Silence.
Heavy, awkward, painful silence.
The kind of silence that made you want to fake your death and move to another continent.
Lilia stared at me as if I had personally betrayed her ancestors.
Emily looked equally disturbed.
Meanwhile, Adeline Augustus stood frozen in front of me, clearly unsure whether I was insulting her or not.
Honestly, I didn't blame her.
If the school bully suddenly complimented me out of nowhere, I'd be suspicious too.
"…Your dress," I repeated awkwardly, because apparently my survival instincts had disappeared, "really suits you."
Why was I making this worse?
Adeline blinked slowly before lowering her head politely.
"Thank you, Lady Alexandra."
Her voice was soft.
Gentle.
No wonder readers loved her.
She radiated main-character energy so strongly it was practically blinding.
Lilia quickly recovered with a strained laugh.
"Alexandra must be joking."
"I'm not."
Another horrifying silence followed.
Some nearby nobles openly stared now.
Others whispered behind their fans.
"What's wrong with Lady Raine tonight?"
"Didn't she dislike Baron Augustus' family?"
"She's acting strangely…"
Because I'm trying not to get executed, thank you very much.
Emily stepped closer to me and lowered her voice.
"What are you doing?"
"Breathing," I answered honestly.
She looked concerned.
Fair enough.
Adeline seemed increasingly uncomfortable under everyone's attention.
I recognized that expression immediately.
The "I want to disappear" look.
As someone who once had to present a project in front of thirty students and accidentally called the teacher "mom," I deeply understood her suffering.
Then suddenly—
"Lady Adeline."
A deep voice echoed through the ballroom.
The crowd immediately parted.
And there he was.
Crown Prince Cedric.
Crap.
The male lead had entered the scene.
Up close, the prince was even more intimidating.
Tall, elegant, absurdly handsome—
and currently staring directly at Adeline.
The female lead effect was terrifying.
Adeline bowed quickly.
"Your Highness."
Cedric offered his hand toward her calmly.
"Would you honor me with a dance?"
The ballroom erupted into whispers.
Meanwhile, my soul peacefully ascended from my body.
This was it.
The famous scene.
In the original novel, Alexandra became furious after seeing this moment and publicly embarrassed herself trying to interrupt them.
Which destroyed her reputation even further.
I immediately took one giant step backward.
Not today, Satan.
Cedric's golden eyes shifted toward me briefly.
And narrowed slightly.
Uh-oh.
Why was he looking at me like that?
Lilia suddenly grabbed my arm.
"Aren't you going to stop this?"
Absolutely not.
I valued my neck too much.
"I think they look lovely together," I replied sincerely.
Lilia looked like she might faint.
Emily stared at me in horror.
Even Adeline looked shocked again.
Cedric, however—
smiled.
Very slightly.
But enough to notice.
Oh no.
No no no.
Male lead attention was dangerous.
I quickly looked away.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
The prince had clearly noticed my strange behavior.
Great.
Exactly what I didn't want.
Cedric led Adeline toward the center of the ballroom while the orchestra began playing.
The two moved gracefully across the dance floor like they belonged in a movie scene.
Honestly?
They looked perfect together.
Like those ridiculously attractive couples online that make everyone else feel single.
The surrounding nobles whispered nonstop.
"The Crown Prince chose Baron Augustus' daughter…"
"She must be special…"
"Lady Raine doesn't seem upset?"
"Maybe the rumors were false?"
Please continue believing that.
I wanted absolutely zero involvement in romantic plotlines.
While everyone focused on the dance floor, I quietly began backing away.
Escape plan activated.
If I slipped into a corner and ate desserts peacefully for the rest of the night, maybe destiny would leave me alone.
I almost made it.
Almost.
"Lady Alexandra."
I froze.
That voice.
Slowly, painfully, I turned around.
Crown Prince Cedric stood behind me.
ALREADY?!
How fast did this man move?!
Adeline stood beside him looking equally nervous.
The prince studied me carefully.
"You seem different tonight."
Why did everyone keep saying that?!
Was the original Alexandra truly that horrible?
I forced a polite smile.
"I simply wished to compliment Lady Adeline honestly."
Cedric's gaze sharpened slightly.
"You disliked her previously."
Wait.
Previously?
EXCUSE ME?
I stared at him in disbelief.
Hold on.
Had Alexandra already met Adeline before the banquet?!
My memories scrambled rapidly.
Then I remembered.
A short scene from early in the novel.
Alexandra once saw Adeline entering a dress shop and mocked her for being "common."
OH.
So the villain origin story had technically already started.
Fantastic.
I laughed awkwardly.
"People can change."
Cedric looked unconvinced.
Honestly, if I were him, I'd be suspicious too.
Adeline suddenly spoke quietly.
"Lady Alexandra has been kind to me tonight."
Her red eyes met mine briefly.
And for some reason—
I felt guilty.
Because even if I hadn't bullied her yet…
the original Alexandra still had.
The prince remained silent for several seconds before finally speaking.
"I hope your kindness continues."
That sounded weirdly threatening.
Like a warning wrapped in politeness.
And honestly?
Fair enough.
If someone bullied the female lead in front of this man, they'd probably disappear mysteriously by morning.
"I have no intention of causing trouble," I answered truthfully.
Cedric continued staring at me.
Intensely.
Why was he analyzing me like a detective?!
Then finally, he nodded once.
"I see."
Awkward silence returned.
Please leave.
Please stop looking at me.
I'm trying to survive quietly.
Thankfully, another noble approached the prince for conversation, giving me the perfect chance to escape.
"I shall take my leave now," I said quickly before practically fleeing the area.
My heart pounded violently as I reached the dessert table.
Mission failed successfully.
I changed the story—
but now the male lead was suspicious of me.
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
I grabbed a tiny strawberry tart aggressively.
Maybe reincarnation wasn't a blessing.
Maybe this was punishment.
"You seem stressed."
I nearly launched the tart across the ballroom.
A man stood beside me casually holding a wine glass.
Silver hair.
Blue eyes.
Beautiful enough to rival the prince.
Wait.
No way.
I knew this face.
This character only appeared later in the novel.
Why was he here already?!
The man smiled lazily.
"Relax. You look like you've seen a ghost."
No.
Worse.
I'd seen another male lead.
Leonhart Blake.
The future villain who destroys the empire in the original ending route.