The Villain is Being Suspiciously Kind

There were lightly magical gemstones going around now on Dartrin street that were meant to make love come true.
Those who couldn’t obtain the blue diamond were struggling to even get a copy of it.

“The person who will be chosen by the imperial princess will be Lady Phantemang, right?”
“Of course. I will become a precious lady-in-waiting of the princess.”
Phantemang’s face shone with ambition.

“It’s going to go well, Lady Phantemang!”
“I’m not sure what it is, but I’m sure Her Highness will like it!”
“By the way, what would Her Highness like?”

The conversation had quickly shifted. The topic was not Lady Phantemang’s jewelry, but the princess. At this point, Princess Iana was the dream of all aristocratic girls.

“Well, wouldn’t Her Highness like swords because she has trained as a knight?”
“Nothing is known about Her Highness. I’m super curious!”
“Oh my gosh, have you met Her Highness before? Today is my first time seeing her.”

Listening to the girls’ conversation, Citrina also thought about the princess.
There was very little information revealed about the princess. Even in <Elaina’s Flower Garden>, there was no description of her thoughts and feelings. Citrina could only guess a few things.

‘She’s been at the knights academy and she likes romance novels.’

Combining these scattered pieces of information, Citrina came up with today’s plan. Nevertheless, she somehow felt an unreasonable amount of confidence.
As she drew strength from her unfounded confidence, the sound of the orchestra flowed through the air beautifully.
That sound meant that Princess Iana was coming.

“Her Highness the imperial princess has arrived.”

All of the aristocratic ladies in attendance bowed their heads deeply following imperial etiquette. As the princess entered, the beautiful sound of the orchestra rang out once more.
When the orchestra’s melody came to a stop, Princess Iana spoke with a languid voice.

“Everyone raise your heads.”

All the young ladies raised their heads silently.

“Thank you all for being here. I’m not feeling well, so I will greet everyone and then go back. I hope everyone can enjoy the party though.”

Princess Iana’s voice rang out through the hall with the use of a huge magical loudspeaker.
Even from a distance, one could see that Princess Iana’s eyes were bloodshot. It wasn’t only Citrina that noticed this.
Next to her, Lady Phantemang’s group seemed to have also noticed Princess Iana’s expression.

“Oh my gosh, she must have studied ardently all night!”
“Isn’t there a rumor that she is aiming for a place of power in the future?”
“How can you say such a thing when His Highness the imperial prince is here! She must have cried recently.”
“Anyhow, I’m worried I’ll die if I only get to greet her.”
“Don’t worry, Lady Phantemang! I’m sure Her Highness the princess will like the jewelry Lady Phantemang prepared for her. You know what? I’ll bet you’ll be made her lady-in-waiting!”

It was such extraordinarily arrogant language that it caused a ripple of murmurs here and there in the hall.
Citrina looked at the princess and was lost in thought.

‘Her eyes are so red, but I don’t think she cried.’

Citrina tilted her head. Meanwhile, the princess’s ladies-in-waiting and attendants started to organize the crowd so that they could give their greetings.

“Are you a baron’s daughter?”
“Yes.”
“Please move towards the back of the line.”

The knight spoke with a cold face. Citrina was pushed and pulled until she was practically at the back of the line.
She accepted the circumstances without making a fuss. Still, this made it fair that all of the ladies could greet the princess.
Standing far in front of Citrina was Lady Phantemang with a satisfied smile.
She had to pay a high price for the jewelry from that merchant. His name was Feinmann.

‘I had a hard time learning the rumor that the princess loves romance.’

It was a rumor she had heard from her best friend Tahani, who attended the knight academy.
Tahani was a social butterfly at the academy. Phantemang smiled and touched the small black velvet case.

‘This topaz is my stepping stone to success!’

The jewelry contained in the elegant, graceful, and even beautiful black case would springboard Phantemang into high society.
Although it wasn’t ‘that’ blue diamond from the rumors, it seemed as if no one had been able to get their hands on the original.

“I wish endless glory to the princess. I am Viscount Phantemang’s daughter, Roloaina Phantemang.”
“Glory be to you, too.”
“I’ve prepared a present for you, Your Highness.”
“Please place it over there… what?”

Phantemang opened the velvet case and winked at the princess’s troubled face. As Phantemang had expected, the princess reacted with surprise.

“Isn’t it pretty?”
“It’s a jewel from Dartrin Street enchanted to make love come true.”
“It’s fascinating, but…”

There was a bit of curiosity on top of the princess’s sullen expression.
There must be a great many wizards around you if you are a princess. There were also spirit contractors and alchemists.
Still, this was a very good achievement. Even the presents from ladies of higher status than Lady Phantemang were sorted out mercilessly.
Phantemang’s gift alone was in the princess’s hands.

‘Since I made a good impression today, the princess may invite me to a garden party sooner or later.’
‘After this party, I’ll make a deal with that vulgar jewelry dealer and let my brother know about it.’

Phantemang greeted the princess, suppressing her heightened emotions. She strolled away to think. In the future, she might be able to look down on the other ladies in waiting.

“Next lady?”
“Hello, Your Highness…”

The princess constantly listened to the ladies’ greetings and received gifts. But the only thing in the princess’s hands was Phantemang’s offering.