Villainesses Have More Fun

Chapter 2

Friedrich glared fiercely at me, but he at least seemed to be aware that he and Iris were being unjust.

“Mind telling me why you were causing a disturbance?” he asked. He always changed the subject when the odds were against him.

“I was teaching Ms. Iris noble etiquette,” I answered.

“By pouring champagne on her?”

“Yes, Your Highness. It felt like the only way to put her in her place.”

Iris’ reddish eyes glowed like embers and her gaze burned into me. She resembled a tiny animal at first glance. Petite, with puppy-dog eyes that appeared meek, docile even. But her features were at odds with her piercing gaze.

She’s not going to stab me in my sleep, is she?

“I believe she’s learned her lesson. What do you think, Ms. Iris?” I said.

“Yes, thank you for your guidance.” She probably expected that if she didn’t back down, I would bring her before the courts for slander. Even though her muscles were stiff and her fists remained clenched, she backed off.

Iris had retracted her comments and I couldn’t convict her simply for remarking on my dress, so I held my peace. If I had persisted, I wouldn’t have been perceived as a lady instructing a naive, lesser nobility on proper behavior, but rather as a villainess misusing her authority.

Though I’m aware Reilynn has abused her power in the past. Still, I can’t be bothered. I just want to live happily in the lap of luxury, thanks to my family’s wealth.

“Oh, and let me remind you since you appear to have forgotten. We’re no longer engaged,” I said.

Friedrich glared at me, his ex-fiancée, once more.

“For that reason, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t address me so casually,” I finished.

He didn’t respond. Instead, he walked Iris straight out of the banquet hall. It was riveting to watch their two figures retreat.

“How could someone who can’t even maintain basic decorum...” I tutted and clicked my tongue. Though I didn’t finish my sentence, everyone could anticipate what I would have said.

“Lady Reilynn!”

I turned around. A gaggle of young ladies was peering over at me with bright, wide eyes. I threw them a victory sign with my fingers, assuring them of my triumph.

If It’s All Just a Dream…

“I’m getting married next month,” Saerom announced.

A few of us had gathered at a cafe for a lighthearted high school reunion. Now it seemed likely the evening would end in a fight.

I noticed the others stealing glances at me. They hesitated, as if unwilling to offer their good wishes knowing our history.

“Come on! How come no one’s congratulating me?” Saerom asked.

How could they when I’m right here? I put on a brave face and took a sip of my coffee. One by one, the congratulations came from everyone at the table. Had they been put at ease by my cool demeanor? It fell silent again. After all, their hurried well-wishes had been mere formalities. They were probably praying that this reunion would end without someone throwing hands.

We weren’t rowdy teenagers anymore—no one had the energy to hold grudges, fight, or backstab each other the way we used to. We were childhood friends. We met up to forget about the demands of everyday life and to reminisce about our youth.

“Thank you for the excitement, everyone. You’re all coming to my wedding, right?” Saerom asked.

I let out a small sigh. I would go, but I knew she was only inviting me to rub it in my face. Did I have to play along?

She took the wedding invitations from her bag and smiled as she handed them out. The last one was mine. “You’d better come, Sojin!”

I ripped open the envelope. The man I had dated and supported for eight years was the groom. I looked up at her. “Kim Saerom, what are you trying to pull?”

I’d first met him when I was a sophomore in high school and he was a senior. We’d stayed in contact for two years after he graduated and began dating when I took the college entrance exam. Our relationship had been full of ups and downs. I’d cut off contact with my family when I started college and he soon began his mandatory military service.

I’d been busy with school, but I’d still made time to care for him while he served. I’d graduated, looked for work, and landed a job at a firm abroad. All the while I’d remained by his side, financially supporting him as he attended college and prepared for the bar exam.

For eight damn years, I was his rock, not to mention the primary breadwinner. He’d broken up with me when he was twenty-nine, saying that he could no longer stand burdening me. I’d accepted his decision, but only a year later, I’d learned that he had passed his bar exam. I was dumbfounded and enraged, but even still, I hadn’t resented him. After all, I was the one who had chosen to support him. I was the one who’d let him go. If only I hadn’t found out that you two had started dating soon after.

“Huh? What do you mean?” Saerom asked. “I started dating Beomjun after you two split up. Shouldn’t you have moved on by now?”

“Says the one engaged to a cheater.”

“Excuse me?”

That’s right. I found out that you two were talking before we’d even broken up. That he chose you. “There’s no such thing as a secret, Saerom.”

“What are you on about? I think you’ve misunderstood—”

“It doesn’t matter. You know that I’m his ex-girlfriend and that I dated him for eight years. Yet you had the audacity to hand me a wedding invitation and ask me to congratulate you?”

Saerom pressed her lips together. The others began whispering to one another.

“Should we step in? Or should we let them fight it out since Saerom was being rude? We’ve been waiting so long for this reunion. Can’t we just play nice?”

None of them actually spoke up.

“No one in their right mind would do that, particularly to a friend. How could you? Are you trying to rub it in my face that you won? Or are you hoping I’ll be sad?” I continued.

“Of course not! I just want you to congratulate me.”

“Did you honestly believe I’d do that?”

Jiwoo grabbed my arm. “That’s enough, Choi Sojin. Why do you keep arguing?”

Oh, right. They always defend the one who cowers in the corner while getting chewed out. I was relieved. Thank goodness I don’t look like the victim. But it’s only fair that she should be the one suffering right now. There’s nothing wrong with me criticizing someone who’s morally bankrupt, even if she is my friend.

“Oh, Jiwoo, you sweet child. Can’t you see she’s the problem? She’s acting like she has dementia when she’s only thirty years old,” I said.

Trust me, Saerom is undoubtedly in the wrong. If I posted this situation online, they’d tear her apart in the comments. I shrugged Jiwoo’s hand off my arm and she made no further attempt to stop me.

“Wow, Choi Sojin. Don’t tell me you’re jealous! Are you upset that I snapped Beomjun up and now he’s a lawyer, after you spent all those years supporting him?”

God, just listen to her! She’s talking so much bull crap you’d think she was a cow. She was trying to make it sound like I was the one blinded by jealousy. She painted me as the green-eyed friend who picked a fight with poor little innocent Saerom.

“Me? Jealous? Please, remind me what I’m missing out on,” I said. I tossed the wedding invitation I’d been clutching and watched it float to the ground. Then I gave Saerom a withering look. “I’m sure you’ve heard about my achievements since graduating from college. What more could I want? To pick his dirty laundry up off the floor? To pay all of his bills? Don’t make me laugh.”

After graduation, I moved abroad to work for a foreign company, but I’d missed the taste of Korean food and ended up transferring to their Korean branch. Now, I’m my own sugar mama.

“Wait, do you think I’m jealous because he passed the bar? Yeah, right. They say behind every successful man is a good woman, but why should I stand behind anyone when I’m already successful on my own?”

Saerom and the others drew their lips into a fine line as if sealed by honey. That’s right. I sound incredibly egotistical right now. But please hear me out, friends. I have to stand up for myself today.

“Listen, Saerom. I think you’ve forgotten your true nature after pretending to be nice for so long.”

Saerom flinched. It was time to make her face the facts.

“You stole your friend’s boyfriend of eight years and then handed her your wedding invitation, asking her to congratulate you. You’re a foul, spiteful b*tch. Even if I were twisted up with jealousy, it would be your fault. All this just to feed your own ego,” I spat, grabbing my bag and standing up.

Everyone at the table blinked up at me. I had two options: park myself in my seat and send Saerom packing, or leave first of my own accord. I chose the latter. I simply couldn't breathe the same air as her anymore. If I stayed, I’d have to gossip about someone or listen to others talking trash until I left. I came here to escape my stress, to drown myself in pleasant memories of the past. Even though I was angry at Saerom, spending all of my time slandering her sounded exhausting.

“You haven’t matured in the least, Saerom. Don’t ever call me your friend again,” I said.

Now look at me! I’m carrying a brand-new designer handbag! I ordered it out of spite when I found out Kim Saerom was coming, so I’m glad I got to make the most of my money.

“Sorry for spoiling the mood. I’ll treat you to a nice meal next time,” I promised the others. I held my bag with the designer logo visible as I left and didn’t look back, even though their eyes were burning holes in the back of my head.

I’m sure they’re about to have a field day, but as the saying goes, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”