TOOCM 88

Chapter 88

‘Has she changed into a completely different person?’

Isabel could hardly believe Reina’s transformation even with her own eyes.

She had expected Reina to suffer in the harsh North.

Yet here she was, exuding the effortless grace of a beloved noble lady.

For a woman married to a man said to be as cold as stone and obsessed only with monsters, she looked far too happy.

Then someone casually opened their mouth.

“I heard the duke rented out the entire dress shop—is that true? It’s so famous that reservations take forever, you know.”

The tone was clearly envious and probing. In contrast, Reina answered with surprising nonchalance.

“I only found out later. I just needed clothes to wear for a while.”

As if such things were everyday occurrences.

Sensing this, the young lady blushed and pressed,

“So the duke took the lead and brought you there?”

“I suppose so.”

Reina cupped her reddened cheeks in embarrassment.

At her shy demeanor, the others let out soft gasps and made a fuss.

Afterward, questions about the Duke of Crensia poured in as if they’d been waiting.

Reina effortlessly blended into the gathering—and was even leading it.

And Isabel was uncomfortable with the situation.

‘She’s acting like the main character now.’

The center of the gathering had always been Isabel.

Watching Reina, who had appeared out of nowhere, dominate the room made her insides burn.

Isabel gulped down her cold tea.

“Oh, right—how’s the North? It must be very cold, as expected?”

“It’s weather unimaginable in Lunin. The snow just keeps falling.”

Lunin never saw snow, even in winter. At most, it rained.

“I’ve never seen snow in my life. What’s it like?”

“When the whole world turns white, it’s incredibly beautiful. Especially shaved ice with syrup on snow—it’s truly magical.”

“Oh my, I can’t even imagine the taste!”

“It’s similar to shaved ice, but softer and fluffier…”

As Reina explained snowflake shaved ice, someone who had been listening half-heartedly—

Wendy, sitting sullenly, spat out a barbed remark.

“It’s just ice, no matter how you look at it. What’s so great about that?”

“…”

“You must have so little to brag about that you’re boasting about snow? You can see it in the northern provinces in winter anyway.”

At Wendy’s words, the ladies who had chimed in about never seeing snow flushed with embarrassment. Reina clicked her tongue inwardly.

‘Still the same, that one.’

Oblivious or just stupid?

She probably wanted to attack Reina, but her words ended up hitting the ladies who had agreed with her.

Reina couldn’t understand why she had ever trembled before such a person. She responded calmly.

“Lady Gray is right. If you shave ice, it tastes roughly similar.”

Then the other ladies jumped to her defense.

“Come on, the texture must be different.”

“Why are you embarrassing her, Lady Wendy?”

“No, I just…”

“It’s fine. Lady Gray probably doesn’t know much about it. I’m sure she didn’t mean any harm, right?”

When Reina cut her off, Wendy’s face flushed red and purple.

By addressing her formally as “Lady Gray,” Reina made her seem like an ill-mannered person using informal speech with someone she wasn’t close to.

In the end, Wendy couldn’t even recover her pride and had to shut her mouth.

“If there’s a chance next time, I’ll let you try it. The chef who came with me knows how to make it.”

“Oh my goodness, I must try it!”

No one cared that Wendy had been humiliated. Wendy looked pleadingly at Isabel, but she ignored her.

‘What an idiot.’

Wendy was loyal but had too many foolish moments—she was exhausting.

Look at her now: trying a petty provocation and ending up humiliated instead.

Getting involved would only be tiring. They weren’t even that close to begin with.

Hadn’t Wendy been the first to step back when Isabel’s dress caught fire?

Then Isabel’s wedding became the topic.

“Come to think of it, Princess Isabel will soon be a bride too. Several people saw Sir Eric propose so grandly last time.”

“Has the rumor already spread that far?”

“Of course. For a while, your proposal story was all anyone talked about. They say many saw jewels pouring into the palace.”

“How romantic!”

“The wedding will be at the palace, right? It’ll be so beautiful!”

“So when will the invitations come out?”

Everyone showed clear envy. Isabel, satisfied with the attention, signaled her maids with her eyes.

“I was going to give them out anyway.”

The waiting maids distributed the invitations. The gold-embossed cards looked expensive at a glance.

“Goodness, a May bride! Summer roses are in full bloom then.”

“I’m giving these to you all first, as a special favor.”

While Isabel smiled victoriously, Reina checked her invitation.

Seeing Eric Vincent’s name, she swallowed a sigh inwardly.

‘Same as the past.’

Reina knew Isabel’s future.

Eric Vincent was known for his gentlemanly nature, but he had sticky fingers—and a violent temper at home.

How brutal he became was only revealed after Isabel was beaten to death.

Until then, she had shown no signs.

‘You’re pitiful too.’

Probably because of her pride.

She couldn’t admit that the husband praised as a gentleman outside was a tyrant at home.

That would be a scandal beyond mere gossip.

She chose being beaten to death over divorce and public scorn.

She wouldn’t want to be seen as a pitiful woman living off her pride.

From her expression, she still didn’t know Eric Vincent’s violent nature.

Warning her would only be dismissed as petty jealousy.

Reina chose to keep her mouth shut.

Even if she warned her, Isabel wouldn’t listen anyway.

Meanwhile, Isabel, basking in everyone’s envy, noticed Reina’s expression was different.

Everyone envied her marriage—except Reina.

It felt like Reina was looking at her with pity, and it was infuriating.

“Congratulations, Isabel. I hope you live well.”

At Reina’s dry blessing, Isabel shrugged.

“Thanks. You’ll come, right?”

“I will. I’m planning to stay in the capital for a while anyway.”

“Oh, you’re staying in the capital? So the rumors that the North is stable are true.”

“Yes. Fortunately, the monster population isn’t spreading as easily as expected.”

“That’s impressive. The Crensia Knights really are the strongest in history!”

“It’s great you’re staying longer. Let’s keep in touch often.”

“Come to think of it, there’s a fighting arena event this week—want to go together? Princess, you still have extra tickets, right?”

Everyone was desperate to pull Reina into the group.

Reina showed interest when the arena was mentioned. That was why she came, after all.

“I’ve never been to a fighting arena.”

Isabel said,

“I have extra tickets… but are you sure? It can be shocking if it’s your first time.”

“It can’t be scarier than monsters.”

“…Well, obviously.”

Isabel made a weary face at the comparison to monsters. A year in the North had made her good at dark humor.

“Then I’ll bring two—come with the duke.”

“Alright.”

Reina smiled brightly and quickly took the tickets.

Even though Isabel had deliberately mentioned the duke.

Her casual, positive response made Isabel’s mood sour.

As if the Duke of Crensia never opposed what she suggested.

‘This pisses me off.’

Feeling a strange sense of defeat, Isabel secretly clenched her dress hem.