"Your aunt will be here as your chaperone shortly. If she nags you, just change the subject by blaming me."
"Sister…"
"At the Queen's banquet, they always serve waffles. They're amazing when paired with strong coffee. Trust me on this."
Realizing I wasn't in a position to argue, I puffed up my cheeks and declared,
"I'll eat ten servings!"
"Ha-ha-ha! That's the spirit. I look forward to hearing rumors that the Redfield third daughter single-handedly depleted the palace's butter reserves."
After dropping me off, my sister immediately left in the carriage, leaving the attendant a bit flustered.
"Lady, are you here without a chaperone?"
"She'll be here soon."
"Then would you like to wait over here?"
What am I, a lost child without a nanny?
I was shown to a small patio next to the hall and took a seat. The lush greenery offered some privacy, and a maid soon brought tea and snacks, making the wait less awkward.
Still, how am I supposed to clear up my sister's misunderstanding?
'Does she actually want me to end up with Arthur?'
That can't happen. Natalie is supposed to be the one seducing Arthur!
Sure, it's a cliché in reincarnation romances for the story to veer off course, but…
Where did it go wrong?
'The original story didn't delve into Natalie's feelings much, did it?'
Natalie was the epitome of a transparent villainess, like the clear waters of the Alaskan sea. "I'm beautiful, I deserve everything, and that perfect man is obviously mine!" Her actions were described at that level of superficiality.
In other words, she probably didn't even like Arthur in the first place.
'In the original, she targeted Arthur because the count and countess egged her on, but maybe this time she ignored their goading.'
As a person, that's a commendable development—
'But if Natalie doesn't pursue Arthur, will Arthur and Maria even end up together?'
They're one of those couples who go through the classic "I love you, but we're not meant to be together… Oh, but I can't live without you!" trope. Relationships like theirs need an external force to ignite the spark.
What should I do?
'Should I explain to my sister why Arthur is such a great match?'
No, that would just fan the flames of misunderstanding!
While I was lost in thought, guests began arriving at the banquet one by one. Most were debutantes this year, nervously trembling like fawns. It was both endearing and pitiable.
Even Maria Meyer, who had looked as elegant as a 19th-century European portrait in the greenhouse, seemed anxious as she trembled in front of a servant. It was… oddly cute.
Wait, why is she walking this way?
"Excuse me," Maria said apologetically, looking genuinely sorry.
"My chaperone left her bag behind, so… Could I sit here with you until she returns?"
"Of course."
"Thank you."
She sat down across from me with a shy smile.
Save me. This setup makes small talk unavoidable. I wanted to be alone!
After receiving her tea, Maria naturally started the conversation, introducing herself.
"I'm Maria Meyer, a niece of Baron Meyer, and this is my debut year. And you are…?"
"I'm Dorys Redfield, the third daughter of the Redfield family."
"The third daughter? Then Miss Redfield isn't your personal title. May I call you Dorys?"
"'Dorys is what my parents call me when they're scolding me. You can call me Dory."
"Dory… Miss Dory."
She seemed to savor the name like candy, then lit up with a bright smile.
"Wow, this is the first time I've called someone by a nickname! It feels like I've made a friend."
"..."
I'd planned to keep the conversation short, but her radiant expression made me want to claim we'd been friends for 20 years.
So this is what it takes to be a classic pure-hearted, strong-yet-gentle protagonist.
As Maria beamed, she suddenly gasped and covered her mouth.
"Oh dear, I got too excited. It's been so long since I've met someone my age outside a banquet…"
"…I think I understand."
"Pardon?"
"At banquets, peers feel less like potential friends and more like thoroughbred racehorses competing at the derby."
Rivals, unwillingly thrust into competition. Spectators cheer, jeer, and critique us—who might marry, who won't, who isn't worth the investment…
Maria tilted her head curiously.
"You're the first person to describe society like that. But… I think I see what you mean. If it's not too much to ask, when did you debut?"
"Three years ago, at 18."
"Wow, we're the same age! I debuted this year, so I still have so much to learn, but…"
"I don't know much either. I just stick to the walls at banquets and eat dessert."
"Ha-ha-ha!"
Maria's laugh was as clear and pleasant as petals scattering in the wind. Her cheerful demeanor lifted my spirits, and before I knew it, I found myself smiling too.
Maria was a skilled conversationalist and a good listener, making the small talk surprisingly enjoyable.
By the time our conversation ended, I felt like we'd been friends for at least six months—even if not the full 20 years.
Had our chat continued, I might have truly believed it. But—
"Dory!"
My chaperone finally arrived, cutting off our conversation. My aunt barely acknowledged Maria as she briskly helped me up. I waved goodbye to Maria, only for my aunt to growl softly—a sound I'd thought was exclusive to male leads in romance novels.
"Dory, since when have you been close to Miss Meyer?"
"I wouldn't say we're close. We just exchanged introductions."
"You're too naive! Do you even know who His Highness has been trailing lately? …Or, wait—do you have a plan to drive her away?"
"No such plan exists."
"Doryyy!"
"Don't worry. I can take care of myself."
"Natalie just said the exact same thing and drove me mad! She needs to get her act together too…"
Thankfully, my aunt's lamentations subsided as we entered the hall. She exchanged polite nods with her acquaintances who were also there as chaperones, but unfortunately, she didn't abandon me as usual. Just great.
"Dory, I hear you've been devouring sweets like crazy lately. As long as I'm here, you'll stick to tea only."
This is truly the worst!
The event began shortly after we were seated.
The Queen addressed the debutantes, offering her blessings. Her flowing silver hair and impeccable posture were strikingly similar to Tristan's.
When her speech concluded, the Queen announced that everyone could now enjoy themselves freely. Soon, servers began bringing out food to the tables—mostly light finger foods and tea snacks. But my eyes were immediately drawn to the waffles.
The lattice pattern was perfectly golden, its edges crowned with an impossibly fluffy dollop of whipped cream that practically reached the ceiling.
Some people might say subway waffles for a dollar are the real deal, but if I can eat for free, I'll take these fancy ones any day!
"Dory, where are you looking?"
"…Auntie."
"Yes?"
"My sister tricked me earlier. She said she'd take me to a tea house with delicious waffles, but when I stepped out of the carriage, I was here."
"And you fell for that?"
"…Anyway, can I please just have one bite of those waffles?"
"No."
She sighed deeply.
"I see now why you barely laced your corset. You came here intending to eat until you were stuffed, didn't you?"
"I honestly didn't expect to end up at a formal event!"
"Wait here. I'll check if there's a cloakroom we can use. Tightening your waist by another inch should make you forget about food entirely."
And with that, she left her seat.
Why? Why does being tricked by my sister mean I now have to suffer through an even tighter corset? I'm already slim—am I debuting as a girl group idol or something?
Wait a second… Should I sneak a bite while she's gone?
There's a mini sandwich right in front of me. The filling looks like potato salad studded with bits of crispy bacon. Salty and delicious, and definitely less calorie-heavy than a butter-laden pound cake…
But just as I reached for it, I froze.
The other chaperones lounging nearby were watching like hawks, their sharp eyes assessing every young lady in the room.
If I took a bite and word got back to my aunt, I'd never hear the end of it.
Reluctantly, I withdrew my hand from the sandwich.
Meanwhile, a lady sitting nearby cut into a waffle with a soft crunch, releasing steam from its fluffy center that lingered around her knife.
Perfectly cooked. Truly a work of art.
Don't look.
Just enjoy the tea. You've wasted money buying tea bags at 4,000 won each but never drank them. This is the good stuff…
But that buttery aroma is taunting me!
I can't take it anymore!
I stood up abruptly.
A brief walk should help me reset.
Not wanting to stray far, I stopped in a hallway and began idly examining the portraits on the walls, trying to guess the era of their styles.
That's when I heard an unexpected, yet somehow inevitable, voice.
"Dory Redfield."
I turned around, and there he was… Tristan.
He looked even better than usual, probably because this was a royal event. His neatly combed hair and minimally adorned formal attire emphasized his strong physique, making him look every bit the dashing second male lead from a romance novel. Not that Tristan even qualifies as a second lead—he's just a petty villain.
"I'm surprised to see you here from the Redfield family. I thought for sure Natalie would have come running."
"There were… circumstances."
Like my sister scamming me with promises of sweets.
He jumped to his own conclusions.
"She must be unwell, then."
"Perhaps so."
"And you? Are you feeling unwell?"
Huh? Why's he asking me all of a sudden?
"I'm fine, Your Highness."
"Really? You haven't eaten anything since you arrived. I wondered if you might be uncomfortable."
"Oh, uh… I just found the tea so delightful!"
"As it should be. But," he said, his tone suddenly serious, "you're very fond of sweet treats, aren't you?"
…What?
My face flushed. How does he know that?
No, no, no—it's not like I love them that much!
"Your Highness, why would you think that?"
"Is it so surprising? One can tell simply by observing—"
"Pardon?"
"—or so I hear. Rumors, you know."
Why is there a rumor about this?!
The heat in my cheeks burned brighter. Is there some kind of cap on how much dessert a lady can eat around here?
"Ahem, anyway."
He cleared his throat.
"I don't know why you're refraining from sweets, but if you're not unwell, shall I fetch you some candy?"