Someone was watching her, trying to please her, even putting on a false smile. They looked as if they were praising her like she was a god who would save their lives.
Whenever she saw such scenes, she felt like she had become an extraordinary person. Like a beautiful princess from the fairy tales she used to sneakily read as a child.
‘I’m even more amazing than a princess. If I marry Aaron, I will become an empress.’
Empress.
The most noble position in this empire.
The thought that it would be hers sent a thrill through her heart. It felt like something very distant, yet she was convinced it was not far off.
Wasn’t the position of Ariella Bedford, which once seemed like that of someone from another world, ultimately hers? The same would apply to the empress.
Just as the maids praised her, she was a genius.
Genius. A person gifted with talent from the heavens.
‘Although the heavens did not grant me a noble birth.’
Instead, they bestowed upon her other talents.
A rather clever mind, beautiful looks and a lovely smile, reason that was not swayed by love, an intuition that read the atmosphere…
These were the talents she possessed, but if there was something more special than all of these, it was her will.
A will to obtain what she desired by any means necessary.
For years, she acted like a good person, burned her own flesh, and offered her body to someone she did not love. She could genuinely hate those who showed her kindness, robbing them of their lives, thus making even what she was not born with her own. Such was her tenacious will.
Some might point at her and call her a villain, but she didn’t care.
On the contrary, Lizzy wanted to be the perfect villain. Not a pathetic girl who committed clumsy evil deeds and regretted them, only to be punished by a righteous protagonist.
To achieve that, it was crucial to successfully perform her debutante now.
Lizzy devoted most of her waking hours to studying. With her outstanding mind combined with effort, she made rapid progress in her classes. What others took months to learn, she completed in just a few weeks.
Given the circumstances, her pride naturally grew.
‘She pretended to be so lofty alone, but it’s nothing special. If she hears how well I’m doing, she’ll be so furious she won’t be able to sleep!’
Imagining Ariella throwing a fit upon realizing she could not stop the debutante made her smile involuntarily. It was a pity she couldn’t see that scene in person.
However, that smile did not last long.
“What? What do you mean it’s impossible for this debutante!”
Lizzy couldn’t calm her excitement and jumped up from her seat. Just a moment ago, her voice had been soft, but now it was loud and unrestrained.
Madam Geoffrey, who was in charge of etiquette training, frowned at her behavior, which lacked the dignity expected of a noblewoman.
Oh dear, Lizzy hurriedly sat back down. It seemed that the noble folks were obsessed with empty formalities, insisting that one shouldn’t raise their voice even in a surprising situation.
“Surely, I must have misunderstood something, madam?”
“No, you understood correctly. It is impossible to be fully prepared for the debutante ball this time.”
“Why not? You said I was excellent! That I learn very quickly!”
Madam Geoffrey leisurely sipped her tea. The sight of her made Lizzy feel even worse, as if she were looking at Ariella.
Just answer me instead of stuffing your face. Lizzy barely suppressed her words.
“Prince Bedford said that the condition for a debutante is to be as prepared as Lady Ariella was when she entered society at the age of fourteen. I heard that Lady Lizzy also promised to be so.”
“Yes, but why? Are you saying I am worse than fourteen-year-old Arrie?”
“Unfortunately, that is the case. Of course, it is true that Lady Lizzy learns very quickly, but… you have not caught up to that level yet. I taught Lady Ariella during that time, so I can assure you.”
Where is this nonsense coming from?
Anger surged within her. She wanted to pour hot tea over the woman in front of her, who was insulting her with lofty words.
That old hag must have received a bribe from Ariella. That’s why she shamelessly lies. Lizzy believed that.
‘Does it make sense that I am worse than a fourteen-year-old?’
It couldn’t be true. After working at the Duke’s residence for seven years and honing her skills through observation, she couldn’t possibly be unable to catch up to a child who had only learned for two years.
Lizzy couldn’t understand.
Ariella had been a child who learned faster than her, and during those two years that Lizzy had underestimated, fourteen-year-old Ariella had devoted herself to her studies more desperately than anyone else.
