Star-Crossed Lovers Of The 1850s (JJK ff)

CHAPTER 16

As Edward's lips hovered mere inches from Louisa's, prepared to seal their fate, a sudden, blood-curdling scream pierced the air, shattering the tense atmosphere that had settled over the lavish ballroom. The enchanting melody that had filled the space mere moments before came to an abrupt halt, leaving an unsettling silence in its wake.

The source of the commotion was Jungkook, who stood frozen, his eyes wide with horror. His usually nimble feet had betrayed him, catching the edge of the intricately woven carpet and sending him tumbling to the ground. The elegant silver tray he had been holding, adorned with an assortment of exquisite crystal glasses and delicate champagne flutes, flew from his grasp, its contents splashing everywhere.

But the worst of the damage was yet to come. The lady he collided with, Regina Vanderbilt, heiress to the esteemed Vanderbilt fortune and renowned philanthropist, was left drenched. Her stunning silk gown, a masterpiece of haute couture, clung to her body, accentuating her statuesque figure. Her eyes, once bright and radiant, now blazed with fury.

Regina's gaze locked onto Jungkook, her expression a mask of disdain. "YOU CLUMSY OAF!" she thundered, her voice echoing through the ballroom. The room gasped, collectively holding its breath as the evening's tone shifted from elegant to chaotic.

Edward's attempted kiss was forgotten, replaced by shock and dismay. Louisa's eyes widened, her face a picture of alarm. Jungkook's face turned beet red as he struggled to find the words to apologize.

"Ma'am, I-I'm so sorry!" Jungkook stuttered, his voice barely audible.

Regina Vanderbilt's gaze bore into Jungkook, her eyes blazing with indignation and contempt. "You utterly inept, clumsy oaf!" she exclaimed.

Her voice, once melodious and refined, now dripped with venom and disgust.

"How dare you!" she continued.

"You've ruined my exquisite gown, a one-of-a-kind masterpiece crafted by the finest designers in Paris!"

Regina Vanderbilt's gaze condescended upon Jungkook, her eyes ablaze with scorn and disdain, as she uttered words that cut deep into his very being.

"You wretched, lowly servant, how dare you, a mere worker from the Anthics caste, dare to sully my presence with your ineptitude?" Her voice dripped with malice, every syllable a dagger to Jungkook's already battered soul.

Her declaration hung in the air like a challenge, a stark reminder of the social chasm between them. "You're nothing but a menial laborer, a inferior being born into a caste destined for servitude, forever bound to the whims of those above your station,"

Regina proclaimed, her tone reeking of superiority and entitlement. The room seemed to shrink, as if the very walls were closing in on Jungkook, suffocating him beneath the weight of Regina's crushing disdain.

"You Anthics are nothing but untouchables," she spat, her words venomous and dehumanizing.

"Your very existence is a blight on our refined society, a constant reminder of the unwashed masses that threaten to sully our elegance and refinement." Her vitriol knew no bounds, each sentence a fresh blow to Jungkook's already battered heart.

"Your caste is synonymous with filth and degradation, a perpetual reminder of the inferior stock from which you hail."

As Regina's verbal lashing continued unabated, the room fell silent, a collective gasp hanging in the air.

Louisa's eyes widened in horror, her face pale and drawn. Edward's expression darkened, his jaw clenched in anger.

Jungkook's shoulders slumped, his heart bleeding from Regina's relentless assault on his dignity. His eyes pleaded for respite, but Regina's scorn showed no signs of abating.