FDSML CH 06

Chapter 6

Ugh. Target acquired at last.

I sneaked a glance at Nanael while pretending to be calm.

Waves of red hair, golden eyes that flashed like a bird of prey.

The long, slanted eyes gave her a knife-edged look—like she could kill with a glare.

I felt like a herbivore facing a predator and my knees went weak, but I forced myself to greet her.

“An honor to meet the Star of the Empire. I’m Rodelia Ferris.”

“So you’re Lady Ferris. I recognized you right away.”

Her gaze went straight to my diamond necklace.

Then she swept me up and down with a smirk, as if to say, So you actually bothered to dress up?

“The necklace really suits you.”

I pretended not to notice the jealousy and smiled innocently.

“Thank you. My brother gave it to me as a debut gift.”

“And that shawl?”

“Oh, I picked this one myself.”

I showed off the shawl with a pleasant smile. A faint line appeared between Nanael’s brows.

Then, with a sharp smile, she dropped a barbed comment.

“Oh? Really? I was going to choose that too—if someone hadn’t bought it first.”

A subtle tone that blamed me.

Oh, she’s taking the bait.

I was just thinking how nice it’d be if she misbehaved openly when she suddenly yanked my shawl.

“How is it? Looks better on me, doesn’t it?”

The mood chilled in an instant at her sudden move.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Adrian’s face hardened at her rudeness.

As my overprotective brother, he looked deeply offended. If she weren’t a princess, he’d have treated her like that Green Basilly and sent her packing.

But Nanael clearly didn’t care what others thought.

“It was just a sign of affection. Don’t be so touchy.”

She primly handed the shawl back and continued,

“I’ve had my eye on Lady Ferris for a while. I’ve never seen someone whose taste overlaps with mine this much.”

Her voice was gentle; her eyes were razor-cold.

Yikes, those eyes could cut.

I ignored it and kept poking.

“You flatter me. It’s an honor to share tastes with Your Highness.”

I even beamed at her, and her lips twitched.

How’s that? It’s infuriating when your opponent doesn’t even flinch, right?

“Well, I’m not fond of using the same things as anyone else.”

She looked like she wanted to hit me right then and there.

She won’t actually hit me… right? Then again, getting slapped would suit my plan just fine…

Even as I provoked her, my heart pounded.

Still, the fact that she wasn’t making a public scene meant she was mindful of Adrian and Alperen standing nearby.

If they weren’t here, she looked ready to flip a table.

If only she’d at least spill wine on my dress—this would be so much easier.

Maybe I should push a little more.

Nanael hates having her words nitpicked, and she especially loathes sunny types who talk back without reading the room.

So I gave her my biggest, brightest reaction.

“Oh, really? I actually like it when other people use the things I love, so I tend to give them as gifts! What a shame—if Your Highness didn’t mind, I was going to share my recommendations list with you.”

Putting on sincere disappointment, I casually pressed the shawl into her hand.

“Then please use this one, Your Highness. I have plenty of others.”

Revenge for grabbing my shawl earlier.

To onlookers, it would look like she’d just snatched it from me.

Nanael’s eyebrow twitched.

A look that said, Oh, really?

Okay, that’s enough provoking.

It was already plenty. Her eyes were burning even hotter than before.

All I needed now was the right stage, and she’d bite.

I tossed out one last hook.

“I’d love to chat more during the after-party. I’ve been looking forward to speaking with you.”

She snorted.

“Fine. I’ll return your ‘gift’ then.”

As in: just you wait.

Oof, that’s menacing. I’m definitely on her blacklist.

I rubbed my arms against the goosebumps—and met Alperen’s eyes.

He dodged my gaze like nothing had happened.

He avoided me again… Did I do something wrong?

It threw me off, seeing him cold when he’d usually give me a warm smile.

Just then, a waltz began.

The debutantes started gathering on the dance floor, and Adrian led me away.

“Please excuse us.”

With a polite nod, he whisked me out of the villainess’s orbit.

I snuck a glance at Alperen as we moved off.

Under the lights, the tips of his ears looked a shade red.

***

While the ball was in full swing, the debutantes gathered to chat.

I joined in the small talk, waiting for someone.

After a while, Nanael approached with her entourage.

“Lady Ferris.”

“Your Highness.”

We exchanged a light bow. She handed me a wineglass with an overly friendly smile.

“Since we’ve met like this, I hope we can be good friends.”

“Of course.”

With a harmless smile, I accepted the wine and drank.

Etiquette says you don’t refuse a drink offered by someone of higher rank.

And she’s royalty—unless I have a health issue, it’s hard to say no.

Nanael eyed my empty glass and smiled meaningfully.

“So you can hold your liquor?”

“Ah, not really.”

“Then have another.”

“Pardon?”

“Go on.”

She filled the glass to the brim, smiling slyly.

Who fills wine to the brim? It was obvious to anyone: get me drunk and make a fool of me.

Whether I could drink well didn’t matter to her at all.

Normally I’d deflect, but right now this was an opportunity.

Fine. Bully me all you want. I’ll drink every drop.

I pretended to hesitate, then started gulping it down.

As Nanael kept pressing drinks on me, the surroundings buzzed.

“Look over there.”

“Shouldn’t someone stop this?”

“How many glasses is that now?”

“At this rate, the lady’s going to collapse.”

The whispers droned in my ears.

Good. Everyone, look! Princess Nanael is bullying sweet, harmless me!

And yes—just as planned—Nanael was clearly enjoying it.

The problem was she was enjoying it too much.

Since I kept downing every glass she pushed at me, the buzz hit fast.

By now, my face was probably bright red.

If I’d known, I would’ve taken a hangover cure beforehand.

There was a limit to how much I could accept just to play along.

Ugh—where did those two go?

I couldn’t see Alperen or Adrian anywhere.

At this rate, I’d pass out before I could make Alperen witness Nanael’s cruelty.

No good. Retreat for now!

When she offered yet another glass, I covered my mouth and said,

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. My stomach’s really churning. I need some fresh air.”

“Oh my, then let’s go together.”

“Sorry… what?”

With me?

I looked at Nanael through hazy eyes.

Anyone could tell she was planning something underhanded.