how to divorce the male lead - chapter 15
"If the Countess hadn't seduced my son, I wouldn't have gone this far. Why did you come to the ball?"
"That's an interesting statement."
Yuliana bit her lip, clearly unable to understand. Who sent the invitation first?
"Why did you invite me, then, if it wasn't to tease me?"
"Who do you think sent the invitation?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Countess Elcelli realized she had misspoken and quickly shut her mouth.
Yuliana frowned.
Wait a minute, she said she sent it reluctantly? Then who sent it?
"Perhaps..."
Yuliana's lips twisted.
At that moment, Countess Elcelli, aware of the onlookers, lowered her voice.
"It's not a pleasant matter to discuss here."
"If it wasn't Countess Elcelli who sent the invitation, then..."
"I apologize for speaking out of turn. I'll take my leave now. Have an enjoyable party."
Countess Elcelli turned away from the people around her and walked away.
Yuliana, watching her retreating figure as if she were fleeing, tapped her chin with the folded fan.
'The only person here who could have stolen Countess Elcelli's handwriting to send me the invitation is...'
Thinking about the enthusiastic gaze of the little brat who hadn't left her side even after she danced with her husband, Yuliana furrowed her brow.
"Well, it seems there are more people than I remembered. Even if it's not on the records... I just remember enjoying parties, eating, drinking, and having a good time. Were there really so many fools who fell for my act ? It's unbelievable."
Yuliana organized her thoughts. No matter how she thought about it, her life before recalling her past was filled with carefree days, enjoying life impulsively.
The number of people who gathered around her, admiring her, and seeking her attention due to her distinctiveness was beyond her estimation. Yuliana relished their attention, threw extravagant parties, and expanded her followers.
The more she did that, the more extras she couldn't remember increased. The youngest son of Countess Elcelli had been just a passerby, but he went as far as to steal his mother's handwriting to send her an official invitation.
So, how would these extras who had ventured beyond the ship's bounds continue to disrupt Yuliana Oban's peaceful life? The more she thought about it, the more her heart raced.
Having finished her thoughts, Yuliana folded her fan with a snap. Then, with fiery eyes, she met the gaze of Countess Elcelli's son, who was staring at her.
Even though his gaze wasn't friendly, the boy, whose name she couldn't clearly remember, didn't avoid her gaze.
Meanwhile, on the terrace, Yuliana, who was furrowing her brows, was observed by numerous onlookers. They pretended not to look and secretly stole glances at her.
The curtains beyond the terrace fluttered in the wind. Unbeknownst to Yuliana, behind those curtains, she appeared as beautiful as an angel, to the extent that some might believe an angel had descended.
Her beauty was both a blessing and a cause of notoriety.
Evan, who had been watching her standing alone on the terrace, approached her.
Without hesitation, he wet the curtains.
Despite respecting his wife by not chasing after her as she hastily moved her steps after dancing and fleeing, the wife in front of him was once again following someone else with her eyes.
Evan didn't quite like that. With a stern expression, he looked at Yuliana and said to her with a complex expression: "Is that brat next in line?"
"What are you talking about?"
Yuliana turned the tail of her words meekly, but eventually gave in to Evan's persistent gaze.
"I don't know what you're thinking, but I told you. I'm going to end the games now."
"Does that mean you'll stop playing with me too?"
Evan grinned.
"Who said anything about playing with anyone?"
Yuliana felt a bit unfairly treated. No, who was she to ask who played with whom? Even though she openly belittled him and publicly humiliated him before becoming aware of her past life, he never submitted and always stood his ground.
If anyone were to ask who played with whom, it was undoubtedly Evan's side. Even when she frolicked recklessly, he accepted it silently, which made her even more resentful.
So Yuliana became increasingly hostile towards Evan and became someone who poured out harsh words.
Such a relationship eventually wore out even the one doing the pouring.
Yuliana, almost unknowingly, said with her lips pursed: "Who's playing with whom? Don't you know you've been tormenting me secretly?"
"Me?"
Evan opened his eyes as if he really didn't know, and Yuliana inwardly sighed deeply.
'If this were a dating simulation game, Evan Hillchen would be doing a terribly bad job at conquering Yuliana Oben.'
"I wanted to get the royal seed at the auction the other day, thinking it was because of my reputation, but do you know how pathetic I felt when I found out that it was all because you paved the way?"
Whether it was because of her pride or not, Yuliana seemed to strongly resist help from others in the tasks she was confident in.
Evan Hillchen would probably never know that the very thing she did to win his favor turned into a poison.
Yuliana clenched her fist and snapped: "I won't say any more about it. It's all in the past anyway. Regardless, I have no intention of playing around with that brat. Moreover, someone who mimics their own mother's handwriting to invite me is..."
"Hmm. Lady Elcelli seemed a bit odd."
"Of course, the Countess would be delighted to welcome the Empire's hero. She just doesn't like me."
Yuliana shrugged her shoulders and then said as she left the terrace before Evan could grab her: "At least the talk of 'ending the game' with you isn't a lie. So, don't go anywhere. When the next song starts, we'll dance together."
"Are you asking me to dance again? This is making me too excited."
Somehow, the words that came out between their banter sounded ominous.
Yuliana was taken aback by the feeling that she had seen a glimpse of his true nature.
Her heart raced, but she managed to say confidently: "Well, I'm glad you're excited."
Yuliana quickened her pace.
A drop of alcohol felt urgent to wet her parched throat.
---
"Having a simple conversation is this difficult..."
Yuliana thought as she gulped down her drink.
She kept forgetting; this place was a world where she wasn't the protagonist.
"Oh my, it's my turn."
It was when she let out a sigh, furrowing her brows.
"Yuliana."
"Eek!"
She nearly dropped her cocktail glass in surprise.
Although she didn't turn around, she had a strong feeling about who the person was who had approached her so closely. Yuliana quickly turned to face him.
Sure enough.
It was none other than the young gentleman, Rick, who had stolen her mother's handwriting to the extent of even imprinting the Count's seal. He was looking at her with a flushed face.
Yuliana stared at him, her cheeks reddening like a boy who had just seen his first love. She took a sip of her drink, her insides burning.
"Seems like you're having a hard time finding a partner."
Yuliana hurried her steps.
She desperately needed a drop of alcohol to quench her parched throat.
* * *
‘It’s so hard to even have a short conversation…’ … .’
Yuliana thought as she took a sip of her drink.
She keeps forgetting, this is a world where she is not her main character.
"oh my. “It’s my daughter.”
It was then that she furrowed her brows and sighed.
“Yuliana.”
"Ahh!"
She almost lost the cocktail glass in her hand.
Even though she didn't turn around, she seemed to know who had gotten too close. Yuliana turned around and looked at her guy.
just as expected.
Her Master Rick, the man who had stolen her mother's handwriting and imprinted the seal of her countess, was looking at her and blushing.
She took a sip of her drink as Yuliana looked at him, her cheeks flushed, like a boy staring at her first love. Her insides were so burning that she felt like she was about to die.
“I guess you’re having a hard time finding a partner?”
She took a step back, keeping her distance from Yeongsik, who came close enough to make Yuliana think like he is reckless rather than courageous.