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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Turning the Tables on the Bully
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Up until I arrived today, I had everything planned out.
What expression I’d wear when meeting Crown Prince Luciano, what conversations we’d have.
I’d even imagined his reactions and run through every possible scenario in my head.
But the moment our eyes met, my mind went completely blank.
‘This wasn’t in the plan...’
I had to act like nothing was wrong, but the instant I saw his face, memories of that horrific blunder flooded my thoughts.
My heart pounded with shame, and all I wanted was to run away.
“Ah, hello. How have you been?”
I barely managed to squeeze out a greeting.
I tried my best to put on the bright, cheerful smile from before.
But I couldn’t even remember what that smile had looked like.
My whole body felt stiff; I couldn’t tell if I was smiling properly at all.
Crown Prince Luciano regarded me with cool eyes.
It might have been better if he’d looked at me with contempt.
His blank expression hurt even more.
I felt like I might faint right then and there.
“Crown Prince Luciano, really. You should speak more warmly to your friends.”
Imperial Consort Isabel’s voice drew my gaze her way.
And only then did I realize something shocking.
Everyone else had stood in respect at the arrival of royalty, but I’d been sitting there giggling like an idiot.
I shot to my feet and bowed my head.
“It’s an honor to share a seat with such esteemed company. I’m truly sorry for being so distracted and greeting you late.”
“No, no. It happens. Everyone, please sit comfortably.”
Imperial Consort Isabel let out a soft laugh, showing a gracious demeanor.
‘I figured she’d say something nasty.’
She took her seat at the central table alongside Prince Steven.
Crown Prince Luciano sat at my table.
I flinched reflexively, but he remained utterly calm.
She’d deliberately seated me with Crown Prince Luciano.
“Has everyone been well? This year, we didn’t invite any adults so you young ones could enjoy it more freely. I hope it’s not too much of a burden?”
Imperial Consort Isabel signaled the start of the tea party.
“Not at all. We’re plenty grown up and can manage just fine on our own.”
Betty was the first to simper toward Imperial Consort Isabel.
‘No wonder she was so blatantly rude to me earlier.’
Betty must have dolled herself up to catch the consort’s eye.
“Thank you for arranging such a wonderful gathering.”
“We’re thrilled to have this enjoyable time thanks to you, Your Imperial Consortship.”
The others chimed in, flattering her one after another.
“Hee hee, the empire’s future looks truly bright.”
‘Not like doom and gloom are looming over it or anything?’
Imperial Consort Isabel sat there arrogantly while the children fawned over her like desperate sycophants.
“Your Imperial Consortship grows more beautiful by the day.”
“I’m grateful you think so.”
“We’re so jealous. Please share your secrets with us.”
The inane chatter dragged on.
Being children, they were even worse than adults at hiding their feelings.
Their blatant attempts to suck up were downright nauseating.
I sighed without thinking and averted my gaze.
Crown Prince Luciano stared blankly at the flowers on the table.
He refused to look away from them, as if pointedly ignoring everyone around him.
‘It’s a strange feeling.’
Crown Prince Luciano was ignoring me, too.
A bitter pang twisted in my chest.
Of course, I was grateful for his indifference.
I appreciated that he wasn’t mocking or teasing me.
But at the same time, it hit me that I truly meant nothing to him.
‘After nearly a year of effort.’
I’d at least expected a glance my way.
Aside from when he first arrived, Crown Prince Luciano hadn’t turned his head toward me once.
It felt like a dream that he’d spoken to me first earlier.
‘I knew he was cold, but it still stings.’
I guess I’d secretly hoped my breakup declaration might make him pay a little attention to me.
My sunshine strategy had failed utterly.
Look on the bright side.
‘If he forgets about me like this, that’s a relief.’
My heart wouldn’t feel quite so humiliated going forward.
Not that it would actually happen, of course.
I was half-listening, half-ignoring the chatter around me when—
“Why is Crown Prince Luciano so quiet?”
Imperial Consort Isabel brought him up.
Eyes turned his way from the group that had been chattering away in their own little world.
Was she about to start her games again?
Crown Prince Luciano seemed to sense it, blinking once before calmly turning his head.
“He’s always been the quiet type.”
I was impressed.
It wasn’t arrogance—it was poise.
I hadn’t noticed before since I saw him so often, but his composed demeanor was definitely different from last year.
In just one year, Crown Prince Luciano seemed to have grown tremendously.
And naturally, Imperial Consort Isabel didn’t care for this side of him.
“Being too quiet isn’t good, either.”
“Is that so? It seems better than acting like a thunderbolt loudmouth.”
As he spoke, Crown Prince Luciano’s eyes flicked briefly toward Prince Steven.
“Ahaha! I can do that much!”
“Prince Steven, really?”
“Yeah, just trust me!”
Just then, Prince Steven was making some reckless bold claim to someone.
Crown Prince Luciano’s lip curled up in a smirk, then dropped.
It was such an obvious sneer that anyone could catch his intent.
Imperial Consort Isabel’s cheeks trembled as she saw it.
Unable to scold her own son in the moment, she glared only at Crown Prince Luciano.
“Still, not saying a word is too much. Your friends came all this way—won’t you even talk to them?”
When Crown Prince Luciano didn’t reply, her eyes shifted to me.
“Don’t you think so, Espin?”
Suddenly, all eyes were on me.
‘She planned this from the start.’
I’d thought she’d invited me out of some grudge against me.
With the kids openly ostracizing me, it seemed obvious that was her goal.
But seeing her sly smile, I realized it was something else.
She’d fixated on me to use me as Crown Prince Luciano’s weakness.
“Espin’s awfully quiet today, too. You two don’t seem to be talking. Aren’t you friends?”
We weren’t friends, and it wouldn’t faze Crown Prince Luciano.
Of course, I wasn’t foolish enough to say that out loud.
Instead, I forced a feeble smile.
“I’m still not feeling well. It’s not just today—we’ll talk later.”
This acting wasn’t hard; to everyone else, I’d look plenty listless.
Crown Prince Luciano, who hadn’t glanced my way before, now looked at me.
Imperial Consort Isabel feigned concern.
“Oh dear, still not better?”
“I had a bad illness, so it’s lingering. I’m much improved now.”
“Oh my, Espin. Such a serious illness? What happened?”
Oops. Mistake.
Seeing her perk up, I realized this was exactly what she’d been waiting for.
I needed to stay sharp.
“Just overate a bit.”
“Come to think of it, there was a commotion at Crown Prince Luciano’s palace recently. Did something happen between you two?”
She raised her voice deliberately, for all to hear.
The kids who wouldn’t even meet my eyes earlier now stared with curiosity.
“Huh? What happened?”
I played dumb on purpose.
Imperial Consort Isabel gave a loose smile.
Her sly, smiling eyes felt ominous.
“For instance, someone bullying Espin or something like that.”
Her gaze flicked briefly to Crown Prince Luciano before returning to me.
‘So this is the real play.’
Her subtle tone was offering me a deal.
Take the hand I’m extending now.
Then there’d be no more ostracism like before.
I could tell this was my last chance.
Never expecting her to make such an offer right in front of him, I instinctively glanced at Crown Prince Luciano.
Our eyes met in that instant.
His eyes gleamed coldly.
Even after a year together, I could read the warning in them: watch your words.
The problem was, our bond wasn’t deep enough for me to know exactly what to watch out for.
This was bad.
‘I have no idea what Crown Prince Luciano wants me to say!’
Tension surged through me.
Should I pretend to faint from the pressure?
No, my parents might actually pass out if I did, so I scrapped that idea.
“Espin? Why can’t you speak? Were you really bullied?”
As I hesitated, lost in thought, Imperial Consort Isabel’s voice rose a notch.
She pretended to worry, but couldn’t hide her excitement.
She believed I’d give her the answer she wanted.
Feeling Crown Prince Luciano’s piercing gaze, I opened my mouth.
“Yes, I’ve been bullied.”
“!”
A venomous smile spread across Imperial Consort Isabel’s face at my response.
In stark contrast, Crown Prince Luciano’s expression didn’t change.
He simply kept his eyes fixed on me.
“Bullying right here in the imperial palace? The audacity! Who dared commit such an outrage? As imperial consort, I can’t ignore this.”
Imperial Consort Isabel cried out dramatically.
Her lips curved sky-high.
She burned with the intent to drag the bully before her and punish them.
“Espin, tell me who it is. I won’t let them get away with it.”
Hearing her firm words, I extended my hand.
“Him.”
“!”
Amid the tense stares from everyone, my finger pointed squarely at Betty.
Mouths gaped open as they all looked at me.
What? Why?
‘Ostracism is bullying, too, right?’
I boldly ratted out Betty without a second thought.
