Living Up to Your Expectations - Chapter 36

Amidst the rising cheers, Lady Beth, who had been looking down with bitterness seeping through, suddenly lifted her head and cried out.

Her moist eyes pierced straight through me.

“That necklace and the position of Spirit Princess both belong to me! How dare you try to take what’s someone else’s. Give it back!”

As Lady Beth raised her voice, she grabbed my arm without hesitation. Her eyes were moist, her lips trembling, holding back tears that seemed ready to spill over at any moment.

Ah, she’s truly angry. No, perhaps she’s more frightened than angry.

But—

“You were trying to take something from me too, weren’t you?”

I didn’t specify what.

Several gazes gathered around us, and everyone gasped softly.

“Why couldn’t you just stay quietly as the ‘villainess’? —This is all your fault!!”

Lady Beth’s cry sent ripples through the entire venue. Her embroidered bonnet swayed, and the sparkling chandeliers on the ceiling flickered.

The royal guards nearby swiftly stepped forward. Their metal fittings clinked, and the sound of their boots scraping against the floor echoed lowly.

They pulled Lady Beth away, but she still desperately reached out, trying by any means to keep touching me.

Like desperately trying to grasp something precious being swept away by the wind. At that distance where her fingertips seemed almost within reach, Beth’s eyes followed me.

“Let me go!”

With that cry, Lady Beth was escorted out of the venue by the royal guards, leaving me with complicated feelings.

It was then.

“Hey hey, Feli. Are you in some kind of trouble~?”

With a twirl, light danced, and a spirit with fluffy hair swaying flower ornaments appeared as if perching on my shoulder.

“Oh, it’s you, Milly.”

“That’s right. I’m Milly. I’m glad you noticed! You look troubled, what’s wrong?”

Such a light, airy voice.

Behind her, with little pitter-patter wingbeats, small spirits appeared one after another with soft pops.

“I’m fine. Thank you.”

The spirits’ light tone somehow eased my indescribably complicated feelings.

Then suddenly, a question that rose in my heart came spilling out of my mouth.

“That’s right. Hey? They say I’m the villainess, but is it really alright for me to be the ‘Spirit Princess’?”

At this, the spirits all made faces simultaneously.

“Eh—what’s that? Who said you were ‘evil’~?”

“I know! That person and that person!”

The spirits puffed out their cheeks and pointed sharply.

“I know too!”

Another spirit raised its hand and pointed firmly into the air.

“This one and that one and… ah, the one who just hid too!”

“How annoying~!”

Watching them hop up and down while getting seriously angry with their tiny bodies, I couldn’t help but relax my expression.

Their anger was fluffy like stuffed toys, yet somehow serious; an adorable way of being angry.

“Feli, should we get revenge?”

“Like a sparkle attack?”

“We also have the slippery floor strategy!”

“How about making flowers bloom on their heads?”

Twirling through the air, the spirits excitedly suggested one prank idea after another, their eyes shining.

At their free imagination and brightness, I let out a soft smile and gently narrowed my eyes.

“Thank you. But I’m fine for now.”

“Really~?”

“We could do just a little bit, quick and easy~?”

“Yes. The royal family and my father are already taking action. I don’t know how far the spirits’ ‘revenge’ might go. If it were to head in the wrong direction, it wouldn’t be good for you all either.”

When I quietly told them this, the spirits opened their mouths in surprise for a moment, then—

“Hmm… a cautious type!”

“I like that about you!”

Compliments came flying one after another.

“Hehe. Thank you. Just having you here truly gives me strength.”

Then the spirits laughed with cheerful “kyaa” sounds as they twirled up high into the sky.

“Do your best with the dancing~!”

Their fading voices rang lightly, like the sound of bells.

Holding that lingering echo in my heart, I let out a soft sigh.

“My plans have been disrupted, but next is… the dance, isn’t it?”

To no one in particular, yet as if to calm myself, I murmured quietly.

At that moment—

“That’s right. Well then, Feli, shall we go?”

A familiar voice, though it felt slightly different today. When I turned, Lord Lucius was smiling and quietly extending his hand.

I gently placed my fingers over his. The surrounding murmuring softly faded into the distance.

Side by side, we walked toward the center of the ballroom.

Ahead was the center stage where everyone’s gazes were concentrated.

The stone hall had fallen silent as if forgetting to breathe. I could feel the nobles’ eyes focused directly on us. Yet strangely, I wasn’t afraid. Rather, being beside him gave me a core of strength.

With each step, the hem of my dress swayed like waves, softly catching the chandelier’s light.

Lord Lucius’s pace matched mine perfectly.

When the music began and he gently took my hand, I quietly asked.

“Hehe, you seem happy, Lord Lucius.”

He smiled somewhat shyly.

“Ah. I know full well that difficult times await you from now on. But whether as my fiancée or as the Spirit Princess, you being Feli. That makes me happy.”

His eyes looked straight at me. Within that gaze was unmistakable affection.

“Yes. Everyone is giving us their blessings.”