Chapter 16: Could She Be a Succubus?

Her heart skipped a beat, and Selis’s dance steps grew increasingly erratic.

She really wasn’t of noble birth; etiquette and formal dances were barely within her grasp, nowhere near the level of a true noble.

What surprised her was that such a small flaw was immediately noticed by Beline.

“Marquess Vanessa was born into the Guerrero Family and has been well-versed in all sorts of court etiquette and dances since childhood. There’s no way her steps would be so clumsy.”

“Also, your personality seems completely different from the Vanessa Marquess everyone talks about.”

At these words, Beline seemed to see right through everything, her eyes narrowing.

Selis had no choice but to play dumb.

“Ah, what are you talking about? I am Marquess Vanessa.”

Beline scrutinized her from head to toe, falling silent for a long moment before sighing.

“No wonder you so easily refused Duchess Nora’s invitation. If I weren’t Beline, I might have made the same choice as you.”

As the music ended, she didn’t give Selis a chance to respond, letting go of her hand and turning to leave the dance floor.

But after a few steps, she stopped and glanced back to offer a warning.

“If you don’t want your identity exposed, stay away from Nora. She may be… rude, but she’s good at reading people.”

Mentioning “rude,” Beline recalled what had happened earlier and laughed.

“Your smile is really beautiful.”

The unexpected compliment made Beline’s breath hitch. Her pretty face flushed a gentle pink, and then, under Selis’s puzzled gaze, she shyly shot her a glare before turning away from the dance floor.

Was that… a blush?

Selis truly didn’t understand these noble ladies.

After Beline left, Selis also stepped off the dance floor and instinctively glanced toward Nora’s direction.

Coincidentally, Nora looked over at the same moment, and their eyes met instantly.

Raising her wine glass, Nora smiled faintly at her, the light in her eyes growing brighter.

From Selis’s perspective, that smile carried a sense of determination.

Sometimes, having too much charm was a trouble all its own.

If she really was Marquess Vanessa, she might have considered chatting with Nora. But now, she just wanted to quietly get through the evening.

Quickly averting her gaze, she strode back to a corner of the hall.

Perhaps the goddess heard her unspoken wish, because no one came over to bother her after that. She stayed in that dim corner until the event finally ended.

As the crowd gradually dispersed, she breathed a sigh of relief and followed them out of the gathering.

What she didn’t see was that by the hall’s entrance, Nora was quietly watching her retreating figure, the moonlight reflecting off the red wine in her glass.

“Miss, don’t look anymore. She’s already gone.”

The maid Jenny found her and brought her out of her daze.

Nora swirled her wine glass thoughtfully, then suddenly smiled as if she’d just remembered something.

“Marquess Vanessa… haven’t you noticed she’s different from the other Noble Ladies? She’s obviously very beautiful, yet she doesn’t like to show off.”

“No matter how different she is, she doesn’t like you, Miss.”

The wine glass in her hand stopped moving as Nora clutched her chest.

It hurt—a stabbing pain as if pierced by a sharp blade.

“…Who said that?”

“She already rejected your invitation.”

“That’s because she doesn’t want to be the center of attention at this ball.”

Nora laughed, her confidence returning.

“You still lack observational skills, Jenny. Didn’t you see how, from the moment she arrived, she sat alone in a corner, wanting to be left alone? She didn’t even try to network.”

“As far as I know, the real Marquess Vanessa would never behave like that. So, there are two possibilities: one, the rumors about her are false; two, she’s not Marquess Vanessa at all, and I…”

Finishing the wine in her glass in one gulp, the light in her eyes grew even sharper.

“I’m leaning toward the second possibility. She must have a hidden reason for impersonating Marquess Vanessa. After she refused my invitation, I didn’t pursue her further. She should understand what I mean.”

“…I think you’re just overthinking it, Miss.”

Jenny sighed, rubbing her forehead. She thought her mistress was already obsessed.

She really didn’t understand how such a rational young lady could be so completely captivated by a Noble Lady who only looked beautiful.

They hadn’t even interacted much!

“If you want to know, just ask Beline.”

Nora smiled confidently.

While Beline danced with that girl, she had been watching them closely. She could tell there was some tension.

When they parted, Beline had even shot her a sharp glare. Their relationship might have worsened after that dance.

So if the girl had any secrets, Beline would definitely reveal them.

……

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. She is Marquess Vanessa herself.”

Beline’s reply raised Nora’s eyebrows.

“Anything else? If not, I’ll take my leave.”

“No, that’s all.”

“Oh, then let’s go, Butler.”

Completely different from her warm demeanor at the ball, Beline didn’t even glance at Nora before turning around. Supported by the Butler, she boarded the carriage.

The carriage rolled away as Nora fell silent, and Jenny snorted loudly toward Beline’s departing vehicle, seemingly defending her mistress.

But she didn’t understand why Beline, who used to like her mistress so much, was now so cold.

There was even a faint trace of hostility.

Could it be that she, too, had fallen for that girl, becoming her mistress’s rival?

…Ha! What a joke. What kind of charm could that girl have to make them both fall for her? Was she a succubus?

“Miss, see? That girl is Marquess Vanessa. You’re just overthinking.”

Walking toward the night, Nora thought for a moment and suddenly made up her mind.

“I’m going to find Marquess Vanessa.”

“Ha?!”

……

Meanwhile, at Marquess Vanessa’s residence.

“I’m back.”

“So? No one discovered your true identity, right?”

Sitting on the sofa, Selis suddenly thought of Beline from earlier tonight. Then she shook her head firmly and said, “No.”

“Good. Not having to attend that damned ball is such a relief. I’ll have peace and quiet for a while.”

Stretching lazily, Vanessa yawned and pulled a Contract from her bosom, placing it on the table.

“Here, this is the Contract for borrowing the Golden Dungeon. Sign it, and for the next twenty days, the Golden Dungeon will be under your control.”

Picking up the Contract, Selis suddenly felt a little guilty.

Peace and quiet?

She thought of Nora.

Marquess Vanessa, will it really be peaceful in the future?

…Whatever. She might as well sign it first.

After all, she wasn’t really Marquess Vanessa.