Chapter 88: A Radiant Force and Hidden Agendas

About one hundred demonic soldiers brandished their weapons and charged at a human woman standing at the top of the stairs. But not one of them could set foot on the steps as a blinding flash descended, instantly reducing the approaching demons to charred ash.

The legendary saint who appears once every thousand years. Sacred power that surpasses human limits. A force capable of turning the tides of a nation. It wasn’t a lie when they said that a nation blessed by a saint would soon dominate the continent.

Her eyes, aglow with sacred power, shone so brightly that looking directly at them was almost unbearable.

She towered above all the demonic soldiers like a silver-armored general. Overwhelmed by her awe-inspiring aura, the demons began kneeling in submission one by one.

“Can I take it to mean that no one dares defy my will?”

Lady Elina V smiled radiantly, as if she were about to illuminate the entire world.

A new war was about to break out in the Demon Realm. But the details, though extensive, are too tedious to recount.

* * *

Inside an opulently decorated bedroom draped in red curtains, two women stood. One was the notorious Rozally, mistress of this chamber, and the other, a palace maid from the Imperial City. Rozally glared dispassionately at the trembling maid kneeling before her.

“Everyone, be silent.”

Bribing one of the Emperor’s devoted maids who attended to the betrothed was simple enough—offer a hefty sum and a threat, and compliance was guaranteed.

Rozally’s command was straightforward: discreetly observe Elina II (officially, Kim Bing-ui) as she played the role of the betrothed, and report every little detail back. In essence, she was a spy.

“Tell me everything she’s been up to these past few days.”

The spirit inhabiting Elina II’s body was suspicious. There was no reason for her to venture into the Imperial City in place of Lady Elina I. First, her true motive had to be uncovered.

“Her routine is pretty standard… She wakes around 1 PM, has her meal at 2, lounges in bed for about three hours, and steps out when dusk arrives. Typically, she chats with the guards at the Imperial Palace or meets with Creon, His Highness’s most trusted confidant.”

“Creon? That must be the hulking Male Lead, right? Meeting him separately? They must have gotten close already!”

“Ever since they bumped into each other in the corridor, they’ve grown remarkably chummy.”

“Is that all?!”

“Well… he talks to me casually—ditching the formal titles and even calling me ‘sister.’ He sometimes uses odd phrases I can hardly understand. And when he runs, he fusses over his dress, complaining about its cumbersome length, not to mention his ridiculous K-pop dance moves.”

“So…”

Rozally’s lips curled into a wicked smirk.

“That woman is desperate to stand out, isn’t she?”

“Yes. At night, she secretly scales the window toward the Emperor’s bedchamber… though she always turns back before reaching the imperial prison.”

“Imperial Prison?”

“That’s where Duke Diches is held. I couldn’t catch the details of their conversation, but both of them were certainly laughing.”

“Laughing? Oh, my—how could I have been so oblivious? Hahaha!”

Suddenly, Rozally burst into a loud, raucous laugh. Just as abruptly, her laughter died, leaving an eerie silence in its wake.

“That woman… she’s trying to steal the affections of the Male Leads!”

Unable to contain her fury, Rozally waved her arms hysterically. A nearby vase was struck and sent flying across the room. The sound of shattering porcelain made the palace maid shudder violently.

“It’s obvious! After getting snubbed by the Emperor’s Male Lead, she’s now set her sights on the Duke’s—and even the hulking Male Lead… She’s clearly scheming to create a reverse harem!”

Madness gleamed in Rozally’s piercing eyes. Not only did she dare to covet her own sister’s partner, but she also had the audacity to play the field with the Male Leads. Clenching her bitten nails, she glared at the ceiling. This chaos couldn’t be allowed to continue.

‘It won’t go her way on my watch.’

Thus began the wicked one’s counterstrike.

* * *

Three days later, Lara Schmord was released from Daeshin Shrine as promised. At first, she had tried to escape in panic several times, but once she was free, a refreshing sense of relief washed over her. Her body felt almost weightless.

After safely arriving at the Shumorud Viscount Mansion in the carriage provided by Mikhail, her relief quickly soured when the first person she encountered was her brother. It infuriated her. Thinking, ‘If he deserts me again, I’ll kill him,’ Lara ascended the stairs just as her brother began his descent.

“Who are you?”

“What…?”

Her brother Lawrence halted mid-step, staring blankly at her. Evidently, he was up to one of his childish pranks. Sensing trouble, Lara kept her distance as she passed him.

But then, a quick hand snatched her wrist. Turning around, she saw her brother’s dazed face slowly parting his lips. It was utterly repulsive.

“I’ve never seen such a beautiful lady… if you don’t mind, may I know your name?”

The sleazy tone of his request made Lara recoil. She jerked her hand free and pushed him away forcefully.

“Die!”

Lara quickly retreated to her room and locked the door. Examining her chilled, goosebumped wrist, she shuddered. She mumbled that she needed to get out of the house—but then her eyes caught her reflection in the full-length mirror.

“…No way.”

Slowly, she approached the mirror and swept her hand across her cheek. What was this? Her face radiated an astonishing brilliance.

It wasn’t just her face. Her arms and legs, previously marred by cellulite, were now sleek and smooth, and the stubborn weight on her lower belly had vanished. With a perfectly cinched waist, Lara’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Is this really me?”

It was the story of an extra who underwent a miraculous transformation after shedding a mere 5kg.

Chapter 11: The Quintessential Ball of Self-Praise

Two days later, a letter arrived for Lara—an invitation from the notorious Rozally, urging her to attend a party hosted by her family.

Lara promptly visited a dress shop and picked out a dress with a daring plunging back—a style she had long been too timid to try. For two days, she adhered strictly to a diet and massage regimen suggested by Mikhail, and finally, the day arrived.

“Welcome.”

Lara gracefully stepped down from the carriage and entered the grand mansion. Everyone in the capital knew that Rozally’s family was untouchable, even by the royal court.

Wandering through the exquisite interior, Lara couldn’t help but marvel at her surroundings. How mesmerizing must this party be in such a setting!

Eventually, she was led to a white door. Lara gently grasped the doorknob. Inside, a cluster of young ladies huddled together—many of them even in pajamas.

‘It’s supposed to be a party, but it looks so pathetic!’

The massive ballroom was nowhere in sight; instead, Rozally’s room dominated the scene. Balloons hung from the walls and ceiling, and square tables were laden with delivery food—pizza, chicken, and sweet and sour pork. Even the glasses held three varieties of soda: dark, clear, and a vivid saffron hue.

‘I wonder whose birthday party this is.’

“Happy Birthday, Rozally.”

‘…Oh, right.’

Lara soon corrected her thoughts. Not having brought a gift, she chose to sit quietly in a corner, though her stunning dress made her stand out. Among the pajama-clad crowd, she couldn’t help but attract attention.

“Oh my, who is that young lady?”

“Indeed. I don’t think I’ve seen her before…”

Trying to ignore the piercing stares of the young ladies around her, Lara alternated her gaze between the walls and the ceiling.

“Lara Shumorud?”

At that moment, as a shadow passed overhead, a familiar voice spoke. Rozally, the party host, appeared in a sophisticated wine-colored pajama set, looking down imperiously. At the sound of her name, the group of young ladies buzzed with murmurs.

“…If it’s Shumorud, isn’t that the Viscountess of that family?”

“That one who used to look like an orc…?”

They whispered among themselves, but every word was audible.

“Who said she looks like an orc?! I said it all!”

In a sudden burst, Lara leapt up and grabbed the young lady who had made the outrageous remark. Amid a scuffle on the floor with shouts of ‘You go first!’, the sound of a door opening announced the arrival of a group of burly men.

“Take her away.”

“Miss Rozally! Please, have mercy! I haven’t had a slice of pizza yet…!”

Fortunately, it wasn’t Lara but the outspoken young lady who was ejected from the party. Lara spat out a wad of brown hair mixed with sticky blood and clutched it tightly. Her moment of triumph was cut short by a haughty voice nearby.

“Hmm, you said Shumorud, right? You bear a striking resemblance to someone.”

“Hah, pleased to meet you. It’s probably just my imagination. Ha.”

“Of course, a refined young lady like you wouldn’t be some commoner knight in disguise living with me.”

Lara shivered, suspecting that Rozally might already know everything. Thankfully, Rozally’s attention soon shifted elsewhere.

“By the way, if you haven’t heard, tonight’s party comes with provided pajamas.”