Prince Felix hadn't actually said those words, but who cares? My own rumors had been twisted too. That's how words work—they gain embellishments as they travel.
"So I'll prepare to break off the engagement and become His Highness's servant again, as he commanded."
"Servant... you said?"
"Yes. You've probably heard the rumors about me, so I won't explain further. So if you truly love His Highness... you don't have to give up because of me."
I clasped Daphne's hands tightly and said. My eyes, intentionally unblinking and dry, were now glistening with tears.
"Lydia..."
"It's alright. I'm an illegitimate child anyway, so I can never be with His Highness... I'll go up now. I want to dry my tea-soaked hair quickly."
I maintained my wounded, pitiful expression until the very end.
And the effect was remarkable. Just three days later, at a banquet I attended, I could confirm that public opinion about me had already shifted.
Lazy nobles, who seemed to spend their entire days gossiping about others, had quickly spread the rumors among the noblewomen.
"I heard she was actually treated terribly within the ducal house for being an illegitimate child."
"Oh my... Heaven is so unkind. Being treated so poorly at home must be why His Highness, who had been with her for so long, spoke of breaking the engagement so easily."
"They say he said he didn't want an illegitimate child because they're vulgar?"
"That's not all. He said she should become a servant again and work only for him—even trying to make her sign a slave contract."
"Is that about monopolizing the fake duke's daughter's ability?"
"More than that, a slave contract is even more shocking! In this day and age, slaves..."
"Apparently when she refused, he poured hot tea over her head? I never thought His Highness was such a scary person."
People covered their mouths with fans, but their eyes kept darting toward me as they whispered.
The duchess and Daphne had stepped away for a moment, so people seemed even more excited to talk.
"Then what about the real duke's daughter? Is she going to marry such a scary person?"
"I heard she refused his proposal out of consideration for the fake duke's daughter."
"That's not what I heard. On the day of Count Franz's party, there's talk that the two of them already spent the night together."
"Good heavens, good heavens!"
"Shh! Here they come."
And of course, such rumors never reached the ears of the high-ranking parties involved. Who would dare open their mouths in front of them if they wanted to live?
Thanks to that, Felix, knowing nothing, dropped a huge bomb with his own mouth.
"This banquet is to honor the upcoming expedition. And Lady Lydia of House Cheshire will be joining this expedition, so all you knights need not fear injury."
The knights surrounding the banquet hall raised their fists to their chests in salute.
At the knights' cheers, Felix looked proud—but the noblewomen's expressions soured instantly.
"How can they take a woman who's not even a knight to the battlefield..."
"Could this be a plot to kill Lady Lydia?"
"Oh, dear God."
Some fragile noblewomen even clutched their chests and swooned. Seeing those reactions, my conscience began to prickle slightly.
Actually, joining this punitive expedition was my suggestion to Felix. It was the result of me racking my brain ever since I couldn't hold back and splashed water on the prince's face.
'I absolutely will not become a villainess.'
To flip the already tarnished rumors about me like turning over a hand, nothing worked better than sympathetic public opinion.
After I suddenly became a duke's daughter, I had to undergo verification tests at the imperial palace, temples, and various places to prove I was the duke's biological child.
Unlike me, Daphne was recognized as a duke's daughter without any procedures and quickly became the center of high society—all because of the sympathetic public opinion surrounding her.
There was the fact that the duchess herself brought her and claimed she was her daughter, but the biggest factor was Daphne's story of misfortune.
So I had no choice but to be treated like an unwelcome outsider, accumulating dislike.
But that taught me a valuable lesson. I learned that to people who love to gossip, the truth doesn't matter at all—all they need is someone to be the target of their arrows.
I simply redirected those arrows from myself to Felix. If he hadn't crossed the line by talking about master-servant relationships, I wouldn't have gone this far.
"Your Highness. If you truly cannot forgive me, then take me on this expedition."
"Take you? To the battlefield?"
"Yes. You know my abilities. If I can provide immediate treatment, you won't have to lose any precious knights."
Whether he'd take the bait or not was up to Felix's choice. Fortunately, Felix was as conscience-free as I'd hoped, and he bit the hook immediately.
And now, Felix had publicly announced my participation in the expedition.
At this point, I was slightly scared that this world's causality might force me to become a villainess after all—but no way.
I would participate in this expedition as promised, heal the knights with my abilities, and use that merit to make the Tuline territory fully mine.
What villainess in the world diligently secures rewards like this?
"Lady Lydia, are you sure you'll be alright?"
I was chuckling at the thought of the Tuline territory coming into my hands, and the Count Franz's daughter next to me spoke up.
I felt awkward, fixed my expression, and smiled at her. She then quietly moved into Daphne's empty seat and sat down.
"Rachel Franz. Thank you for coming to my party last time. And... I'm sorry you had to hear such rude words."
"It's fine. Since none of it was true, I didn't pay it any mind."
"Oh my, to think they'd treat such a person like that... But are you really going on the expedition?"
"Yes. Please cheer for me."
"I'll cheer for you with all my heart. I'm sure you'll return safely."
Now Rachel seemed about to offer me her handkerchief.
'The rumor effect is working pretty well, isn't it?'
To nobles, there was only black and white—and I, who had been a villainess, turned the tables overnight and was now receiving support.
"And oh!"
Just as Rachel opened her mouth to say something more, a server's mistake caused wine to spill on her dress.
It wasn't a lot, but the dance was about to start—an awkward situation.
"I'm so sorry! I'll guide you to somewhere you can change."
The server apologized immediately and guided us to the dressing room. Rachel made a tearful face and brushed at her dress.
"Should I come with you?"
I asked out of courtesy, and Rachel looked touched. Since we didn't have attendants with us, it seemed she'd be uncomfortable going alone.
Rachel and I followed the server's guidance toward the dressing room inside the palace, when I heard a familiar voice from the corridor.
"That's..."
"...nothing..."
I couldn't hear what they were saying, but the voices were unmistakably Felix and Daphne.
'So that's where they went—why are they here?'
I was debating whether to turn back, but Rachel stepped forward and walked toward the voices. And as if following the natural order, she made a surprised face and bowed.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Thanks to her, I couldn't just walk past without greeting, so I approached and offered my bow.
Rachel's pupils were trembling as she looked back and forth between me and Daphne.
"You were... together?"
As I spoke with a wistful voice, Rachel covered her mouth with one hand and turned her head away. It felt a bit unpleasant, as if I'd become some clingy ex-girlfriend.
"Oh, Lydia! We were together because of the expedition talk. How could I ever... your man..."
"I'm not Lydia's man, Daphne."
Daphne tried hard to explain, but Felix didn't help. If it had been just me, I would have passed by without even speaking to them—but this was an unexpected harvest.
"I'm fine, Daphne. The person His Highness chose is... you, isn't it?"
