This wasn't Celicia's first encounter with Moen. In fact, their story had already begun a year earlier, when they were at St. Marica Academy before Moen's coming-of-age ceremony.

Throughout that year, although they attended different academies and grades, Celicia still occasionally heard of Moen Campbell's deeds.

Of course, those deeds were mostly misdeeds.

She had also crossed paths with him several times, and the conclusion she reached was no different from the rumors: morally corrupt, arrogant, lazy, and without any measurable talent. Even when facing her, a princess, he acted condescendingly, looking at her with disdain as if she were beneath him. He was the archetypical decadent playboy.

But today… he seemed a little different.

"Maybe it's just because of his graceful manners?"

Celicia brushed the thought aside almost immediately.

The only reason why Moen captured even the slightest bit of her attention was due to his unpleasant status as her fiance.

Otherwise, he was in no position wasting her time.

"Princess Celicia, you look a little worn from your travels. Why not go inside and rest for now? The banquet won’t begin that early."

Just as Celicia was considering an excuse to slip away, Moen had already elegantly proposed the suggestion.

Hearing this, Celicia was momentarily stunned. Her cool gaze involuntarily swept over Moen’s face, which hadn’t changed much since the academy days.

When did this guy become so considerate?

She distinctly remembered Moen pestering her several times back at the academy, to the point of her being annoyed.

She has thought he’d behave that same way again this time, pestering her all the time.

"Sure, thank you for your kindness."

Celicia nodded lightly and then followed the maid summoned by Moen, heading to the specially prepared guest room to rest.

"Phew. She's finally gone. She really is intimidating."

Watching Celicia's silhouette disappear from view, Moen let out a long sigh of relief.

Without realizing it, his back had been soaked with sweat.

"She truly deserves her status as the novel’s number-one female lead; that aura of her tells you no joke."

Just standing in front of her made him feel like he was standing on a frozen tundra, with icy coldness creeping up from the soles of his feet to his entire body.

If simply interacting with her felt this frigid, he shuddered to think what would happen if they ever had a deeper interaction. Would his dick freeze off?

——Moen entertained a somewhat wicked thought.

But that was no longer his concern. After all, he had no intention of actually marrying her. He just hoped his hands wouldn’t tremble later when spiking her drink.

As Moen indulged in these wandering thoughts, he noticed a commotion among the crowd around him.

Something significant seemed to have happened again, as many people began whispering furtively.

"Can't believe that illegitimate daughter still showed up…"

"The woman who recently dueled her former fiance?"

"I heard Count Bugard just named her his heir."

"Tch! An illegitimate child, and a woman like that—what right does she have to inherit a countship?"

"Sigh, who knows what Count Bugard was thinking."

"Shush, the Count is here too. Watch your volume."

Hearing these deliberately hushed mutterings, Moen's wariness immediately skyrocketed.

He found his palms sweating once again, even more so than when he had faced Celicia earlier.

There was only one person who could spark this kind of gossip among the gathered nobles.

Moen's gaze turned towards that new storm eye.

Amidst the crowd of elegantly dressed attendees of the occasion stood a woman in a plain dress. Her dark hair unadorned and falling loose over her shoulders, surrounded by whispers, she carried herself with confidence, her lips curved with unmistakable disdain.

She wasn't as stunningly beautiful as Celicia, but she was by no means unattractive. Save for the fact that her chest was alarmingly flat, enough to rival her back, she could still be considered a budding beauty.

But one must not be deceived by her unassuming outward appearance, which contrasted starkly with the radiant, well-dressed noble girls around her.

Because she was…

"Ariel Bugard."

The true protagonist of the original story—the ultimate "Phoenix Pride" who only likes women.

Not long ago, she had defeated the fiance who had broken off their engagement three years prior in a duel of dazzling brilliance. This triumph catapulted her from an illegitimate daughter to the first heir of the Bugard family, leaving the jaws of countless noble elders and bystanders hanging open in shock.

From the circumstances of her birth to her experiences, from her personality to her appearance, Ariel was the quintessential template for a main character in every way.

"Well, well. Young Master Moen. Fancy meeting you here. How have you been lately?"

With her trademark roguish smirk, Ariel approached Moen. Despite her shorter stature, forcing her to look up at him, her eyes lacked any trace of deference.

She didn't even bother to curtsy, as if addressing an intimate friend.

But Moen knew all too well that his relationship with Ariel Bugard was far from friendly.

Ariel’s casual tone was simply because she truly did not care about his status as the son of a duke.

"You insolent girl! How dare you talk to Young Master Moen like that—"

And, of course, like clockwork, the lackey made his dramatic entrance to play the role of a stereotypical cocky sidekick, eager to pave the way for the protagonist’s big moment.

Sure enough, one of the noble youngsters beside Moen, seemingly out to curry favor with him, immediately jumped forward to scold this utterly disrespectful illegitimate one before Moen could say a word.

But Moen stopped him before the lackey makes things ugly. He wasn’t about to let someone else dig him deeper into trouble.

"Save it," Moen thought.

“I’ve been doing quite well lately, Miss Ariel Bugard.”

Moen maintained his perfectly charming smile and bowed with flawless noble etiquette.

"But I appreciate your concern."

"Eh? You…"

Ariel looked incredulously at Moen, her eyes wide as though she had just seen a ghost.

Seeing Moen, the notorious bully who never missed a chance to mock her, acting so civilly was enough to make her doubt reality.

And this time, he hadn’t insulted her with “lowly bastard.” Instead, he actually used her full name.

Her full name.

It was hard to believe that someone as thoughtless as Moen could remember it.

"Has he turned over a new leaf… or is he plotting something?"

Ariel scratched her chin, her gaze sharp as she scanned Moen’s surroundings, half-expecting assassins to leap out at her on his signal and hack her into pieces.

But Moen ignored Ariel’s suspicious glare. Instead, his attention was drawn to the unassuming girl standing by her side.

Big.

Very big.

Incredibly big.

This was the thought that first popped into Moen’s head when he noticed the girl.

The girl was the polar opposite of Ariel. Her dress seemed strained under the pressure of its contents, raising immediate concerns that it might all burst forth. Her full figure was so distracting that one might initially overlook her delicately sweet face, which exuded an air of innocence and charm.

"Good evening, Miss Lea," Moen said with a polite smile.

"Huh? How do you know my name, Master Moen?"

Lea blinked her eyes in surprise before asking curiously.

"Hah, how could I not know the names of of such important guests this evening?"

Moen’s answer was impeccable in its courtesy, leaving the girl slightly flustered.

But of course, Moen’s impeccable manners weren’t born purely of politeness. The true identity of this girl was of far greater importance.

Lea Angel, the protagonist's childhood friend.

On the surface, she appeared to be an ordinary baron’s daughter, with an unremarkable status.

But actually Lea was one of the Life Church’s candidates for saintess, currently undergoing a so-called "worldly trial," which explained her concealed identity and her presence alongside Ariel.

As someone close to the protagonist, it went without saying that Lea was destined to eventually rise as true saintess of Life Church. Her status would far surpass that of Moen no longer, the ordinary son of a duke.

"Moen Campbell, what are you up to?"

Ariel stepped forward to block Lea with her body. Her piercing phoenix-like eyes locked on Moen, full of hostility.

"Don’t you even think about trying anything with Lea!"

"How could I? I'm just greeting her."

"Hah! Who would believe that!"

"Alright then, if you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do."

Moen shrugged helplessly and gestured towards the interior of the banquet hall with a gracious smile.

"Why don’t the two of you head inside? It’s cold out here, and it’d be a shame if got frozen."

"You—"

Ariel’s eyes widened in shock. She stared at Moen for a long moment, then couldn't help but shiver. She grabbed Lea by the hand and led her inside, spitting out a curse as she went.

"Such pretentious nonsense. Disgusting."