Chapter 2

As I enter the party venue, I immediately draw attention.

I am the only daughter of the Spencer Duke, one of the Four Great Dukes, Aralia Jill Spencer.

It’s normal to receive attention wherever I go, but the reason I’m getting so much attention now is because I entered the venue without an escort.

Everyone in high society knows that I am the fiancée of Prince Lewis.

Still, I maintain a smile and a composed demeanor.

Soon, various noble daughters come over to greet me.

“Lady Aralia, good evening. You look beautiful as always.”

“I heard you were unwell. Are you feeling better now?”

“Please don’t overexert yourself.”

These are daughters of middle-ranking noble families who want to benefit from my power and influence.

I’ve been known to lash out at social gatherings before, but they still come to flatter me, which is quite impressive.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I’m feeling much better.”

“Oh, really? That’s great to hear!”

I smile in response, and they react with a bit of surprise.

It seems the rumor of my temper and capriciousness has already spread.

I need to gradually improve this image.

This rumor affected the judgment during my execution.

“Your dress is beautiful. Which boutique is it from?”

“Oh, thank you! This dress is from the boutique my family runs...”

“Oh, really? I’d like to see it sometime. Will the store be open?”

“Of course! I’ll arrange a private viewing for Lady Aralia!”

“Hehe, thank you.”

These girls come to me seeking a share of my power and wealth.

Before, I couldn’t effectively use them, but now it’s different.

I’ll gradually give them a little bit and have them spread good rumors about me.

It’s not that I feel bad about using them; after all, they are, in a sense, using me as well, so there’s no problem.

As I talk with my middle-ranking noble followers, a figure approaches.

Oline Ter Dian, the woman who pushed me to my execution.

“Good evening, Lady Aralia.”

“Oh, good evening, Miss Oline.”

Oline greets me with a smile.

She has a good face, but that’s all she has. Just a pretty face and charm.

She stole my fiancé and had me killed.

“You’re in the way, so I’ll have Prince Lewis help me get you executed. Prince Lewis also thought you were a hindrance as his ex-fiancée... Hehe, I’m looking forward to seeing your severed head.”

I can still vividly remember the twisted smile she had when she said those words.

I’m not sure if this is reality or a dream, but it’s a good opportunity.

“Why are you here at this party venue?”

“Huh?”

“The National Foundation Day party is for middle-ranking dukes and above. As a baron’s daughter, you shouldn’t be invited here, right?”

Oline gives a slightly strained smile in response to my words.

All the girls in my circle are from duke or marquess families.

Viscount and baron families shouldn’t be invited, so it’s definitely strange for her to be here.

Of course, this woman didn’t enter illegally.

“I was invited by a kind gentleman...”

“Who is that? Only someone of very high rank could invite a baron’s daughter to this noble party.”

“It’s...”

The gentleman who invited her is Prince Lewis.

If Prince Lewis of the royal family invited her, then of course she can be here.

However, it’s well-known that Prince Lewis is my fiancé.

We haven’t officially broken off our engagement yet.

It’s impossible for her to say she was invited by Prince Lewis in front of me at this venue.

If she did...

“I was invited by Prince Lewis Rino Antila.”

“...”

I didn’t expect her to say it.

And she says it with confidence, chest puffed out.

Is this girl really that foolish?

But it’s convenient for me.

“Prince Lewis?”

“Yes, Prince Lewis invited me. If I was invited by the Crown Prince, there shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“Yes, but do you know that Prince Lewis is my fiancé? Is this a deliberate act of insolence?”

“Insolence?”

“Yes.”

I maintain my smile and slowly approach Oline step by step.

“Accepting an invitation from my fiancé, Prince Lewis, is like challenging the Spencer Duke family, isn’t it?”

“No, that’s not it! I was just invited by the Crown Prince...!”

“You were personally invited by Prince Lewis, not by the royal family. As his fiancée, I can’t just stand by. If I’m disrespected, it affects the honor of the Duke family.”

“But I didn’t mean to...!”

“Even if you didn’t mean to, you still did it.”

Oline’s pale face is very amusing.

“Do you understand what it means to challenge a Duke family? Destroying a baron’s family... Hehe, it’s very easy.”

I place my hand on Oline’s neck.

Her reaction is very entertaining.

“Please, just...”

“Hmm, how about a duel? One-on-one, just you and me. Since you were chosen as the Holy Maiden, you should be fine, right?”

“No, that’s...”

The Holy Maiden is known for her powerful healing magic, but she can’t use any combat magic.

On the other hand, I am from the Spencer Duke family, one of the Four Great Dukes, and I can use fire magic.

If we have a duel, it will be one-sided.

“Which one do you prefer? Of course, it’s a duel, so I won’t kill you. But I’m still inexperienced, so I might accidentally cause an accident.”

To be honest, two years ago, I hardly used fire magic, so I might not handle it well.

But it should be enough to kill a girl who can’t even use Holy Maiden magic.

“Please, forgive me...!”

Oline pleads with teary eyes.

This is the first time I’ve seen her like this.

Before, I always lashed out, and I couldn’t handle the situation well.

But now, if I think calmly, I have more power and strength than Oline.

It’s really foolish that I was killed by such a woman.

“Hehe, I have a generous heart, so if you apologize here, I’ll forgive you.”

“Apologize...?”

“Yes, a sincere apology to me. Do you understand what to do?”

I whisper this in Oline’s ear and take a step back.

Oline, with a pale face, trembles and looks around.

There are many nobles, including my followers, watching us.

“Come on, do it quickly. I can act on the insult to the Duke family if you don’t.”

“...!”

Oline, trembling, kneels down.

She places both hands on the floor, and then—.