Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi

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Chapter 3 – For Things That Go Too Far

For things that go too far (1)

“I want to change my mood. Make it very colorful.”

When she finished bathing, Sienna stood in front of the dressing table and surrounded by the maids.

She was wearing the indigo blue velvet dress, which naturally hangs from the waist. It had colorful jewels studded throughout the hem and sparkles with every movement of hers.

Sienna glanced around.

“You are so beautiful!”

Half a mixture of flattery and sincerity popped up here and there. She obviously knew it’s good to hear, so she just decided to listen to the praises.

‘Colorful is just my taste!’

Her long hair was finely braided and hung to one side. Sienna wore a wide-brimmed hat with a white ribbon tied around her head.

After make-up, she and Anna decided to go out to the garden. It was because Sienna said she wanted to have lunch in the garden. The whole time she walked through the garden, Siena was excited as if she was on a picnic. On the sunny day, following a beautiful path, the white table in the middle of her garden had food prepared for her.

“Wow!”

‘When was the last time I had a proper meal.’

Sienna admired the delicious food without realizing it.

Fully filled the baskets were voluminous sandwiches and golden baked bread. The three-tier tray contained scones and small cakes, and the silver tray contained appetizing grapes and fruit jelly. Sienna first took a sip of black tea cooled to the right temperature, and picked up a scone. Then, she applied the strawberry jam and took a bite while taking a sip of black tea.

This time, she spread orange marmalade on the toasted bread and took a bite. It had a crisp, light sound and a refreshing feeling. After scooping up the sandwich with plenty of fresh vegetables, she slowed down her eating speed.

“Ah, this is happiness.”

While she tapped on her stomach and soaked in the happiness, the servants around her looked at each other.

‘Is that the princess we know?’

They were bewildered by the princess’s eating for the first time in their lives. Because Sienna was someone who only ate food to the point of barely filling her hunger. Suddenly, feeling their gaze, she swept the edge of her mouth with her thumb.

‘Did I eat too much? Ah, well, whatever.’

Sienna was now the happiest after a long time.

Flowers in full bloom, leaves fluttering in the wind, and delicious food.

‘With these things, what more do I need? The world is so beautiful.’

It was the moment when she sang a hum and poured another cup of tea. Anna, who was sitting in front of her, holding the tea suddenly struck her hand, saying that she almost forgot.

“Ah, that’s right. Princess! There’s good news.”

“Good news?”

“Soon, Marquis of Valencia and Jad are joining us!”

“Really?”

“Yes! It looks like His Majesty will have tea time in the newly completed garden this time.”

“I see.”

“It’s just my feeling, but maybe they’re thinking of your engagement.”

“Hmm.”

Anna seemed a little excited, but unlike her, Sienna was still stiff.

“Are you not happy?”

“Well…”

‘Should I be happy?’

To be honest, she had no idea.

She was not thinking about anything, but truthfully, she felt like she didn’t want to think anything too intensely.

In addition, one of the many reasons for Pierre’s harassment of Siena was the arranged marriage to the Marquis of Valencia. It could be a threat to Pierre if the marriage to the Marquis of Valencia, who was also very popular with strong military power, was finally established.

Though, of course, she had no intention of marrying Jad, and the throne was also out of her interest.

‘Why would I hang on the guy who hates me?’

She wasn’t free enough to do something so stupid. Her marriage to Jad was just a short delay that would be good for both him and her.

‘Yes, right.’

She concluded briefly. However, for Anna, Siena’s attitude was quite shocking.

Jad Valencia, whose name alone used to dye her cheeks with a rose-colored tint, was now bringing her an expression of a princess who had been figuring out what dress to wear for a long time.

“Oh my gosh.”

The sound of her heart burst out from her mouth.

“…Mr. Jad ​​is coming?” Anna repeated herself several more times as if she couldn’t believe it. ‘I wonder what happened that day.’

As her expression became serious, Sienna put down the teacup and slowly rolled her head.

‘Right. I used to follow him a lot.’

Anyone who knew it was one unrequited love.

‘If I act too calm here, I’ll look suspicious, right?’ Sienna pondered for a moment, then put her eyes down and thought. She was rather confident in acting.

“Well, you know, Anna. I’m thinking of taking my mind away from Jad now.”

As if trying to end her long unrequited love, she was calm, but there was a hint of sad struggle in her expression.

“Jad, no, Sir Valencia wants to break this marriage, as everyone knows.”

“Princess…”

“It’s upsetting to be everyone’s laughing stock, and I hate when someone becomes unhappy because of me.”

Anna’s eyes got moist again. “My poor princess…”

“I’m fine.”

She laughed lightly, but it made Anna look more sad. In the quiet garden, their conversation could be heard very well. Compassionate gazes poured out from the surroundings, but Siena just drank her tea without saying a word.

“I like things the way it is now.”

No matter what everyone said, she was 200% sincere.

***

The only concern she had right now was her death as she was getting closer to the time.

Was it really impossible for her to get close to Pierre?

In many romance fantasy novels she had seen so far, the villainous older brothers were usually little sibling-fools.

A hopeful scenario was drawn for a while, but it was literally just for a moment. She shook her head straight away.

‘Huh. I already told myself I wasn’t going to change anyone.’ Sienna has been harassed more than anything else mentioned in the novel. Her most upset memory was being trapped in her closet because she was afraid of narrow spaces.

‘He’s a bad guy from the bent twig.’[ T/N: This was a part of a proverb ‘as the twig is bent, the tree is inclined,’ meaning early influence makes a permanent effect. ]

There was little room for rehabilitation. It was way past the time to find a better opportunity. She would instead appeal with cuteness if she possessed this body when she was younger…

‘Well, if you’re twenty, it’s not really the age to act cute anymore.’

Unfortunately, Sienna never had the desire to be king in the past, and even now, she had no more desire to be a king. Why would she do that? This was a good place to live shortly.

However, it was obvious that Pierre, who was suspicious, would not try to leave a bud of anxiety.

To survive, she needed a more certain solution. ‘So, what if we don’t go to that place on my birthday? Or somehow pretend to be dead…’ She was thinking to herself, and was surprised by her thoughts that Sienna opened her mouth.

Oh.

“Aren’t I a genius?”

“Yes?”

‘Oh no.’ Her thoughts came out of her mouth. Surprised, Anna missed her spoon after taking a spoonful of jellies.

“I’m sorry. I thought about something else for a while. What are we talking about?”

“It’s your debut.”

“Oh, that’s right. That was it.”

About a month from now, a debutante ball will be held in the castle.

“You have to get the dress quickly. The Capital’s boutique is already lively.”

Normally, nobles and royals enter the social world at the age of sixteen. The Debutante Ball was the most significant event for young men and women to enjoy a get-together naturally. However, because Sienna’s body was weak, she has been absent so far. Hence, at the slightly late age of twenty, she was about to take her first steps into the social world.

‘This debutante was worth witnessing.’

A triangular relationship that cannot be missed when it comes to romance. At the ballroom, there was going to be a fire fight between Jad and Pierre, with Eleanor in between.

And obviously, it was a miserable day for Sienna. She had to watch her so-beloved fiancé ask another woman for the first dance.

‘Wow. What a bad guy.’

The ball lasted for three days, and it was common to wear a different dress every day. At this time of year, even the poor aristocrats struggled to get their hands on expensive dresses. As such, it was an event that everyone prepared with lights on their eyes.

There was no place like this for the children of the nobles who had reached the right age to search for marriage partners.

“Princess is the most beautiful of the young ladies gathered there. I will definitely make sure it is that way.” Anna was more serious than ever.

It seemed quite entertaining, so Sienna decided to match Anna’s rhythm.

It was when the two were talking about the latest dress trends. While she was eagerly chatting, the spoon in her hand fell off, and Siena accidentally dropped one of her scones.

The exceptionally round scone rolled around and stopped at a pair of feet.

Shoes made of expensive leather.

“Uh….”

“Would you be interested in this?”

Sienna slowly raised her head to look up at the owner of the shoes.

He had dark blue and sculptural eyes with blond hair that shines like sunshine. The handle of the sword on his waist was engraved with a violet pattern, symbolizing the royal family.

‘Pierre? Why is he out of there?’

With no time for Sienna to say anything, Pierre brutally trampled the scones at his feet. At that moment, she frowned without even knowing. She knew it wasn’t only the scones he really stepped on.

Sienna wasn’t the only one surprised by his sudden appearance. The attendants around were also watching the two while holding their breath.

“Brother, what brings you here…”

“There were rumors. You’re going crazy, breaking things and just laying down without eating anything.”

“Ah. I’m sorry for the worries. I was just not feeling well for a while.”

“Really?” He laughed loudly.

As the main character, he was filthy handsome. She smiled nicely to reassure Pierre, but she realized a little later that it had offended him.

“Are you smiling?”

Oops.

“You’re smiling at me? How dare you?”

This was why habits are scary.

She was used to responding to nonsense with a smile.

Pierre laughed coldly and hurriedly approached, then he roughly grabbed her chin and lifted it up. Because of the significant difference in height, when he looked down like that, she felt a choking sensation of getting crushed.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Brother…”

“Do not do anything, whatever it might be. Nothing.”

In the past, Sienna would have cried. However, Hye Soo was originally someone who did not shed tears easily.

‘But I still have to shed a tear here.’

It wasn’t scary at all, but she pressed her tears button.

Giselle. Sienna called Pierre in a trembling voice while recalling the only show that made her cry every time she saw it.

“Brother Pierre…”

As she squeezed tears thinly according to the role she was given, her eyes quickly turned red and thick teardrops were dripping down.

When he saw that, he released Sienna.

It was a confirmation of his dominance. Pierre used his shoes to kick the lawn a few times then turned around.

“Sob, sob.”

Sienna sat back and sobbed.

The air in the peaceful garden suddenly became heavier. All the servants were stiffed and stopped whatever they were doing. However, the sobbing gradually subsided and soon stopped.

She woke up, calmly wiping away her tears.

“Pr, Princess?”

Everyone was confused by the unfamiliar situation.

Sienna slowly lifted her middle finger as she watched Pierre’s back as he moved away.

———

Note:I’m not quite sure what the show ‘Giselle’ she mentioned was, but perhaps it could be the ‘Giselle, ou Les Wilis’ ballet.Read more here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giselle

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