The Villainess Always Loses

Chapter 3: In which I Attend a Royal Ball

    I wake up in the same bed as always and now I'm completely annoyed. This stupid wizard was being all sassy and then decided to go all creepy mode and knock me out. When I get my hands on him I'll- I slam my fist onto the nearest pillow. "You'll what?" I hear a voice say from my left. I turn sharply but stop myself from saying anything when I realize it's the wizard. Wait I didn't say anything out loud how did he- "hear what I said?" He mimics. "Wha"- "I'm a wizard remember? I can read minds and stuff" he makes a weird hand gesture. "I didn't know an average wizard could read minds." "I'm a great wizard remember not you're average Joe." I hate this guy.

"What'd you do to me?" I ask finally letting my jaw ease up from all my teeth grinding. "I just showed you what happens if an excessive amount of magic goes back into you all at once. And now you know." "Unnecessary" I grumble under my breath. "What was that?" He cups his hand around his ear. "Nothing you stupid-" Just then a loud bang echoes in the room and in walks Claude.

His eyes instantly scan the room before landing on me and they start to sparkle. "Sil! Are you alright? When I found you in the garden unconscious I thought that you were dead." He rushes over to my side of the bed seemingly unbothered by the wizard. "I-I'm okay now" I manage to mutter out before he hugs me. "But I can't...breathe" I gasp after patting him on the back. "Sorry!" He backs up quickly now scratching the back of his head. "Ahem!" The wizard coughs from where he's now standing behind my brother. Huh that's weird I'm still not used to this new life. Having a brother and all is so weird. "Oh right, you're still here! Thank you for treating my sister while she's been unconscious these last few days" Claude beams at the man. As if it wasn't his fault I'm like this! Just then a thought hits me. "Past few days!" I shout now also on my feet but I sway a bit and have to grab Claude for support. "Easy now you'll fall if you're not careful." The wizard chuckles. I swear I'm going to- "It's Monday" the wizard responds to my earlier statement.  Shit the ball is tonight.

Later that Night:
    The dress I ordered was meant to keep me unnoticeable. I know you're probably thinking 'Why would I want to go unnoticed?' But it's because I need to understand the lay of the land and having the prince spotting me is the last thing I need right now. I get chills all over again thinking about him. The dress is a dark navy with long sheer sleeves, my neck and throat are covered by the same dark material, and the dress pools down the floor tightly hugging my body. It's pretty while also being not too much. After being thrown into the carriage I'm met with Claude who I smile at and Henry the eldest Linclair sibling and the next in line for the Duke's title. My father can't attend so Henry is going in his place. I'm nervous since I've never met Henry and from what I know about him he's cold and serious. Especially with Sylvia. I can't blame him though from what I've heard Sylvia used to throw the wildest tantrums and use up so much money even a king would cry. Henry sits across from us and acknowledges me with a slight incline of his head before talking to Claude.

Someone has a favorite sibling I roll my eyes even though I incline my head in response to him which makes his eyes widen. He quickly looks away though before continuing to talk with Claude. Weirdo. Speaking of weirdo where did that wizard go?

.....The bright lights of the ballroom almost make me wish I hadn't come I frown as I'm led into the castle by Claude and Henry. After being announced I'm given a stern lecture about not making a fool of myself and not overworking myself. Do they ever stop? I walk to the back where a low table is set out and sip from a thin glass. Everyone seems to be avoiding this area maybe it's off-limit?- "Eh? Is that the Linclair girl everyone talks about?" "I dare say it is!" "What is she doing here after that commotion she made at the last gathering?" "Screaming and shouting she even attacked young lady Catherine!" "So that's why" I grumble my hands balling into fists beneath the table. I stand up with a cocky smile and down my glass. I shoot every one of the nobles a warning look egging them to keep going before I brush past them and head to the garden where a double set of doors are.

I almost forgot how Sylvia is treated in this world. An "evil, loud, rude, slut" that's always the problem. But from my view, there's more to her story. Sylvia isn't actually a Linclair she's adopted taken in from the streets if you will. She was 8 when she first came to the duke's estate and was taken in for the role of being a daughter the Duke could be proud of. But
It seems that she failed and ever since she's had a closeted life where she's meant to be forgotten about in total silence. If I was living like that I would be loud and rude. She just didn't want to be forgotten. I'm crouching now and my head is buried in my arms so that I can see only the grass under me and hear the distant music from the ball. I should go back now. I move to stand up but my head is pressed down so that I fall back and hit the ground. "Hey!" I rub my head and glance up with a glower. In front of me is a man so dazzling that I lose my breath. Hair as bright as gold, eyes like the sea, and an expression so cold it reminds you of ice. The prince.