SERENA
"Poor girl! I bet the dress was faulty — the corset must've just slid right off her body! Imagine being that embarrassed at one of the most important events of your life!"
The female crowd was still buzzing with excitement over Arielle's humiliation, their voices sharp and eager as they picked apart every detail. The men, on the other hand, seemed to have dropped the matter entirely—perhaps out of fear of provoking Cillian's temper again, like Mark so foolishly had.
Even though the royal heir was nowhere in sight, no one wanted to risk his sudden reappearance. The mere thought of his displeasure was enough to keep their tongues in check.
And yet, the more they whispered, the more irritated I became.
Sure, my plan had worked. Thanks to that maid's tampering with Arielle's corset, she'd been desperate to loosen it, and I had taken full advantage of the opportunity.
