What? Adopt a slave?
Considering that he had also learned that Cassadin was a slave through so research, Damian acted as if it were so sort of big weakness.
And I almost burst into laughter upon seeing that.
Damian hadnt changed a bit all this ti. I found myself relieved by the fact that he was the sa piece of trash he was in my mories.
It seems I wont need to feel a speck of guilt for pushing you into annihilation.
If Damian were kind, unlike in the past, I wouldve hesitated to harm him.
But a persons nature doesnt change that easily. And I am grateful for that.
Then I hurriedly clung onto the hem of Damians clothes.
My goodness! Your Grace! Did you just insult my brother?
Damian scowled, seeming to be irritated by my sudden action. And I intentionally shouted loudly in the midst of the crowded banquet hall.
I understand that my younger brother is handso, but that doesnt justify your offense to him in such a public environnt!
Hah.
Damian scoffed as if he couldnt believe this situation. He managed to keep a smile on his face, but his green eyes that were looking down on had beco frozen cold.
Milady, why dont you take a mont to calm down?
Calm down? How can I calm down in a situation like this? How could you do this to ! Even when I risked my safety and visited Your Grace in prison out of concern for you!
I made my hands tremble, my face full of shock and betrayal. When I looked up and glared at Damian with widened eyes, the reactions of the people around us started to split.
What? Lady Serkia went to visit the Grand Duke in prison?
Hm, this is the first ti Ive heard of this. Then the Lady must have so influence over the Duke being released.
The people nodded as they each started to add their share to the conversation. I had done nothing to help Damian get out of prison, but just the fact that I went to visit him put the ga in my favor.
Speaking of which, how did the Grand Duke know that the two siblings werent blood-related?
I was also thinking that was odd. Could it be that the Duke had done so research on the Lady?
If they had officially adopted him, then they are siblings regardless of their blood.
Why would soone so busy with their lawsuit bother to co here and say such things?
The crowds opinion slowly turned against Damian.
Just as Damian had used the people to his advantage, I also just needed to use their reactions. After all, I learned all of this from him.
Had I not once sat in the palm of his hands, moving just as he wished to? My past self had been the puppet that was toyed with in his hands.
The actions I had excused in the na of love were the result of abuse.
Not only have you let down my heart, but you are now even trying to disrespect my younger brother.
I secured the final nail in the coffin. And it was then that the leisurely expression on Damians face disappeared. His expression now, without a hint of a smile, was the face that I knew all too well.
The face I had always seen in my past life.
Not the face covered with confidence or a fake mask, but his true cold, dry, and indifferent face.
What is all of this commotion?
A voice stood out among the crowd. And everyone, including myself, turned their gazes to the owner of that voice.
Golden locks of hair bobbed under the lights of the banquet rooms extravagant chandeliers. The one who was looking at us with a stunned face was none other than the Crown Prince, Leon.
When the golden-haired man in a red uniform revealed himself in a healthy state, the murmurs of the people beca louder.
Your Highness!
May I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.
All of the people hurriedly bowed their heads and greeted the Prince. The Crown Princes eyes fleeted over the people with indifference before making eye contact with , and he smiled brightly.
Aren.
Not only that, but the Crown Prince called by my first na as he ran to . Seeing that, the peoples mouths dropped wide open as they stared at , the Crown Prince, Damian, and Cassadin.
I didnt know you would actually co.
The Crown Prince smiled innocently at . It seed as though Cassadin and Damian, who were standing nearby, didnt co into his sight. I also arched my eyes and smiled back at the Crown Prince.
I couldnt dare decline Your Highnesss invitation.
That is true.
He answered confidently. Then Damian, who had been quietly watching and the Crown Prince, slowly opened his mouth.
Your Highness, it relieves to see that you are well.
The Crown Prince turned to Damian. He must have only realized that Damian had been there, as the Princes expression hardened.
I dont rember inviting the Grand Duke.
Likely to have lost any sort of positive relations they had with the lawsuit, there was a cold current passing between the two n. It felt like the air in the entire banquet hall had turned frigidly cold.
I couldnt stand such treatnt, especially when I didnt commit a cri.
Whether you have committed a cri or not, you have lost the trust of the imperial family the mont you filed a lawsuit.
My my, has the imperial family even trusted in the first place? To say that you have trusted after accusing of a cri I hadnt committed. Your humor amuses , Your Highness.
Neither of them backed down even a single step. The banquet, intended to be an entertaining event, felt no different from a fierce battlefield.
And the person who stopped them was none other than my younger brother.
Why dont we all take a mont to calm down?
Damian and the Crown Prince both stopped and shot Cassadin a look. Flicking away their gazes as if it were nothing, Cassadin said in a low voice,
There are many watching us.
Cassadin was right. The people who had co to enjoy the banquet were currently anxiously watching the two n, not knowing what to do.
You are.. The Ladys younger brother.
After recognizing Cassadin, the Crown Prince cocked his head.
I dont rember inviting you either.
Damian smirked as he heard that, and the Crown Prince must not have wanted to even look at Damian, as he turned his gaze towards as he spoke.
There seem to be so uninvited guests today.
Even though hes my younger brother?
The Crown Prince laughed and shrugged his shoulders.
I will forgive you this one ti with my generosity.
Thank you, Your Highness.
Well, thats that
The Crown Prince stared at my face for a mont, then his eyes fell to my hand that Cassadin had been holding all that ti.
When do you plan to let go of that hand?
He attempted to separate our hands himself, but Cassadin held on tighter to my hand, having no intention of letting go.
I have promised to escort my sister today, so I wont let go of this hand, not for a single mont.
Hah.
The Crown Prince scoffed. With one of his eyebrows crumpling, the Crown Prince asked Cassadin in an interrogative tone.
Do you truly an that?
Yes.
Cassadins firm answer caused the Prince to shake his head.
I felt it last ti as well.
?
But your eyes, when you look at Aren, do not seem like those of a sibling. Rather, its more of a primitive look. Yes, like
I felt the desperate need to cut off the Crown Princes comnt. Did he really plan on ruining the already ruined banquet even further?
To stop him from talking, I blurted out whatever I could think of at the mont.
Your Highness! May you dance with ?
Then all eyes turned to stare at . The noisy banquet room quieted down in an instant.
Pwahahahah!
In the middle of that silence, Leon alone burst out into laughter. He found my words funny enough that tears ford in his eyes.
Milady is always so unpredictable. You dont seem sane at tis.
Not sane? To think that I would hear that from the Crown Prince. Im a disgrace to my family.
Normally, its the man who usually asks for a dance.
As if I wouldnt know that from my countless experiences at the palace. I just needed an excuse to stop that crazy loudmouth.
The Crown Prince continued to laugh for a while, then, after clearing his throat, extended a hand to .
Your Highness, whats this?
The Crown Prince curled up one side of his mouth.
Shall we dance?
The banquet room buzzed with commotion. Everyone was staring at us in disbelief. The people murmured amongst themselves, snatching glances at .
Most of the eyes that were looking at had similar anings. Both were mixtures of jealousy and envy.
Out of everyone there, Ively was especially glaring at , chewing angrily on her bottom lip. Her long red hair reminded of a bright red fla.
But no matter how much it burned, a fire was bound to be extinguished at so point. The false rumors she spread would eventually return to her with repercussions.
I heard that the Serkia Family gained their wealth through mines. Was that a false rumor?
Seeing that His Highness is displaying his acquaintance with her like this, the rumors that His Majesty has chosen Lady Serkia as the Crown Princess may not be just a rumor.
Each of the people watching made their own speculations. Regardless of what they thought or said, this situation was going to progress in a beneficial direction for .
After seeing my friendship with the Crown Prince with his own eyes, not even Damian would be able to act rashly against or my family.
That was the reason why I stayed quiet when Ively, the one who had spread all those rumors about our family, continued to bother my precious brother, and why I attended this banquet.
To both completely turn over the rumors regarding our family and shake Damians composure.
I was glad that the Crown Prince had appeared just in ti. Though Damian was pretending to be still and leisurely, he must have been unable to muster up a smile, as he completely gave up on maintaining his expression and switched his gaze between and the Crown Prince.
Giving Damian a soft smile, I accepted the hand that the Crown Prince offered. But my other hand was still being held by Cassadin.
When I tried to take my hand away from Cassadin, he squeezed it even tighter.
Sister.
He shook his head. The way he was looking at looked almost desperate. He was pleading with not to dance with the Crown Prince.
Do you wish to put your sister in a difficult position?
In response to the Crown Princes remark, Cassadin slowly released my hand. When I briefly glanced at his face as he let go, I found a dark shadow cast over Cassadins face.
His expression felt so full of sorrow that I wanted to give him a hug right on the spot, but because of the situation, I was unable to do so.
The Crown Prince smiled in satisfaction. Then he jerked his chin at Damian and said to him,
I would like it if our uninvited guest would leave now.
Damian crossed his arms after hearing the Princes comnt.
Im sorry, but I cannot leave like this, as I have a debt that the Lady must repay to .
A debt? What has the Lady done to be indebted to you?
It seems Your Highness has not yet heard about it. Though I had expected it to be so.
Damian paused, intentionally taking his ti. When the Crown Prince nodded at him to continue, Damian then spoke,
The debt that Milady has. is a slave.
A slave?
I had given a slave to the Lady. One that is incredibly strong and powerful. So
The man didnt stop there.
As I have given her a slave, isnt it right for to receive one in return?
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