Chapter – 18
“Is that all the evidence you have to accuse me of being this criminal?”
“The name and age range match, and even the appearance is similar. I couldn’t help but worry since it’s enough to raise suspicion among the public.”
Hearing his voice filled with feigned concern, I almost laughed to myself.
Now that I looked at him, Count Parreus was quite the actor.
‘And the audience would be everyone in this salon who is secretly listening.’
“I see. But as you know, my name is very common. Having the same age range also cannot be considered evidence.”
I continued speaking calmly.
Since I wasn’t showing any signs of panic, the count seemed more surprised instead.
“And… ah yes. You mentioned that my appearance matches? That’s fortunate. I can clear up your ‘concern’ right here.”
When I smiled brightly at him, he looked confused.
Everyone in the salon was listening, so I couldn’t be vague. I had to completely destroy his suspicion.
Which meant it was time to make a bold move.
Whew.
Letting out a small breath, I touched my hair.
‘This morning I thought it was nothing but a terrible disaster.’
Who knew it would help like this?
“Does anyone happen to have something sharp?”
When I looked around and asked, a lady handed me a paper knife with a bewildered expression.
I brought it to the end of my hair.
Snip.
A lock about the length of a finger joint fell away.
“Ah!”
“Gasp!”
Shocked sounds erupted from everywhere.
Even the count looked completely flustered by my sudden action.
“L-Lady Irene. What is the meaning of this… Huh?”
Soon his voice filled with confusion.
The hair that was no longer part of my body suddenly began changing color.
Into a cherry blossom pink.
“What is this…?”
The count’s lips trembled in shock.
Smiling brightly, I said:
“My brown hair isn’t my real color. My real color… is this pink.”
I showed him the cut strands.
The count still looked dumbfounded.
“N-No way…”
He stammered.
“You changed your hair color… with magic?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
When I answered cheerfully, he just stared blankly.
Of course he was surprised.
I had been just as shocked this morning.
After a moment he finally tried to recover.
“But that only makes things stranger. Why would you use such expensive transformation powder? Doesn’t that suggest you’re trying to hide your identity?”
Mm. As expected.
I smiled even more deeply.
He wasn’t wrong. I did have an identity I couldn’t reveal.
Which was exactly why I couldn’t show any openings.
Tilting my head slightly, I said:
“That’s because…”
As if demanding I continue, he lifted his chin.
I finished:
“I liked a pink dress.”
“…What?”
Clearly not the answer he expected, his voice cracked.
Acting as if I didn’t understand the problem, I continued:
“I’ve been really into pink lately, but my hair also happens to be pink.”
“T-That makes no—”
The count sputtered.
“You really think that makes sense? You used transformation powder for that reason?”
“Why wouldn’t it make sense? You can’t wear a pink dress with pink hair. You’d look like you were swallowed by the color pink.”
I spoke as if it were perfectly logical.
My strategy was simple: overwhelm the weak plausibility with shameless acting.
“What kind of—”
The count fumbled.
The bishop standing beside him nodded uncertainly.
“That does sound a bit strange.”
“Right? I’m glad you understand, Bishop. By the way, it was Sir Ian who suggested the idea while I was 고민ing.”
As I added that lie, the crowd began murmuring again.
“Sir Ian himself…?”
“He probably bought the transformation powder too.”
“He’s never been a spendthrift. He really must be deeply in love this time.”
“That’s absurd!”
The count raised his voice.
His weapon had become useless like a water-soaked gun, and he looked extremely shaken.
“I cannot believe this. Stop making excuses and tell the truth! What past are you hiding? If you confess now—”
“Who exactly do you think you’re pressuring right now?”
At that moment, a cold voice pierced the air.
When the count turned, his face froze like ice.
‘When did he arrive?’
Even I was startled by Ian’s sudden appearance. Though I didn’t show it.
“I-I-Ian, sir.”
“You seem very curious about my fiancée.”
Ian walked forward.
His blue eyes were cold enough to freeze.
The count tried to step back but was soon blocked by the terrace railing.
“If you had questions, you should have dealt with me. How dare you threaten her?”
Ian looked down at him like an insignificant insect.
At this moment, he wasn’t the righteous commander of the Holy Knights.
He was the son of the late emperor and the first heir to the throne.
“I-I didn’t mean—”
The count stammered.
Ian clearly terrified him.
Which was probably why he waited until Ian was absent to target me.
‘If you’re that scared, you shouldn’t have tried anything in the first place!’
He startled me for nothing.
I glared at him while organizing my thoughts.
A coward like him couldn’t be the mastermind.
‘Which means he’s just a pawn.’
Then who was the real culprit?
“I was only worried misunderstandings about Lady Irene might grow—”
“You call that an excuse?”
Ian then turned to me.
When our eyes met, I was the one startled this time.
He approached carefully and asked:
“Were you very frightened? Your complexion…”
My complexion?
I touched my cheek. It was probably the same as always.
But I spoke in a slightly trembling voice:
“I was… a little surprised.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left your side.”
“It isn’t your fault, Ian.”
“To think your complexion worsened like this…”
His gaze carefully examined me, full of concern.
Look at that expression.
I was secretly impressed.
He looked like a master of melodrama who had only acted in romance for a hundred years.
‘For someone who’s supposedly pure and inexperienced… not bad.’
A strange competitive spirit ignited.
As someone trained by countless romance novels and dramas, I couldn’t lose.
“Ian, you don’t look well either. You were worried because of me, right? Please don’t… it hurts my heart more.”
I even wanted to touch his cheek, but I didn’t have the courage to go that far.
“You really… always think of me first.”
Ian wasn’t easy either.
His gentle voice was so convincing it gave me chills.
I could feel everyone in the salon watching us.
This was the moment.
I scraped together every bit of nonexistent acting talent I had.
“Of course. The most important thing to me… is always you, Ian.”
I fluttered my eyelashes just like in dramas.
Maybe reenacting scenes with my friend Soyeon had actually helped.
Getting carried away, I even gently cupped one side of his face.
“So don’t worry about me. As long as I have you… I’m fine.”
“….”
Ian said nothing for a moment.
Since he didn’t respond, I felt slightly triumphant.
‘Looks like I won.’
Victory of a K-drama enthusiast.
After a few seconds, Ian spoke:
“Irene. Perhaps you should rest for today.”
“Shall I? I am a bit tired.”
I immediately accepted.
After spreading our fake love story thoroughly, today’s after-party had served its purpose.
As we left the terrace, Ian looked back at the count.
“You should think carefully about how you intend to apologize for this insult.”
The count froze like stone.
Ian didn’t spare him another glance as we left.
“Sorry for leaving early.”
Back in the salon, I apologized to the ladies.
They answered hurriedly:
“Not at all! Please go rest.”
“You really went through a lot today.”
“It was unfortunate how things ended.”
“We hope to see you again soon.”
Saint Cordelia also greeted me with her eyes.
After returning the greeting, I left with Ian.
“Phew.”
In the hallway back to my room, I sighed.
Ian spoke quietly:
“They moved sooner than expected.”
“But I handled it well.”
I said proudly.
Ian looked at me.
“Are you really alright?”
What, still acting worried?
I laughed.
“That count was such a beginner I wasn’t even scared. Once he got flustered he just kept digging his own grave.”
Even if Ian hadn’t appeared, Count Parreus would have collapsed on his own.
It felt like facing a level-1 enemy.
“By the way, everyone seems very curious about my past. Which makes sense.”
After thinking briefly, I looked up at him.
“Can I just tell them the truth? That I was a runaway slave?”
“Would that be alright?”
Ian asked again.
He seemed to mean whether I would truly be alright if that became known.
‘He’s being unusually considerate today.’
I scratched my nose awkwardly.
Getting consideration from someone who once threatened to kill me felt strange.
“I don’t really care. The question is you. Are you okay having a runaway slave as your fiancée?”
“I don’t care about your origins at all.”
Ian answered immediately.
“Whether you were a slave or royalty, you’re still a nuisance to me.”
“Yes, yes. My deepest apologies.”
I apologized without sincerity.
Ian stared at me.
Maybe that sounded too empty.
Then he said:
“However, if the truth comes out, there may be people who try to use it against you.”
I slowly nodded.
The Rehart Empire considered slavery primitive.
But even so, some would still look down on me if they knew.
“I have an idea.”
My ears perked up.
“What is it?”
After hearing his explanation, my eyes widened.
