'Stop it, Lilia...'

Anyway, to summarize Lilia's words—none of this happened because I wanted it to, and I wasn't the one who made Daphne disappear, so why should I just quietly take all the abuse?

She had a point. I hadn't begged to be brought to the duke's house, and because of memories from my past life as an underling, I'd never been rude to anyone.

But if Lilia knew the ending of the villainess character I was playing, she wouldn't have spoken so easily.

In the original, Lydia—because of Daphne's angel sickness—didn't even receive the mercy of death, and ended up wandering the streets in misery.

Moreover, she lost her mind, only longing for her glorious past before falling ill and dying alone.

At the very least, to avoid that fate, I needed to quietly get through this time.

"I got too excited. I'm sorry, my lady."

"It's fine. But don't say things like that outside. Understood?"

"Yes, I'll keep that in mind."

I had to warn Lilia firmly. In a situation where even things I hadn't said were turning into rumors, if Lilia's words got twisted, it would be a disaster.

I needed to exit as pitifully as possible to secure my share of the outcome.

To do that, I'd have to suppress my temper today too and just say 'yes' at the meeting with the prince.

...That had been my resolve just a few hours ago. And yet here I was, trying to hold back my boiling anger again.

"Watch your step, Lydia."

It was because of that insufferable Felix.

I had come to the palace with Daphne for lunch with Felix, but this bastard kept clinging to me—probably to make Daphne jealous.

Putting his arm around my shoulder even when I wasn't about to fall, desperately not looking at Daphne—

I knew he was ambitious, but I never expected this sleazy side.

What is love? Can people change this much? It made my hands curl in embarrassment. Did Daphne actually like Felix like this?

"Yes, thank you. I can walk on my own now."

"I'll escort you. And I have something to discuss with you anyway."

'Excuse me? You and me?'

When I made a bewildered face, Felix ignored it completely and, with his hand on my shoulder, told Daphne to go ahead.

"I'll send Lydia back in my carriage. You go on ahead."

"O-okay. See you later, Lydia."

Daphne looked flustered for a moment, then bowed and left with the attendant's guidance.

The moment Daphne disappeared, Felix removed his hand from my shoulder. Then he told me to follow and walked ahead.

'Just like that.'

I wanted to punch him, but considering my lower status compared to the prince, I held back.

Following Felix into the greenhouse, there was a table set with tea.

"Sit."

Felix sat down first, lacking manners, and ordered me to sit. I had no expectations of what he was about to say.

"Do you remember the day I brought you in from the streets?"

"Yes."

"Of course. You couldn't forget. You went from living on the streets to luxurious quarters in the palace overnight."

"Yes."

"I was surprised by your connection with Duke Cheshire too, but I personally sent you there."

"Yes."

"Now that you've become a duke's daughter, you're still my good subject, right?"

"Yes?"

Why was the introduction so long?

Felix seemed to still see me as his subordinate, using 'you' informally when we were alone. But he'd never directly called me a servant or subject before. It felt unpleasant for some reason.

"Because of worry about you, Daphne refused me. I promised marriage with the Cheshire house, not with you, so I'd appreciate it if you'd step aside. I'd like us to go back to being master and servant, rather than engaged. Of course, you're still my benefactor, but love is a different matter, isn't it?"

For a moment, I wasn't sure what I'd just heard. Not only was he breaking off the engagement, but he wanted me to become a servant. I was so stunned I couldn't speak.

While I was trying to figure out how to respond, my hand moved before my words. I poured the water cup I was holding all over Felix's face.

'Oh crap. I'm screwed.'

I was flustered, but honestly, it felt refreshing. If I'd just quietly said 'yes' after hearing that, I wouldn't be a person—I'd be a pushover.

While Felix was dumbfounded from being splashed in the face, I sprang up and started fussing, wiping his face with my handkerchief.

"Goodness! Your Highness, are you alright? My hand trembled and I accidentally...! Please forgive me, Your Highness!"

Then I lifted a teacup and poured it over my own head.

I happened to be wearing a light-colored dress, and the darkly brewed black tea began trickling down my hair, staining the dress.

Felix, who had been about to get angry, was frozen in bewilderment at my actions.

Not stopping there, I placed Felix's teacup back in his hand.

"Please do the same to me, Your Highness. I will accept it gladly."

"Ha... Just stop it."

"No, I insist. Only then will I be able to go home with a clear conscience. Yes?"

"I said stop."

"Your Highness is so magnanimous. That's why you were willing to marry even a 'servant' like me."

Speaking with the most pitiful expression I could muster seemed to have pricked Felix's conscience, as small as it was.

"...What I said earlier—"

"Everything you said was right. I overstepped my bounds... When His Majesty told me to accept the engagement, I should have refused. I'm grateful you've enlightened me now. I'll make sure to convey Your Highness's true feelings to Daphne as well."

"Lydia."

"However—while breaking off the engagement is tempting, I'll refuse becoming your subject. I'll take my leave now, in this state."

Before Felix could say more, I rose, gave a formal bow, and left the greenhouse.

I couldn't agree to break off the engagement so easily. At the very least, to secure my share, the Tuline territory—which the Cheshire house was supposed to receive upon engagement—needed to be transferred to me first before breaking it off.

Thinking of that land, which would become a source of wealth later, I could endure this much.

"Lydia, what did you talk about—Lydia! What happened?"

And surprisingly, Felix's childish jealousy tactic had worked quite well—Daphne hadn't gone back and was waiting for me.

She always insisted we were just good friends, but it seemed she wasn't being honest.

She was about to ask what we'd talked about the moment she saw me, but shocked by my appearance, she kept exclaiming 'oh my goodness' while dabbing at the tea stains on my dress.

"It wasn't like this because of His Highness, was it?"

"I'm fine, Daphne... Thank you for worrying about me."

I answered with the most wistful expression I could muster, tucking my hair behind my ear.

Don't lie, but evade the truth. A skill I'd learned from Daphne last night.

Leaving the details to Daphne's imagination, I was about to board the carriage with a wounded expression when Felix came running after me and grabbed my arm.

"Let's talk."

"Haven't you forgiven me yet? If you truly insist..."

It seemed Felix had come to apologize, but I cut him off and whispered a suggestion in his ear: would he like to try using my ability?

"Would that be alright?"

"Of course. Then."

Felix, lost in thought, didn't even acknowledge Daphne's greeting.

Throughout the ride back to the duke's residence, I pretended to be hurt and didn't say a word. I just stared out the window, acting as if the shock of what had happened to me was overwhelming.

Daphne kept glancing at me nervously, and only when we arrived at the duke's residence did she carefully call out to me.

"Um, Lydia..."

"Yes?"

"It's just... I'm curious what you discussed with His Highness earlier."

"Oh, right. His Highness asked me to tell you—he said he proposed to you yesterday."

I said this with an awkward expression, and Daphne seemed flustered, stepping back hesitantly. The household servants also stopped what they were doing and began focusing on us.

"But he was upset because you refused him out of consideration for me."

"Th-then. How could I with you there..."

"But His Highness said that his engagement is with the Cheshire house, not with me personally... He said he could never marry an illegitimate daughter like me."

As I spoke with a sad face, lowering my head deeply, I could hear 'oh no...' from various directions.