The Villain’S Daughter-In-Law Is Inherently Powerful [EN]: Chapter 130

On the day of the Debutante ball, all the young ladies who had come of age gathered and entered at once.

The young lords who would be their partners were already standing in a line inside the banquet hall. When the lady they were to escort entered, they would take her hand one by one and head to the center of the floor.

I stood with the other young ladies making their debut. I didn’t know most of their faces or names, but fortunately, Belladi was next to me.

“Honestly, doesn’t it feel like the chandelier in the banquet hall is flashing with the intention of blinding all the nobles in attendance?”

“Oh, you’re right. My eyes hurt whenever I look up at it.”

“It would be nice if it were a little darker so we could sneak in a kiss or two.”

“You!”

The young ladies giggled and chatted, perhaps bored of waiting.

At the word ‘kiss,’ Belladi’s cheeks flushed red.

‘Come to think of it, I’ve been so focused on my own work that I haven’t even wondered if Belladi is seeing anyone these days.’

Feeling guilty for being so indifferent to my friend, I leaned slightly and whispered in Belladi’s ear.

“Belladi, hey. Do you happen to have a crush on someone?”

“Ah, uh, huh?”

“I mean, someone you like. Or someone you’re dating?”

Belladi’s partner today was a knight from the Roybaium family.

Typically, a young lord of a similar age would be the partner, but it seemed the Duke couldn’t directly participate, so he had selected a trustworthy knight from within the family.

“Ah, I…”

Belladi trailed off, lowering her gaze.

“There is someone I… like.”

“What? Really? Who?!”

I never dreamed Belladi would have a crush on someone!

Excited by the unexpected information, my eyes sparkled.

This was the only purely joyful story to arise amidst all the troublesome events, so how could I miss it?

“But… that person doesn’t like me.”

“What? How could that be? You’re so charming!”

Belladi is a wonderful painter and creates truly special paintings.

And that’s not all. Belladi is much taller than me. She’s slender, of course, and her overall demeanor exudes grace, which I envy so much.

Her personality is calm and considerate. How could anyone not like Belladi?

“It’s okay. That person doesn’t even know I like them. I’m not going to… say anything. Ever…”

“How can you say that! That’s too sad.”

“I wasn’t even going to tell you this story in the first place…”

Belladi trailed off. Then, she dropped her shoulders dejectedly.

‘Oh dear. She really likes him.’

Belladi’s reaction suggested it wasn’t a lighthearted crush.

It seemed like she had been in love with him for years… Is there anything I can do to help?

‘First, I need to observe Belladi today and see who she keeps looking at.’

I am destined to choose from a set group of people, but Belladi is free to fall in love with anyone.

Not that I dislike my situation, but I am a little envious of that freedom. Like going on a sudden trip somewhere and meeting your destiny there, or something.

But to think that Belladi had already lost her heart to someone.

“It’s amazing. You’ve fallen for someone too.”

Feeling that Belladi was getting uncomfortable, I decided to change the subject.

As I was wondering what to say, my eyes fell on the [a magical artifact that records the debutantes] embossed on the banquet hall.

A woman with hair like waves. She is still closing her eyes, but soon will see us, to remember each of us making our debut.

“This , you know. The first time I saw it was at my first Imperial Palace banquet.”

“Ah… that… day.”

“Yeah, that day.”

I had come to the Imperial Palace banquet with Inanna when I was very young. Ian was there too.

That day, Linda was almost framed as the culprit, and I vowed to be enemies with Selena Roybaium.

So much time has passed since that day, and it’s amazing and unbelievable that I’ve become an adult now.

It felt new.

“Greetings. I am Mayzen, the head maid of the Imperial Palace.”

At that moment, a group of maids appeared from the hallway behind us and bowed.

“We will now activate . Please greet one by one. State your name.”

Finally, the very moment Inanna had told me about had arrived.

Being registered in was the first step in being officially recognized as an adult in the Magic Empire.

“I’m going to try all the alcohol.”

“What if you get drunk and cause a ruckus!”

“So what? They’ll forgive and understand everything today, right? I might as well grab my annoying brother’s hair!”

The excited young ladies giggled, making bold statements.

Hearing that, I wanted to drink some alcohol too….

‘Ah, should I try getting drunk?’

I’ve never been properly drunk before. Dante stopped me from drinking last time.

“I think I have a pretty high tolerance. I want to test it.”

“I-Is that okay…?”

Belladi was startled by my bold statement this time.

I simply repeated what one of the young ladies had said earlier.

“So what!”

Come to think of it, the Debutante ball is my own precious day. It doesn’t make sense that I can’t fully enjoy this day just for myself.

How many more times in my life will I have a day just for me?

‘Alright, let’s go.’

Soon, the door opened, and a bright light and sweet scent wafted out.

The Debutante ball was about to begin.

* * *

“Ah, it’s hot.”

Since the Crown Prince and his partner had to dance the first dance of the ball, I spun around the floor several times under everyone’s gaze.

Even after that, Yuri wouldn’t let me go easily, and I danced continuously, so my cheeks flushed with heat even though I hadn’t drunk any alcohol.

I wanted to rest for a moment, so I stepped away and stood near the table where the food was laid out, and the heat quickly subsided.

‘Yuri was really persistent.’

He kept holding on and wouldn’t let go, so I haven’t even greeted Dante yet. I only greeted my stepmother with my eyes earlier.

Now that I’ve caught my breath, I wanted to find my close friends, receive congratulations, and chat.

‘Ah, Dante is over there.’

Finding Dante, I grabbed two drinks and hurried over.

“Dan…!”

But the next moment, the words caught in my throat. Because behind Dante, a few steps away… was Belladi.

‘Could it be….’

They say you can recognize someone in love at a glance.

I doubted it every time I read such sentences in books. I thought even feelings of affection could be hidden with acting.

But the moment I saw Belladi gazing at Dante, I could tell in just a few seconds that Belladi liked Dante.

‘It’s different. The way she looks at Dante is… completely different from how other girls look at him.’

Not vague admiration, not light affection, but a gaze overflowing with deep affection for the other person.

I knew what that kind of gaze looked like. It was the gaze Dante gave me.

“Florin!”

At that moment, Dante, who had found me, called my name loudly and waved.

In that instant, Belladi startled and hurriedly turned her gaze elsewhere.

‘Ah… I’m sure of it.’

Undeniably, Belladi likes Dante. Dante likes me….

“What’s wrong? Why do you look so serious?”

“Ah, no. Do you want to drink this?”

“Oh, are you giving it to me? I’ll drink it then.”

Dante said he was thirsty and gulped down the champagne. Meanwhile, Belladi had slipped away in the opposite direction.

‘My most precious girlfriend is Belladi, and my boyfriend is Dante.’

What should I do…….

“I’m going to go see my mother.”

“Okay. She’s over there.”

“Thanks.”

Making an excuse, I left the spot and realized clearly what I needed right now. It was alcohol.

* * *

As the banquet was in full swing, the Papal State delegation appeared.

People were very curious about the existence of ‘priests’ and approached them to talk, but they were just someone I wanted to avoid, especially when my mind was complicated like now.

‘If I go out to the terrace, they won’t be able to follow me.’

One of the priests seemed to recognize me and came closer, but I cleanly ignored him and went my way.

“Wait, let’s talk…!”

Bang!

Closing the door like this in someone’s face is rude, but who cares?

If they make an issue of it later, I’ll just say I didn’t hear them calling.

“Ah, it’s cool.”

I locked the terrace door securely and leaned against the railing, looking down at the garden. Seeing the vermilion lights twinkling here and there, I couldn’t help but think of Belladi again, which made me feel uneasy.

‘Since when has she liked Dante?’

Honestly, I couldn’t even guess Belladi’s feelings.

‘Then, what about my feelings?’

The two of them seemed to get along well.

Dante is energetic, and Belladi is calm, so they would be helpful to each other.

Belladi seems to be as much of a romantic as Dante, so if those two meet, wouldn’t they live happily?

‘Is that really all?’

I asked myself.

Am I not jealous? Do I not hate that Belladi likes Dante?

But the answers were all ‘no.’ What other feelings do I have…….

“I’m glad it’s not Ian.”

That was a word that came out unintentionally.