What did he just say? The Hosakuin ducal family?
I hadn't expected to hear about Evangeline's lineage in *this* context. The diary contained nothing about her mother's side, and neither Kanna nor Hena seemed to know—there had been no one to ask.
And just *listen* to what this scoundrel was spouting! I'd assumed he was merely trying to introduce himself, perhaps angle for an acquaintance. Instead, he was spreading gossip to curry sympathy from the crowd.
Insulting me. Humiliating Kanna and Hena. Three targets with a single volley—what *aristocratic eloquence*.
_Where in the world is Gabriel?_
I was beginning to resign myself to enduring more of this drivel when a familiar figure appeared in the distance. My heart lifted.
_Gabriel! Come on, do something! Save Kanna!_
I mentally urged him forward, but he didn't move. He simply stood there, watching. His gaze was fixed on Kanna, yet his feet remained rooted to the ground.
_What are you doing? Why aren't you intervening?_
Could it be... had he fallen for *me* instead of her? Even if his kindness was reserved solely for his beloved, surely he possessed *some* measure of chivalrous nobility?
But Gabriel showed no intention of stepping in. Kanna stood with her head bowed, as though wounded, while Hena hovered nearby, helpless and frantic.
I couldn't take it anymore.
I rose to my feet. Fine—I'd possessed the villain, and now this story had become *mine*. But why should the original heroine suffer like this?
"Stop the carriage."
My voice came out muffled, thick with barely contained irritation. Jelly, sensing my displeasure, immediately reached for the door.
The coachman, who had been tending to the horses at the front, nearly toppled over in shock.
"W-what? M-Mistress?"
Of course he was startled—Evangeline had suddenly materialized inside what should have been an empty carriage. Well, she'd hired a werewolf taxi! I'd explain everything later.
Jelly leapt down first and extended his hand to help me descend. He probably wanted me to observe proper etiquette, given the sea of aristocratic eyes watching our every move. In this moment, he looked less like a member of a harem and more like an all-powerful butler.
Once my feet touched the ground, I opened the umbrella Jelly had selected. His taste was impeccable—the parasol was lovely, delicate white lace catching the sunlight.
Besides, Jelly himself was quite striking, and together we immediately commanded attention. And Evangeline, of course, was a renowned beauty.
Silence fell over the garden like a shroud.
Kanna and Hena turned around.
"...Mistress."
"Madam!"
Relief flooded Hena's eyes, and a joyful smile bloomed across Kanna's previously dejected face. I walked quickly toward them and positioned myself in front, shielding them from the crowd's scrutiny.
"Y-Young Mistress Lohanson?" the man stammered, his composure cracking. He clearly hadn't anticipated my appearance.
_Yes. This is the same Ms. Lohanson you were just gossiping about so enthusiastically._
"You... you were with them the whole time?" His voice wavered. "Why didn't you simply exit the carriage right away...?"
_Translation: If you'd shown yourself sooner, I wouldn't have started running my mouth._
"I wasn't feeling well and was resting inside." I let the words hang for a moment before continuing. "And you are...?"
"Ah, forgive me." He straightened, attempting to regain his dignity. "Anullen Benzen, at your service. Of the Marquis Benzen family."
_Damn._
I'd assumed he was just some minor noble—a small fry not worth remembering. But the marquis's son? Evangeline was merely a count's daughter; she was *beneath* him in status!
Why couldn't the villain be a princess? That would make everything so much simpler!
_Oh, right. Her mother is a duchess._
"And what were you discussing with my girls, Mr. Marquis?"
I didn't actually want to know. I'd heard quite enough already. It seemed I'd been wrong to abandon my plan to befriend Grandfather. Even if he'd apparently disowned us, I would need to mend that relationship eventually.
---
"I merely wished to assist them," Anullen said smoothly. "They seemed unfamiliar with the temple."
"I see..."
_He's lying without so much as a blush!_ I'd heard every word!
"Strange." I tilted my head, keeping my expression pleasant. "I could have sworn I heard laughter at the expense of the Lohanson count's family... and the Hosakuin ducal family as well."
I mentioned the ducal line deliberately—the count's title clearly hadn't impressed him enough. But the *duke's* daughter? That was another matter entirely.
Anullen's face drained of color as he realized I'd overheard everything. Gossiping was one thing; getting *caught* was quite another.
_You were simply unlucky._
"Tell me," I continued, "does my dress also appear too *shabby* for the temple?"
I hadn't worn anything elaborate—just a simple white dress without embellishments. Compared to the brightly adorned aristocrats surrounding us, the girls and I must have looked positively impoverished.
I'd dressed modestly *deliberately*, hoping to shed the villain image. Instead, this fool had decided we were beggars.
_How infuriating._
"Well?" I pressed. "I'm waiting for an answer."
Anullen Benzen apparently hadn't expected such persistence. He trembled visibly, his earlier bravado evaporating.
_Does he think I'll take pity on him if he feigns fear?_
I certainly wanted to stop being a villain—but that didn't mean I'd become an idiot. I refused to back down until he answered properly.
I continued to stare at him in silence.
Then, finally, Gabriel approached from where he'd been standing uselessly to the side.
"What are you saying, madam!" His voice was warm, welcoming. "The temple is always glad to receive you."
"Sir Gabriel!" Anullen seized upon the interruption like a drowning man grasping driftwood. "Marquis Benzen, at your service!"
_So *now* he appears._
He hadn't spared Kanna a single glance until *I* showed up—despite my explicit request in my letter that he look after them!
"I didn't expect to meet you here," Gabriel said to me, his expression politely surprised.
_Neither did I._ But it seemed my instincts had been correct. Gabriel was definitely *not* cut out for the role of male lead. He'd failed spectacularly the moment he fell for me instead of the heroine.
"Do you... know each other?" Anullen asked hesitantly.
"Indeed." Gabriel inclined his head. "I invited Ms. Lohanson to visit the temple and was to serve as her escort. My apologies for my tardiness, Marquis. Thank you for entertaining Ms. Lohanson in my absence."
"You're most welcome, Sir Gabriel." Anullen bowed deeply, relief flooding his features. "It was an honor to be of service."
Then, seizing the opportunity, he retreated with undignified haste.
_I won't let this go._
I watched his departing back with undisguised indignation, but Gabriel's voice pulled my attention away.
"Madam, have you come to view the painting after all?"
His tone remained perfectly courteous. If I hadn't witnessed how indifferently he'd watched the heroine's humiliation mere moments ago, I might have believed his sincerity.
"No." I shook my head. "I was worried about my girls, and I found myself curious to see the temple. As you know, I was recently quite ill—the priests here helped me considerably."
_Come to think of it... perhaps Gabriel isn't entirely to blame._
He hadn't chosen his role. His character was written as a cold knight—one who showed kindness only to his beloved. He had no choice in the matter.
I'd gotten too carried away.
This thought calmed me somewhat.
If anyone was at fault, it was *me*—for stealing his plotline. Not Gabriel, who had simply fallen for the villain and forgotten the heroine according to whatever twisted logic governed this world.
"Might I pray while the girls view the painting?" I asked.
Since I was already here, why not? Perhaps, as a transmigrator, I'd actually be able to communicate with this world's God.
---
## — Hena's Perspective —
The door of the Counts of Lohanson's carriage swung open.
Hena stood frozen, stunned to see Evangeline emerging from what had appeared to be an empty carriage. Young Ms. Lohanson stepped gracefully onto the ground, followed by the creature she called "Jelly."
White umbrella. Snow-white hair. A dazzling white dress.
Evangeline Lohanson was *all* in white.
The sunlight seemed to refract around her figure, bending and reflecting in ways that defied explanation. Despite the brightness of the afternoon, for one breathless moment it felt as dark as midnight. All sound faded into nothingness.
Only Evangeline Lohanson remained in focus.
"My lady!" Kanna exclaimed joyfully.
Evangeline approached swiftly, her presence commanding every eye in the garden. The mocking glances that had pierced them moments before vanished entirely, replaced by a fearful, almost reverent silence. People actively avoided meeting her gaze.
Hena, overwhelmed with gratitude for her mistress's timely arrival, bowed respectfully.
*Why* the mistress—who had been so reluctant to visit the temple—had suddenly changed her mind, Hena couldn't fathom. But she was profoundly glad she had.
If the lady had been even a moment later, Anullen might have...
Hena shook her head sharply, pushing the thought away.
_What could Kanna have done?_
Her sister had grown up within the estate walls. She knew nothing of the outside world, nothing of navigating aristocratic treachery. She would probably have just been rude to him in response—a harsh word, a cutting remark.
Kanna possessed no real power to harm someone like Anullen Benzen.
It was simply impossible.
---
"My name is Yuriel, madam," the knight introduced himself with a respectful bow. "I shall escort you to the prayer room."
The lady had decided to pray rather than explore the temple. The thought struck Hena as faintly blasphemous—and yet, at the same time, she could imagine how magnificent her mistress would look kneeling in devotion, hands clasped, white dress pooling around her like spilled moonlight.
Evangeline departed, accompanied by the knight Gabriel had assigned to her.
"I'll show you the way," Gabriel said to Hena and Kanna, gesturing toward the temple's interior.
The main temple was magnificent beyond description—soaring ceilings, gilded columns, stained glass that scattered rainbow light across marble floors. Against such opulence, Gabriel in his pristine white uniform appeared especially elegant.
Or perhaps his presence simply seemed more noticeable now that he no longer stood in the mistress's overwhelming shadow.
Hena clenched and unclenched her fists nervously as she followed.
In the garden, while everyone had been laughing, Gabriel's gaze had been fixed on Kanna. He, too, must have noticed something unusual in her behavior. That was likely why he'd offered to accompany them personally.
The lady had cited her illness and gone off to pray. As long as she maintained the role of a pious parishioner, she was unlikely to do anything rash.
"How are things progressing?" Hena asked quietly.
"I'm doing everything I can," Gabriel replied, his voice low. "But unfortunately, my efforts have been fruitless thus far. The rumors continue to spread..."
"So all these people came to see the painting?"
"Yes. Most of them."
Following Gabriel's lead, they entered the temple's sacred halls.