I was possessed by the villain’s daughter.

EPISODE 11

Being chosen for a first dance is a great honor. Especially when it was a member of the imperial family.

I had declared that I would take my first dance with Eddie, no matter what.

I knew the old Laila was obsessed with the First Prince.

I knew that I used to chase away any young lady who approached him. Of course, it was most likely because of the Lupe clan, but the young ladies who knew of my attitude were surprised.

“I’m looking forward to dancing with the First Prince, but as a noble, I can’t break the promise I made to my brother, right? Of course, I’m also looking forward to dancing with my wonderful brothers.”

The younger children’s eyes fill with envy, and I can understand their feelings.

In their eyes, I must have looked like a chosen princess: two handsome, fairytale-like brothers, a father who was still handsome, capable, and caring as he aged, and the wealth and power of Roshahill.

“You would turn down a first dance with the First Prince?”

Lupe spoke up.

I was taken aback for a moment. Her eyes were shaped as if they could pierce me. Frightening. I held my tongue for a moment, then answered.

“Yes.”

Lupe’s eyes widened and she stared at me for a long moment.

“…I’m surprised. Weren’t you once so eager for your first dance or meeting with the First Prince?”

“People’s hearts change.”

I feigned ignorance.

“Perhaps Young Lady Lupe would like to have a first dance with the First Prince?”

Lupe’s face flushed for a moment. It was an odd situation, neither to say yes nor no.

“You’ve never had the chance to ask me, and I’ve never been asked.

Realizing the implication of my words, Lupe looked at me through clenched teeth. Her flushed face seemed to be on fire. The other youngsters didn’t say anything, just looked at each other.

“What, is this enough?

I looked at them and decided to call it a day. I still didn’t like the look in Lupe’s eyes, but she’s a kid. I felt a twinge of conscience to continue bullying her.

“I’ll cheer you on if you do.”

I smiled breezily. The gang looked at me in surprise at my response.

Here’s what happened next. Lupe, who had been huffing and puffing in frustration, had picked someone else to take out her frustration on.

“Now that I think about it, you used to be the First Prince’s escort, right?”

“…?”

Lupe forcibly dragged Serenity, who was chatting with the other Elders, over. She was dragged over with a puzzled look on her face, but her expression changed when she saw me.

“Ah, hello, Princess….”

I couldn’t help but frown subtly at the sight. From what I could tell, Lupe had manipulated the old Lila into harassing the young ladies who were in league with the First Prince, among them Serene, and it was clear she was trying to warn me, not realizing I had lost my memory.

It was no use trying to get out now.

I think that’s what she meant.

But unlike the old Laila, the current me felt no remorse, no ill will toward Serene Youngae.

“Hello. Serene Youngae.”

I smiled broadly at her at first. Her face, which had been filled with anxiety, relaxed a little. Whether it did or not, Lupe spoke quickly to her.

“Princess Cern. You do know that the First Prince will be attending this banquet, right? I’m sure you’ll be happy, Young Lady Cern, it’s a chance to see him again.”

“What? That, that….”

“You don’t have to hide it, do you? It’s between us.”

Lupe pushed her away. Serene’s eyes flickered, unsure.

“I remember how happy you were the last time you were escorted by the First Prince, so you have feelings for him too, don’t you?”

“I’m jealous, Serene Youngae is… I wish I could be escorted by him too. How did he feel?”

The gang, who had been torn between me and Lupe, decided it was the right time and joined Lupe in chasing after Serene Youngae. It was like a pack of hyenas preying on a weaker animal.

The poor girl was flushed and trembling violently. She looked like she was going to burst into tears at any moment.

It was just Lupe, the gang, and me, and there was no one else to help her.

I mean, no one,

except me.

I opened my mouth to speak.

“Stop.”

At the sound of my firm voice, they shut up.

The elder Youngling didn’t know what to do.

Lupe and her gang were only a few teenagers, but their behavior was cruel, herding one person into a crowd.

I spoke in a quick tone.

“You didn’t choose to be the First Prince’s escort of your own free will, you were chosen by the First Prince, don’t you think, young miss Cern?”

“What? Yes… Ma, that’s right.”

“And please stop prying into Young Ae’s mind, isn’t it very rude to pry into someone’s mind like that?”

My calm but stern words made Young-ae look as if she’d been prying for a decade. But Lupe’s expression was even more distorted. She said to me

“…You don’t mind that Serenity is being escorted by the First Prince?”

I nodded obediently.

As for why she was bothering me, I could only pretend. For one thing, she looked timid, and for another, she was being escorted by the First Prince,

and she was very, very, very, very pretty.

Navy blue hair the color of the night sky, amethyst eyes that looked like they were set with jewels, fair skin, and an air of unnecessary pride that was not lost on the younger lords. Her innocent appearance was enough to make anyone look back.

Besides, she was a countess. Lupe was a marquise. The inferiority complex of not being chosen by the prince, despite her higher rank, must have played heavily on Lupe’s mind.

When she saw me nod, she looked at me in disbelief, her eyes as wide with disbelief as they had been earlier when I told her I would refuse the first dance with the First Prince.

“Well, I see.”

The other young lady spoke up.

“Now that I think about it, we were rude to you, Lupe.”

“You’re right, Lupe, and I think you owe Cern an apology as well.”

“How is it that you are so considerate, Princess, I wish I could emulate you?”

“You’re amazing.”

“….”

Lupe was speechless. The atmosphere had completely changed. Now Lupe was in the minority, and everyone else was subtly sticking their tails out and forcing her to apologize. No one was helping her. It was a moment that revealed her lack of trust.

In the end, Lupe didn’t last long in the atmosphere.

“…I was so careless, my dear Sern.”

“…!”

Lupe’s eyes widened in disbelief at Cerne’s apology. She opened her mouth in surprise.

“It’s okay, Lupe, it’s okay.”

“…Thank you for your understanding, Cerne.”

I smiled broadly at the mutually reconciling atmosphere. When she finished speaking with Lupe, Serene turned to me, stammering.

“Princess… thank you as well.”

She looked at me as if she could see right through me.

Her eyes sparkled and her cheeks were flushed. She looked so different from when she first saw me earlier. Perhaps she was grateful that I had taken her side. She stared at me for a long time.

I just smiled and looked at Lupe.

I wondered if Lupe was feeling a little remorseful now.

I thought to myself.

But…,

‘…Wow…!’

Lupe’s bowed face was contorted terrifyingly. The other Young Ones remained silent, scanning the atmosphere.

After a while, Lupe quietly raised her head and opened her mouth.

“Ms. Laila. Thank you for teaching me my inexperience.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I’m afraid my respect for the First Emperor has gone too far, and I’m reflecting on it.”

Her face didn’t look remorseful at all. As I scratched my head, Lupe continued.

“I agree with you very much, Lila,” she said, “so if you could just tell me one thing, I’d like to say that embarrassment… belongs to everyone.”

I shook my head. The room had gone silent.

I felt a little nervous. But…,

“It’s not that hard.

Does he think I’ve been bluffing all this time, deliberately rejecting the First Emperor?

I opened my mouth without much thought.

“Of course, the First Prince is everyone’s prince, no one else’s.”

Just when I thought my surroundings had become even more silent. The chamber music had stopped playing, and I turned my head in a moment of strangeness.

It was then.

“Right.”

And there he was.

Vivid blonde hair and golden eyes that looked like they’d been painted with a thick coat of golden paint. My mouth dropped open in disbelief.

When was this?

He entered.

“I take it as a compliment. You are a fair prince.”

His tone was jovial, but his eyes were cold.

1 This was the appearance of Prince Altheo Ulysses.

“Your Highness.”

I lifted the hem of my robe lightly and bowed. He spoke as I finished my brief greeting.

“Happy birthday. Your Royal Highness.”

“Thank you.”

I looked up into his face.

1 After seeing the emperor in person, I could understand why Lloyd said of him, “He seems ambitious. And he was.

There was determination in his brisk movements as he walked toward me, and confidence oozing from his searing golden eyes.

The pretense of being friendly and gentle was akin to the way a lion lowers itself before hunting another creature. I swallowed hard.

Why?

Even if he was an ambitious man, it wasn’t as if I had any right to be so afraid of him.

Strangely, I was afraid of the First Emperor.

I could feel my body trembling slightly.