Countess Rotaria fell silent, her mouth hanging open in a look of pure bewilderment.
'Hello... is anyone home?' I wondered, my eyes narrowing as I watched her.
I’d only come to this party to taunt Loxdian and properly provoke my grandfather. I’d decided to live whatever was left of my life exactly how I wanted, but being caught in this ridiculous soap opera was more than I’d bargained for.
'I’m done here,' I thought, uncrossing my arms.
I drained the rest of my grape juice and set the crystal glass on an attendant’s tray with a sharp click. Before I left, I turned back to the Countess, who was still sitting there like a statue.
"Tsk. Why did you choose such a piece of trash?" I asked, my voice clear and cold. "Some trash is just trash, Countess. It’s not your fault you didn't see it, but it *will* be your fault if you keep it. Consider this a reward for the entertainment you've provided. Wake up."
The Countess’s shoulders slumped almost imperceptibly.
I had to pass the "happy couple" to reach the exit. Geren Arus was still on the floor, and I made it a point to step over him as if he were a particularly unpleasant puddle of mud. But then, I stopped.
"I almost forgot my signature," I murmured.
I grabbed two large, unopened bottles of wine from a nearby table. Before anyone could react, I poured them both directly over Geren Arus. He sputtered and gasped, the dark liquid soaking his expensive clothes.
I gave him a smile—elegant, sharp, and unmistakably evil.
"If you don't want to be known as 'Terry Bob'—or whatever other nickname I come up with for you—you’d better lick up every drop of that wine before you leave. Don't waste a drop of your precious gift."
I threw the empty bottles aside and walked out without a second look.
"Cold..." one of the young ladies whispered as I disappeared. Her friends looked shocked, but deep down, a small part of them shared her sentiment.
I’d turned the party into a total mess, but I didn't care. The "Vicious Princess" had done her job.
* * *
At the same time, in the Lemut mansion.
Arya had spent most of her day in her room. She rarely ventured out unless her health permitted a quick stroll in the garden. But today, while reading a book on gardening, she suddenly stood up, a strange feeling gnawing at her.
She ran into a maid who was leaving Askin’s office, carrying a small trash can.
"Did you finish cleaning his room?" Arya asked.
"Yes, my lady."
Arya was the heart of the Lemut family, a princess to be protected at all costs. The servants loved her for her gentle nature. But today, Arya’s eyes were fixed on something inside the trash can.
'Is that...?'
She reached in without hesitation and pulled out a small object. The maid gasped in horror. "My lady! That’s trash! Please, let me take it!"
"Did this come from my brother's office?" Arya asked, her brow furrowed.
"Yes... it looked valuable, so I asked the Duke about it. But he told me to just throw it away."
Arya stared at the object—a beautiful, jewel-encrusted comb. She remembered Charlize’s voice from a few weeks ago, while they’d been brushing each other's hair.
*I have a comb with a jewel that I really like. Don't you want to have the same thing as your friend?*
The shape, the jewels—it was exactly as Charlize had described. And it had been in Askin’s trash.
"Why was this in the trash?" Arya whispered. "The Princess gave this to him, didn't she?"
The maid didn't answer. Arya marched into Askin’s office, her footsteps sounding much heavier than usual.
*Knock, knock.*
"Brother!"
Askin was at his desk, his head buried in paperwork. He didn't even look up. Usually, he’d be the first to check on her health, but since the Imperial banquet, he’d been like a different person—cold, distant, and obsessed with work.
Arya walked right up to the desk and slammed the comb down. "Do you see this? Can you see what you’ve done?"
Askin didn't respond. He just kept writing.
Arya felt a wave of frustration. She’d always been the quiet, obedient sister, but seeing the gift Charlize had given him discarded like trash broke something inside her.
"The Princess gave this to you, didn't she?" she demanded. "She told me all about it. She wanted us to have matching combs because we were friends. Why would you throw it away?"
Askin finally raised his head. Arya gasped. His face was a mess—dark circles under his eyes, his skin pale and sallow. He looked like he hadn't slept in days. Even so, his beauty remained, now tinged with a hollow, decadent exhaustion.
"I don't want to hear her name," he said, his voice flat.
"Brother..."
"Arya. Give me the comb." He held out his hand.
"Why? So you can throw it away again?"
"If you want a comb, I'll buy you a better one. Just give it to me."
Arya hugged the comb to her chest. "What happened between you and the Princess? Everyone is hiding the truth from me because of my 'condition,' but I’m not stupid. Why hasn't she visited us?"
Askin’s voice turned ice-cold. "Go back to your room and rest, Arya."
He stood up and reached for her, but she backed away. She saw his hand pointing toward the comb, and she held it even tighter.
"I’ve known you my whole life, Askin," she said, her voice shaking. "Sometimes I know you better than you know yourself."
They stared at each other, the identical blue of their eyes clashing.
"I thought you were a great man," Arya whispered. "But you're actually quite petty."
She turned and ran out of the room, the door closing with a heavy bang. Askin stood there, stunned.
'Petty? Is that what I am?'
He sat back down, his head throbbing. Charlize’s voice echoed in his mind, just as it had every night since the banquet.
*Have you ever really heard me?*
He pressed his temples, trying to drown out the voice. It was a torture he’d inflicted on himself, and he didn't know how to make it stop.
*Knock, knock.*
Ben, his lieutenant, entered the room, looking perplexed. "Duke, you have a guest. It’s the son of the Child family."
Askin’s expression hardened. "Show him in."
The door opened wider, and Ian Niño stepped into the room, his signature smooth smile firmly in place.
"Hello, Duke Lemut. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you properly."