When My Enemies Began to Regret

“I never thought the round wind would come like this…”

“What did Lady just say?”

The next afternoon, Fanora looked tired as soon as she returned to her room after lunch. It was because when she opened the door, the first thing she saw was invitations piled up like a tower on her small desk.

“The child who carried this must have died.”

“Lady Fanora! Here’s a letter from the Jalier family—”

“Ah, that’s fortunate you’re still alive.”

When the door opened again, a new letter was delivered. Fampra tapped the shoulder of the servant who brought it and looked at him pitifully. The young servant looked surprised at the warm treatment.

“When will I finish this?”

When the servant closed the door and disappeared, she waved the letter from Aloken in her hand and sat at the desk.  

“Cecil, this knife has become too blunt. Please sharpen it and bring it back to me.”

“Yes, Lady.”

By the way, in her previous life, did she even get a single letter after her debutante? The way they changed their behavior towards her made her want to laugh. The Duke’s fiancée, the goddaughter of dignified Madam, what’s with all those facades? The person sitting at this desk was a murderer who could even be immediately dragged to prison.  

“Well, I’m the same as them.”

As Cecil left the room, Fanora picked out the letter with a sneer around her mouth. There was only one criteria for me choosing the invitations. Whether it would help her approach Vasago or not? Judging that way, half of the letters piled up like a tower were thrown on the floor, and this time, half of them burned when she picked out which of them was the one more helpful. In the process, Aloken’s letter also went to the fire pit.

“Then, first of all, the first thing to do in society is…”

All that was left were letters enough for me to hold them all with one hand. Cecil, who had been on her errand, brought in a letter knife, and Fanora opened the letter skillfully.

“Cecil, do you have free time on the second day of next week?”

“Pardon? Yes. I have no plans to take a vacation.”

“Come with me to Baroness Bourbon’s party.”

Cecil nodded to this, and the schedule was confirmed.

Perhaps because Fanora got used to overwork after regression, she moved her hands without a break when the first party appointment was scheduled. After opening all the remaining letters and writing a reply expressing my intention to participate, it was already sunset.

* * *

The first week after her debutante has passed.

“The schedule for this month is already full.”

After entering the society, she chose Vasago Guelder, the novel’s protagonist, as her revenge next target.. A criminal like Fanora needed to work hard as high as she set her ideal high. 

Then, it was already midnight on the first day of the week. 

“10 seconds…9 seconds…8 seconds…”

Fanora had been holding back her sleep to look at the pages of a midnight novel, despite having an appointment tomorrow. And a few seconds later, the long-awaited text appeared in the air. She skimmed through the words that appeared and stopped looking at one part.

<Haures: So how was it? Did you spend time alone with the princess?

Naverius: Of course! Besides, how close and kindly she treated me. Especially considering that she even prepared her family’s carriage when I returned. It’s clear she has a crush on me too.

Haures: Eii, but you already have a partner.

Naverius: Are you crazy? Why are you bringing her up? I don’t even want to think about that stinky woman!>

“He appeared today.”

After the appearance of Naverius, who fell in love with Vasago at first sight in the novel’s debutante, a new character was mentioned with him. 

Haures Hopen. Haures, Naverius’s old friend, played a role of no importance in the novel as a whole.  Even after her death, Fanora couldn’t forget this man’s name. Because he was the mastermind who made her want to die and the person who built her tombstone.

“But as expected.”

. This was what she felt when Haures was first mentioned in the midnight novel. The way he chose his words and actions were very different in reality.

Haures raised his family status, who had been poor quickly. He, who had been exceptionally smart since he was young, was so knowledgeable that he took over the parliament seat at a young age. Perhaps that was why Haures, whom Fanora actually met, used a very cultured tone.

“Why does he act differently?”

However, in the novel, Haures recited lines like a neighborhood rascal on the same level as Naverius. Unlike the reality she knew, he didn’t even particularly act smart.

“…”

As expected, there was no way to point it out, but is that possible?

Fanora felt worried for a moment. But this worry didn’t last long. She couldn’t be late for the first party after her debutante. She eventually finished thinking and lay down. After struggling to sleep, the morning sun gently raised its head, and she finished dressing up with the help of Cecil.

“Come on, hold my hand and come up. The carriage is a little high.”

“Yes, Lady.”

What Fanora wore today was ivory attire, the dress code for the tea party. However, she didn’t forget to wear a wide-brimmed hat, which was now popular in the capital.

Before she knew it, the carriage departed and arrived in front of the garden of the Baron’s mansion. Tables and white chairs prepared in advance for party attendees were lined up in the garden landscape.  

“…”

However, Fanora didn’t have time to look around and hardened in place. Soon afterward, several nobles who attended the party greeted her.

“Fanora… did your skin become weak? To wear such wide-brimmed hats. You will get less sunlight if you live in the North with me.”

“Naverius?”

“S-So this is how we will meet again. How have you been? I saw you during the debutante… and you danced really well.”

“Hello! Lady Fanora!”

Fanora stiffened her expression when she saw the three men at the party. Of course, she couldn’t object to their participation. Shortly after, Baroness Bourbon, the party’s host, came out and spoke to her. “Oh my! Thank you for coming here, Lady Fanora.”

“Greetings, Madam.”

“I have reserved a good seat for you. It’s also an honor for the Lords to come to the party I host. Hoho.”

“Hahaha.”

“Come on. Everyone, please don’t stand still. Let’s sit down.”

Fanora looked at Baroness Bourbon and recalled the midnight novel that once appeared.

<Vasago: You attended today’s meeting.

Amore: I wanted to be the person to meet you first after the debutante, but I’m sorry. Ah, I got some nice tea from Baroness Bourbon’s tea party last time. Would you like to join us today?>

‘Amore,’ who appeared in the story, was Vasago’s friend. And the party ‘Amore’ didn’t miss was this Baroness Bourbon’s tea party. So, to explore the people around Vasago first, she chose this place as the first place to show her face.

Fanora swallowed the tears of blood because of the variable she hadn’t thought of and the fact that she couldn’t see Vasago’s friend, whom she had hoped for.

“Let’s start the party, announcing the spring of this year!”

Whether or not she knew Fanora’s burning heart, the host started the conversation with an excited voice that her party level had risen. The main topic was the review of the debutante.

“So, I was surprised. During that time, I could only imagine what Duke Jalier’s fiancee would be like, but she just appeared right in front of me.”

“Hahaha.”

“I really wanted to be close to you, but I’m so happy to have a chance to drink tea together like this.”

“Hohoho.”

Fanora thought about it, listening to the conversation that didn’t matter.

Why does she have to be here when the person she was aiming for was not here? Now she had come, it was impossible to go back. Then something happened when she was forced to act courtesy as Lady Celsius.

“By the way, Duke Jalier. I didn’t expect the Duke to announce your intention to participate in this party. I’m sure you must be busy these days, are you alright?”

When the chatty host asked a question, the man who was enjoying tea leisurely next to Fanora  answered. “Today is my beloved fiancée’s first social activity, and I just want to see her face.”

“Oh my~”

“Oh my gosh.”

Several people sitting at the table exclaimed with admiration.

“Then the rumor must be true. The story of Duke came down to the capital, saw Lady Fanora, and fell in love at first sight.”

“I never thought that would happen in my life.”

In the distant seat, the young ladies were whispering to each other.

Fanora watched the scene, quietly shoving the refreshment into her mouth.

Looking through the nobles who were chatting, Fanora finally uttered my first proper words. “By the way, Madam, you have a good connection to send an invitation for the esteemed son of Demangdwi.”

“Oh my, it’s not like that! He personally contacted me saying he wanted to join my party.”

“Aha, it’s Madam’s second tea party, so it’s only natural that your reputation grows. I’m sorry for asking you something I shouldn’t have asked.”

“Hohoho. Don’t flatter me too much!”

The purpose of her words was the question of how he got here. But the answer that came back was surprising.

So, there was only one question left. Fanora turned her head and looked at the person sitting at the farthest end of the table. Then, she could see Carl, who had already started talking to the person next to him. 

“But are you really a member of the Andras family? You’re really tall.”

“Yes? Yes…!”

Seeing that he hesitated to talk to the person next to him immediately, he seemed very unfamiliar with the party. Fanoar soon gave up thinking because she couldn’t even guess why Carl came here. Still, he came dressed properly for the party.

It has been about an hour since then. It was around the time when the light topic came and went, which anyone could hear, and the repeated praise for the taste of the snack served by the host.

Fanora accidentally raised her head and looked in the direction of Carl, and a situation that bothered her happened. When the nobleman beside him brought up the topic, Carl responded with a few words. Still, the nobleman’s expression gradually darkened, and he closed his mouth with an uncomfortable expression. It was obvious that Carl had made a slip of the tongue.

Carl and her seat were quite far away, so it was impossible to guess because they couldn’t communicate with each other in a low voice. And while she was so distracted, Aloken’s voice next to her was heard.

“Ah, but did you all hear the rumors?” When Aloken opened his mouth, most people except me focused on his words. Because he had the highest position in that party.

“What rumors?”

“Well, I went to a party a few days ago, and someone said that my fiancée actually had an affair with her lover while meeting me.”