With a splash, my hair was drenched by the cold liquid that had been dumped on me from above.

 

 

 

Again? I looked up, surprisingly unfazed, to the second floor of the banquet hall.

 

 

 

“Oh dear, my apologies. I didn’t realize Lady Lindsay was standing there.”

 

 

 

A woman leaning against the railing smirked, clinking her empty champagne glass.

 

 

 

“Oh, what to do now?”

 

 

 

“You look like a wet rat. So pitiful.”

 

 

 

The other young ladies next to her also chimed in.

 

 

 

‘Their provocation is so blatant it doesn’t even make me angry.’

 

 

 

Making a scene here would only play into their hands.

 

 

 

So, I simply offered a faint smile instead.

 

 

 

“It’s alright. My hair even has a refreshing fruity scent now.”

 

 

 

They frowned, clearly not expecting that response.

 

 

 

“Hmph, what a joke.”

 

 

 

“Trying to act nice now?”

 

 

 

Luckily, they chose not to pursue the matter further and walked away.

 

 

 

“Phew.”

 

 

 

Thinking about it, I could understand why they disliked me—or rather, the character whose body I possessed, Charlotte Lindsay.

 

 

 

‘Because the real Charlotte gave them a hard time.’

 

 

 

Charlotte Lindsay. The eldest daughter of the prestigious Marquis Lindsay’s family and the villainess in the romance fantasy web novel “Searching for a Husband.” 

 

 

 

In the story, Charlotte was obsessed with the male lead, Archduke Hyclide, and would fly into a jealous rage whenever any girl her age showed the slightest hint of interest in him.

 

 

 

‘If it had just ended there, it might have been better, but…’

 

 

 

The issue? Charlotte had messed with Aila, the female lead whom the Duke was fond of!

 

 

 

Unlike when she threw tantrums at other girls, the Archduke was absolutely furious. He warned the Lindsay family that if Charlotte ever bothered Aila again, he would consider the entire Lindsay lineage as enemies.

 

 

 

Charlotte, already on thin ice with her family, was on the verge of being disowned. Well, according to the original plot, she should’ve been. 

 

 

 

Fortunately—or unfortunately—right at that exact moment, I possessed her body. With lots of begging, I narrowly avoided being disowned.

 

 

 

It wasn’t even my fault, yet I had to plead. But it wasn’t a time to be picky. If I had done nothing I could’ve been thrown out into an unfamiliar world all alone.

 

 

 

‘Still, I’m glad.’

 

 

 

After lying low and staying out of trouble for the past six months, it seemed the Marquis believed I had genuinely repented.  So, a few days ago, he said.

 

 

 

“Stay well-behaved for one more month, and I’ll send you to a mansion abroad. I’ll also provide you with a generous allowance.”

 

 

 

Sounds nice being ‘independent’, but it’s more like a luxurious exile. Still, who cares? At least there, I wouldn’t have to walk on eggshells around my family.

 

 

 

The Marquis, who would’ve never left me unsupervised fearing I might tarnish the Lindsay family name, seemed to think it was okay to loosen his watch now.

 

 

 

It was all thanks to my effort of staying cooped up in my room. Well, I never liked going out in the first place, so it wasn’t much of an effort.

 

 

 

‘Alright, just one more month to go!’

 

 

 

First, I needed to deal with my sticky champagne-soaked hair. Looking for a lounge to freshen up, I overheard some whispers.

 

 

 

“Isn’t that Charlotte Lindsay?”

 

 

 

“Haven’t seen her in a while, what’s she up to?”

 

 

 

“Did the Marquis finally lift her detention?”

 

 

 

“She better not cause a scene here, or she won’t get away with it this time.”

 

 

 

Hey, I can hear you. And I’m more curious than anyone about why I’m here.

 

 

 

It’s the Emperor’s birthday celebration, one of the most significant events in the Rhenberg Empire.

 

 

 

Of course, Duke Hyclide, the last person I wanted to run into, and his fiancee Aila, were also in attendance. I had no desire to come, but…

 

 

 

‘Why did the invitation come to me, of all people?’

 

 

 

I couldn’t possibly ignore the royal invitation with “Charlotte Lindsay” boldly written on it. The Marquis, warning me not to make a scene, reluctantly let me attend.

 

 

 

While successors from other noble families were invited, the person to inherit the Lindsay family wasn’t me but my younger brother, Jayden. After all, Charlotte wasn’t a direct bloodline of the family. She was the child her mother brought into the marriage when she remarried the Marquis.

 

 

 

Suddenly, I heard murmurs nearby.

 

 

 

“Look over there. The genius mage, Kirie, has arrived.”

 

 

 

“And there’s the leader of the Hess Mercenaries, Eugen Mont. They call him the Mercenary King, right?”

 

 

 

For your information, these two were the sub-male leads of the novel.

 

 

 

On any other day, I might’ve joined the crowd to gawk, but my champagne-soaked hair was a more pressing concern.

 

 

 

‘The banquet has just started, so the lounge should be empty, right?’ 

 

 

 

I thought, heading towards the rest area.

 

 

 

“Ouch.”

 

 

 

Suddenly, someone flung the door open, and we collided.

 

 

 

“Charlotte Lindsay, you again?”

 

 

 

A cold voice dropped from above me.

 

 

 

Cedric Hyclide, the novel’s main lead and the last person I wanted to run into. And there, beside him, was Aila, the female lead.

 

 

 

“How did you know we were in Lounge 3 and try to approach?”

 

 

 

Huh? I just went here because it was the closest.

 

 

 

“Was my previous warning not enough for you?”

 

 

 

“I think there’s been a misunderstanding, Your Grace…”

 

 

 

“Misunderstanding? Do you think I don’t know you? The ever-annoying Charlotte Lindsay.”

 

 

 

No, seriously, you’ve got it all wrong! But Cedric shot me a piercing glare.

 

 

 

“Cedric, stop it. Nothing has even happened yet.”

 

 

 

“Aila, you’re too kind. You don’t know her true nature.”

 

 

 

Although Aila tried to intervene, it did little to help.

 

 

 

“Look over there. Lady Lindsay is once again approaching the Archduke and his fiancee.”

 

 

 

“Oh my! She’s fearless. Isn’t she afraid of Hyclide, the Lion of the North?”

 

 

 

To make matters worse, people assumed as fact that I was pestering Cedric.

 

 

 

“…”

 

 

 

Instead of fervently defending myself, I chose to stay silent.

 

 

 

I knew very well that defending myself would be pointless. After all, in this world, they are the protagonists. Meanwhile, I’m just a villain whom nobody believes.

 

 

 

“Listen, if you have some kind of excuse…”

 

 

 

Just as Cedric was about to berate me further,

 

 

 

“Move.”

 

 

 

A man in a black helmet, who had somehow come close to us, spoke up.

 

 

 

“That’s Lord Mont!”

 

 

 

“The Mercenary King who brings death wherever he goes?!”

 

 

 

The anxious murmurs of the crowd revealed his identity.

 

 

 

“Are you talking about me right now?”

 

 

 

Even in front of an irritated Cedric, Lord Mont nonchalantly pointed towards the third lounge.

 

 

 

“You’re blocking the way.”

 

 

 

Cedric’s face turned a fiery shade of red, and sensing that a confrontation might ensue, Aila quickly pulled him away, urging him to leave.

 

 

 

Everyone else, perhaps fearing the man at the center of ominous rumors, began to discreetly disperse.

 

 

 

I wasn’t sure why this guy suddenly popped up here, but it provided me with a golden opportunity.

 

 

 

Seizing the moment when the crowd’s attention shifted away from me, I swiftly headed for the exit.

 

 

 

“Hey, wait a moment…”

 

 

 

I could faintly hear Lord Mont calling from behind, but I was certain he wouldn’t be addressing me.

 

 

 

Because up to this point, Charlotte hadn’t had any interactions with any of the sub-male leads.

 

 

 

As I stepped out of the banquet hall, I was relieved to find the hallway deserted. I quickly walked toward the building’s exit, intending to head home, but suddenly lost my footing.

 

 

 

Who the heck spilled water on the floor?

 

 

 

“Oh dear.”

 

 

 

Just then, someone caught me as I started to fall, wrapping an arm around my waist.

 

 

 

Turning my head, the first thing I saw was hair more radiant than the chandelier’s light – a brilliant shade of gold.

 

 

 

An elegant appearance, a domineering expression, and piercingly blue eyes.

 

 

 

Kind of a description that I had often come across in novels.

 

 

 

If my guess was right, this man was…

 

 

 

“Your Highness! Crown Prince! The banquet is about to start. Where are you going?”

 

 

 

It was the Crown Prince, another sub-male lead.

 

 

 

He neatly ignored his aide, who was rushing after him and turned to ask me.

 

 

 

“Leaving so soon?”

 

 

 

A deep, alluring voice tickled my ears. I looked behind me, but there was no one there.

 

 

 

“I asked if you’re leaving already.”

 

 

 

…Could he possibly be asking me?

 

 

 

I quickly pulled away from his grasp and replied.

 

 

 

“Yes, I intend to head home now, Your Highness.”

 

 

 

The Crown Prince gazed intently at me, making me tense up. 

 

 

 

His gaze was unnerving. The sub-male leads in the novel disliked Charlotte because they were fond of Aila and Charlotte tormented her.

 

 

 

I was on edge, not knowing what he might say next, when he finally spoke, slowly and deliberately.

 

 

 

“Don’t fall for me.”

 

 

 

“…Excuse me?”

 

 

 

“Don’t fall for me just because I’m incredibly handsome.”

 

 

 

I blinked in confusion, not comprehending his words at all. Then, a realization hit me.

 

 

 

‘Right, each of the sub-male leads had their own quirks.’

 

 

 

It wasn’t for nothing that the male lead was mean.

 

 

 

Among them, Crown Prince Reynard was particularly known for his unique arrogance and narcissistic tendencies.

 

 

 

“Falling for me will only bring you sorrow.”

 

 

 

…I should have expected as much. At least he seemed to restrain himself somewhat in Aila’s presence.

 

 

 

“Ah, yes. I’ll take your words to heart and take my leave now.”

 

 

 

“Wait, Miss Lindsay.”

 

 

 

All of a sudden, his gaze turned serious.

 

 

 

“Do you happen to be free tonight?”

 

 

 

“W-why do you ask…?”

 

 

 

“It’s not the best time to go into details now. Just tell me if you’re available or not.”

 

 

 

My heart unexpectedly fluttered. Could it be that he’s interested in me? Almost entranced, I replied.

 

 

 

“Yes, I’m free. My father forbids me from going out, so I’m always home.”

 

 

 

“Even tonight?”

 

 

 

“Yes, even tonight.”

 

 

 

“Then make sure you stay home.”

 

 

 

“Pardon?”

 

 

 

“That’ll be all.”

 

 

 

And with that, I watched Reynard’s broad back disappear from my view.

 

 

 

“…What’s with that guy?”

 

 

 

The words, tinged with bewilderment, belatedly left my lips.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

“What was that all about?”

 

 

 

In Charlotte’s room at the Marquis Lindsay’s residence, I finished my bedtime preparations and sat on the bed, murmuring to myself.

 

 

 

“Let’s just get some sleep.”

 

 

 

After a sigh, I figured a clear head would help in think things through later.

 

 

 

As I turned off the lights and lay down, sleep washed over me like a tidal wave. Just as I was about to be engulfed in darkness…

 

 

 

Click, there was a soft sound, like something opening—perhaps a window?

 

 

 

“Uhm?”

 

 

 

I opened my eyes to assess the situation and almost fainted from the shock. I was about to scream when a large hand covered my mouth.

 

 

 

“Shh.”

 

 

 

Those eyes—it was him. The arrogant blue eyes that had looked at me earlier in the day.

 

 

 

“I apologize for the intrusion, Miss Lindsay, but I have a favor to ask.”

 

 

 

Before I knew it, Prince Reynard was looming over me, whispering.

 

 

 

A favor?

 

 

 

In any case, taken aback by the unexpected situation and scared out of my wits, I nodded furiously, signaling him to speak.

 

 

 

Seeing my docile attitude, the corner of his lips lifted in slight amusement as he voiced his request.

 

 

 

“I’d like to sleep in your bed tonight.”

 

 

 

“…”

 

 

 

…Excuse me?