[Johan's Loathing: 50] I knew it. There was only one emotion that made his voice sound like that. Jealousy toward another man. When she had played through the <Reverse Harem Route> in her past life, she had intentionally chosen every option that Johan hated. Through that, she had once managed to push his Loathing level to exactly 50. It was a voice that emerged when one could not fully trust the other person due to repeated disappointments, yet still harbored a lingering trac

[Johan] "All military personnel attending the ball today, report for assembly immediately." [Marco] "Hmm? Haha. What's gotten into His Highness? I'm not in the Navy, so I'm sure it'll be fine." As if hearing his idle chatter, a stern voice barked from the magical microphone. [Johan] "This applies to everyone, regardless of which branch you belong to. Anyone ranking lower than me—everyone, regardless of affiliation—assemble immediately." [Marco] "Haaah... What annoying timing.

She offered a smile toward the dark-complexioned potato of a man. [Odette] "Ah. Corporal Marco. I’ve heard your name before. It’s a pleasure to meet you." [Marco] "Haha! I’m sure you have. If you had feigned ignorance, My Lady, you would have witnessed quite a spectacle. I may not look it, but I have a very venomous side." Yes. I’m sure you do. You look exactly like a potato swollen with venom. She reached out with a friendly air and plucked a loose thread from the medal on C

All the romantic words Johan had prepared vanished, leaving his mind a total blank. His tongue felt heavy and useless in his mouth. In all his life, he had never felt this embarrassed in front of anyone. A pretty, remarkably small girl stood before him. In that moment, he forgot that he was a Transcendent and she was a Purifier. His throat went dry, and his breath hitched. She had teal eyes that reminded him of the sea and platinum-blonde hair as delicate as a butterfly's win

He asked her for her understanding, then took her hand and gently helped her up. [Gustav] "I apologize. It's my first time at the Imperial Palace, so I've lost my way. I was moving in such a rush that I committed a great discourtesy. I am deeply sorry." Only after supporting Paula did the man pick up his palace entry pass from the floor. A name was engraved clearly on the bronze-colored surface: [Viscount Gustav Köndel]. Her heart couldn't help but sink the moment she saw it

[Noble] "Would you be so kind as to write my name on your dance card, Lady Albrecht?" Under normal circumstances, Paula would have stepped in immediately to block him. Instead, she looked away, pretending to be distracted by something else. She wanted to see how Odette would react. She's definitely different lately. [Odette] "No. I refuse. A mere son of a Baron having the audacity to ask me for a dance? You clearly don't know your place." But she rejected the young man like a

[Lilienthal] "I apologize for the sudden intrusion. I was simply so impressed by the dress you are wearing today. A gown for high society that can be worn without a corset... I never imagined I would live to see such a thing at an official function." Just then, Sasha stepped between the Countess and Odette. [Sasha] "Countess Lilienthal, how have you been? Hahaha. My daughter actually finds it quite difficult to speak with others." Social etiquette dictated that a subordinate

[Servant] "I expected it to take a long time because the seeds for those rare herbs were so difficult to find, but the farmer we were supposed to trade with came early this morning and sold them to us." [Sasha] "This is driving me crazy! What kind of sudden disaster is this?" She clutched her throbbing head. What should I do? I haven't gotten a confession out of Mrs. Becker, let alone found any other evidence. Should she stay at the mansion? Absolutely not. If she missed toda

[Lize] "Milady! What should we do? Your feet are a mess!" She frantically grabbed the herbal ointment that happened to be in the corner of the dressing room. [Lize] "Thank goodness there's some ointment here! I'll apply it to the wounds right away, Milady!" However, Odette took two steps back to avoid Lize's hand, then snatched the flustered maid's wrist. [Odette] "No, Lize. You must not use that ointment." She whispered as quietly as possible. [Lize] "Why are you lowering yo

Thanks to her absence from the Countess radar, Odette had managed to lower Karls Loathing by another 30 points. Another advantage was that she could now attend the ball in a dress of her own choosing. In the small dressing room on the second floor, she stood before the mirror, wearing the dress Lize had made for her. [Lize] "Milady, are you sure this dress will be alright? Think back to last year's social season... ugh. Every dress was so flashy it made my eyes hurt." [Odette

Ten days had passed since Sasha had turned Mrs. Becker's room upside down in a fit of rage. The Count’s return was imminent, yet the Countess had still failed to find a single shred of evidence regarding the theft. She had scoured the entire mansion, desperate to identify the person who had sent the whistleblowing letter, but her efforts were clearly in vain. 'Is it even possible to find someone based on a single handwriting sample etched in a Mother’s memory?' On the day Sas

The last time she had checked, his Loathing level stood at 60. The urgent reason for her to return home had vanished for the moment. If she wanted to wring out his compassion and lower his Loathing level, now was the time. Just then, she felt a familiar pressure in her chest, as if her lungs were trying to expel something. [Odette] “Cough! Cough!” As expected, a violent fit of coughing erupted. Her right hand, which she used to cover her mouth, was quickly drenched in crimson

She was startled. The gallows? Me? Why would she be sentenced to the gallows? And why was the Crown Prince so furious? Is it because I refused to dance with him? Or because I avoided him every time he tried to speak to me? Was her father’s claim about saving her life somehow connected to the gallows? Or did it involve the murder her brother had committed in the past? Was that execution being reinstated? She knew nothing. Despite the chaos swirling inside her, she had no choic

[Odette] "Vi... Viktor." He stared at the woman before him, her sudden coughing of blood a sight so foreign it felt surreal. Why her? Why is she... like this? Her mouth and hands were stained crimson. Her face, usually so composed, had turned ghostly pale in an instant. Her eyes were those of a lost child, wide with a terror that no one could mistake. Is it even possible for her to look like that? He struggled to process the scene. To him, Odette had always been an insufferab

[Viktor] "What a relief, honey. I thought I was going to miss a masterpiece. I only get to see you die once, after all." The words made her skin crawl. How could someone say something so wretched with such sincerity? He was an insufferable bastard. What kind of curse is on me today? Why do I have to deal with this guy on top of everything else? [Odette] "Let's not meet a second time. Never step foot in my territory again." She recalled the words he had once spat at her. Yet,