KFBRV Ch 107
- Mar 9
- 6 min read
[Rumors about the 'Vicious Villainess' are spreading.]
[The number of people who agree with the 'Vicious Villainess' reputation has increased. (32 → 35)]
[Source of Rumor: Doly]
It wasn't even dawn yet, but Doly was already awake.
Odette pushed herself up, determined to return before Doly arrived at her room.
She confirmed that Karl appeared to be sleeping before slipping out of the infirmary.
In her haste to return, she missed the dark smile that curled on Karl's lips. She also failed to notice the shattered glass he had hidden beneath his bed.
The fourth day on Athena Island broke.
Excited by the event scheduled for today, Doly rushed to Odette's room as soon as morning came.
[Doly] "Mrs. Becker? I'm here now, so let's switch."
[Becker] "Okay. I was tired, so this is perfect."
[Doly] "Nothing happened, right?"
[Becker] "The Lady slept the whole time. Of course, nothing happened."
After dozing off yesterday, Mrs. Becker had woken with a start. Consequently, she had kept her eyes wide open, guarding Odette with nervous vigilance all night.
What could have happened? She was asleep before I dozed off, and she was asleep when I woke up.
Doly smiled at Mrs. Becker's assurance.
[Doly] "Mrs. Becker, I'll take over the Lady's surveillance until late tonight."
[Becker] "Huh? Why? It'll be hard for you if we don't switch halfway."
[Doly] "I feel exceptionally good today. You should get some rest."
[Becker] "Oh my. Are you sure?"
It was welcome news. She had been feeling chilly and suffering from indigestion over the past few days, likely from the stress of monitoring Odette.
[Doly] "Of course. I'll handle the Lady for the rest of the day."
I fought off sleep and cut my rest short just to spread rumors about the Lady for today!
She sneered inwardly at the sleeping Odette. Sleeping peacefully, completely oblivious. Unaware of the colossal humiliation awaiting her today.
[▶ Ignorant, Empty-headed Lady (18 people)]
[Rumors about the 'Ignorant, Empty-headed Lady' are spreading.]
[The number of people who agree with the 'Ignorant, Empty-headed Lady' reputation has increased. (18 → 23)]
[Source of Rumor: Doly]
How can she be so diligent only with her mouth?
Odette scoffed at the notification window flashing the moment she opened her eyes.
Seeing Doly obsessively spreading rumors about an ignorant lady, it was clear she had chosen the event Odette expected.
The 'Athena Island Salon.'
It's quite elegant for Doly. Compared to the horrific ways she tormented me in my past life.
According to the schedule, the salon would be held today. Thanks to that, Odette had been able to sleep and rest comfortably in her room until yesterday.
And thanks to being separated from Father and Ferdinand, I could even eat my fill.
The milk, bread, and vegetables on this island were exceptionally delicious. The scenic view only enhanced her appetite.
At that moment, Doly spoke to her.
[Doly] "Are you awake, My Lady? I will be attending to you all day today."
Without the annoying Mrs. Becker around, she was pleased. However, she put on a reluctant expression. Doly's face brightened even more at the sight.
[Doly] "I plan to take you for a walk today. Get up quickly. I'll call the palace maids to dress you."
She pulled the bell cord. As if she had instructed the maids beforehand, they poured scented oil and began massaging Odette without a word. The bathing, makeup, and dressing followed. They even curled her hair beautifully with heated irons.
Odette watched Doly's reflection in the mirror, deep in thought.
She knows her head would roll if Father found out she caused such a major incident.
Seeing that confident expression, she must have prepared a method to keep this from her father's ears.
How grateful. Finding the method for me.
Her lips curled upward. If it didn't reach her father's ears, it meant she gained the freedom to act as she pleased.
But a salon.......
Such elegant revenge wouldn't satisfy her.
You should act more like yourself. More basely.
Only then could she return the favor without a shred of guilt.
Thinking this, she enjoyed Doly's touch.
The Imperial family and high-ranking nobles were required to tour the island throughout the week, excluding the first day's hunting competition.
Imagine the show politicians put on during election season.
Making comments like "The cream is incredible," "The garden is beautiful," or "This house's milk is amazing" to evoke touched reactions like, "Oh my, such noble people eating common food!"
Even though Athena Island was the furthest point from the capital, it was a performance designed to make the Emperor feel close to the people.
However, during that time, other nobles enjoyed free time, except for the fourth day, when the 'Athena Island Salon' was held.
The salon culture was highly developed in the Barzeha Empire. It was a space where sensitive topics like politics, economics, international affairs, and theology could be discussed freely.
The host of the salon could decide the topic and the format—whether it would be a presentation, exhibition, literary gathering, or tea party.
Among Barzeha's salons, the Athena Island Salon was famous for identifying the young intellectuals who would lead the future of the Empire.
Unlike other salons hosted by elderly gentlemen or noblewomen, the Athena Island Salon was hosted by minor nobles around the age of twenty.
Thus, hosting this salon or making a notable statement there often led to being spotlighted as a rising star in society and the future of Barzeha.
That was why Doly chose the 'Salon.' She felt it was the perfect place to humiliate Odette. A place where Odette's ignorance would shine.
The Count is famous and popular with the commoners, so he'll be touring Athena Island with the Emperor.
Ferdinand had drunk himself into a stupor the night before, so he would undoubtedly sleep through the salon.
The Count had naturally ordered that Odette not be allowed out, but Doly didn't want to obey.
I have to pay her back for the humiliation in the conservatory!
How much effort had she put into this?
She had searched for the noblewoman who hated Odette the most and held power. And very luckily, this year's host of the Athena Island Salon fit that criteria.
Karin Annette von Brentano, daughter of the Duke.
As the most cultured and knowledgeable minor noble of this generation, she had been selected as this year's host.
As soon as she confirmed this, she contacted Lady Brentano's maid.
Did you think you could just move on comfortably after humiliating me, My Lady?
She didn't hate Odette because of her master's orders. Even without that, she had long despised her for pretending to be a noble when she wasn't even born one.
The fact that adoption was a legal procedure recognized by the Empire didn't matter to her. Only the fact that the girl's starting point was an orphanage mattered.
I could understand if she were born differently from me from the start, but for someone born lower than me to receive better treatment?
She found it unbearable. She considered it unjust.
Her anger was directed not at the Empire that recognized adoption laws, nor at the noble who chose adoption, but at Odette. A girl who became a noble through illegitimate means.
It was easier to be angry at the weak than the strong.
[Doly] "My Lady, you are ready to go out. You can go for your walk now."
Pretending to guide her on a walk, she dragged Odette toward the salon.
Let's see that illiterate fool suffer a massive humiliation.
International affairs, economics—how could she know such things? It would be a relief if she didn't mistake the salon for a place to eat.
[Odette] "Doly, where is this?"
She called out in front of the 'Hall of Wisdom' where the salon was held, but Doly ignored her and gave her name to the gatekeeper. She had already placed Odette's name on the attendee list.
The doors to the Hall of Wisdom opened. The high ceiling and the beautiful fresco adorning it overwhelmed visitors with their elegance. Tables and sofas were scattered throughout, reminiscent of a coffeehouse.
The gazes of the nobles, who had been participating in their chosen topics, instantly fixed on Odette, on the flower of society, who never attended such gatherings.
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