Another Villainess

Chapter Nine

I enter the banquet hall silently, hoping my arrival would go unnoticed, but I'm not so lucky.

The room fills with gasps as I see many noble ladies hiding their mouths with their hand fans.

I don't look at any of them while I walk, I keep my focus on a back corner near the food table.

"Ahh, it seems my dear sister has arrived!" Zachary walks over from a group of older men. "We were just talking of you, Leondra."

"I don't care." I say, still walking to the corner.

"Still an unsociable bitch, I see." Zachary shakes his head and wobbles, a red drink in his hand. Nobles around him whisper.

"Careful how you act, Zachary Raiyus. I'm not sure why you're drinking and whining like a lunatic, but maybe it proves I'm not the only stain on our title."

"How dare-!" But he looks around suddenly at all the eyes on him and clears his throat. "No, this banquet was prepared excellently. Only the royal family could provide such high quality drinks. I couldn't help but indulge."

Nobles around us murmur in agreement, and now I want to try the wine myself.

"Now entering the Crown Prince, Sylvian Arlay!"

The doors above the tremendous staircase fly open as a single man walks out. His hair glistens in the chandelier light, red like fire and the tips a gorgeous yellow. It is something truly marvelous.

His eyes match his hair in every way, bright red and then yellow in the middle. He really is someone who walked straight out of a book.

He looks down at me and frowns, surely expecting me to scream, which is exactly what Leondra did in the book.

Screamed for answers, screamed for attention, and then screamed for his love. She was a laughing stock.

But I don't scream, and his eyes don't linger on me for long as he walks down and greets the guests.

As expected, I'm avoided like the plague. All the nobles who want to create connections with the Raiyus family go to Zachary, who is now surrounded by people.

"The Crown Prince resolved the issues at the Eastern Boarder. He's truly amazing." An older gentleman says out loud to nobody.

His wife chimes in, "Yes, a shame he's forced to marry-" She looks over at me but stops suddenly, noticing my glare.

Her voice was loud enough to cause some laughter from those around us, but our eyes were locked together and she didn't laugh with them.

"Is everything alright over here?" A hand rests on the husbands shoulder as a figure appears next to the couple.

A predictable turn of events, one in that happens in the story as well. Ashe Kieran, the Empire's bishop, and kindest soul in the story, makes an appearance whenever anyone is needed.

I glance over to the small crowd, and as expected,  I see her.

Leondra, beautiful as she is, cannot compare to the loveliness of the female lead. Her face filled with understanding and worry.

Our situations are so different, but right now we are the same. But while Alana did nothing to deserve her harassment, Leondra did everything.

"Everything is perfect, Kieran. How nice it is for you to come check up on me."

"Leondra, it has been a while, I see you're looking well." He pats the husbands shoulder and nods to the wife before approaching me.

Because Leondra and Sylvian were engaged at such a young age, they basically grew up around each other.

"I congratulate you. Now that Sylvian is an adult, we must only wait for your coming of age ceremony."

I smile kindly, both of us knowing the royal family has no intention of making me the next empress.

Ashe seems to notice Sylvian looking right at us, unamused. But before he can continue, the banquet hall is silenced by a large clatter.

"I-I'm sorry!" A very loud voice yells out.

Both Ashe and Sylvian's eyes dart over simultaneously.

A group of noble ladies hounding Alana seem very uncomfortable while she apologizes and trembles, her white hair glistening as brightly as Sylvian's red.