Chapter 06
“Ugh. The target has finally appeared!”
I glanced at Nanael out of the corner of my eye, pretending to be completely unfazed.
Her crimson hair cascaded in waves, and her golden eyes gleamed like those of a bird of prey.
Her sharply slanted eyes gave her such a fierce look that it seemed she could kill someone with nothing more than a glare.
I felt like a herbivore that had just come face-to-face with a predator, and my knees nearly buckled. Nevertheless, I forced myself to remain composed and greeted her politely.
“It is an honor to meet the Star of the Empire. I am Rodelia Ferris.”
“So you’re Lady Ferris. Well, I suppose you’re easy enough to recognize at a glance.”
Her gaze lingered particularly on my diamond necklace.
Then she looked me up and down, a sneer playing on her lips.
Her expression practically screamed, Look at you, all dressed up for the occasion.
Ignoring her blatant disdain, I put on an innocent smile.
“That necklace suits you very well.”
“Thank you for the compliment. My brother gave it to me as a debutante gift.”
“Then what about that shawl?”
“Oh, I picked this one out myself.”
I displayed the shawl for her to see and smiled sweetly. A faint crease appeared between Nanael’s brows.
A moment later, she spoke with a menacing smile, her words carrying a barb.
“Oh, really? I was actually planning to choose that one myself. If only someone hadn’t bought it first.”
Her tone was subtly accusatory.
Oh, looks like she’s taken the bait!
I was just thinking how wonderful it would be if she made a public spectacle of her nasty behavior when—
Nanael roughly snatched my shawl and said, “Well? Don’t you think it suits me better?”
Her sudden outburst sent a chill through the atmosphere.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Adrian’s expression hardened as he protested Nanael’s rude behavior.
He usually doted on me, so seeing Nanael treat me that way clearly infuriated him.
If she hadn’t been a princess, she would have met the same fate as Green Basilia, who had been swiftly escorted out earlier. However…
Nanael seemed shameless enough to care little about what anyone else thought.
She shrugged.
“It was simply a gesture of friendship. You’re being awfully sensitive.”
After returning the shawl with an affectedly innocent air, Nanael continued.
“I’ve been very interested in Lady Ferris for some time. I’ve never met anyone whose tastes overlap with mine to such an extent.”
Her voice was gentle, but her gaze was positively ferocious.
Yikes. Those eyes are terrifying.
I did my best to ignore her glare and continued provoking her.
“You flatter me, Your Highness. It’s an honor to share your tastes.”
Then I even beamed at her brightly, making her lips twitch.
How do you like that? It must be infuriating when your opponent doesn’t even seem to feel the slightest sting.
“Well, I’m not particularly fond of using the same things as other people.”
She looked so displeased that she seemed ready to slap me on the spot.
Oh no. She’s not actually going to hit me, is she? Then again, getting slapped would actually work in my favor…
Even as I provoked Nanael, my heart was pounding.
Still, the fact that she hadn’t openly caused a scene suggested she was conscious of Adrian and Alpheren standing nearby.
If they hadn’t been here, she looked like she would have flipped a table by now.
If only Nanael had spilled some wine on my dress. That would have made things so much easier.
Should I provoke her a little more?
Nanael hated nothing more than having someone argue with her or pick apart her words.
In particular, she seemed to have an instinctive aversion to sunny, cheerful types who talked back without knowing their place.
So I gave her the biggest reaction I could muster.
“Oh, really? I’m the opposite! When I find something I like, I want everyone else to enjoy it too, so I often give things as gifts! What a shame. If you didn’t mind, Your Highness, I was even thinking of sharing my recommendations with you.”
After putting on a convincingly disappointed expression, I casually placed the shawl in Nanael’s hands.
“Then please, take this one. I have plenty of others, so I’ll be fine.”
That’s payback for snatching my shawl earlier!
To everyone watching, it would look as though Nanael had forcibly taken it from me.
At that moment, Nanael’s eyebrow twitched.
Her expression clearly said, Well, well. Look at you.
Eeeek! That’s enough provoking her for now.
Honestly, this was plenty.
The villainess’s eyes were burning even more fiercely than before.
All I had to do now was set the stage properly, and she would undoubtedly take the bait.
I tossed out one final lure.
“I hope we can have a longer conversation at the reception later. I’ve been looking forward to speaking with you as well, Your Highness.”
At my sweet invitation, Nanael scoffed.
“Very well. I’ll repay you for your gift then.”
Her response practically screamed, Just you wait.
Ooh, terrifying. I think I’ve officially made it onto her hit list.
I was secretly rubbing my arms to dispel the goosebumps when my eyes met Alpheren’s.
The moment they did, he looked away as though nothing had happened.
He did it again… Did I do something wrong?
He would normally have greeted me with a bright smile, so his cold reaction left me bewildered.
Just then, a waltz began to play.
As the debutantes gradually gathered on the dance floor, Adrian led me away.
“Then, if you’ll excuse us.”
After politely asking permission to leave, Adrian helped me put some distance between myself and the villainess.
I glanced back at Alpheren as we walked away.
For some reason, the tips of his ears looked a little red beneath the ballroom lights.
The ball was in full swing.
The young ladies making their debut gathered together to chat and exchange pleasantries.
I joined them, making small talk while waiting for someone to arrive.
A little while later, Nanael approached with a group of ladies in tow.
“Lady Ferris.”
“Your Highness.”
I gave her a slight curtsy, and Nanael offered me a glass of wine with a friendly smile.
“Since fate has brought us together, I hope we can become good friends.”
“Of course.”
Wearing a harmless smile, I accepted the wine she offered and drank it.
Etiquette dictated that one should not refuse a drink offered by someone of higher rank.
And since the person in question was a member of the imperial family, refusing would have been difficult unless I had a particular reason, such as a medical condition.
Nanael glanced at my empty glass and smiled meaningfully.
“I see you can hold your liquor.”
“Oh, not particularly well.”
“Then have another glass.”
“Pardon?”
“Go on.”
With a sly smile, Nanael filled my glass to the brim.
It was wine, not beer. Filling a glass that full was practically an invitation to get drunk.
Anyone could see that she was trying to make a fool of me by getting me intoxicated.
Apparently, whether I could actually handle alcohol was beside the point.
Normally, I would have found a polite way to refuse, but this was actually an opportunity.
Fine. Go ahead and torment me all you want! I’ll drink every last drop!
Pretending to hesitate, I began gulping down the wine.
As Nanael continued pressing drinks on me, the surrounding chatter grew louder.
“Look over there.”
“Shouldn’t someone stop them?”
“How many glasses has that been already?”
“That young lady is going to collapse at this rate.”
The whispers of the onlookers buzzed in my ears.
That’s right! Everyone, look over here!
The princess is bullying poor, innocent me!
Just as I had intended, Nanael was clearly enjoying herself as she tormented me.
The problem was that she was getting a little too carried away.
After downing glass after glass she shoved into my hands, the alcohol began to go to my head rather quickly.
My face was probably bright red by now.
Ugh, I should have taken something for a hangover before coming here.
There was only so much I could take when I kept accepting every drink she offered.
Jeez, anyway, where have those two disappeared to?
Alpheren and Adrian were nowhere to be seen.
At this rate, I would lose consciousness before I could get Alpheren to witness Nanael’s misconduct.
This won’t do. Time to retreat!
When Nanael offered me yet another glass, I covered my mouth and spoke.
“I’m terribly sorry, Your Highness, but my stomach is feeling rather queasy. I think I need to step outside for some fresh air.”
“Oh my. Then I’ll come with you.”
“Pardon?”
With me?
I stared blearily at Nanael, who had suddenly volunteered to accompany me.
It was obvious she was planning something underhanded.
