Although I had possessed Melissa’s body, the core—meaning 'me'—was ultimately someone else, not the real Melissa. It was impossible for me to know everything about Melissa's life that wasn't mentioned in the novel as accurately as she would have. Fortunately, seeing certain people or places naturally brought back related memories, but even then, it wasn't completely perfect.
Therefore, situations like this could happen, where I get blindsided from the front and back simultaneously by the past Melissa and the current Crown Prince.
“Miss, are you alright?”
It had been half a day since I fainted right in front of Martha and lost consciousness.
I was awake now, but I was pretending to be asleep. Realizing this, my maid Yona spoke to me in a calm tone.
She was the daughter of a baron, but three years ago, due to extreme circumstances, she took on the job of becoming a maid who had to cater to Melissa’s every whim.
‘I can remember minor details like this. So why on earth didn't I know about that marriage plan…?’
Still lying on the plush bed, I squeezed my eyes shut even tighter and refused to say a word.
The memory of the past Melissa—clinging to Ian and whining for him to finalize their marriage when the next spring arrived—finally flashed vividly behind my eyelids.
I desperately wanted to grab my past self by the collar and tell her to stop that pathetic begging right this instant. Even though I wasn't the one who said it, Melissa was, and since I am Melissa now, it felt like I had essentially brought this upon myself, atleast halfway.
I truly felt like I was crying while chewing on a mustard tree. [1]
[1] TN - Common Korean idiom 울며 겨자 먹기 (literal meaning: "eating mustard while crying"), means to do something highly unpleasant against your will because you have no other choice. The author exaggerates it here to "chewing on a mustard tree" because the situation is that unbearable to our protagonist.
But then again, it wasn't entirely my fault either. Back then, that bastard Ian tried to brush it off smoothly like a sly snake with an easygoing laugh, yet now he completely changes his tune and says things like, "Since you wanted it back then, we might as well announce our marriage at the ball hosted by the Imperial Family."
Honestly, it’s a bit doubtful whether he would have even invited Melissa to the ball if I hadn't declared our breakup first.
He probably figures that no matter how much I ramble about breaking off the engagement from now on, it won't matter once he just goes ahead and drops the marriage announcement at a massive, Imperial-hosted ball where all the nobles and commoners gather.
What's worse, he didn't even bother telling me—the other person involved! Instead, it seems he had the Duke spread the rumors for him. Rumors that the Crown Prince would be announcing his marriage at this upcoming ball. I intended to confront the Duke immediately, but that sly snake had already fled to the provinces, using work as an excuse.
On top of that, I hear Ian is suddenly going around to crowded shops buying tons of gifts like jewelry and clothes. If you ask him why, he flashes a handsome smile and drones on about how his fiancée needs to be the most beautiful woman at the ball, or whatever.
I swear it hasn't even been that long since I declared our breakup, yet his reaction speed is so fast that it’s truly admirable.
Damned tyrant. I’m a Duke's daughter, you know!
I’m a founding noble's daughter too! I’m part of the ruling class! My family is incredibly powerful!
Unfortunately, that bastard Ian was a member of the imperial family, which meant a cute little abuse of power like this was something he could pull off effortlessly while completely ignoring my wishes.
One of these days, I swear I will completely ignore his wishes and assassinate him.
But before that, I had to do something about the disaster right in front of me.
It was impossible to issue a correction stating that the rumors were false and that there was no marriage announcement. At this very moment, the rumor was likely galloping across the entire Empire like a horse with invisible wings. Besides, who would ever believe a correction from a villainess who had chased the Crown Prince until now? Actually, who would even care to listen?
'Should I just break off the engagement before the ball?'
But a breakup between noble families required mutual consent. No other option came to mind other than beating him with Jajinmori drumsticks until Ian agreed to the annulment. [2]
[2] TN - 자진모리장단으로 두들겨 주는 것: Jajinmori is a traditional, fast-paced Korean drum rhythm. She is saying she wants to use Ian as a drum and beat him with drumsticks until he gives up.
Should I boycott the ball? That seemed like the most realistic option.
However, it was hosted by the Imperial Family.
The Imperial Family of the Basilios Empire hosts a total of two balls a year: one in the spring and one in the autumn. Because these events were held on a massive scale, not only the nobility but also a very small number of commoners—those wealthy enough to afford a ticket—could attend. It would be difficult for me, the Crown Prince's fiancée and a young lady of the Duke's family, to come up with a suitable excuse to skip an event like this. Besides, thanks to Ian, the news of the marriage announcement had already spread far and wide, so imagine if the fiancée simply didn’t show up. Ian, standing all alone on the platform, would look utterly ridiculous.
……………Huh. That actually sounds pretty good.
The thought was quite satisfying.
“Yona.”
Though I suddenly spoke up, Yona answered with absolute calmness.
“Yes, young lady.”
“Break my legs for me. Just enough so I can’t dance.”
“No, I cannot.”
“Then I’m going to open all the windows and sit in a tub of ice water.”
“Even if you catch a cold, you still have to go.”
“I honestly feel like jumping out the window.”
“Please don’t die. Go ahead and kill him instead.”
To the nonsense I was spouting while half out of my mind, my sharp-witted, highly capable, and utterly cynical maid answered me without losing a shred of her composure.
'Damn it. I want to kill him, too.'
But there was no way out. As of right now, there wasn’t a single assassin guild daring enough to accept a high-risk contract like assassinating the Crown Prince.
Unless I put a flower in my hair and caused a proper ruckus at the ballroom, it was glaringly obvious that I would end up dancing to Ian's tune. Either way, attending that ball was unavoidable.
In the end, I could only clench my fists, sit up, and silently take my frustration out on my pillow.
Two weeks until the ball. With the grim mindset of a death row inmate waiting for execution day, I resolved to spend my remaining time brainstorming how to completely humiliate Ian at the ballroom so flawlessly that rumors would spread far and wide.
Looking back, I had made yet another blunder at that moment. Immersed in my nostalgic thoughts, I completely forgot about the critical events that were actually destined to unfold during that 'Spring Ball' in the novel.
***
“Pick out the trashiest dress possible. Actually, just grabbing a burlap sack and punching holes for my arms and legs would be perfectly fine.”
“Young lady, calm down.”
“I’ll have you know I am incredibly calm right now.”
I said, forcing a sweet smile onto my face.
Since this was for the Spring Ball of all things, simply commissioning a custom dress from top-tier designers months in advance was considered bare minimum effort. Usually, people would throw absolute tantrums—traveling far abroad to track down master artisans or wearing sacred family heirlooms—that was just how massive of an event the Spring Ball was.
For me, though, it was just the perfect opportunity to give a huge middle finger.
“Think about it. Ian already hates me anyway, so if I show up looking like total trash, won't he be so disgusted that he’ll drop all this marriage nonsense entirely?”
To my excited voice, Yona coolly replied:
“Stop acting like a child. The only thing that will hit rock bottom is your own reputation.”
"I'm already at rock bottom. There's nowhere lower to go."
“………………There is no limit. to. a person’s fall.”
I turned around, feeling my mood instantly turn sour at the sudden sound of that voice.
Jake, dressed in a black robe, was clicking his tongue.
"Crazy little brother, what kind of sibling follows his older sister into a dress shop? If you dare say it's because you like me, I'll knock your teeth out—left molars and right canines—like corn kernels flying out of a cob."
I showed off with the elegant manner of a noble young lady, while Jake smiled beautifully and raised his middle finger.
"Do you think I'm here………… because I want to be?"
"Right, obviously Ian ordered you to spy on your sister to see what kind of nonsense she's up to."
"That's not—"
"Yeah, whatever, Ian's lackey."
Completely ignoring Jake's groans, I grabbed a random dress in front of me, held it up to my body, and stood before the mirror.
"Hmm, isn't this a bit too pretty?"
"Gag."
"Shut up, Jake."
For a guy who is supposed to be the 'silent type,' he sure talks back a lot.
Annoyed, I threw the dress down and spoke.
"Yona, tell him to get lost if he has any common sense."
"She says get lost."
"No."
"Yona, tell him if he doesn't like it, he should put this dress on and marry Ian himself."
"She says get married."
"........"
Jake finally shut his mouth. I let out a sigh and motioned to leave, muttering that the shop felt ruined now that it was tainted by his presence. The shop owner couldn't even bring himself to say "please come again," and only managed a weak "goodbye."
As I opened the door and stepped outside, the street —resplendent with the peak of spring — met my eyes, bustling and overflowing with energy.
The weather sure is nice.
"The weather is this nice, yet I'm stuck running around looking at dresses......"
"My Lady, you do know the ball is next week, right? Even if you choose one today, time is incredibly tight."
At Yona’s rebuke, I tuned her out for a moment and trudged straight across the street.
I was originally someone with terrible fashion sense, and let alone high society, even ordinary human relationships didn't come easily to me. Preparing for a ball was nothing but a chore. I couldn't think of a single creative way to screw them over, which made me feel deeply frustrated and anxious.
I let out a heavy sigh and looked around with blank, hollow eyes. At that exact moment, I spotted something lying stretched out on the road.
"?"
Looking closer, it seemed to be a person.
From behind, I heard Yona telling me not to go near it, but I didn't care and strode right up to it.
"Ugh."
A foul stench hit me. It was the smell of someone who hadn't washed in days. They were probably a beggar.
A scrawny body and a messy mop of blue hair caught my eye. It looked like they had collapsed from hunger. What should I do? Should I pull some money out of my pocket and press it into their hand?
As I hesitated for a brief second, I saw the beggar let out a groan and lift their face.
The next second, I couldn't help but let a smirk creep up my face. Because a truly brilliant idea had just popped into my head.
A way to totally screw over Ian, one that was so incredibly simple yet wildly disrespectful……………. Why on earth hadn't I thought of this until now?
Plastering a sweet, gentle smile across my face, I reached my hand out to the beggar.
"Hey there."