The Fervorous Prince | Ominis Gaunt

Ch 18. Backfired*

Chapter Cover: © DMESCA | Pinterest

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"What do you think?" Nerida asked as she twirled in the mirror.

"Ehh," MC scrunched her face.

"Yeah, no, not that one," Imelda said confidently.

Nerida kept rotating in the Gladrags mirror to see all the angles of the dress she had tried on. "Really? You guys don't like it?"

MC sat back in her chair and crossed her legs. "It's just not you."

"I agree," Imelda stood up and rummaged through the rack of gowns before pulling out a dark purple one with iridescent detailing. "Now this is more you!"

The other two girls gawked at its beauty. "Nerida!" MC exclaimed. "That's perfect for you! You'll look like a mermaid!"

Nerida eagerly tried it on and fell in love. As she was taking it off, her voice could be heard behind the dressing screen. "What about you guys? Aren't you going to find your own dresses for the Ball?"

"Nah," Imelda swatted her hand in the air. "I don't plan on attending a stupid ball. My parents are taking me to Wales over the break to watch the Harpies play."

"Oh, yeah," MC said. "I forgot winter break starts right after the Ball."

'Thank Merlin,' she thought. 'Hopefully, everyone will vacate the castle and I can have some peace for a week.'

Nerida turned to MC with a hopeful look. "MC?"

She sighed at the reminder of Marvolo insisting on taking her to the Ball. She didn't want to be seen with him in front of all those people, especially Sacharissa.

It would only solidify her belief that she had won Ominis from MC.

But her letters from Marvolo these last couple of weeks were entirely persistent on them attending the Ball together. She wasn't sure if he was even allowed to court a student on school grounds with such an age difference between them, but he apparently was.

The Gaunts must have pulled some strings.

"I suppose I will be needing someth-"

Before MC could even finish, Nerida squealed and ran to the rack to rummage through. After a brief fashion show of a handful of dresses, Nerida finally handed her a sparkling white one. It had a corset bodice with a sweetheart neckline and long, sheer, off-shoulder sleeves.

She had to admit: it looked gorgeous on her. The dangling crystals sprinkled about the bodice glistened in the light with every turn. It hugged her curves beautifully.

She couldn't wait for Ominis to see her in it.

She paid for it with Marvolo's galleons, relishing in the fact that he had unknowingly just paid for a gorgeous gift for his brother.

***

Ominis POV

"Ugh, yellow is such a ghastly color," I practically gagged as I tied my gold bowtie in the mirror.

Sebastian snickered behind me. I knew he felt sympathetic about MC's and my predicament, but he couldn't help but laugh at my misfortune that was Sacharissa Tugwood.

"Shut it, Sebastian. Or I'll cut your dick off and severely disappoint your date for this evening."

Sebastian rested his hands behind his head. "Nah, no date for me tonight, lad. I want the freedom to save any poor heartbroken babes who weren't asked to the Ball."