Apparently, I’m a Poisonous Woman Who Sells One-Night Dreams, but I Ended Up Awakening a Hero’s Devoted Love - Chapter 2.10

After finishing their dance, the two exchanged glances and smiled wryly at each other before stopping a nearby server to take glasses of wine.

“We were being watched quite intensely.”

“Indeed. They probably never expected the ‘Devil’s Star’ to dance with his fiancée.”

Ignoring the furtive glances directed their way, Mariadoll looked around for Melfi and quickly spotted her standing alone, looking just as uncomfortable under the collective gaze.

Bringing guards to the evening party could be interpreted as suspicion toward the Cortaus Kingdom, so the knight escorts were waiting outside the hall doors. Perhaps because of this, Melfi appeared somewhat forlorn, her brow slightly furrowed, prompting the two to hurry over to her.

“Princess Melfi, are you alone? Where is Crown Prince Leonidas?”

“He said he had matters to discuss with another noble… um, a marquis, I believe. He’s over there.”

Following Melfi’s gaze in response to Jerf’s question, they saw Leonidas surrounded by a portly man and a tall man.

“And he left you alone, Princess Melfi?”

Jerf’s brow furrowed at the thought of leaving her in a place where she knew no one—or rather, where everyone around her was potentially hostile—but Melfi shook her head slightly.

“No, Crown Prince Leonidas assigned one of his aides to accompany me as a guard as well. His name is Halmen. I heard he also served as a guard for the king, who is currently bedridden due to illness.”

The knight standing about two meters away stepped forward when his name was called. With neatly tied-back brown hair reaching his shoulders and slightly drooping hazel eyes, he had the appearance of a gentle man. Placing a hand over his chest, he bowed to Jerf and Mariadoll.

“My name is Halmen Ramirez. I am the fourth son of Viscount Ramirez and have been ordered by Crown Prince Leonidas to guard Princess Melfi.”

“I see. We know very little about this country, so we’ll rely on you. To have served as the king’s guard at such a young age, you must be quite capable.”

“Even as a guard knight, I am but a low-ranking one. I am nowhere near the feet of Lord Jerf, who is praised as the hero of Dunbargas.”

Though his smiling face seemed likable enough, Mariadoll felt an inexplicable prickling sensation.

(He seems like a good person, yet I can’t let my guard down. His well-proportioned, sweet face probably appeals to women, but the fact that he seems aware of it might be why I feel this way.)

She glanced at Jerf to see what he thought, but his nonchalant expression gave nothing away. He’s the type to hide his true feelings too, Mariadoll grumbled inwardly.

“Might we be permitted to greet Princess Melfi?”

Suddenly addressed by the young ladies, Mariadoll blinked in surprise, but Joseph quickly came to her rescue.

“Princess Melfi, what would you prefer?”

“Of course, it’s fine. I’d love to learn more about the Cortaus Kingdom.”

Saying this, Melfi smiled warmly at the three young ladies who had approached.

(Oh, I see. It’s considered improper for lower-ranking nobles to address me directly, so they asked for permission first. I had no idea.)

She reflected on how her usual absence from evening parties was now holding her back. Not that she planned to attend more often in the future.

The young ladies who had spoken seemed to be a marquis’s daughter and countesses, and the conversation appeared amiable on the surface. But…

“The attire from Dunbargas is truly exquisite. In Cortaus, logistics have been sluggish for the past three years.”

“But my brother said that once the roads Dunbargas ordered to be built are completed, beautiful fabrics should circulate in Cortaus as well.”

“Speaking of which, your brother has been away from the capital for years working on road construction, hasn’t he? It’s so sad that he can’t even properly see the face of his newborn child.”

Subtle, needle-like remarks criticizing Dunbargas were interspersed throughout.

It was true that Dunbargas, as the victor, had access to luxurious goods, and it was also true that they had ordered the roads built. Yet, the malice hidden behind their smiles sent a chill down her spine.

Moreover, because the conversation seemed so polite on the surface, it was difficult to make any statements that would openly defend Melfi.

Mariadoll wanted to join the conversation and help, but her status was only that of a baron. Even as Jerf’s fiancée, it would be improper for someone of baronial rank to interrupt a conversation among high-ranking nobles, and Jerf couldn’t intrude on the young ladies’ discussion either.

As she wondered what to do, one of the young ladies stopped a server and accepted a glass of wine.

Smiling sweetly, she offered it to Princess Melfi. Jerf’s eyes flashed with caution for a moment, but Melfi shook her head slightly and reached for the wineglass.

Just then.

“I’m so sorry!”

With the clatter of the wineglass shattering on the floor, one of the young ladies bowed deeply.

All eyes turned to see what had happened. A small wine stain had formed on Melfi’s dress, and her white glove, which she must have used to try and catch the glass, was now dyed a deep red.

“Um… it wasn’t on purpose.”

“Apologies, Princess Melfi. She must have been nervous and caused this. You must hand things over properly, or we’ll all be punished by Dunbargas!”

“Your glove is stained red, like blood. Are you injured?”

Whoa! Mariadoll screamed inwardly.

(That was absolutely intentional.)

Not only were the remarks implying Dunbargas was a tyrannical country, but the last young lady’s comment seemed to subtly hint at bloodstained gloves—suggesting hands that had killed.

Feeling as though she had witnessed something unpleasant, Mariadoll knelt at Melfi’s feet and took out a handkerchief.

“I’m fine, no injuries. Please don’t worry. As for the dress… Mariadoll, what do you think?”

“Yes, only a little wine got on it. I think it will be fine if we wipe it with a handkerchief. I’m relieved the dress Crown Prince Leonidas gifted you is unharmed.”

At Mariadoll’s words, she sensed the three young ladies behind her gasp. It seemed they had only just realized what they had done.

(They probably thought it was a dress Princess Melfi brought with her.)

Mariadoll had attended the daytime tea party as a maid. During several tea sessions onboard, Melfi, who had grown to trust Mariadoll, asked her to accompany her out of loneliness. It was there that Mariadoll overheard the conversation about gifting the dress.

Though Melfi’s personal maid handled her daily needs and Mariadoll hadn’t helped her dress, it was easy to guess that the dress she wore tonight was the one discussed then.

Watching the three young ladies hastily depart, Mariadoll looked up at Melfi with concern.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, I expected something like this. But what about the glove?”

“Please use mine.”

“But then you’ll be in trouble, Mariadoll. It’s improper to attend an evening party without gloves.”

“Don’t worry, I brought a spare. I’ll go get it. The detached palace is within walking distance, so I’ll be right back. Lord Jerf, please escort Princess Melfi in the meantime.”

“Understood. But are you sure you’ll be fine alone? Warren is probably outside the doors.”

She had seen the red-haired knight who helped her at the mountain cabin numerous times onboard. In fact, whenever their eyes met, he would initiate conversation.

“I wouldn’t want to disturb him while he’s on duty. I’ll be fine.”

Handing her glove to Melfi, Mariadoll left, flashing a sweet but intimidating smile at Halmen, who had been standing idly by.

Watching her go, Melfi smiled meaningfully.

“She’s wonderful. Strong-willed and dependable, yet kind. Talking with her onboard made me want to become even closer friends.”

“Yes, she is my proud fiancée. Please be good to her until she becomes my wife. However, I wish Crown Prince Leonidas would pay a bit more attention to you, Princess Melfi. His peaceful mindset is admirable, but his focus seems entirely on politics.”

“There’s no helping it. He’s only eighteen, after all. He must also be building a foundation as a ruler.”

“That’s why I said the marriage is too soon.”

Engagements to strengthen ties between nations were common, and Leonidas wasn’t a bad person by nature. Still, Jerf believed timing was crucial in all things, though he swallowed those words unspoken.