Chapter 6
‘Ugh, the target has finally appeared!’
I glanced at Nanael, pretending to be nonchalant.
Her cascading red hair and golden eyes glinting like a predator’s.
The sharp, slanted shape of her eyes gave her a piercing presence, as if she could kill with a single glance.
I felt like a herbivore facing a beast, my legs trembling instinctively, but I forced myself to greet her calmly.
“I greet the Star of the Empire. I am Rodellia Ferris.”
“So you’re the Ferris heiress. Well, I recognized you at a glance.”
Her gaze lingered pointedly on my diamond necklace.
Then, she scanned me up and down with a smirk.
Her expression seemed to say, ‘Look at you, all dressed up, huh?’
“That necklace suits you quite well.”
Despite the blatantly disdainful look in her eyes, I flashed an innocent smile, feigning ignorance.
“Thank you for the compliment. My brother gave it to me as a debutante gift.”
“And that shawl too?”
“Oh, no, I picked this one out myself.”
I displayed the shawl proudly, smiling brightly, and a faint crack appeared between Nanael’s brows.
Soon, she let out a chilling smile and spat out a barbed remark.
“Oh, really? I was actually going to pick that one myself. If only someone hadn’t snatched it first.”
Her tone was subtly accusatory.
‘Oh, looks like I’ve successfully provoked her!’
I was just thinking how perfect it would be if she’d openly make a scene when Nanael suddenly grabbed the shawl roughly and said,
“How about it? Don’t you think it suits me better?”
Her impulsive action sent a chill through the atmosphere.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Adrian’s face hardened as he protested Nanael’s rude behavior.
For someone who cherished me dearly, her actions were clearly infuriating to him.
If she weren’t a princess, she’d have been escorted out as swiftly as Green Basilie was earlier…
But Nanael, it seemed, had a shameless disregard for others’ opinions.
She shrugged and said,
“It was just a friendly gesture. No need to be so sensitive.”
With a prim toss of the shawl back to me, Nanael continued.
“I’ve actually been quite interested in you, Lady Ferris. I’ve never met someone whose tastes overlap with mine to this degree.”
Her voice was soft, but her eyes were razor-sharp.
‘Wow, that glare is downright murderous.’
Ignoring her piercing gaze, I pressed on with the provocation.
“You flatter me. It’s an honor to share tastes with Your Highness.”
I even flashed a radiant smile, and Nanael’s lips twitched.
How’s that? Your opponent isn’t even fazed—bet that’s driving you up the wall!
“Well, I’m not exactly fond of using the same things as others.”
Her irritation was palpable, as if she wanted to slap me then and there.
‘She’s not actually going to hit me, is she? No, wait, if she did, that’d actually play right into my plan…’
Even as I provoked her, my heart pounded.
Still, seeing as she wasn’t openly causing a scene, it seemed she was mindful of Adrian and Alferen nearby.
If they weren’t here, she looked ready to flip a table.
If only Nanael had spilled wine on my dress or something, this would’ve been so much easier.
‘Should I push her a bit more?’
Nanael hated nothing more than someone catching her verbal jabs.
Especially those sunny, oblivious types who talked back without a hint of tact—she seemed to have an instinctive aversion to them.
I put on the most exaggerated reaction I could muster.
“Oh, really? I’m the opposite—I love gifting things I like to others! It’s such a shame, though. I was going to share my recommendation list with you if you were okay with it, Your Highness.”
Feigning genuine disappointment, I naturally pressed the shawl into Nanael’s hands.
“Then you should take this. I have plenty of others, so I’m fine.”
This was my revenge for her snatching my shawl earlier!
To everyone else, it must have looked like Nanael had boldly stolen it from me.
At that moment, Nanael’s eyebrow twitched.
Her gaze screamed, What’s this now? in a single glance!
Ugh, I should probably stop provoking her here.
Honestly, I’d already done enough.
The villainess’s eyes were blazing even more fiercely than before.
If I set the stage just right, she’d take the bait without fail.
I tossed out my final lure.
“I’d love to continue this conversation at length during the banquet later. I’ve been eagerly awaiting the chance to speak with you, Your Highness.”
At my polite invitation, Nanael let out a dismissive scoff.
“Very well. I’ll save my thanks for your gift until then.”
Her reaction was practically a challenge, as if to say, Just you wait.
Ooh, that’s intense. I’m pretty sure she’s got me in her sights now.
A shiver ran through me, and I discreetly rubbed my arm. Just then, my eyes met Alferen’s.
But in that instant, as if nothing had happened, Alferen avoided my gaze.
He dodged me again… Did I do something wrong?
Normally, he’d flash me a warm smile, so his cold response threw me off.
At that moment, the strains of a waltz began to fill the air.
As the debutantes started gathering on the dance floor one by one, Adrian gently guided me forward.
“If you’ll excuse us, we’ll take our leave.”
Politely excusing himself, Adrian swiftly steered me away from the villainess.
I stole a glance at Alferen as we moved away.
For some reason, under the glow of the lights, his ears looked faintly red.
The ball was in full swing.
The debutantes gathered in small clusters, engaging in light conversation.
I mingled among them, chatting idly while waiting for someone.
A moment later, Nanael approached, leading a group with her commanding presence.
“Duchess Ferris.”
“Your Highness.”
After exchanging light courtesies, Nanael handed me a glass of wine with a warm smile.
“Meeting like this must be fate. I hope we can become good friends.”
“Of course.”
With an innocent smile, I accepted the wine she offered and took a sip.
It was customary not to refuse a drink offered by someone of higher status, and since she was royalty, it was nearly impossible to decline unless I had a serious reason.
Nanael eyed my empty glass with a meaningful smile.
“You seem to handle your wine well.”
“Oh, I’m not that good with it.”
“Then have another.”
“Pardon?”
“Come on, take it.”
With a sly, almost seductive smile, Nanael filled my glass to the brim.
Not beer, but wine, poured to the top.
It was obvious to anyone that she was trying to get me drunk and humiliate me.
Whether I could handle my liquor wasn’t even the point.
Normally, I’d have found a polite way to refuse, but this was actually an opportunity.
Fine. Go ahead and mess with me. I’ll drink it all!
Pretending to hesitate, I began downing the wine in large gulps.
As Nanael kept urging me to drink more, the crowd around us grew noisier.
“Look at that.”
“Shouldn’t someone stop her?”
“How many glasses is that now?”
“She’s going to collapse at this rate, isn’t she?”
The whispers of the onlookers buzzed in my ears.
Perfect. Everyone, look over here!
Nanael’s bullying poor, innocent me!
As planned, Nanael was clearly enjoying tormenting me.
The problem was, she was enjoying it too much.
With every glass she forced on me, the alcohol hit harder.
By now, my face was probably flushed red.
Ugh, if I’d known it’d come to this, I would’ve taken a hangover remedy beforehand.
I was reaching my limit, chugging whatever she handed me.
Where the heck are those two, anyway?
Of all times, Alferen and Adrian were nowhere to be seen.
At this rate, I’d lose it before I could even show Alferen what Nanael was doing to me.
No way. Time to retreat!
As she offered yet another glass, I covered my mouth and spoke.
“I’m so sorry, Your Highness. My stomach’s feeling a bit queasy. I need to step out for some air.”
“Oh, then let’s go together.”
“Pardon?”
With me?
I stared at Nanael, who had suddenly volunteered to come along, my vision hazy.
It was blatantly obvious she was plotting something.
