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"Is that Lady Evangeline? From the Alcmene ducal household?"

"Oh my! How can she show her face around here? Does she not have a sense of shame?"

"I heard she couldn't even take out a single low-level demon by herself"

"Really? Then, why was she picked as the representative for this year?"

"Her father probably bribed the higher ups. There's no way someone as weak and useless as her could get through the selection on her own"

"How despicable! The fate of our kingdom lives in the hands of that useless idiot?"

What—? Who said that?

I tried to turn behind me to face the snickering behind me but my feet were rooted on the ground. My fist were clenched until it turned white and I could feel blood dripping as my nails dug into my flesh. I couldn't see anything in front of me—it was simply a black void.

Mhm? Now that I think about it, it doesn't hurt? And... why can't I move my body?

"Shut up. Shut up! SHUT UP!" a voice shouted.

'—!' 

Wait! Wasn't that my voice? But, I didn't open my mouth though. How did I get here? Wasn't I getting into a carriage with Marise earlier? 

Then, could this be.... a dream? Of the real Evangeline Alcmene's memories? 

My hands were brought up to my ears in an attempt to drown out the mocking laughter from behind me. But inside, my mind seems to be separated from my body's actions. I decided to sit back and watch it unfold.

I've always wondered what Evangeline's role was in the novel. She wasn't exactly the villainess since she never harassed anyone, except for trying to pursue Malakai. She also wasn't a heroine; her qualities of being selfish and cowardly didn't seem to paint her in that light. To me, the novel's Evangeline felt like she didn't belong there. Sometimes it even felt like the author didn't even care about her as much as she does the male leads. She was much too dependent on those around her and had her head in the clouds too much to survive outside her comfort bubble. 

The only part where she actually made an impact in the story was when she was running away and became an opening for Elijah to hurt Malakai.

That's why, with all these people mocking and looking down on her, I didn't exactly have sympathy for her situation. In the end, Evangeline didn't think about anyone other than herself. Not even her so-called 'love' for Malakai could overcome her cowardice and selfishness.

As the laughters grew louder, my body fell in a crouching position. It seems as if Evangeline was reaching her boiling point.

"Evangeline," someone called out. I was still looking down but, a hand appeared in front of me. I felt Evangeline loosening her shoulders as she reached out towards the hand. Who is that?

And then, a sudden pressure hit my chest. It was so heavy and suffocating.

"Stop! It hurts! I can't breathe"

For once, I was in agreement with her but I couldn't do anything. I was simply an outsider looking in.

"Stop! STOP!" her screams started to grow louder, the mocking laugher behind her were deafening.

"STOP—!"

"MY LADY!"

My eyes snapped wide open, coming face to face with a pair of bright green eyes. My mind was still in a state of partial consciousness so I couldn't really comprehend my surroundings right now. 

Marise was staring at me with worry in her eyes. Looking around me, I came to realise that I had nodded off in the carriage on the way to the banquet. My head throbbed in pain as I pinched the bridge of my nose.

Was my headache getting worst despite taking medication earlier?

"My lady, perhaps you shouldn't attend tonight's banquet," Marise's mouth quivered. 

I raised my hand up and shook my head.

"No, it's fine. If I missed out on today's banquet, what image will it send towards the ducal house?" I smiled weakly. I have no doubt that my reputation will plummet into the ground if the guest of honour skipped out on her birthday banquet. 

Marise looked at me reluctantly but didn't say anything further. She knew it wasn't in her place to persuade her mistress to do something further.

I swallowed more powdered medicine in hopes that it will be enough to last me through the night before looking out the carriage window. As I gazed at the distant lights of the capital twinkling under the gloomy clouds, my headache subsided a little.

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Before Marise left my side to go to her post, she spurned into another lecture on how I shouldn't hold myself back if I felt like I was too sick to handle it and blah blah blah. I sort of tuned her out after the second sentence, my eyes wildly roaming around to take in the sights. I was already feeling a lot better since arriving her, partially due to the medicine I had taken but also because I was entranced with the building before me.

The banquet hall that my parents had rented for my birthday was located in the main square of the kingdom. Unlike other fantasy novels, the nobles here would rather choose to rent out the banquet hall instead of holding it in their own homes.

The reason? To prevent easy infiltration from enemies. Before the hall was built, there was a huge number of home assassinations during huge parties. It was only after the hall was erected that these numbers decreased. I guess it also helps with the economy since the money used to rent the hall will be funnelled straight into the kingdom.

"Are you listening, my lady?" Marise placed her hands on her hips. I gave her an assuring smile, pretending I completely didn't pay attention to a majority of what she said before.

"I'll be fine, Marise. You can go to your post now"

Marise sighed and before she left, I could hear under her breath, she muttered, "My lady may have matured recently but she's much too reckless with her health"

I smiled after her disappearing figure, silently apologising behind her. Most of the servants have already warmed up to my new personality but, only those who closely served Evangeline are still a little wary about me. Oh well. Rome wasn't built in a day after all.

"Now, where should I go again?" I clapped my hand. I think I was supposed to head to the entrance of the banquet hall so they can announce my appearance. My parents have already arrived earlier to make sure everything is going as plan.

It's only when the birthday girl arrives that the banquet can go into full swing.

"That's why, my lady, you should have paid attention to your maid," Sir Klein appeared beside me.

"Oh! Were you here the whole time?"

"My lady, the fact you're so oblivious to your surroundings worries me"

'It doesn't look like you're worried seeing as your face is indifferent as always,' I grumbled internally as I squinted at his emotionless face. I really couldn't tell if Sir Klein is being sarcastic or genuine at times.

"But, I have my handsome head knight to protect me so why should I worry?" I winked at him. Sir Klein gave me a disgusted face, making it seem like I had just offered him a pile of crap. It seems the only way I could elicit a reaction from him is if I tease him. He raised his hand towards me.

"If your father had heard that, he'd throw me into Gahenna himself. So, please watch what you say, my lady"

I laughed at his response and took his extended hand. Sir Klein is definitely very handsome and I know for a fact that he's the most popular bachelor amongst the maids. From the way we talk to each other, others might think we were an affectionate couple. But, the truth is... he just wasn't my type—I simply don't have a taste for men with a sharp tongue and an apathetic attitude. And besides, Sir Klein nags too much. I'd sooner throw myself into the gates of Gahenna if I have to listen to his nagging my entire life.

As we reached the large golden door leading into the inner hall, the servants next to us announced in a loud voice.

"ATTENTION HONOURED GUEST! PRESENTING THE YOUNG LADY OF THE HOUSE, EVANGLINE AMELIA ALCMENE OF THE ALCMENE DUCAL HOUSE"

The doors slowly opened, revealing a bright light. Despite being trained over and over again by Marise to keep a straight face, my facade couldn't help but falter at the view before me.

In front of me was an enormous round hall made entirely out of marble. A number of white pillars lined the sides, sculpted vines creeping around it. Huge windows covering the side of the hallways and finally, in the middle of the ceiling, a huge diamond chandelier hung above. It was an amazingly grand hall; one that I could have never imagined to enter in my previous life.

My eyes drifted down towards the large crowd below the staircase. I gulped, suddenly feeling nervous at all the eyes staring at me right now.

Did father and mother invite this many people? It was like they invited every single noble household in the kingdom. I couldn't even tell where my parents were.

"My lady," Sir Klein whispered as he nudged me.

Oh right!

I bowed gracefully at the guests in front of me before descending the stairs, my hand still holding on to Sir Klein's gloved hands. I could tell my sweaty hands was probably soaking through the fabric.

As I reached the bottom of the stairs, the crowds parted so I could finally see my parents who were standing all the way in the front. I could hear the whispers and murmurs around me as I passed by.

"Is that really the Lady Evangeline?"

"I heard she almost died from succumbing to her illness a few months ago. It seems she's perfectly healthy now, though? How could a normal person recover so easily?"

"Maybe she's faking it for attention as always"

"I heard she was really air headed and spoiled for attention, doesn't it seem like her demeanour a little different from the rumours? She seems to have a perfect etiquette"

"Well, maybe she died and an impostor took her place"

I could hear snickering and whispers coming from all around. This felt a little familiar. Was that why I had that dream in the carriage? I'm certain that Evangeline would have been upset if it was her here instead of me. In fact, I'm sure she would have immediately cried in public, likely making a scene saying that she doesn't deserve to be talked this way since she had never harmed them. But although her argument is correct, it would have been the wrong response. Up until the end of the novel, Evangeline doesn't understand that nobles would constantly be criticised one way or another. If something displeases her, she would run off to her parents to cry about it and even though this was a quick method of quieting down the gossip, her image would have fallen further into the gutters. It doesn't matter if you've done something wrong or not, this is simply the common world of nobility. 

I kept a straight expression but I was still a little uncomfortable being blatantly gossiped in my face.

Sir Klein must have noticed my slight discomfort, since he gave a threatening glare at the ones who whispered behind my back. 

They quickly shut their mouths up.

When I finally arrived in front of my parents, I bowed to Sir Klein and took my place in between my mother and father. My father's smile turned towards the crowd and in a loud voice, he declared.

"Now that my daughter is here, let the banquet begin!"

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