I May Be A Villainess, But I Won't Live My Life That Way - Chapter 94

Chapter 94

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

I turned my head and looked at Asel.

“You said you’d call me Asel before.”

Asel said, pouting his lips.

“That’s in a private setting. This is a public occasion.”

“I’m not really fond of drawing such distinctions.”

“I’m not particularly fond of people who don’t get to the point quickly.”

“Sneaky, aren’t you?”

Pouting his lips again, Asel grumbled.

“My point is.”

In an instant, Asel wiped the playful look off his face, straightened his slouched posture, and looked back and forth between the two of us.

“Ricardo Winkaiser, Bianca Croft.”

With a voice full of dignity, Asel called our names.

Thanks to Asel, who had suddenly transformed into the solemn Crown Prince, Ricardo and I bowed our heads in respect as loyal subjects would.

Caught up in this atmosphere, I could feel everyone around us holding their breath, all eyes fixed on us.

A fresh breeze brushed past us, slightly grazing Asel’s lips, as if signaling him to speak again.

“On behalf of the Sprendo Royal Family, I, Aselbrant Cardigento, bless your marriage.”

With a gentle smile, the Crown Prince formally announced our marriage.

I was taken aback.

No, taken aback doesn’t even begin to describe it.

While it was a formality, noble marriages did require royal approval. Of course, except in special cases, it was rarely denied.

But to have the Crown Prince personally offer congratulations before we had even submitted a request for approval—there was no precedent for this.

And since Asel himself had said he was representing the Royal Family, it certainly couldn’t have been just a joke.

“Thank you, Your Highness. We pledge our continued loyalty to the prosperity of the Sprendo Empire and the Royal Family.”

Ricardo, ever the poised heir to the Winkaiser duchy, expressed his gratitude in a serious tone.

I, too, quickly knelt beside him, bowing my head in respect for the royal decree we had just received.

And Asel looked down at us with the kindest, most compassionate smile. Like an emperor, the father of all.

“We are truly grateful for Your Highness’s consideration.”

With the royal approval granted, our marriage was now an undeniable reality.

Even the Duke of Winkaiser, as powerful as he was, couldn’t oppose this marriage. Not even if his daughter-in-law couldn’t bear him an heir.

Ricardo had been correct when he said ‘we’.

“This is my little wedding gift to you.”

Leaning slightly closer, Asel whispered in a voice only I could hear. When I looked up at him, Asel flashed a sly smile.

He had known.

He had known that even though Ricardo had proposed to me and rumors of our marriage had spread throughout the Sprendo Empire, we would likely encounter opposition from the current head of the Winkaiser family, the Duke.

Asel’s gift had the power to completely remove the enormous obstacle that had loomed before us.

“Thank you so much, Asel.”

“I just want you to be happy. That’s my honest wish. And also…”

Asel turned his gaze toward Ricardo.

“Even though he’s a bit of a pain, I want Ricardo to be happy too, since he’s an old friend of mine.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Hey, you just heard, didn’t you? Bianca’s calling me Asel now. So why are you still calling me ‘Your Highness the Crown Prince’?”

“…Thanks, Asel.”

Only then did Asel finally smile at Ricardo.

And as we looked at Asel, Ricardo and I also smiled.

It was a bright smile on a sunny day.

A smile that was purely happy.

The table assigned to me was at the very front, offering a good view of both the hunting tournament’s opening ceremony and those returning from the hunt.

The others seated at the table were Maria, Lady Larene, and myself. It seemed they had grouped together unmarried ladies of similar rank.

I already knew I’d be seated with Maria, but I hadn’t expected Lady Larene to be with us as well.

“Hello, Lady Bianca Croft.”

Looking at Lady Larene, who greeted me with elegant courtesy, I wondered how she’d react if I told her, “You’re actually an extra whose name doesn’t even get mentioned.”

And how she’d respond if I told her that I was envious of her position.

“Yes, the weather is wonderful today. Perhaps that’s why your beauty is shining even brighter, Lady Larene.”

When I complimented her, she puffed out her chest proudly.

“You, too, look particularly graceful and beautiful today, my lady.”

“You flatter me.”

“Oh, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.”

With a broad smile, Lady Larene offered her congratulations. She must have heard the rumors as well. Even if she hadn’t before, she would have known from what Asel had just said.

“When is the wedding?”

“Well, we haven’t decided on a specific date yet.”

“Is that so? But if you wait too long, won’t the weather get too hot?”

Lady Larene’s tone suggested I should hurry up.

“Have you decided on the jewelry? What about the dress? I’m definitely going with one from Pamelauti. Without a wedding dress from there, the wedding just wouldn’t have the same significance.”

The young lady’s eyes sparkled as she chatted about wedding dresses, unprompted. She was much more amiable towards me than she had been at the previous tea party.

The reason was obvious. To her, I was no longer a rival for Asel’s affection.

“Tsk!”

Lady Larene suddenly clicked her tongue and frowned in the middle of her lively chatter. Wondering why, I turned my head to see Maria in the distance.

Maria, who was still a rival in the fight for Asel.

“The prestige of the Royal Hunting Tournament has really fallen. How could they let just anyone attend?”

Lady Larene shook her head and muttered quietly.

However, to say that “just anyone” could attend didn’t seem fitting when I saw Maria, escorted by her brother, entering with such beauty.

At first, Maria’s appearance was pretty but rough and unpolished. Yet over the past few months, she had transformed into a radiant gem.

The way she bowed slightly and smiled at each acquaintance, she was like the delicate, innocent butterfly of society. As the book says.

“Greetings, lovely ladies.”

Lady Larene seemed like she wanted to say a few more words, but by then, Raintar and Maria had approached, so she promptly closed her mouth.

“It’s been a while.”

Following her brother’s lead, Maria greeted us, and the lady reluctantly returned her greeting. I, too, accepted Raintar and Maria’s greetings almost out of formality.

For now, we were still rivals. To others, that’s how it had to appear.

“Maria, I’m going to head off now.”

“Yes, brother. Please take care and be safe.”

After exchanging farewells with Maria, Raintar turned to leave but hesitated and looked at me.

When our eyes met, he seemed as if he wanted to say something, his lips slightly parted.

But then, glancing at Maria and the lady beside me, he looked off somewhere in the distance, and in the end, he closed his mouth without saying anything.

Even if I didn’t know exactly where he was looking, I could easily guess it was near where the Visocunt of Wensbury was.

From Raintar’s demeanor, I could tell that something would happen today and that he knew it too.

“It’s been a while, Lady Bianca.”

“Yes, Lady Maria.”

“I heard about your engagement.”

“Yes.”

“Congratulations on your wedding. Very, very much.”

Maria emphasized the word “very” as she spoke. When I turned my head to look at her, I saw Maria with a rigid expression, her teeth clenched.

As our eyes met, I noticed her slightly raise an eyebrow.

What does that mean?

“Yes, thank you.”

Continuing the conversation with a typical, polite response, I saw Maria subtly glance at Lady Larene beside us.

No, it wasn’t just a glance; was she signaling me with her eyes?

“You two make such a lovely couple.”

It was strange. Though her tone was certainly sharp, Maria’s gaze was nothing but warm.

Ah…!

“Yes. It’s truly, truly delightful that you’re offering your congratulations, Lady Maria.”

Just as Maria had earlier emphasized the word “very,” I mimicked her tone, using the same emphasis but with a hint of displeasure, to which Maria’s eyes lit up in recognition.

“When will the wedding be?”

“We haven’t set a date yet.”

“I see. Once the date is set, please be sure to invite me.”

Maria stressed the word “please,” sounding slightly irritated. But I had already figured out Maria’s intention.

Her tone didn’t matter at all. It was just because she was conscious of Lady Larene and the others watching us from different tables.

I only needed to grasp the content of Maria’s words.

She was genuinely congratulating my marriage to Ricardo, saying we made a wonderful couple, and asking to be invited to the wedding. That was the true message Maria wanted to convey.

“Yes. I will definitely invite you.”

When I responded with the same sarcastic tone, Maria’s lips twitched, as if she was trying not to smile.

It seemed she was genuinely pleased to have received an invitation to the wedding.

“Yes, I will definitely attend. I’ll make sure to see with my own eyes how well you two live together.”

Holding back a rising smile, Maria’s eyes sparkled as she spoke. Of course, her tone still sounded like she was gritting her teeth in frustration.

Well, this way of communicating isn’t so bad, is it?

“Ahem, ahem!”

At the sound of a cough, I turned to see Lady Larene sitting there, looking like she couldn’t be more uncomfortable.

“Um… I think I should go over there and greet someone.”

With an awkward smile, she stood up from her seat.

It seemed that this young lady found it overwhelming to be caught between two women growling at each other.

“Of course, Lady.”

Naturally, I welcomed her departure.

I had been concerned that this young lady might get entangled in this mess simply because she was seated at the same table as me, so it was a relief that she chose to leave on her own.

“It seems like it’s starting now.”

Turning my head at Maria’s words, I saw the men participating in the hunting tournament riding off one by one.

Among them, of course, was Ricardo.

When he spotted me and waved, I raised my hand to wave back, all the while feeling the weight of the book hidden beneath my dress.

Yes. It is beginning now.