adilac. After Adilac calmed down, she could tell her more later.
She spoke quietly instead.

“Um… I’m also organizing my plans in my head. I’ll tell you slowly. Come to think of it, the party really isn’t that far away. Is it?”
“Yes… that’s right. I think my wrist is going to break from working on Estelle’s jewelry. No, it’s already broken.”
Adilac cried right away. She was so cute that Citrina giggled.

“Then should we take a break?”
“Are we taking some time off?”
“Yes. Since I’ll be awfully busy after the party.”
Citrina winked at Adilac.

Adilac listened to Citrina and thought there was something oddly confident in her words.
She was an ambitious woman who seemed to know the future and had a lot of self-confidence.
Adilac Antigone was convinced.
Citrina Foluin was the best good luck charm she had picked up in her life. Even her older brother, that perfect Lucas Antigone who always used to ignore Adilac, wouldn’t be able to approach her.

“I get it. Then I’ll rest well.”
“That’s a good mindset.”

Citrina and Adilac looked at each other while smiling brightly. Then, Gemma spoke bluntly.

– This is a beautiful friendship, but aren’t you going to wipe the juice off the floor?

Oops. The juice that had spilled was drying on the floor.

– I think it’s going to be pretty sticky.
-Yeah, so wipe it up.

Citrina burst into laughter. She called for the house maid.

****

Time flew by. As Citrina predicted, the princess’s homecoming party came quickly. The various tasks of trying on her dress and choosing Desian’s outfit were over.
It was the first day of the imperial princess’s party. It was the time when the princess invited young ladies from various noble families to Fiona Hall in the imperial palace.

‘It’s a day when low ranking nobles can participate in the summer ball.’

High ranking aristocrats would participate on the last night of the ball, so in reality this was a day given to lower aristocrats to cozy up to the princess.
The imperial clock tower had not yet pointed to noon, and the guard did not look tired so far.
That’s why Citrina had arrived early.

“I am Citrina Foluin of the Foluin Barony.”

The knight raised the magic orb with a stiff face.

-Gemma, are you ready??
-Is it time for me to make my appearance?
-That’s right.
– Heehee, look forward to it. You’ll be totally surprised.

‘…isn’t that a bit ominous?’

Gemma needed attention, but the safety of the contractor should still take precedence. So she shouldn’t do anything to embarrass Citrina. She should try her best as promised.
…maybe.

-I’m excited! So excited!

Gemma flew ahead of Citrina into the hall. Putting aside some unpleasant foreboding, Citrina slowly entered the hall.
It was a completely class-based society.
Very few people were interested in a young lady from a barony as she walked along the soft carpet. Citrina knew very few faces as well.
She turned to the outside of the hall rather than the center. The princess had not yet arrived.

‘It’s Lady Phantemang.’

When she saw Citrina, Phantemang turned her head with a disgruntled face. It was clear that she hated Citrina.

‘Well, what can I do? It’s not a bad thing to value aristocratic standards.’

She was tired of playing these games time and time again. Citrina chose to ignore it comfortably. Phantemang wasn’t likely to have a big influence on Citrina anyway.
Citrina leaned on a seat near the wall.

“Did you hear she works as a jeweler like some member of the gentry?” [T.L. Note: Gentry are below nobles, even barons.]
“Oh my gosh, no matter how much a noble family may fall, to do that…”
“It’s true that the barony collapsed. What a pity.”

The women burst out laughing. Citrina glanced at them.

‘This…seems to be a fairly interesting story.’

Their voices looked down on her.
Nevertheless, it didn’t bother her at all. It was just background noise, really.
Citrina carefully went over what they were saying about her.

‘The last one is the worst.’

They didn’t really feel bad for Citrina.
They were merely back-talking her gracefully.
But Citrina didn’t think much about it. That was all there was to it.
Satisfied, she picked up some of the fruit laid out on the table nearby. However, as she was about to put the fruit to her lips, an interesting piece of conversation interrupted her.

“By the way, Lady Phantemang, I heard you brought something nice?”
“I got a precious jewel. It’s from a craftworker on Dartrin Street.”

…what?
A precious jewel from Dartrin Street?
Citrina’s ears perked up. She started eavesdropping on them little by little. It was instinct.

“He’s a low-class gentry, but he deals in fairly good accessories.”
“Oh my gosh! That jewelry, did you wear that to the ball?”
“No.”

Gasp!
Phantemang unfolded her black lace fan and smiled gracefully.

“You’ll see a little later. I’ll present it to Her Highness, the princess.”
Citrina swallowed tightly. For some reason…she knew exactly what jewel Phantemang had to present to the princess.

‘Did she bring the gem that makes love come true?’