"I know you're a total himbo, but go read a book or something now," Cressida urgently hissed, already silent-footing in Lilithia's direction.
The heroine was just as modestly dressed, wearing a wide-brimmed hat that partially concealed her face. It was obviously bad strategy to let the Imperial Family's homewrecker be seen in public.
The possibilities of their confrontation were also endless.
The heroine might murder her on the spot, deliver a chilling death glare, or perhaps Cressida would just end up making a fool of herself.
No matter the outcome, Lilithia successfully meeting Julian was an absolute threat.
If the heroine managed to gather all of the Empire's jewels (meaning, male leads) and then discovered Cressida was still alive, it would guarantee her ending.
Besides, Cressida desperately needed to escape this marriage.
"No matter how I look at this, it feels exactly like a game of Tom and Jerry," she muttered, groaning at the sheer absurdity of the situation.
She edged closer, just as Lilithia drew dangerously near to Julian's table. While the heroine likely had her own intricate plot unfolding, Cressida suddenly had a plan.
Oh, I have an idea now.
Cressida quickly pulled off her wide-brimmed hat, holding it firmly in both hands.
The sight of her unveiled face would undoubtedly be a massive jumpscare for the heroine, who, in the original plot, believed Cressida was dead.
Just as Lilithia was about to step into the Second Male Lead's personal space, Cressida slammed directly into her.
"Oh!" Cressida exclaimed, feigning shock. "Is that you, Lilithia?"
║+25 Positive EXP — Intervening in a Critical Narrative Sequence.║
║NOTICE: Parallel Event "The Imperial Divorce" remains active.║║Cross-event interference potential detected.║
When Lilithia finally turned around, the sight was, ironically, the most breathtaking Cressida had ever witnessed.
Before her stood a girl with flawless, pale skin and a delicate, perfectly structured face.
Her eyes were wide and luminous, shaped like a startled deer's, and their sky-blue color blended seamlessly with her overall angelic appearance.
She was so adorable like a soft pillow or a young squirrel ready to be embraced.
Honestly, Lilithia looks like a younger, cuter version of Agrona...
Seeing her from this direct angle definitely made her the visual epitome of a heroine.
However, the effect on Lilithia was the exact opposite.
She instantly went bone-white, looking as if she were about to suffer a heart attack.
'Ouch?' Cressida thought, slightly amused.
A cascade of thoughts must have been swirling through the heroine's mind, chief among them the absolute certainty that this outcome was not in the script.
Lilithia's expression fractured in rapid succession from blinding shock, it immediately hardened into a cutting death glare, before finally smoothing into a terrifyingly soft, false smile.
"Ah... Cressida..."
Lilithia's eyes shot immediately to Julian, the brooding Second Male Lead.
He was gone.
Cressida could have sworn she heard a frustrated "Tch" escape the heroine's lips.
The heroine then snapped her gaze back to Cressida, performing a slow, measuring scan from head to toe, her expression shifting to profound confusion.
Cressida wondered, slightly nervously, if Lilithia could somehow see the script laid out on her own face. Most likely not.
"Um, hello? Is something wrong, Lilithia?" Cressida prompted, feigning innocence.
Lilithia closed the distance between them, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "Are you here to mess with me? I'm not the girl you knew. I could kill you right now if I wanted to."
There we go, Cressida thought, recognizing the true heroine beneath the angelic facade.
She knew this would happen.
After all, Lilithia was now the Emperor's consort and soon to be his Empress.
This confrontation was either terrifying or, perhaps, perversely entertaining for her, who finally had a chance to execute a power play.
"Now, now," Cressida replied, her voice a casual chuckle. She reached up and gently cupped the heroine's cheek with her hand. "Why, I simply came here to read books."