A one-and-a-half-week pass, and the grand ball at the royal palace loomed over Aria like a dark storm cloud. She had no doubt that it would be a night of glitter and pretense, of smiles that didn't reach the eyes and whispers that stung like wasp bites. Yet she had a role to play the villainess whose heart was as cold as the ice sculptures that adorned the banquet hall.
"Lila, should I really need to attend this grand ball?" Aria sighed heavily, staring at the reflection in her vanity mirror. Lila's nimble hands worked tirelessly, placing the finishing touches on Aria's elaborate hairstyle.
"You know you do, Lady Aria," Lila replied, her voice gentle yet firm. "And isn't it nice to attend since you can be with the prince, you've like or should I say love him since your childhood," she said, trying to lighten the mood. Aria's eyes shot to the mirror; meeting Lila's in the reflection.
'Yeah, love....'
"It's not like I have a choice," she replied, her voice flat. "As far as I remember, he's the only one around that time, that is why I fall for him," she said, her eyes still focused on the reflection trying to sound so natural.
'Thank God, I have her memories' she thought, 'Otherwise, I might have fucked up a lot of things by now' she thought with a smirk.
Since that day on the Plaza Miranda, she already tried everything to go back to her world as she was fueled by her amulet of unluckiness. Seriously, everything from starvation to throwing herself from a moving carriage. But the plot had a twisted sense of humor, very time she attempted suicide, something or someone would swoop in to save her, usually at the last moment, leaving her bruised but very much alive. It was like the universe had it out for her, forcing her to live out every page of this tragicomedy she'd been thrust into.
Like when she tried to jump off again from the balcony, and her father who is chilling below caught her with his arms. "Why do you always do that, Aria?" he said, his voice laced with exasperation and something else, a concern.
"Because I am DEADPOOL!", joke aside, Aria had never seen that look on his face before, not in her real life, not in this one. It made her feel...seen. And she hated it.
Another one, is when she tried to drink all the poison she had asked from her servant but ended up having a very painful stomachache that lasted for two days, with the noble's doctor hovering over her like a mother hen. It was infuriating, but also a little bit amusing, watching everyone's panic over her supposed 'accident'.
And lastly, the most recent one was three days ago, a stormy evening when she tried to drown herself and make herself drench and be hit with thunder. But as she stood in the rain, she heard a sweet call from Keion, the child she had met at the market which she had adopted.
"Lady Aria! Lady Aria!" He had called out, his voice piercing through the rain. She had turned around, expecting to see him running towards her but instead, she saw him holding an umbrella and running in the rain.
"You don't want to get sick," he had said, his eyes wide with worry. And just like that, she was pulled out of her own dark thoughts and into a world that, despite her efforts, she was finding hard to leave behind. Especially, when there is a child and a parent who actually cared for her, who saw her beyond her role.
Now, standing in front of a mirror. "Are you sure my lady? Isn't this dress far too plain?" Lila asked, holding up a gown that looked like it had been plucked straight from a peasant's wardrobe. Aria nodded firmly, "I want to make a statement," she said, her eyes gleaming with a mischief she hadn't felt in ages.
"Let them think I've lost my mind."
"I agree, you've lost your mind, so at least wear more jewelries," Lila said with a laugh, placing a necklace around Aria's neck. The jewels sparkled in the candlelight, casting a rainbow on the dressing room wall. Aria couldn't help but smirk at the irony. In a world where appearances meant everything, she was about to show up at the grand ball looking like the poor relation.
'I bet the crown prince will be disgusted,' she thought, a strange thrill running through her.
The evening of the ball arrived with a flourish of trumpets and the clack of horse hooves on cobblestone. Aria took a deep breath, stepping out of the carriage and onto the grand steps of the palace. The whispers grew louder as she ascended, each step echoing through the hushed whispers of the crowd. Heads turned, eyes widened, and she felt the weight of their disapproval like a heavy cloak. But she didn't care, she was the villainess, after all.
"She's wearing a simple dress to an imperial banquet?" the whispers grew as Aria glided through the grand hall, her head held high. She had always been the center of attention, but tonight it was for all the wrong reasons.
"That's very unlikely of her, isn't it?" a nobleman snickered.
"The audacity..."
"Did she lose a bet?"
"Maybe she's finally snapped."
"She must have gone mad," a noblewoman whispered to her companion, her eyes wide with shock as Aria waltzed down the stairs.
'I can still hear all of you, you know, soafer Marites.' Aria thought, her smirk widening.
The banquet hall was a sea of glittering gowns and gleaming jewels, a stark contrast to her simple dress. But she didn't care. If she was going to be the villainess, she was going to do it with style, specifically her style.
She stood at the grand entrance of the banquet hall, her heels aligned precisely on the polished marble. Every part of her posture radiated calm control, yet her heart pounded a warning beneath her ribs. The glittering chandeliers above seemed to shimmer with scrutiny, and the music and laughter that had once animated the room dulled the moment her presence was known. Her eyes narrowed toward the announcer, standing frozen with the scroll in his hand.
"Aren't you going to announce my arrival?" she asked, her voice wrapped in silk but sharpened by challenge.
The man flinched, startled into motion. His eyes darted to the imperial dais before returning to her in a panic. He straightened with a slight tremble in his fingers and cleared his throat.
"M-My apologies, my lady," he stammered, before calling out, "Presenting Lady Aria Wellington, fiancée of His Highness, Crown Prince Kieran!"
His voice echoed across the vast ballroom like the toll of a ceremonial bell, loud and solemn. In an instant, the music dimmed in presence, conversation ceased, and every head turned. The hall fell into that peculiar kind of silence where tension buzzes beneath the surface like static.
Aria stepped forward, her simple gown trailing behind her like liquid night, her chin held high as whispers broke like a wave through the crowd. Eyes followed her every step, some narrowed in judgment, others wide in disbelief. There was confusion, distaste, curiosity. Everything but welcome.
'Did they expect me not to come?' she thought, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.
'Or maybe drop dead the moment I entered the room? Lol!'
'Hays, so dramatic,' she thought with a tired sigh. 'It's just me. Not a ghost. Or a scandal walking on two legs… wait, actually—'
She held back a smirk, but it quickly faded when she looked ahead.
She felt like a she had walked into enemy territory, or so it felt. Every step closer to the dais felt like entering a lion's den with no armor but her own stubbornness. Yet she walked tall, with the grace of someone who knew what they were—despised or not—and refused to shrink beneath the weight of it.
And then her eyes met those of the imperial family.
The King was impassive, his brows drawn as if weighing something. The Queen… the Queen looked at her.
And Aria braced herself.
Here it is, she thought, the disapproving look, the tight-lipped smile, the subtle reminder that I am not wanted here.
But instead of cold rejection, the Queen's expression softened. Her lips curved upward in a real smile; warm and gracious. There was no icy distance in her eyes, only calm curiosity and something far more dangerous: kindness.
Aria faltered, not in her step, but in her mind. Her body remained poised, but her thoughts scrambled.
'What is this? What game is she playing?'
When Aria reached the dais, she curtsied low, her voice cool and composed. "Your Majesties. Thank you for inviting me to such a splendid event."
There was a brief pause.
Then the Queen descended from the dais, something no one seemed to expect. She approached Aria with deliberate elegance, and the crowd leaned forward ever so slightly, hungry for whatever spectacle was about to unfold.
"Lady Aria," the Queen said, her voice like warm sunlight through stained glass. "You look absolutely radiant tonight."
Aria's composure nearly cracked. That wasn't sarcasm. That wasn't theatrical diplomacy. That sounded… sincere.
"I was beginning to wonder if you would arrive," the Queen continued gently, reaching for Aria's hands with both of hers.
"But I'm so very glad you did. This evening would not be complete without the Crown Prince's fiancée standing beside us."
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the noble assembly. Even the music faltered slightly. The Queen had not only acknowledged Aria, but she had also endorsed her. Defended her.
'Gawd!' Aria wondered, heart hammering. 'Why is she being kind to me? What does she gain?'
The Queen squeezed her hands gently, grounding her. "You've made quite the entrance, dear. You carry yourself with grace, and I daresay you wear courage more elegantly than any gown."
Aria opened her mouth, then closed it again. This wasn't part of her plan. This wasn't what she had prepared herself to fight through. She forced a polite smile, hoping it would mask the whirlpool inside her chest, and before Aria could reply, the King spoke up from his place on the throne. "Indeed. A bold yet refined presence. Very fitting."
Aria bowed her head again, her lips forming the best smile she could manage through the haze of disbelief. 'For real?' she thought, her mind trying to catch up.
'No frost. No disapproval. No whispered disdain. Just… warmth?'
"Thank you… Your Highnesses," she said softly. "But I assure you, I didn't come to steal attention. Only to take the place that was expected of me."
The Queen let out a light, delighted laugh. "And that, my dear, is exactly what makes you deserve of it."
The crowd had fallen silent, watching every word. And though Aria could still feel the sting of a hundred judgmental eyes, the Queen's words felt like a shield, one she never expected, but desperately needed.
And then the Queen turned slightly, her gaze scanning the room with a mixture of fondness and faint mischief.
"Now…" she said, lips curved in gentle amusement, "where is that son of mine?"
A few nobles chuckled softly at her tone. It was a mother's question, but it carried weight, subtly reminding everyone that Aria had not walked in unannounced and unworthy. She had arrived alone not because she was excluded, but because someone else didn't escort her.
Aria blinked, stunned once again. Not only had she been welcomed, but she had also been defended. Elevated. Publicly acknowledged by the Queen herself as someone with a rightful place at the side of the future ruler.
And worst of all… She hadn't prepared for this.
She had braced for frost and scorn. She had built armor against cruelty. But now, she's facing kindness, acceptance, and the genuine warmth of the most powerful woman in the kingdom, she suddenly found herself unsure of how to breathe.
"Uhmm... your highness, don't look for them because I want to give Lady Gaia and the prince their happiness, of course," she said, her eyes sliding to where the couple was standing, surrounded by a sea of admirers.
The queen's smile tightened. "Indeed, Lady Wellington. Do not worry, I will knock some sense into my son's head," she said, her voice a mix of affection and irritation. Aria nodded, hiding her surprise.
'Uh... that's not what I am implying!' She thought.
"By the way, where is your father tonight?" The queen asked, looking around the room.
"He's feeling a bit under the weather," Aria replied, her eyes not leaving the crown prince. "But he sends his regards and his apologies for not being able to attend."
The queen's gaze sharpened. "Is he well?" she asked, her concern for the Duke of Wellington evident.
"As well as can be expected," Aria replied, her tone flippant. "But I'm sure his absence won't ruin the evening." She turned to leave, her eyes scanning the room for any potential targets of her villainous intent.
'Because I will be the one to ruin this evening, considering that this was the crown prince's birthday ball, yet he wouldn't even bother to dance or be with me, his fiancée,' she thought.
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The evening unfolded like a gaudy masquerade; pearls clinking, violins wailing, and noble tongues sharper than blades. Aria Wellington stood by the wall, swirling the last of her wine as another meaningless waltz played. She had long grown tired of these events. The air smelled of perfume and pride. The nobles were like birds in heat, flapping their feathers and hoping someone important would glance their way. Aria could not care less.
"This place is too crowded, too loud," she muttered under her breath, already halfway through regretting her attendance. She walked away from the dance floor, weaving past people who only parted because of her name. Her dress trailed behind her like spilled ink on marble. Her eyes scanned the crowd, not for a friend since she had none, but for someone who might dare to cause trouble. She was, after all, the villainess of the story. Might as well make it entertaining.
Then, as if summoned by fate or the cursed amulet she still wore, a glass of wine slipped from a noble's hand and shattered right at her feet. Crimson liquid splattered the hem of her gownlike blood on snow. The room froze.
"Oh dear," came the mocking voice. "My bad. I am so sorry, my lady."
Aria looked up, her gaze falling on a blonde noblewoman with an insincere pout. The woman's friends snickered behind lace fans, poorly hiding their amusement. Aria could see the glee in their eyes, the thrill of challenging the so-called terror of the kingdom.
Aria tilted her head, letting silence sit like tension in a drawn bow.
"It is quite all right," she said at last, voice smooth as silk and twice as dangerous. "I am sure it was just an accident."
She stepped forward slowly, her heels echoing against the marble floor. Her lips curled into something almost sweet, almost gentle, until she leaned in and whispered against the noble's ear.
"But perhaps," she said softly, "you should be more careful with your glass next time. Especially if you value your life."
The noblewoman stiffened. Her fan lowered. Her eyes darted around as if someone might rescue her. But no one moved.
Aria leaned back with a smile that did not reach her eyes.
"And since you are so eager to start lessons," she added, lifting her own goblet with a mock toast, "let me teach you how to properly spill a drink. Consider this villainess tip number one." And with a flick of her wrist, she splashed the cold wine across the woman's face.
Gasps tore through the ballroom. A woman shrieked. The noble stumbled back, dress soaked, curls ruined, and eyes wild with disbelief.
"You! You're a mad wretch!" the woman screamed, sputtering.
"I do prefer lady villainess," Aria replied, stepping aside with theatrical grace. "But I am very flexible."
Laughter rippled through the room. Some covered their mouths, pretending to be shocked. Others whispered eagerly, hungry for the next scandal. Aria stood in the middle of it all, perfectly poised, as if she had not just ignited a firestorm with a single glass of wine.
And yet, her limbs felt heavier than they should. Her breath shallower. It was the amulet again. She could feel it, draining her, dooming her to more mishaps and stares and noble games. Her act was flawless, but inside she was cracking.
She turned, ready to escape the circle of scrutiny, only to be stopped by a gentle hand on her arm.
"Aria?" She stiffened. Of all people. it's Gaia.
The heroine of this cursed novel. The darling of the kingdom. The girl who shone like sunlight even in the darkest rooms. The girl Nathan was supposed to love. The girl Aria was supposed to destroy.
"I'm fine," Aria said curtly, refusing to meet her eyes.
"You are clearly not," Gaia murmured. "Your gown is soaked and that girl was targeting you on purpose."
"Then she failed. End of story."
Gaia ignored her tone and gently pulled her toward a quieter corner. There was no mockery in her touch. Only concern. Genuine, infuriating concern.
"Here," Gaia said, pulling out a small, embroidered handkerchief and kneeling slightly to blot the edge of Aria's dress. "This fabric stains easily. Letme—", "I said I'm fine."
"You are shaking."
"It's the cold," Aria lied.
Gaia didn't believe her, but she didn't press further. She stood and offered a soft smile instead.
"You were brave," she said. "And funny, honestly. That lady deserved that."
"I wasn't trying to be funny. I was trying to remind her why people don't mess with me just because I'm acting nice this time."
"And yet, you let her off easy," Gaia replied gently. "You scared her, but you didn't ruin her. You don't really want to be feared, do you?"
Aria looked at her then, something fragile flickering behind her lashes.
"Do not try to understand me, Gaia," she whispered. "You are the light. I am the shadow. That is how this world works."
"No," Gaia said, shaking her head. "That is just how cruel the world can be but still it can change if you find right person that can make difference in your life."
Aria's lips twitched at that. "You really are insufferably kind."
"And you are secretly soft-hearted."
"Don't start rumors, dear heroine. Someone might think we're friends." Gaia chuckled, brushing hair behind Aria's ear like they were old companions. "Maybe one day," she said.
Before Aria could reply or push her away the sharp click of shoes interrupted them, a footstep, firm and determined.
Turning around, she saw the crown prince, his eyes blazing with something she hadn't seen before. He didn't look at her with the cold indifference that she had grown accustomed to. Instead, there was a spark of something else, something that sent a thrill down her spine.
"What do you want, Prince Charming?" Aria asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She braced herself for his usual cutting remark, but it never came.
Nathan's eyes searched hers, his gaze intense. "What are you playing at, Aria?" he demanded, his voice low and serious. "Why are you so hell-bent on making a scene?"
Aria's smile wavered, and she took a step back. "It's what I'm good at, apparently," she said, her voice strained. She had never expected to be questioned like this, to have the script flipped on her so suddenly.
Nathan's grip on her wrist tightened, his eyes searching hers. "Is that all you think you're good for?" he asked, his voice softer now, laced with a hint of...concern?
"And you, Gaia, stop hanging around her," the crown prince said, his eyes shifting from Aria to Gaia, his voice laced with a warning that sent a shiver down Aria's spine. "I don't want her corrupting you like she did with my parents."
Gaia's eyes widened in surprise. "Corrupt me?" she echoed. "But she—"
"Is a villainess," Aria finished for her, her voice cold as ice. "And I'm quite content with that title."
The crown prince, however, wasn't backing down. He stepped closer, his eyes piercing. "I'm sorry Gaia, but I'm going to knock some sense on her," he said, his voice firm and laced with something that wasn't anger, concern maybe? Aria felt a twinge of something she hadn't felt in a long time; it's fear. Not of his wrath, but fear of not being able to make everything be at her terms.
Nathan pulled her into the moonlit garden, the cool breeze a stark contrast to the warmth of the ballroom. His grip was firm, but his voice was softer than she expected. Aria's heart skipped a beat, and she yanked her hand away.
"Let go of me!" she snapped, her voice echoing in the garden. "You don't get to decide what's good for me, or what I'm good for!"
Nathan's expression didn't soften, but there was something in his eyes that she hadn't seen before, a spark of curiosity, perhaps a hint of understanding. "What is it that you want, Aria?" he asked, his voice no longer cold but filled with something she couldn't quite place.
"I've been trying to ignore you, but you keep on popping up like a weed," he added, his tone still harsh but with an underlying curiosity.
"Can't you make yourself invisible at least for this event, my birthday ball?" he hissed, his eyes burning into hers. Aria's smirk remained intact, but the tremble in her hand gave away her inner turmoil.
'I'm not invisible woman for God's sake!'
"If you're trying to do this to grab my attention, I suggest you should give up now," he continued, his voice a blend of anger and confusion.
"I don't need your attention," she said, her voice steady. "I only want to be hated."
The prince's eyes searched hers, his grip loosening slightly.
"Why?" he demanded, the coldness in his voice slipping away.
"You keep on emphasizing that you want to be hated, now, I'm giving you the chance to explain why," he said, his eyes searching hers for an answer. "Why do you keep choosing to be hated?"
Aria's smile was a shaky mask, but she held it firmly in place.
"Because if I were loved," she said, her voice a brittle whisper, "I'd have to stay." The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of her desperation to leave this world.
Nathan's gaze searched hers, his hands bawled into a fist. Quietness filled the garden as they stared at each other, the only sound was the distant echo of the party inside the palace.
"What do you mean, you'd have to stay?" he finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
'What should I say to make him hate me more?'
Aria took a deep breath, her eyes meeting his.
"I-I don't want to stay in this engagement," she finally confessed. "I want out. That's it. That's all I want." 'Damn, out of many words to come out of my mouth...'
Nathan's gaze directly to her. "Is that what this is about?" he murmured.
"You think that by acting like this, I'll break it off?"
Aria's chest tightened, and she took a step back, her hand rising to her throat. "Yes, because you aren't exactly thrilled with me, are you?" she said, her voice quivering slightly. "You're always with Gaia, smiling and whispering sweet nothings. Why bother with me?"
Nathan's eyes narrowed. "Is that what you think? Then, would you like to know what I also think of you?" he said, his voice a mix of anger and something else Aria hadn't heard before. It was as if he saw through her façade, and the thought was both terrifying and exhilarating.
"Like what do you expect me to do? You are also rude to me, you keep making my life feel like a living hell, why should I care what you think?" Aria shot back, her eyes flashing with a mix of anger and desperation.
'I'm going to roast you,' she thought.
The prince's gaze never left hers. "You think I force you with this engagement?" he asked, his voice tight. "You have a choice, Aria. You always did."
Aria blinked, the revelation hitting her like a slap in the face. 'OH! Yeah! Aria was the one who clings to her father's leg and begs to be engage to the prince, how could I forget?' she thought with a hint of bitterness.
"Yes, I admit that I the one who force this engagement," she said with a forced chuckle. "But, have you ever tried to think that I also deserve to be treated right, even if it is just for legal obligations?"
Nathan's gaze softened slightly. "I-I didn't mean to—" he began, but Aria cut him off with a wave of her hand.
"Lila! I know you're there, bring my present," she called out, her voice carrying a commanding tone that she hadn't used in a while. A second later, her loyal maid rushed out with a beautifully wrapped box. She handed it to Aria with trembling hands.
"Thanks Lila," Aria said, her eyes never leaving the crown prince's.
"Here is my present for you, this is what legal obligation is," Aria said, throwing the box at the prince's feet. "Everything I did in previous years was for you to see me, to get you to see my value. Yet, you only have eyes for your precious Gaia, and I'm too tired of playing this game," she continued, her voice trembling with anger and sadness.
"Now, if you'll excuse me," Aria said, turning away from the prince. "I have more important things to do than be lectured by a man who can't even be bothered to pretend to love me."
The lady quickly went to Lila, and was greeted by her maid's warmth hug, and immediately wipe her tears, that's when she realizes she was in tears, she hadn't felt them fall.
"Lila, what's wrong with me?" Aria asked, her voice cracked.
"You're human, Miss Aria," Lila said gently, her voice filled with compassion. "And sometimes, even those who acts brave need to cry."
Meanwhile, Nathan picks up the box that Aria threw, curiosity piqued. Inside, he finds his plain handkerchief with an embroidered that read "I think, therefore, I am.", and then another below that was a box with his favorite macaron which he secretly craves for but never shows it. His gaze shifts from the box to the retreating figure of Aria, who looked so small and fragile in the vast garden.
"It seems that she knows me more than I know her," he murmured to himself.
"Am I too harsh on her?" He mumbles, looking at the retreating figure of Aria. His question hangs in the air, unanswered by the statues that line the garden. Gaia looks at him, at a certain distance, her eyes filled with understanding.