I Abandoned the Male Lead Who Cheated with the Villainess - Chapter 63
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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In the aftermath of the disastrous birthday banquet of the Crown Prince, Ivonne remained the only one seemingly unscathed. Yet, her mind was as turbulent as the rest. She was haunted repeatedly by the words Herix had muttered under his breath:
—You know I wouldn’t do anything you didn’t command me to.
A voice filled with affection, a tone gentle and guiding. Yet bearing a bizarre message — that was the true nature of the vile curse Herix whispered to Ivonne.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
“Ahem.”
“Cough.”
“Well, um…”
After Herix had departed and some time had passed, the nobles began to clear their throats, attempting to regain their composure. Those who had sat down in dismay started looking around and getting up, as though they had just survived a catastrophe.
The banquet was crowded with many attendees, including servants and maids of common birth.
Displaying such a disgraceful scene in front of them was evidently mortifying for the nobility, especially after witnessing the Emperor being completely powerless against the Crown Prince, showcasing a stark collapse in dignity.
As the nobles were busy saving face, those working in the palace or of common heritage discreetly began to leave.
“I need a smoke.”
“Perhaps some fresh air would do good.”
“I should touch up my makeup.”
Among those slipping away was Ivonne. She had wanted to head to the powder room, but as someone who had received the Crown Prince’s ‘singular kindness’ in front of everyone. Not to mention an extraordinary promotion by the Emperor’s decree, she knew she’d likely be bombarded with questions.
“Surely they will want to ask this and that.”
Although the Crown Prince had instructed to enjoy the banquet ‘as intended,’ which would likely deter overtly aggressive questions, one could never be too certain. For instance, Larissa seemed to be eyeing her like a hyena already.
Yet, Ivonne herself had nothing to offer in response, her mind already overwhelmed with thoughts of Herix.
‘I need some time alone to sort out my thoughts.’
Thus, Ivonne made her way to the terrace she had resolved not to visit alone again due to the earlier incident.
The sticky gazes of others clinging to her back were uncomfortable enough that she didn’t have the luxury to be cautious about the terrace.
‘Thank goodness, it’s empty.’
Ivonne carefully drew the curtains before walking towards the railing. The palace garden was tranquil, with the occasional breeze carrying the scent of fresh flowers. The chaos from moments before felt like an illusion, and just as Ivonne was about to lean on the railing, she flinched.
“Ouch.”
In the turmoil, she hadn’t noticed the pain, but now the arm grabbed by the attacker earlier started to ache. Pulling down her glove revealed a bruise in the shape of a handprint.
“Should I seek compensation now that I have a status…?”
Disappointment outweighed her expectation as she muttered. She had planned to secure an account at the end of her service as a palace maid and then retire.
“But being the Master of the Southern Magic Tower means I’ll have to work in the Archwizard’s Tower. There’s no such thing as retirement.”
Becoming a tower master meant her dream of a peaceful solitary life would be far out of reach.
She would have to constantly research and enhance magic for the strength of the nation. She might even be required to attend meetings held by the Emperor as a representative of the Empire’s wizards. Moreover, according to the original story, 90% of the tower masters’ deaths were due to overwork.
To think that even knowing the original story inside out, she’d end up with an ending of dying from overwork!
“Ha… Isn’t there any way out of this? Should I have just refused right away?”
Forced to study a subject she didn’t want and heading straight down the path to overworked death, she thought it might have been better to continue her life as a palace maid, akin to a civil servant.
But no matter how hard she wracked her brain, she couldn’t come up with a way to defy the ‘imperial command’.
Ivonne squinted her eyes and aimlessly stared at the garden full of blooming summer roses, her mind once again taken over by thoughts of the Crown Prince, Herix.
The perplexing kindness from Herix, which she had completely forgotten about due to Rix, and the events that just occurred.
‘What on earth does that mean? How could I, a commoner, ever command the Crown Prince? And why is he being nice to me only?’
In the original story, there wasn’t much of a contact between the Crown Prince and Ivonne. If anything, it was the Crown Prince’s initiative towards the end, ‘Legalization of Marriages Between Nobility and Commoners,’ that allowed Ivonne and Blitzen to marry safely.
“But that’s the original story, not now…”
The more she thought about it, the more incomprehensible it became. Ivonne groaned and pressed her forehead when suddenly,
“This place is boring, isn’t it?”
A familiar warmth and scent enveloped her as a jacket was casually draped over her shoulders.
“Shall we go out?”
Such a clichéd move, yet Ivonne couldn’t help but smile. Turning to her side, she saw a man seated on the terrace railing, looking down at her tenderly.
“Rix!”
It was her peculiar neighbor and work-successor, Rix.
Though the artificial and brilliant light from the banquet hall reflected off his glasses, Ivonne could clearly see his violet eyes. Despite his usual expressionless face, he seemed remarkably tender. Perhaps it was the more so after confronting the Crown Prince’s chilling side.
