Chapter 30: A Villainess as a Saintess?

‘Thank goodness. She seems happy.’  

As someone who had twisted the original story, I felt at ease knowing Rosetta was happy.  

‘But does the Duke really feel nothing for her?’  

I glanced up at Xavier, who stood beside me, observing the scene with calm eyes.  

‘Hmm, if I can bring those two together, I won’t have to get married.’  

Men and women develop feelings when they keep meeting. Even if there’s nothing at first, something can grow over time.  

I decided to seize this opportunity.  

Clink, clink.  

Crown Prince Arthur raised his champagne glass high, drawing everyone’s attention.  

“You must have all heard that there will be an important announcement tonight. His Holiness the Pope will deliver it on my behalf.”  

“Thank you, Your Highness.”  

Pope Melvin stepped forward, facing the crowd. The music faded, and all eyes focused on his lips.  

“For the first time in a hundred years, the Goddess has sent us a saintess.”  

Predictably, the crowd’s attention turned to Rosetta rather than me, the supposed little villainess Yuria. There was no need to ask who looked more like a saintess in their eyes.  

‘I don’t even want to be a saintess.’  

It felt as uncomfortable as wearing clothes that didn’t fit.  

At that moment, a large hand intertwined with mine. Startled, I turned to see Xavier looking at me with a gentle smile.  

‘Are you okay?’  

‘Ah.’  

For some reason, I felt reassured. I had been scared and wanted to run away, but his thoughtfulness was comforting. With newfound courage from him, I faced forward.  

Melvin skillfully quieted the murmuring crowd with a wave of his hand and spoke again.  

“The Saintess is none other than Lady Yuria Graham.”  

The unexpected name threw the crowd into chaos.  

“Yuria Graham? Isn’t she that immature little villainess from Pins?”  

“That small blonde woman over there?”  

“This can’t be. There must be some mistake.”  

“Then who is that beautiful woman with the black hair?”  

Melvin raised his hand again, silencing the murmurs in the banquet hall.  

“This is a matter I have personally verified. Let there be no disrespectful words. Any rumors about the Saintess will be dealt with strictly by the temple.”  

The Pope’s stern warning silenced everyone.  

“Show your respect.”  

Everyone in the hall, except for the Crown Prince, the Pope, and me, bowed before me. Even Duke Auguste inclined his head slightly in my direction. I noticed Rosetta, who had been standing bewildered next to Melvin, hurriedly bowing as well.  

For a moment, a passage from the original novel popped into my head.  

「Everyone bowed before the Saintess, except for the Crown Prince and Pope Melvin. Even Duke Auguste lowered his head to her.」  

Ah, seriously, what is this?  

Is the original story rewriting itself?  

“Welcome, Your Eminence.”  

The Crown Prince gently took my hand and kissed the back of it. It felt like a small bird had brushed its feathers against my cheek.  

“The Imperial family, and I, Arthur de Fabian, have been eagerly awaiting you.”  

“Thank you.”  

“Now that you are the Saintess, you will be given a status equivalent to that of a Princess.”  

“A P-Princess?”  

The Crown Prince smiled and nodded. Xavier and the Pope did the same.  

The status of a saintess sent by the Goddess Maha varied with each era, ranging from noble lineage to commoner origins. To facilitate marriage with the Saintess, the Imperial family had established a tradition of granting her the legal status of a Princess, as the Pope kindly explained.  

Looking at the faces of those bowing before me, I could tell that even if they had complaints, they wouldn’t dare question what was decreed by the divine.  

“Our temple will serve Your Grace with utmost sincerity. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.”  

Pope Melvin handed me a small magical communication device. It wasn’t just a carrier pigeon but an actual magical tool.  

“Thank you, Your Holiness.”  

“Consider the temple your second family.”  

The Pope bowed lightly and stepped back. As I stared blankly at the magical device in my hand, Xavier leaned in and whispered in my ear.  

“Yuria, may I leave you for a moment?”  

“Pardon?”  

“I need to speak with Melvin. Will you be alright by yourself?”  

“Yes, my parents are here, so I’ll be fine.”  

His hand, which had been holding mine until then, slipped away. For some reason, I felt a pang of regret. My eyes followed his retreating figure as he led Melvin to a corner of the banquet hall.  

‘What about Rosetta?’  

I searched the crowd for her but couldn’t find her anywhere. Pushing through the throng, I scoured the hall.  

‘Ah, the restroom.’  

The wine I had drunk was catching up to me.  

After taking care of business and returning to the banquet hall, I was determined to implement my hopeful plans.  

“Oh my, who do we have here?”  

Despite the relatively quiet corridor, a group of young ladies approached me, fanning themselves. They looked to be about thirteen or fourteen years old.  

‘Who are they?’  

The elaborately dressed young ladies lowered their eyes halfway, approaching me with an air of arrogance. Their features seemed randomly assembled, as if a character generator had been used.  

This isn’t meant to insult their appearances—it was just the impression they gave. Especially the one in the center.  

Her round face and small, ill-placed eyes exuded spite, and her tiny, bird-like lips curled upward at one corner.  

‘Even for extras, the author went a bit too far.’  

It’s clear that Yuria, at least, benefited from some appearance buffs.  

The girl in the center spoke to me in a haughty tone.  

“Don’t you recognize me?”  

I truly didn’t. I couldn’t recall her name, but I knew I should at least greet her.  

The Crown Prince had just said that the Saintess held a status equivalent to a Princess, so this should suffice.  

“Greetings. And who might you be?”  

“What did you say?”  

“I’m genuinely asking because I don’t know.”  

“Ha! Ladies, did you hear that? A mere Baron’s daughter dares to speak so rudely to a Count’s daughter!”  

The other young ladies around her fluttered their fans, trembling with exaggerated indignation. They shook so dramatically that it was visible from several meters away.  

“If you have nothing else to say, I’ll be on my way.”  

Deciding they weren’t worth my time, I tried to step past them.  

“Lady Graham! Aren’t you going to apologize for spilling wine on my dress at last year’s Imperial banquet?”  

“……”  

I didn’t remember spilling wine, nor did I recall anything about her. I didn’t even know her name.  

When I didn’t respond, the button-eyed girl screeched.  

“And you chased me out of the boutique!”  

“Boutique Royal?”  

Ah, were they the troublemakers from that boutique incident? Something about a Count Willem…  

Looking more closely, the button-eyed girl in the center seemed vaguely familiar.  

“Ah, so you remember now. Hurry up and apologize.”  

Count Willem’s daughter took a step closer, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.  

“The boutique incident doesn’t matter.”  

“What?”  

“That was your fault for starting trouble. As for the wine incident, I apologize.”  

Since the wine incident was the fault of the original Yuria, I decided to clean up her mess.  

When I apologized without resistance, the arrogant expressions of the girls cracked audibly. They hesitated, unsure how to proceed, and the Count’s daughter, her button-like eyes bulging, shrieked again.  

“A Saintess? Equivalent to a Princess? What nonsense is this?”  

“Well said, Lady Willem. She needs to be taught a lesson for daring to defy a Count’s daughter.”  

One of the nameless girls clinging to the button-eyed one chimed in.  

Seriously, demanding retribution over spilled wine? What would they do if it had been blood?  

I was both exasperated and unwilling to deal with their squawking any longer. Balancing on one leg, I inspected my nails, which Maya had meticulously manicured.  

Hmm, they looked great.  

“Are you ignoring us? A mere Baron’s daughter?”  

“Do you even realize how generous Lady Doris Willem has been to tolerate you?”  

Ugh, so noisy.  

The young ladies flanking Doris Willem, or whatever her name was, grew more boisterous. Emboldened by their support, the button-eyed girl became even more smug.  

“Lady Carol, well said. Honestly, it’s laughable how she flaunts her wealth from her nouveau riche parents.”  

The mention of my parents snapped something inside me.  

‘Ah, these brats dare mock someone who’s endured 23 years of hard labor?’  

I’ve dealt with all kinds of troublemakers while working at restaurants, convenience stores, and offices. Even as a pushover for my stepmother and stepsister, I’ve grown past the point of just taking it.  

“I’ve apologized, so I’ve done my duty. Now it’s my turn.”  

“W-What did you say?”  

“I asked if you’re done talking.”  

“……”  

The Count’s daughter gasped, her face turning pale as if she might faint.  

“Whether you’re a Baron’s daughter or a Count’s daughter, dragging parents into this is against the rules, isn’t it?”  

“B-But it’s true. Your parents are nouveau riche.”  

Ha, even now?  

“Lady Willem, are you ready to start a war with the Graham family? Shall we see whose heads roll first?”  

“A w-war?”  

“Don’t pick a fight if you don’t have the weapons for it.”  

The best way to intimidate nobles is to hit them where it hurts.  

During my brief stint as acting head of the Graham Trading Company, I learned one thing: my father, Douglas Graham, is a true powerhouse. Even the Imperial family and Dukes tread lightly around him.  

Lady Willem couldn’t meet my gaze anymore and looked down, though she still seemed bitter.  

“I can’t accept this! How can a villainess be a saintess?”  

“Are you questioning the Crown Prince’s words?”  

“N-No, that’s not what I meant.”  

“Or are you calling the Pope a fool? Or perhaps Duke Auguste?”  

“Ugh.”  

I slowly dragged the edge of my fan across her temple, cheek, and down to her soft, round chin.  

“What are you doing?”  

Lady Willem trembled, but I didn’t care. I tilted her plump chin upward with the fan’s edge and whispered in a small but clear voice into her ear.  

“I’m just curious, you little pest. Shall we take this to the higher-ups and see what happens?”  

“……!”  

Then, I deliberately grabbed a wine glass from a passing servant’s tray and poured its contents onto her dress.  

“Oh my, my hand slipped.”  

“Ahhh! My dress!”  

Her panicked reaction, stomping her feet, was almost endearing. Her pale pink dress was now stained a deep red.  

“I’m so sorry, Lady Willem. What should we do?”  

Feigning concern, I looked at her.  

Her expression screamed, ‘Is she insane?’ But, perhaps scared by my earlier threats, she kept her mouth shut and only glared at me.  

As I casually walked past her, I muttered under my breath.  

“Feel free to send me the bill. I’ll pay for everything, including last time.”  

“Waaah!”  

In the end, the button-eyed Count’s daughter burst into tears.  

As people began to turn their attention toward us one by one, her flustered companions hurriedly dragged her away toward the terrace. Showing such an embarrassing scene at a grand banquet like this was grounds for being ostracized from high society.

‘Hmph, nothing but a trivial matter.’