Chapter 5. Interesting
1323 Words
Chitter.
Chatter.
The ballroom was filled with lively conversations, laughter, and the soft music of the orchestra.
Everyone was dressed in their finest clothes, dancing and celebrating beneath the magnificent chandeliers.
Everyone except one person.
“Haaaa… I'm bored.”
Selene sat on a bench at the edge of the ballroom, resting her cheek against one hand as she watched the people dancing.
Sigh.
She sighed again.
And again.
Lisa stood beside her, watching her master with a helpless expression.
Yep. She's bored again.
Lisa already knew what was coming.
Is she going to request another mission?
She glanced at Selene nervously.
No way, right?
After all, Selene would be traveling to Varell tonight.
Surely she wouldn't ask for another mission before leaving.
“Uhm… Your Highness?”
“What?”
Selene answered irritably without even looking at her.
“It's your birthday banquet. Please show some energy.”
Selene slowly turned her head toward Lisa.
“You expect me to show energy in front of this kind of thing?”
Lisa blinked.
Thing?
This is a birthday banquet!
And it's for you!
It's your own birthday banquet!
“Ahem…”
Lisa cleared her throat.
“But please smile at least a little, Your Highness.”
“…”
Selene stared at her.
“You want me to smile all the time just to please people?”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Then you should be the princess instead.”
“…”
Lisa immediately fell silent.
There was no point arguing.
No matter what she said, she could never win against the princess.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Footsteps approached.
“Oh?”
A young man's voice came from behind them.
“The princess seems to be tired.”
Selene glanced toward the man.
“Yeah. Why?”
The young man smiled.
“I just couldn't see you around the ballroom, my lady.”
Lisa's expression immediately changed.
My lady?
Her eyes narrowed.
That's absurd!
“Your Grace, that's not how you should address her—”
Before Lisa could finish, Selene raised one hand, stopping her.
“What do you want?”
The man smiled and extended a glass of wine toward her.
Selene glanced at the glass.
Something caught her attention.
A small piece of paper was hidden beneath his fingers.
Her eyes flickered.
She looked back at the man.
He was still smiling.
A mission?
Or not?
The Master wouldn't send someone like this to deliver a message.
This isn't how I normally receive an order.
Selene's eyes narrowed slightly.
Perhaps… an emergency?
She took the wine.
At the same time, she discreetly slipped the small piece of paper into her fingers.
“Thanks.”
Selene looked back at him.
The man smiled again.
Then his lips moved slightly.
“Read it.”
Selene froze.
Lip-sync?
Wait… what did he say?
Her eyebrows twitched.
Is he ordering me around?
Selene frowned.
She stared at him for a moment.
Then, without changing her expression, she discreetly pulled a small needle from her sleeve.
Snap.
The needle flew through the air.
It struck his leg.
The man's face twitched.
He immediately stiffened, desperately trying not to groan.
Selene smirked.
Then she silently mouthed a word back at him.
“Deserve.”
The corner of the man's lips twitched.
“You—”
He suddenly stopped.
He felt it.
Someone's gaze was fixed on him.
A cold chill ran down his spine.
Gulp.
He gathered his courage and slowly turned around.
The Emperor was staring directly at him.
His expression was cold.
His eyes carried a very clear warning.
Stay away from my daughter.
The young man's face paled.
He quickly turned back toward Selene.
“If you may, Your Highness, allow me to take my leave.”
Selene glanced at him.
“Go.”
The man bowed deeply.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
He turned around and began walking away.
Step.
Step.
Limp.
He was doing his absolute best to walk normally despite the needle still being lodged in his leg.
Unfortunately, his limp made it painfully obvious.
Selene watched him leave without the slightest bit of guilt.
Lisa stared at his retreating figure.
Then she slowly looked back at Selene.
“…Your Highness.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Lisa decided it was better not to ask.
“Are you tired?”
Selene looked up.
Standing before her were two familiar figures.
Celine Bellafont, the Empress and Selene's mother.
Beside her stood Valeria Rosalie Bellafont, the Crown Princess and Selene's older sister.
Valeria looked at Selene with concern.
“You can go back to your room if you want. You don't need to stay here if you're tired.”
She paused.
“Besides, you're going on a trip tonight.”
Selene looked toward the Empress.
Celine noticed her gaze.
She simply nodded.
Selene was silent for a moment.
Then she stood.
“Then I shall go.”
She gave them a small nod.
“Please excuse me, Mother… Sister.”
Both Celine and Valeria froze.
Their eyes widened.
For a brief moment, neither of them knew how to react.
It was the first time Selene had called them that.
Mother.
Sister.
But after only a second, they immediately composed themselves.
Unfortunately, Selene had already walked past them.
Valeria watched her retreating figure.
Celine remained silent.
Neither of them said anything.
But both of them had the same thought.
She called us Mother and Sister…
Meanwhile, Selene continued walking toward the exit.
She didn't notice the small smiles that appeared on their faces.
Or perhaps…
she simply pretended not to.
---
At the upper gallery, a young man leaned casually against the railing.
From there, he had a perfect view of the entire celebration below.
His eyes followed Selene as she walked away.
“Hmph.”
The corners of his lips lifted slightly.
His gaze remained fixed on her.
“…Interesting.”
To be continued....
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