CATB Chapter 9

After Rachel's incident, the entire Iris Palace was on high alert.

All the servants trembled when they saw me, but unlike before, none of them dared to carelessly ignore my words. It made life easier. Knowing how efficient a tool fear could be, I had no intention of correcting this situation.

The morning of the birthday party dawned.

I glanced at the dresses Ariel had sent over.

All of them were in 'cutesy-cutesy' colors with horrible frills attached.

Was she telling me to go to hell?

Except for Jen and Lily, all the other maids had been sent by Ariel. I suspected my every move was being secretly reported back to her. It was bothersome for now, so I'd have to replace them all later.

"Jen."

"Yes, Princess!"

Both Lily and Jen were on edge. I chuckled softly.

"Bring Jamie."

"Yes. He's already waiting outside the palace."

"Well done."

When I patted Jen's head, she beamed and immediately went outside.

I had no intention of wearing those ridiculous dresses Ariel had brought.

I had already prepared all my dresses with Jamie before coming to the palace.

I was curious to see the expression Ariel would make when she saw me.

You can go to hell too. I grinned wickedly.

"Beautiful! Jamie is overwhelmed with emotion!!!"

The tearful Jamie clapped enthusiastically. Lily and Jen also stood with their mouths agape, staring at me and clapping.

"It's a success, Princess!"

"Our efforts have borne fruit!"

Leaving the fussing trio behind, I stood before the full-length mirror.

I'd spent the entire morning getting dressed up, so naturally I should look pretty.

"Hooo~"

More successful than I thought?

A graceful beauty stood in the mirror.

My honey-colored skin boasted a firm, radiant glow thanks to Lily's special cream, and the black silhouette dress that Jamie and I had designed together revealed my body line without reservation. The halter neck draped tightly from the chest, hugging my body, then flared wide at the hips. The back was deeply cut to show the curves of my firm hips, and from the end of my buttocks, a mermaid line with long frills cascaded down, thoroughly showcasing the results of my long hip-up exercise routine. It was a dress never attempted in the kingdom. Jamie said he wouldn't have even thought of it if not for my explanations about the design.

Rather than making my makeup completely pale, I went for a look that revealed my healthy complexion. With eyeliner emphasizing the corners of my eyes and sparkling pearls settled around them, my eyes looked twice as large as usual. My glass-like lips protruded plumply, shimmering even more seductively.

Thanks to Jen's efforts, my hair had now transformed to silk-like softness and was pinned up high in a bundle. The undulating strands that curved to my waist flowed seductively down my shoulder line. I wore the small tiara Ariel had sent on my head. I should at least show some courtesy. Actually, it was the only usable item among the jewelry she'd sent.

"Quite striking."

When I muttered to myself while looking at my reflection, Jamie spoke.

"It's definitely not the beauty the kingdom aims for. But Jamie can assert this with confidence. This... this is a unique charm. No one will be able to imitate Princess!"

Having completed all preparations, I headed to the banquet hall where the birthday party would be held.

The banquet had already begun and I was rather late, but I thought it was perfect timing to attract attention.

'The protagonist always appears late, after all.'

"Presenting Alexa de Peliazen Dwight, Second Princess of Pellipe!!"

At the servant's loud announcement at the banquet entrance, the entire banquet suddenly stopped.

The musicians playing music, the young lovers dancing merrily, the king and queen engaged in conversation—everyone froze.

'Alexa the Beast'

If there was a phrase powerful enough to silence even crying children in the kingdom with fear, it would be Alexa the Beast.

The monster had appeared.

The banquet hall began to stir.

Parents were busy trying to soothe their wailing children, while everyone else fixed their gazes on the entrance.

The doors opened wide and someone walked in.

That silhouette received the cascading chandelier light without reserve, walking through the crowd that split like a parting sea toward the king and queen who had lost their words.

Her gait was elegant, but her occasionally swaying hips, slender waist, and the full breasts that one's gaze naturally rose to encounter were shockingly seductive.

Gulp. The sound of swallowing could be heard here and there, but no one dared to speak carelessly.

The seductive black silhouette bent her knees and slightly lifted the hem of her dress.

"I am honored to behold Your Imperial Majesty's august countenance. I celebrate this birthday with the blessing of Demeter, goddess of abundance."

Though her voice was strong for a woman, it maintained perfect courtesy and refinement.

"Y-yes. Thank you. You look very beautiful today, Alexa."

The flustered king hurriedly continued his words. Showing such confusion would do him no good.

"Alexa?"

"Alexa the Beast?"

"Wasn't she a monster?"

Murmurs echoed through the banquet hall. The king quickly took Alexa's hand.

At the snake-like cold touch, she wanted to quickly shake off his hand, but given the circumstances, she thought it best to stay still and suppressed her disgust.

"My daughter and Pellipe's Second Princess, Alexa de Peliazen Dwight, has been freed from the curse. This is an auspicious blessing for the kingdom, and with Demeter's protection, Princess Alexa will continue to work steadfastly for our kingdom's development. Through my daughter's noble efforts, my benevolent rule, and your loyal contributions here present, Pellipe shall enjoy eternal prosperity!"

'Work steadfastly my ass, that's what you think.'

I pushed aside the thought and smiled gently at the king.

Though I found his skill at using everything politically distasteful, I had no choice but to acknowledge it.

Even after the king officially announced my existence, the piercing gazes directed at me continued.

"Alexa."

The moon goddess Chang'e appeared before me. Damn, she was annoyingly pretty.

"Sister."

I smiled sweetly and clasped Ariel's hand. Her hand was very hot, which surprised me a little, but I couldn't shake it off, so I kept holding it.

Ariel had her lustrous blonde hair tied low, wore light makeup, and was dressed in a sky-blue dress.

Pretty girls don't need heavy makeup, do they? Damn, I blinked my eyelids that had become heavy from applying this and that unnecessarily.

But the dress I had chosen from those Ariel sent - if I had worn it - would have been sky blue.

Ariel was also wearing sky blue now. Was this matching color really a coincidence?

I quickly hid my narrowed eyes.

I wanted to see her face more closely as she looked at my current appearance.

"You didn't wear the dress I sent..."

Ariel's voice trembled slightly as she spoke with apparent disappointment.

"Yeah, I suddenly felt like wearing something else. I think this suits me better too. Don't you think so?"

I finished speaking and looked into Ariel's eyes.

".......Yes, you're pretty. So pretty."

Ariel praised me with a gentle smile, but I didn't miss her hand gripping the dress tightly. I don't want to be enemies with you, but you were the one who provoked me first.

I smiled even more brightly at Ariel.

"Sister?"

A voice that sounded like it had just passed through puberty rang out behind me.

"Wilhelm."

I turned around to face the boy, whose face was quite young.

"Wilhelm, he's our younger brother."

Ariel told me as I stared blankly at the boy's face.

"Wilhelm, you probably don't remember Alexa. You were five when she left the palace..."

"No, I remember a little."

Wilhelm said, blushing.

"It's... it's been a long time, Sister Alexa."

For the sole prince of the royal family and heir to the throne, his smile toward me was innocent.

Whether that was innocence toward family or toward women, I couldn't tell, but seeing his gaze keep drifting toward my chest, it was the latter. I received his greeting without comment.

"Yes. Nice to see you, Wilhelm."

Whether he took my greeting as the beginning of affection, Wilhelm chattered on and wouldn't leave my side.

As if he had some mission to teach me everything since I'd been away from the palace for so long, he kept interrupting Ariel's introductions of nobles to me, eventually making her beautiful brows furrow.

"Sister, how about we go meet my friends now? They're all showing excellent capabilities at the academy..."

"Alexa needs to greet the young ladies with me first. Social circles are very important places for women."

This time Ariel interrupted Wilhelm's words. At her gentle voice and reasonable explanation, he didn't protest and stepped back.

"I see. Then, Sister, after the introductions are finished, you must come see us."

I nodded slightly and followed where Ariel led. Ariel's slender hand holding mine weakly was hot. Was she sick somewhere?

"Oh my!"

As soon as we approached the group of women gathered in the middle of the banquet hall, one young lady spotted me and cried out in surprise.

"Alexa, here are..."

Ariel carefully introduced the surrounding young ladies. Given their status as daughters of dukes, marquesses, counts, and other prominent nobles, and seeing that their gazes toward me weren't particularly kind, this girl had brought me right into the heart of enemy territory.

"You look very different from the rumors, Princess Alexa. Looking at Princess Alexa now, who on earth could have called her wild and hideous?"

From the emphasis she placed on the adjectives, she was clearly doing it on purpose.

Another young lady picked up on the count's daughter's words.

"Indeed. I'd heard rumors that she was vulgar and ignorant, but surely that can't be true. Though there's no smoke without fire... Hmm, I suppose we can finally confirm today whether the rumors are true."

The red-haired young lady's gaze swept over me sharply. Her eyes landed on my tightly fitted chest.

"At least one thing might be true."

"Well, to begin with, being cursed like that..."

"Lady Enarin, please watch your words. Alexa isn't yet accustomed to the capital, so she makes frequent mistakes. We should guide and help her."

At Ariel's calm words, the young ladies' eyes turned to hearts as they looked at her, then glared at me with displeasure. Tsk, if I were still in beast form, they would have pissed themselves.

I snatched an empty glass from the tray of a passing servant. The young ladies looked at me at my sudden action.

"Indeed, who could have spread such rumors?"

Crash.

I dropped the glass from my hand and it shattered into pieces.

"If I catch them, I won't let them off easy. Both the one who cast the curse and the one who spread the rumors."

The young ladies stared at me with their mouths agape.

"I grew up alone, so I don't have a good personality. I'm the type who has to see something through to the end to be satisfied."

I looked down at the broken glass pieces and stepped on them hard.

Crunch.

The glass fragments were completely crushed under my heel. The young ladies had turned to ice.

"Well then, it was so nice meeting you all."

I smiled sweetly and left. This time, even Ariel didn't try to stop me.