I Reincarnated As A Villainess, But Why Did I Become A Cat Butler Instead? - Chapter 255

Chapter 128.1

When they arrived at the salon, I asked to see some ready-to-wear clothes because there wasn’t enough time to place an order and I followed the employee’s guidance before entering the fitting room.

Suddenly, a murmuring voice could be heard from beyond the fitting room curtain.

“Did you hear the news? That woman, they say she’s returned to the capital. Lady Parche said he saw her on the street earlier.”

“That woman?”

“It’s Rowaine Larscel. Oh, now it’s Rowaine Blois.”

Amidst the buzzing chatter that sounded like background murmurs, I heard my name.

‘Hmm?’

As I moved to slip into my dress, I instinctively listened to the voices outside the curtain. A few women were gossiping about me as if there was no need to lower their voices.

“Wasn’t she the one who was abandoned by His Imperial Majesty and fled to BLois? Why has she returned?”

“It’s probably because she couldn’t stand the boredom of country life. You know how haughty she was. There wouldn’t be any exciting parties like here on the estate.”

“Isn’t it really strange? Why did she marry the Duke of Blois, of all people? The Duke of Blois is a shapeshifter. How could someone who enjoys tormenting the Emperor’s hounds as much as she does become his wife…”

I stopped trying to change my dress and listened to their conversation as I held my breath.

As I listened, it suddenly dawned on me.

‘Oh, am I the villainess here?’

Since most of the people in Blois had only heard of Rowaine through rumors, I was rarely treated as a villainess, so even I had forgotten about this myself.

‘I’ve become too relaxed because I was able to become close to Elaine, the original female lead, without any conflict.’

As I pondered this, the employee beside me became flustered and stumbled over her words in embarrassment.

“J-Just a moment…”

It looked like she was about to run out and handle the situation, so I silently grabbed her arm and stopped her.

“Shh.”

As I pressed a finger to my lips, the employee swallowed dry saliva nervously with a pale face. She seemed worried that I might burst out and grab the customers by their hair myself, but truthfully, I didn’t think anything of it.

‘After all, it’s not about me but the real Rowaine.’

Rowaine had committed numerous misdeeds with the Emperor’s support. She ridiculed and ostracized noble ladies she didn’t like, and if they irritated her even slightly, she wouldn’t hesitate to grab them by the hair. There were hardly any in the capital who hadn’t been subject to her bullying.

‘She engaged in such misdeeds, so a little murmuring is to be expected.’

I didn’t plan to time myself and step in to punish them. Instead, I intended to quietly wait until they disappeared without revealing myself. How awkward would the situation become if the person they gossiped about appeared?

‘I don’t have the confidence to handle such a situation.’

However, as their conversation continued, maintaining a generous and relaxed attitude became increasingly difficult for me.

“Would she treat her shapeshifter husband like a slave? I’m sure she wouldn’t abuse her own husband, right?”

“Tsk. That’s cruel!”

“Or maybe she’s now in a position where she submits to the shapeshifter.”

“That woman? Ah, if that’s the case, it would be interesting to see.”

“Ugh, just the thought makes me sick. Mixing with shapeshifters and bedding down with them.”

“Oh my, Lady Sierra!”

For a while, there was a tumult of laughter and playful screams. As I listened to their joyous noises, my mood soured gradually.

‘…Why did they bring up Dimitri?’

If they had been wronged by Rowaine, shouldn’t they just curse Rowaine? Why did they suddenly bring up Dimitri, who has never harmed them, and cackle about him?

‘Ah, am I getting a little upset?’

Dimitri wasn’t someone they deserved to criticize like that. The person I knew was definitely not someone who deserved to be mocked just because he was a shapeshifter.

‘Besides, the fact that Dimitri is a shapeshifter is also attractive, even though they wouldn’t know.’

The fangs that were slightly revealed every time he talked, the size of his pupils that changed depending on his mood, the way he adjusted his clothes from time to time like a cat grooming itself, the undeniably cold expression like a cat…

‘How attractive.’

And regardless of everything else, he was my precious cat, inside the fence of my heart.

Swoosh!

As I swung the curtain aside without hesitation, ready to tear it off, the people outside noticed my presence and looked towards me in surprise.

I smiled and walked confidently towards them.

Those with awkward expressions recognized me and fumbled nervously, unsure of what to do.

“Long time no see. Oh, we’ve met before, haven’t we?”

Unable to ignore my greeting, they forced a smile as their gaze wandered elsewhere.

“Oh, um… Lady… Rowaine.”

“We, we didn’t realize you were here.”