Rebirth of The Villainess Princess

Chapter 3: Pretentious Intention

Although Ivanna is the eldest princess of Calithea, she has made it clear that she is not interested in the royal fight. Unlike Catherine and Mikael, she lost her chance not just because of her nasty attitude and evil public image, but also because she lacked political knowledge. Instead, she was superior in the military, which is why her appearance as a princess was somewhat inappropriate for her position.

They are often compared to each other which Ivanna hated the most. She doesn’t care about appearances but she can’t accept the comparison. 

Swish.

‘’I can’t tolerate her anymore!’’ She said as her sword clanged with her sparring opponent. Her move was aggressive and quite impulsive.

After her confrontation with her sister, she went straight to the palace training grounds to unwind and let out her bursting anger.

‘’Your highness, please focus. A swordsman wield the sword with a sound mind.’’ Head Knight Stefan said, receiving a series of aggressive attacks from the princess. He served as the teacher of the princess since she was a child and he had never seen her furious like this. She was usually laid back and carefree.

Ivanna is far from what the public knows about her. She might be rude but she was a pure and honest child and she loves her siblings the most. All of them! It hurts her to see them pointing daggers at each other just for the throne. 

‘’Princess? This title disgusts me. It is nothing but a curse.’’ she blurted and stopped. She catch her breath and flung the sword aside she was holding. ‘’I don’t want this useless title anymore!’’

‘’Your Highness, it is not useless neither you.’’ Stefan step forward and picked up her sword, giving it back again to her. ‘’This is the truth. I know it is sad and may sound ridiculous to you, but imperial siblings were meant to not get along well.’’ He said it frankly. She should accept it and Prince Mikael’s fate as well.

‘’...’’ Ivanna stayed silent. No one knows what she was thinking. Her deep obsidian eyes stayed still, void of any emotion.

‘’By the way, your highness, do you know my little sister’s engagement with Duke Larenz?’’ Stefan tried to divert her focus. He also remembered to send the good news to the princess about her little sister’s engagement since they are best friends. 

From a dark mode, Ivanna’s face lit up when her best friend’s name was brought up.

‘’Finally! Melody and Duke Larenz’s engagement. You don’t know how much I waited for this.’’ She exclaimed in excitement. 

‘’I know you will be delighted to know. But your highness, it is still a secret.’’ He said lowering his voice so no one will hear about it. Ivanna’s eyes widened in disbelief.

‘’Gosh! Stefan, why did you say that here? You know how the palace walls have eyes and ears.’’ She leaned slightly almost whispering. Stefan slightly broke cold sweats on his forehead, feeling anxious. He knew but he was also just excited to deliver the news.

‘’Your Highness!’’ Stefan and Ivana jumped in surprise when a high-pitch voice screamed behind them. ‘’Brother! I knew I can find you here.’’ A young lady in her 20’s enthusiastically ran towards them. She was so beautiful. Her golden hair and sparkling deep blue eyes looked perfect. She was even more beautiful in her white dress with a large blue ribbon hugging her waist. Whenever Ivanna saw her, her heart flutters in amazement.

‘’Gosh, Melody! You scared us! Be grateful you are so cute and beautiful. Hmph! If I’m a man I could steal you away from Duke Larenz.’’ She winked at her and Melody suddenly blushed in embarrassment. Ivanna really enjoyed teasing her.

‘’S-So you knew!’’ and glanced meaningfully at his brother.

‘’Oh, I couldn’t help it, little sister,’’ he said and smiled sheepishly.

‘’Yes, darling.’’ Ivanna opened her arms and Melody happily hugged her. Stefan was a little bit tad jealous so she poked her arms saying, ‘’How about me?’’

‘’Hmph, I don’t want you. I want to hug Her Highness, not you!’’

‘’O-Okay...Little sister, do you want to eat strawberry cake?’’ He was trying to bribe her sister but he failed, instead, he got an icy glare. ‘’I’m not a little girl anymore, brother!’’

‘’Stefan, you should give up,’’ Ivanna smirked hugging Melody tightly. ‘’Melody is mine.’’ 

‘’Hmph, she is not yours, your highness’’ Stefan said putting her arms over his shoulders. “...nor mine. She belongs to Duke Larenz’’ sadness and worry filled his heart as he gazed affectionately at his little sister. Time does fly fast. But somehow, his heart was heavy and he didn’t know why. Maybe, he was just sad that he will not be able to see his little sister every day in the future. 

‘’Your Highness, I want to be tall like you.’’ Melody looked up at Ivanna. Even though they are not blood-related she treated her as a big sister.

‘’How sweet but I don’t want to.’’ Her heart can feel tenderness. Melody was cute in every way. She will definitely make everyone’s heart melt.  No wonder the famous cold Duke Larenz was head over heels to her.

‘’Why?’’ 

‘’Because I want to trap you in my arms forever. Can I?’’

‘’You can’t, your highness!’’ Stefan threw side comments behind them.

‘’Hmph!’’

Stefan and Ivanna’s contest for Melody’s attention goes on for a while. Melody had to come in between them to prevent some serious fight to broke out. She planned to only bring along Ivanna with her but her brother insisted to come along with them. In the end, All three of them went to Boutique while keeping her place between them to separate the two from each other. They are always seeing each other since the two of them were in charge of managing the Imperial Knights. But when it comes to Melody, there is always an intense battle between them. There was this electrifying force once their eyes met.

Melody went to the boutique to ask the great seamstress in the capital to make a dress for her engagement. Duke Larenz wanted to come with her but Melody knew he was busy so to soothe him, she said she would bring along the princess with her.

But their trip together to the boutique was a disaster. Ivanna and Stefan’s constant battle never end. 

Looking at them, Melody shook her head and went towards the seamstress leaving them alone to keep fighting at the boutique’s corner.

‘’Nevermind. Lady Jane just...picked the best dress you think will suit me.’’ 

‘’Don’t worry, Lady Agnes. We can help you.’’ the seamstress sent her a reassuring smile. She led Melody to the dressing room and present a dazzling lavender dress to her.

‘’How about this one, my lady’’ The sight of it make her heart jump in surprise.

‘’It’s lavender…’’ just like Duke Larenz’s eyes. Melody’s face flushed and looked at the seamstress. ‘’H-How did you know?’’

‘’Forgive me my lady for not letting you know. Duke Larenz informed me earlier.’’ Melody asked the duke to hide first the engagement until the fourth day of the month. A day before their engagement. She just doesn’t want to attract trouble for the duke. Duke Larenz was the most powerful man in the empire. His power was even equal to the emperor in terms of influence. He was still young and talented. But more power can attract jealousy. And the imperial court was full of malicious people. Melody understood it well.

She softly smiled while brushing her hands against the soft fabric of the dress. Looking at it admiringly.

‘’My lady, let me leave you here for a while. I will just call my assistants and get some tools to get your measurements.’’ The seamstress left the dressing room not knowing someone will come after she left.

‘’Oh, Lady Agnes, are you perhaps with my sister?’’ A beautiful lady came in. Her face was pleasing and refreshing in the eyes. She looked kind and modest. Melody liked her but she didn’t know why she was not her friend until now.

‘’Greetings, your highness.’’ She curtsied. ‘’Yes, I came with Her Highness, Princess Ivanna.’’ She answered politely.

Catherine smiled kindly at her.’’ Congratulations!’’  

Melody was confused why would she congratulate her. ‘’Uhm…, your highness, for what reason you are congratulating me?’’

Catherine smirked inwardly but maintained a soft smile outside. ‘’ Eh? For What? For your engagement with Duke Larenz.’’ She beamed as if she was happy about the news.

Melody was completely surprised.

‘’T-Thank you...your highness. B-But, how...how did you know?’’ 

Catherine’s face displayed a puzzled look.’’ She said it to me.’’

Melody thought about it for a while before asking. Who could it be?

‘’W-Who is it, your highness?’’ Is it the seamstress? She thought. She became anxious thinking about who leaked the news to Princess Catherine. But she understood why the seamstress should know since they will be helping them with their engagement. The seamstress is professional and worked with nobles for many years so she is trustworthy. Aside from her family and the duke, there is the princess who knew about it. She is her best friend and she always trusts her. There was no way she would tell it to Princess Catherine. Besides, the two princesses didn’t get along well with each other. 

‘It’s my sister, Princess Ivanna.’’ She said bluntly.’’ It was good news! I’m happy for you and...I’m quite jealous. The duke was every ladies’ dream, even my sister admire him. Didn’t she tell you about it?’’ She slightly tilted her head staring straight at her as she observed Melody’s face.

‘’It’s n-not...true.’’ her voice shook a little. She knew Ivanna well. 

‘’Eh?’’

‘’Ahem. Your Highness, excuse me for a while. I forgot something and will need to go back home. Please do tell to the seamstress.’’ She curtsied before she left the dressing room.

‘’Okay,’’ She nodded. Suddenly, a brief glint flashed briefly in her eyes.

‘’Catherine?’’ Ivanna raised her eyebrows and looked at the Head Knight beside her. They got tired of bickering while waiting for Melody at the boutique cafe. The boutique was the famous and largest one throughout the empire. It indeed suits the status of noble families. It even had a cafe where nobles could relax while picking dresses to wear. 

Ivanna and Stefan decided to have some tea and cake while chatting.

‘’Yes, your highness. Why don’t you tell about her to the emperor?’’ His face looked serious. He never liked Princess Catherine. He knew she is a malicious person.

‘’No,’’ Ivanna answered firmly.

‘’Your highness, the emperor trusted your judgment. He loved your frank and honest attitude. Even though you have no evidence that Catherine poisoned Mikael he would believe you.’’ He can’t understand why the princess still cares for that two-faced woman. Whenever he saw her he would get annoyed.

‘’No. It doesn’t mean that I care for her.’’ She said knowing what is on his mind. Stefan looked at her disbelievingly,’’ You are too obvious, my friend.’’

‘’But-’’

‘’I can’t.’’ Ivanna cut him off and sighed heavily. ‘’ As a father, he will believe in me but as an emperor, he shouldn’t until I brought a solid evidence in front of the council.’’ There was sadness in her voice.

‘’But your highness, there should be someone who can put the princess in her place. Her entire being is spitting chaos!’’ He was seriously alarmed. If no one will stop Princess Catherine he feared that in the future he will bow down to an evil monarch like her.

Ivanna sighed. ‘’Stefan, no one is clean. Everyone has their evil nature inside them’’.

For the second time, she sighed again, ‘’See? being a princess is a curse!’’ 

After a long time of waiting, Melody finally came out of the dressing room. But there was something wrong with her.

‘’Melody, how did it go?’’ Stefan walked towards her sister but she only looked at him blankly. Her face looked pale.

‘’Melody, are you alright?’’ Ivanna asked her but she didn’t give an answer. Melody only gave her a small smile and then went back to the carriage.

‘’M-Melody, what’s wrong?’’ They went back to the House of Agnes but Melody seemed disturbed. She never uttered a single word neither to her or to Stefan. When they arrived at the estate, Melody just went straight to her room and never let anyone enter except for her maid.

‘’Your highness, it seems like Melody is tired. You should also go back to the palace now and rest.’’ Stefan suggested and escorted her back.

After a month, the empire became even more boisterous, as the House of Larenz announced the duke’s engagement with the lady of House of Agnes. The public was surprised because the couple announced their engagement on the same day the party started. Ivanna didn’t also know why. She knew they will announce it before the day. But she will respect any decision the couple will make. She was only there to support them.

Duke Larenz was powerful as the imperial family. It is only natural for him to celebrate the engagement party at the imperial palace for his future wife. 

The engagement began with a lively atmosphere. All prominent noble families were invited. Duke Larenz and Melody looked perfect for each other as they dance happily together at the center of the ballroom. But Ivanna noticed Melody’s dress was different although it looked beautiful. She remembered she chose the lavender dress to wear for her engagement party so why didn’t she wear it today? Instead, Melody was wearing a soft pink dress.

She thought maybe Melody just realized she loved the soft pink dress more. But she clearly loved the lavender dress before! The color of the dress was the same as the color of Duke Larenz’s eyes.

After the day when Melody and Ivanna went to the boutique together with Stefan, they still haven’t met each other. She assumed Melody was busy with preparation and decided not to disturb her until the engagement party ended. 

After the duke presented his public proposal, the dance party began. Ivanna attended countless parties before but this was the most lively and beautiful one. Seeing them together put a smile on her face.

Ivanna may be a princess but she doesn’t really enjoy staying at large parties. She doesn’t participate much in gathering within the social circle. Aside from Melody, Ivanna doesn’t have friends.

Melody was still busy entertaining their visitors. As a future duchess, making the guest comfortable was one of her responsibility.

Ivanna sighed as she looked away from Melody at a far distance. Oh, how she missed her already. Time does fly fast. They are now grown up and marriage is inescapable.

Since no one would be willing to accompany a famous villainess princess, Ivanna was all alone at the corner of the ballroom.

She can’t return to her chambers yet since it is her beloved friend’s important day. So to temporarily escape the suffocating atmosphere of the banquet, she went outside for a while.

The night’s air was quite chilling but the pretty starry sky was a beautiful sight.

Ivanna walked alone and she passed by the imperial garden and stopped midway. She saw two familiar figures and it seem like they were talking about something serious.

The night was dark so to make her assumption clearly about who are these two people, she walked closer to them, enough to see their faces and enough to hide her presence. She was not a typical person who meddle with someone else business. But seeing those two persons together all alone during the engagement party was a moment she can’t imagine that will happen. 

In fact, these two persons as far as she knew didn’t have any relation to each other.

‘’Is that Catherine and who is she with? Who is that man?’’ she mumbled as she walked a little closer towards their direction. She remembered, she didn’t saw Catherine inside the banquet earlier. But why...why that man, at this very moment was with her.

‘’Is he..Duke Larenz?’’