Chapter 5.1

Indifference.

She really liked that word, but Olivia didn’t expect it to be so desperately needed right now.

When she entered with Leon, all the eyes of the people were on them. As Leon had already told her, Olivia tried to put on a confident expression on her face, but she was getting too much attention.

There were many people who knew Leon. He greeted the acquaintances with her by his side. People in colorful clothes all said their greetings to him, and they also handed greetings to her. However, their eyes narrowed when they heard that she was a nobleman from the fallen Roheim.

As he saw she couldn’t stand straight from that gaze, Leon opened his mouth.

“Your Excellency Deork!”

Young men came over. At first glance, they were different from other men. It was because everyone was tall and had broad shoulders. Their body was like that of Leon’s.

He then said as she looked at the men with a curious expression.

“Can I step aside for a moment?”

“Yes.”

“It will only take a moment. Don’t go too far.”

Olivia nodded her head. She thought she was like a child near water.

Not wanting to bother Leon, she replied with a grin. “Don’t worry about me, just talk to your friends.”

“….”

“I also want to visit this place. It’s my first time in the Imperial Palace.”

It’s good to be considered, though she doesn’t want to get in his way. Thinking that, Olivia ended her sentence first as Leon tried to speak more.

“I won’t go far.”

In the end, he nodded his head.

Olivia glanced around, looking at the ballroom. In fact, it was her first visit to the Imperial Palace, and it was to some extent true that she wanted to see it.

Nonetheless, she said she wanted to do so under the assumption that people’s eyes were not focused on her. Coming here, she became a spectacle, like a rare animal in the market. The girls were looking at her with a murmur.

Olivia knew at once that it wasn’t a good feeling because it was similar to the way the maids looked at them. It was that time when she couldn’t help but be at her wit’s end.

“Hello, Miss Claudel?”

At that moment, she suddenly heard a beautiful soprano-toned voice that sounded like singing. As Olivia turned her head to the very friendly voice, she widened her eyes unknowingly.

She had never seen such a pretty person other than her own mother. The only woman in a dark lilac dress that stood out among those who wore light colors, a beautiful woman with curly black hair gracefully hanging out.

“Hello.”

As soon as Olivia responded to her greeting, the woman miraculously removed her gaze from Olivia. At the same time, Olivia thought that it was probably because she had been staring at that woman.

The woman who spoke to her had a distinctly different atmosphere from the others. She wore a dark color like a black rose blooming among the soft flowers of spring.

“I, so…”

“My name is Jane Philistine. I was bestowed a marquise by His Majesty.”

Saying so, Jane smiled as she unfolded the black-feathered fan. She quietly walked over to Olivia and whispered, “I’m here to save you.”

“Yes…?”

“You don’t want to be the spectacle of a lot of people. Wouldn’t it be better to be watched only by me?”

It was rude and overly candid to say to be watched only by herself. But, unlike the others, she didn’t seem hostile. It was true that she needed a place to breathe, so Olivia nodded her head, thinking that this was her escape.

At that, Madam Philistines smiled at her. Her smile was absolutely beautiful.

“Follow me.”

Olivia followed her carefully. The place she headed was the stairs leading up to the second floor.

“Well, I have to see His Majesty…”

The inviter hasn’t even arrived yet, can she leave this place? At Olivia’s worried words, Marchioness Philistines laughed.

“I heard His Majesty is a little late today. Don’t worry.”

“Do you know His Majesty?”

“I know him very well.”

As she went up the stairs, she saw a long hallway.

Was she going into the room located inside there? With that thought, she glanced at Madam Philistines who laughed playfully.

“You’re afraid to follow me into a place like that, aren’t you?”

“Pardon?”

“Miss Claudel is pretty, so what if I attack you? You have to be careful.”

“Yes?!”

When Olivia shouted in surprise, Madam Philistines grinned.

“Let’s talk while looking at the banquet hall from the railing here. When His Majesty arrives, we can go down immediately.”

Even though her words didn’t clear Olivia’s vigilance, she couldn’t deny that she liked this woman.

All the structures of the banquet hall were clearly visible from the railing, and when the Emperor came, she was able to descend in time to take part in the ceremony. It’s much better than talking to someone she doesn’t know in an enclosed space.

Meanwhile, Olivia found Leon. He was talking to the men before. Perhaps they were very friendly, Leon was smiling rarely.

‘Wow, you smile like that when you meet your friends…’

As she was amazed at his side she had never seen, Madam Philistines spoke to her.

“I was very curious about Miss Claudel.”

“Do you know me, Madam?”

“I know someone who knows.”

How does she know about her…?

As Olivia tilted her head, Marchioness Philistines added, “I want to see you, but it looks like he doesn’t want to show you.”

“He doesn’t want to show me?”

At her question, Marchioness Philistines laughed meaningfully. Could she have misrepresented someone other than Olivia? Or, does it have a different meaning?

Marchioness Philistines observed Olivia, who was intently lost in thoughts.

The large olive-colored eyes looked good. In her eyes, there was a guard against Marchioness Philistines, and even that guard looked weak and pitiful like a herbivore.

Pure white skin, a tall nose, moderately thick lips, and not a flashy but instead a neat appearance. Her neat face and the color of her hair contrasted with it, creating a strange atmosphere.

It’s the face that provokes sadistic people. If it had not been for the protection of the Duke of Deork, she would have suffered at the hands of some nobleman.

Marchioness Philistines asked, hiding her true intentions.

“Are you doing well in the Duchy of Deork?”

“Yes, I am doing well.”

“The Duke has been on the battlefield. You must have been close to the first Lord.”

“Yes.”

“Was he kind?”

Olivia forced her to smile at the question.

“He was kind.”

“Well, he has a nice smile on everyone. But, um, this is what I’ve been through since I’ve seen a lot of people.”

“….”

“That kind of person is more likely to be twisted.”

She smiled softly and continued her remarks.

“They have to get rid of what’s built up inside them. So, they usually release it to the weak, like children, animals, women…”

At her soft whisper, Olivia’s head went blank.

Did she see through Kevin? Or, did she know something about her?

Nonetheless, Olivia couldn’t nod her head. She doesn’t know anything about Madam Philistines, how can she confide in her?

“I don’t know what you mean by that.”

In the end, her answer was a cautious one.

“Miss Claudel, I am from prostitution. So, I know men very well.”

Madam Philistines whispered softly. Is that woman from prostitution? If she is truly from prostitution, how did she get to such a position like this? Besides, was it possible to get a title? She was a great person…

Olivia was in deep thought.

“How are you doing?”

Her eyes immediately widened at the question of Marchioness Philistines.

‘Oops, she was talking.’

“Ah, yes? What did you say?”

“I asked if you were okay with me being a prostitute. It’s a little new because you haven’t shown any reaction.”

“No, I was surprised enough. I was just thinking about how you got the title.”

As she panicked, Marchioness Philistines grinned and answered.

“How did I get the title… How did I get the title because of His Majesty’s favor?”

“Ah…”

“So, what do you think now? Even if you don’t want to talk to me, I understand.”

“Why about me?”

“Oh, my goodness.”

In response, Marchioness Philistines opened her eyes wide and grinned. She then realized that her origins mattered little to Olivia.

“Brother Kevin is not bad. He is also kind to me.”

“Has he ever promised a future?”

In fact, he had made a promise. To use her body. He said he’d take her a few times. But, what about him? Didn’t he tell Leon that she was a perverted woman?

“No.”

Olivia murmured in a low, sinking voice and looked down again at the banquet hall. She could still see Leon surrounded by people. Perhaps his close friends had left as all kinds of women stayed by his side.

Seeing this, her heart began to beat nervously.

He’s a perfect person for everything, so of course, he’ll be popular with girls. However, seeing it in person this way, her heart was shaken.

She was angry, and she was sad. She knew it was jealousy.

The most striking thing around him was a woman with blonde hair and a gorgeous emerald hairpin. The blonde slender beauty, sparkling more flashy than the light on the chandelier, wore a green dress that matched her well, and she looked dazzlingly beautiful.

She was standing next to Leon and very naturally talking to him.

Normally, he’s usually blunt and doesn’t tend to have long conversations with Olivia. Although Leon was having a long conversation with the blonde woman. Even the face seemed to be quite hospitable.

Seeing this, Olivia was depressed. Surely, he will marry one of the beautiful women who approach him. Maybe, he would marry the woman in that green dress whom he was talking to right now.

While on the other hand, she didn’t even know where her future would be.

“There is no future…”

She mumbled unconsciously. Hearing that, Marchioness Philistines opened her eyes and gazed at her.

Then, suddenly, she heard a man’s voice.

“Oh dear, did I interrupt the women’s conversation?”

At that moment, Olivia looked back at a man’s voice.

Marchioness Philistines replied with a smile. “No, not at all. We will stop talking in a while.”

“Then, can I join in too?”

He asks for Olivia’s pardon. She nodded her head half-heartedly. He was a really ordinary-looking man except for the glassy blue eyes that sparkle too much. He stood next to Olivia and sighed, leaning against the railing and looking down at the banquet hall.

“There are so many people today as well, that it’s boring.”

“It always is.”

“There is only one person I want to meet, and it is annoying to have to meet so many people for that.”

The man murmured over and over as if he had a lot of complaints.

Moments later, he turned to her, smiling.

“Meeting a lot of people is really cumbersome and annoying, isn’t it? Even more so if you don’t want to go there.”

She wanted to nod her head right away, but she felt it was not wise to confide in him.

“I was invited by His Majesty, and I came to see the palace, something I would never have been able to visit in my life. I like it.”

“Is that so? That’s a relief.”

The man smiled with a happy expression. Why was it a relief? When she was puzzled,

Marchioness Philistines spoke again.

“Well, aren’t you going to ask me?”

“Does the Marchioness, who likes to meet people, need such a question?”

The two seemed to know each other. As Olivia glanced at them both, the man’s gaze turned to her. He seemed to be observing her with interest.

“Oh, I have something to ask you.”

“Something to ask…?”

“Actually, I have some concerns, but I came here out of necessity because I thought it would be better to seek advice from women.”

“What is it?”

When Marchioness Philistines asked with a smile, he continued cautiously.

“I apologize, though it’s a bit blatant and may offend you.”

“Tell me. I’m curious.”

Olivia nodded her head in agreement with Marchioness Philistines. It was because the blatant question asked by interfering in women’s conversations was something that anyone could be curious about.

“Why would a woman sleep with a man she doesn’t even like?”

At that, her eyes widened.

As the man said, it was an overly blatant question. Still, the man made an excuse with a bewildered expression on his face.

“My friend has a girl he likes, so it seems like he slept with a girl who has a guy she likes.”

“Oh, my goodness. Wasn’t that forced?”

When Marchioness Philistines questioned back, the man shook his head.

“My friend seems to think so, too. He said he forced the girl. He was drinking while talking about that. Since I was curious, I listened to the story, and it seems strange that the girl said that she wanted to have a relationship first. My friend is having a hard time feeling guilty, but I need to know what’s going on… I apologize again for the question.”

Marchioness Philistines, who had a serious expression on her face as if lost in trouble, spoke up.

“Isn’t it simple? She just had a relationship with that friend to have fun. It’s the same with men. Just as you can sleep with other women who have no heart, so do women. No… I think women would have a stronger sex drive?”

At the words of Marchioness Philistines, the man twisted the corners of his lips. Looking at it, Olivia got the impression that he didn’t like the answer.

He stared at the Marchioness for a while before turning this gaze towards her and asked.

“Then, what about Miss Claudel?”

It seemed that there was another person here who knew her. Olivia answered his questions in a way she thought he would want to hear, rather than what she thought.

“I… I do not know.”

“You don’t know?”

“Because I don’t know the situation. The only thing that is certain is that a man and a woman had a relationship?”

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“That’s right.”