After Lisa left, only I was left in the room, along with the roaring memories and the cold determination in my mind.
The fifteenth day of the Spring of the Flower Moon. I clearly remember this day. Tonight's dance party is another turning point in my fate from a previous life. It was at this ball that Seron, the then Crown Prince, publicly expressed his "favor" towards me for the first time, while my "dear" sister Celine was smiling sweetly beside me, fanning the flames and pushing me onto the splendid path leading to the abyss.
But this time, everything will be different.
I walked up to the wardrobe, my fingers gliding over one magnificent dress after another. In my previous life, I wore a light pink gauze dress, innocent and naive, like a flower waiting to be picked. Thuren said he likes that feeling of "purity and innocence".
Disgusting.
My fingers finally landed on a forgotten dress. It was a deep-sea blue silk, with dark patterns embroidered on the hem of the skirt with silver thread. The style was simple and elegant, even carrying a hint of composure and mystery that was not in line with my age. This is one of the relics left by my mother. In my previous life, I thought it was too mature and never wore it.
This is it. I'm no longer that silly girl who longed to be discovered by the prince. I'm an avenger from the abyss. This deep blue is just right.
"Lisa," I called the maid back, my tone calm but without any doubt. Help me change into this one. Also, the hairstyle should be coiled up to look neat."
Lisa seemed a little surprised, but soon gave in. When I finished dressing up and stood in front of the mirror again, even I myself was slightly stunned. The girl in the mirror is still young, but in those eyes, there is no longer a naive curiosity, but rather an unfathomable serenity and coldness. The blue dress made my skin look even paler, but it also gave me a sharp temperament.
"Miss..." You look different now." Lisa whispered, with a hint of awe.
"People always change." " I said indifferently, turned and walked towards the door, "Let's go. The good show is about to start."
The hall of the duke's mansion was ablaze with lights, and melodious music floated in the air, interwoven with the hypocritical chatter and laughter of the nobles. Holding a glass of champagne, I hid in the shadow of a relatively quiet colonnade, coldly scanning the entire venue.
Soon, I saw them.
Crown Prince Seron Astar. He has blond hair and blue eyes, a tall and straight figure, and is dressed in a well-tailored white dress. On his face is a gentle smile that he has practiced countless times and is enough to bewitch everyone. He was chatting and laughing merrily with several ministers, behaving gracefully and flawlessly. In my previous life, I was captivated by this appearance and the crown of the future.
And holding his arm, smiling like a pure white lily, was my good sister - Celine Viridian. She was dressed in a pure white gauze dress, looking at Seron with adoring eyes. Occasionally, she would lower her head, revealing a section of her snow-white and fragile neck, perfectly portraying an innocent and obedient younger sister who relied on her elder sister.
My stomach was churning. The fingers holding the wine glass exerted force until the knuckles turned white.
It's just these two people. One placed me on the throne with insincere love and promise and then smashed me to pieces, while the other stabbed me in the back with a deep sisterly dagger, delivering the most fatal blow.
The poisonous fire of hatred almost burned through my calmness. But I took a deep breath and forced it down. Anger can make people lose their judgment. What I need most now is absolute rationality.
I shifted my gaze away, no longer looking at that disgusting couple, and began to search for another figure. Well... The last person in my memory of death.
He is not hard to find.
Duke Kellan Vance stood alone at the other end of the banquet hall, as if he were carrying an invisible barrier. The noisy crowd around him subconsciously kept a short distance from him. He was still dressed in a dark suit instead of the light colors popular in the court, standing out from the surroundings. He didn't talk to anyone. He just drank in silence, his sharp eyes occasionally sweeping across the entire venue, like a lone Wolf patrolling its own territory.
It seemed that he sensed my gaze. Without any warning, his icy grey eyes suddenly turned in the direction where I was.
Eyes suddenly met in the air!
My heart suddenly missed a beat. That gaze was too sharp, as if it could Pierce through the shadows and see through all the calmness I had carefully feigned. The chest that had been pierced by his long sword in the previous life seemed to start aching faintly again.
I forced myself not to look away. Retreating means feeling guilty. I merely raised my chin slightly and looked back at him with a distant expression that matched my current status as the "duchess's daughter", a touch of curiosity and a hint of offense.
A trace of surprise flashed rapidly in his eyes, followed by a deeper inquiry. He didn't show any interest in me, the "insignificant" daughter of a minor noble, as he did in his previous life. He remembered me.
This minor confrontation only lasted for two or three seconds. Then he coldly averted his gaze, as if I were just an ordinary object not worth paying much attention to.
But a fine layer of cold sweat broke out on my back.
He noticed me. This is different from the previous life. Why?
Before I could figure it out, a voice that I detested so much and pretended to be gentle rang out beside me.
"Sister!" So you're here! I've been looking for you for a long time!"
Celine "floated" up to me like a light butterfly, affectionately trying to hold my arm. Thuren followed just half a step behind her, with an impeccable smile on his face.
You look so beautiful tonight. This blue outfit is very special. Celine sized me up and down, with a hint of subtle scrutiny and comparison in her eyes, but the sweet smile on her face remained. "Is that so, Your Highness?" "
Seron's gaze fell upon me, with a hint of genuine curiosity and appreciation. "Indeed impressive, Miss Elana." It's very different from your usual style."
In my previous life, upon hearing such praise from him, my heart was already pounding like a deer. And now, I just feel as disgusted as if I had been licked by a venomous snake.
I slightly bent my knees and performed a standard yet distant bow. "Thank you, Your Highness and your sister, for your praise." My voice was calm and undisturbed. I didn't even glance at Seron for a second. Instead, I turned my gaze to Celine, revealing a hint of just the right concern. "Sister, your complexion seems a bit pale. Is there something wrong with you?" Would you like to take a break?
I clearly remember that tonight in my previous life, Celine would pretend to have a mild heatstroke to win Selen's sympathy and attention, and successfully got Selen to turn the first dance he was supposed to give me into accompanying her to the balcony to "get some fresh air".
Celine was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting my reaction to be like this. She was indeed going to pretend to be unwell later, but I suddenly pointed it out. For a moment, she didn't know how to respond, and the smile on her face became a little stiff. "I..." I'm fine. Thank you, sister, for your concern.
Seren also gave Celine a puzzled look.
Just then, the music changed and the melody of the first dance began to play.
According to etiquette, the crown prince should invite the most noble or favored young lady at the ball to dance the first dance. Everyone's eyes were glancing here faintly.
Selen cleared her throat, a charming smile reappeared on her face, and reached out her hand to me: "Miss Elana, I wonder if it's an honor..." "
His words came to an abrupt halt.
Because another deep, cold voice, carrying an unquestionable force, pierced in and interrupted him.
"Your Majesty."
Duke Kellan Vance of the North came over at some point, appearing beside us like a mountain without a sound. He first nodded slightly to Seron in greeting, and then his icy grey eyes looked directly at me.
The entire venue fell much quieter in an instant. Everyone held their breath as they watched this strange scene.
Kailan's gaze lingered on my face for a second, then she turned to Seron, whose expression was somewhat gloomy, and her tone was flat and calm: "Please excuse my boldness." Could you please let me go and give up Miss Elana's first dance?
He paused for a moment and added a sentence that seemed to be explaining but more like a provocation.
I am deeply curious about Miss Viridian's courage.