She is the Daughter of the Villainess in a Ridiculous Novel - Chapter 60

The moment Idel recognized who Ivanna was, she realized that Veronica was already up to something.

‘So today, there are three servants attending to me, and one of them is someone who has tormented me…’

Isn’t that a bit too blatant?

‘Or is it that I’m about to collapse, so it doesn’t matter if she acts so openly?’

What is she so confident about before her plan even succeeds?

This is why people should be humble.

As Idel clicked her tongue inwardly at Veronica, she quickly began to think. Knowing that Veronica was up to something, a few things started to click.

‘It’s not true that the Duchy has a tradition of bringing fewer servants to the banquet.’

It was true that the Duke Clementine’s banquet was more like a private family gathering.

It was essentially no different from the ‘get-to-know-you’ event that the Duchess had arranged before.

Occasionally, they would invite people who were close to the duchy to solidify their connections.

‘It’s somewhat similar to Count Bright’s family gathering for meals.’

However, that has nothing to do with the number of servants.

Even under normal circumstances, there were about five servants who took care of her closely.

‘Surely, I’ll be the only one with fewer servants. At least enough for the duke to cast a glance my way.’

It would add credibility to the rumors that she was making things difficult for her servants.

Getting angry at Veronica for lying about it at the gathering would probably be useless.

In the end, what the duke would see is her once again being cruel to the maid.

‘In the end, she wants to show the duke and duchess my bad side properly.’

Moreover, if my guess is correct, my evaluation must be decreasing in real-time even now.

‘Yes. The others have already arrived.’

From what Veronica said, it seemed she had intentionally come to fetch her late.

It’s highly likely that she wasn’t just slightly late but quite late.

‘Once I enter the banquet hall, everyone from the duke’s household will look at me disapprovingly.’

Even without seeing it, the situation played out in her mind.

‘But it won’t really have any real impact on me.’

At the very least, Melisa will be pleased. The environment is very well set up.

Isn’t it perfect for gaslighting her by saying that her only ally here is her mother?

‘And the happier Melisa is, the greater my joy will be later when I get back at her.’

This is the advantage of long-term investment. Just thinking about the benefits she’ll receive later makes her feel good.

Idel, having calmly grasped Veronica’s scheme, nodded as if she knew nothing.

“Okay, I understand. Let’s go quickly.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Following her elegantly smiling figure, Idel arrived at the banquet hall and faced the exact situation she had expected.

The sight of everyone, including the duke and duchess, gathered in the banquet hall.

“You’re late, Idel.”

“……”

“I told you to adjust the timing since someone from another family would be joining us today.”

Idel subtly averted her gaze from the duke’s stern reprimand. Now that she thought about it, there were also several knights, including Dante and Patrick, in the banquet hall.

“First, take your seat.”

“……Yes.”

Feeling the atmosphere of the banquet hall, Idel deliberately glared at Veronica. Of course, it wouldn’t have any effect, but that was exactly what she intended.

Detecting a slight satisfaction at the corner of Veronica’s mouth, Idel bit her lower lip and swiftly turned her head away.

A silent sigh escaped the duke’s lips as he observed Idel’s behavior.

‘I expected this, but…’

The banquet, while not raucous, had an unusually heavy atmosphere today. And the reason, of course, was that noticeable girl.

‘Among those here, the only one who hasn’t clashed with Idel is Melisa.’

Dante, Gianna, and even his wife, Rowena, were all distant from Idel.

The duke’s gaze fell upon his wife.

Rowena’s look at Idel was incredibly complex, as if she had no idea how to navigate their relationship or where to begin.

‘It’s no wonder Rowena is struggling.’

Even he couldn’t find a solution.

As he pressed his throbbing head with one hand, Patrick broke through the awkward atmosphere with an exclamation.

“Oh, onion soup! What a great start! On a day like today, a hot dish is just right.”

He casually chatted with Gianna, as he always did.

“Lady Gianna, do you like onion soup? What’s your favorite food?”

“I absolutely love apple pie! Onion soup is just okay, though.”

“Oh, then how about we trade? I’ll take your soup, and you can have my apple pie.”

The tension in the air began to lift slightly with this lighthearted joke.

“Hey, you! Are you going to steal a lady’s food as a knight?”

“Yeah, you might as well aim for the duke’s soup. Even if you can’t get the soup, at least you’ll save face as a knight.”

With the knights’ playful jabs starting the conversation, it thankfully continued throughout the meal.

The unexpected turn of the banquet came after dessert was served.

“Gianna.”

“……What?”

“Here, you eat this.”

It was because Idel Clementine, who hadn’t said a word throughout the banquet, suddenly handed an apple pie to Gianna.

The banquet hall fell silent again at the sudden and unexpected action.

Idel, feeling uncomfortable with the astonished expressions on people’s faces, rolled her eyes and added,

“……If you don’t want it, then don’t.”

“……”

As she glanced at the person across from her while speaking, Idel bit her lower lip slightly.

She sensed a faint excitement similar to Diane’s on Gianna’s face, who looked at her in surprise.

Idel cleared her throat softly, suppressing the anticipation that wouldn’t be visible to strangers.

“Ah…!”

At Idel’s cough, Gianna let out a small exclamation and quickly denied her words.

“I’m not saying I don’t want to eat it!”

“……”

“But, why… are you giving it to me?”

With the expectation evident in Gianna’s voice, Idel glanced at Melisa.

Even in this dramatic situation, Melisa merely smiled calmly and looked at Idel.

As if to say, “Do as you wish.”

Feeling empowered by her presence, Idel took a short breath and raised her head confidently.

“Just… I’m sorry for shouting back then.”

Idel’s voice grew quieter as she spoke, but it didn’t matter.

Despite her shrinking voice, the words she uttered had a great impact.

Idel’s gaze slowly swept across the people in the banquet hall, not because she wanted to see their silent shock…

‘Right.’

But because she wanted to see Veronica, who was pale from the situation unfolding completely differently than planned.

That expression of hers was nothing less than a sign of favorable winds.

Confirming that her plan had no issues, unlike Veronica’s, Idel awkwardly rolled her eyes and delivered the final blow.

“So, here, you eat this. You said earlier that you like apple pie.”

“……”

Gianna’s hand reached for the dessert plate that Idel extended.

Just as the moment everyone had been waiting for was about to unfold, Veronica, who had been pale and frozen, hurriedly spoke up.

“B-but, Miss Idel, you were looking forward to the apple pie too!”

“Huh?”

“You’ve been saying since before the banquet that you wanted to eat it… If you both feel the same way, isn’t that enough? I’ll bring another plate from the kitchen so both of you can enjoy the apple pie. What do you think, Miss Idel?”

Idel didn’t answer Veronica’s question. It was more accurate to say there was no need to respond.

This was an undeniably awkward situation for anyone to see.

“This is a bit strange. Why is she interrupting now?”

“No matter how much she wants to serve her master, isn’t this a bit rude?”

Idel glanced at the knights who were pointing out Veronica on her behalf before turning her head back to Gianna.

Their gazes intertwined discreetly.

Reading the signal in Idel’s eyes, Gianna cautiously opened her mouth.

“Idel, are you really giving me such a precious apple pie…?”

“Yeah, it’s… a token of my feelings.”

“……If you say that much, then thank you.”

With a deeply moved expression toward Idel, Gianna immediately reached for the apple pie.

“Miss G-Gianna…”

Veronica’s eyes trembled slightly.

She couldn’t stop Gianna here. If she did, her own actions would be revealed. But, but…!

“Ah, no! Miss Gianna! You can’t eat that pie!”