Bab 201: [Chapter 201] Did Megara really not know?
The carriage carrying the Duke and Duchess attracted attention even before reaching the entrance of the palace.
In the palace, meetings were held every day, but grand receptions with truly important people coming were rare. Those who didn't need to show off to others liked to gather only among themselves.
Today was the day when even such exclusive nobles personally walked and mingled with the common lower nobles. No matter what anyone said, it was a reception personally bestowed by His Highness the Prince.
It was possible for the Mainland Duke and Duchess of Maitland, who didn't even bother to respond to most invitations, to attend such a level of reception. The lower nobles who wanted to make a mark on the Duke and Duchess but didn't have the opportunity, glared.
The Duke, dressed in black uniform with a black cloak, was the first to step down from the carriage. There was not a single color reminiscent of a spring reception in his attire, but his impressive presence shone on its own.
In contrast, the Duchess, escorted by her husband as she stepped down from the carriage, exuded a delicate yet lively feeling like a spring sprout due to her light platinum blonde hair and a face with sharp features. She was adorned in a violet dress that made one's mouth drop just by looking at it, complemented by violet jewels matching her eye color. Although the style of the dress was slightly different from the current royal court attire, it suited her even better.
Both of them were remarkable beauties. Not only did they reach the pinnacle of wealth and power at a young age, but they also complemented each other well. The admiring voices spread among the people entering the palace.
Abelus, standing by the window on the second floor, looked down at them with a disdainful expression.
Honestly, everything was boring these days. Parents nagging about engagement, older sister meddling in that, and Nelucian, who used to cater to everyone's tastes, went down to the estate. Even the fun of romance wasn't the same as before.
Today's reception was opened under the father's coercion to show that the engagement between Natasha and her partner was going well. Although he did as he was told, Abelus didn't feel inclined to participate in such a spectacle.
Everyone knows that Natasha is dating him. But why reassure her like this before the engagement? There were too many people treating him like a symbol who didn't know how to express any intentions, even though he was the defeated Prince. Even inviting Cledwin Mainland Duke was unnecessary.
Abelus's sapphire blue gem eyes glared at the Duke and Duchess who entered the palace confidently.
It was a mystery how Cledwin managed to live so freely. He wasn't that handsome, and his skills were honestly nothing remarkable. Well, his swordsmanship wasn't bad... Noble children were often praised just for holding a sword properly, so the rumors couldn't be entirely true.
Yes, let's say his skills are as rumored. But how despicable is that wretched fellow? Wasn't it just a few years ago that he went mad and executed all the priests who opposed his views?
Yet that crazy man lived as he pleased. If he wanted to settle on his land, he did. If he wanted to marry a woman, he did.
'I wish he would die soon.'
Abelus silently prayed. How dare that monster touch the mysterious mutation in the gem eyes. If Nelucian had stupidly fallen and missed that woman, the Prince would have taken her beforehand.
He suffered losses due to thinking too honorably about friendship. Abelus concluded that way.
"Your Highness, it's time to descend."
The attendant approached and bowed. Abelus arrogantly nodded.
"Understood."
The one good thing about this reception was that he could be in the same place as Megara without needing any other excuses. Megara, who was beautiful, kind, and only spoke words that pleased him.
Contrary to Natasha's absurd suspicions, he had no intention of breaking up with her and meeting another woman. If he had planned to do so, he wouldn't have dated Natasha for so long in the first place. Since they had been together for a long time, he considered her his wife in his own way.
However, the love he believed in meant not being bound to one woman.
With a bored look, Abelus glanced out the window once more and stood up. He confidently walked out to reveal himself to the people he would rule.
❖ ❖ ❖
Megara was satisfied with the atmosphere of the reception.
Parties hosted by the palace were truly different. Although she was a noble's child and regularly attended important social gatherings, this was the first time she focused on the distinction between parties hosted by the 'royal family' and those organized by others.
'Someday, I will be the host of this party.'
Just imagining that thrilled Megara.
"Maegi."
Colin Ganiel approached the smiling Megara. He was frustrated that their private conversations were not going well and whenever he saw Megara, he approached her.
"Colin, brother."
Megara replied kindly, but there was a coldness in her eyes that was different from before. While others may not have noticed, Colin realized that she was not welcoming him.
Colin was angry and felt unjust. Whose fault was it that their private conversations were not progressing? According to his father, Duke Ganiel, it was all Megara's fault. The Duchess didn't know it would turn out well, and it was Megara's fault for provoking her enmity.
However, pointing out the obvious truth that everything was her fault didn't seem to improve anything. Even during the incident with the Meritni, Megara didn't speak to Colin for a while. He tried hard to think of something that would win her favor.
Suddenly, the surroundings fell silent.
A path was created between Megara and Colin to reach a specific individual standing there. It was soon clear who that specific person was.
Neris Mainland, arm in arm with her husband, the Duchess smiled at Megara.
"Megara."
This was already the third time the four of them faced each other. At the Academy's graduation ball, recently at the palace, and now.
Megara thought she was being compared unfavorably to Neris more than ever before.
Originally, Neris should not have stood so confidently. She should have known her place as a commoner and humbled herself. With a character not worthy of anyone's favor, everyone should have known her dirty personality and stayed away.
But at this moment.
Better clothes, more 'purple' eyes, a more handsome man, and a higher status. Materialistic as it may be, most people judged others by such standards.
And Megara would be judged to fall behind Neris in every aspect.
That couldn't happen. Megara imagined the man beside her to be Abelus, not the foolish Colin Ganiel. And with the confidence temporarily instilled by that imagination, she greeted smoothly.
"Your Grace."
Neris walked gracefully towards them. Even though she didn't give a glance, people naturally widened the path, stepped back, and bowed their heads.
The natural dignity as if breathing. Even though it was a palace where she had never set foot, she exuded a confidence as if it were her own home.
Yes, indeed, this aspect of this child always made Megara nervous, she realized.
"You haven't returned to school yet."
Stopping a step away from Megara, Neris stood and spoke elegantly. Megara politely replied.
"Yes, Your Grace."
Even though she answered, Neris' gaze did not leave Megara. After a moment of silence, Megara asked.
"Why do you look at me like that?"
"Because you are too beautiful."
Neris' words were sincere, not just a courtesy. Despite receiving a compliment, Megara felt upset and coldly hardened her gaze.
'Who does she think she's staring at?'
However, just because Megara was taken aback, it didn't mean she would immediately reveal that fact. She consciously turned her eyes and lips away.
"Thank you. Your Grace is truly beautiful. The dress suits you very well too."
"Thanks. I like it because it matches my eyes."
Megara's smile almost froze for a moment. Of all things, it had to be about the 'eyes.' The part she usually paid attention to was pricked in an instant.
Neris looked at Megara's face thoughtfully. Did Megara really not know about her own birth?
Blonde hair and purple eyes. It was undoubtedly a favored appearance in noble society, but true nobles carried themselves with confidence even without such features. When did Natasha Grunehalts ever lament about her hair being red?
Yet, perhaps Megara was fixated on her noble appearance more than necessary.
Deep down, she might have recognized some similarities between herself and Rebecca. How could they live together every day and not notice at all?
Neris' direct gaze made Megara uncomfortable. Megara's smile wavered, and she finally asked.
"How long do you plan to stay in the palace?"
"Well, why do you ask?"
"Oh my, was it inappropriate to ask? I simply thought it's nice that Your Grace is here."
"I'm being sarcastic."
Colin couldn't tell if Neris was mocking him or belittling herself. Her voice was so composed.
Of course, Megara didn't care about the reason behind Neris's words. Either way, it was equally unfortunate.
Colin gestured to a passing attendant to freshen up the atmosphere.
"Go and bring some drinks. I'm thirsty."
"And bring some for me and my wife."
The Duke, who was standing quietly, added. The attendant quickly left.
Shortly after, the attendant returned with four drinks and politely offered them first to Neris, then to Cledwin, and finally to Megara and Colin.
Neris, after receiving her drink, glanced at the attendant's face for a moment and swirled her drink in the glass a few times. Then, as if uninterested, she handed it to her husband.
"Not going to drink? Okay."
Cledwin, as if graciously accepting it as if he were her attendant, took it.
It wasn't a situation worth worrying about. Since the drinks were requested without consulting his wife, she could have refused. However, Megara felt a slight sense of discomfort.
It could have happened to any ordinary person. Failing in an attempt to be considerate is a common occurrence for anyone."
However, Neris clearly accepted the drink once. After briefly glancing at the attendant's face, she set the glass down. If she really didn't want to drink, she could have said she didn't need it from the start or told the attendant it wasn't necessary.
There was clearly something wrong. Megara sensed it. In fact, it was difficult to officially enter as a palace attendant, so why would it be difficult to 'pretend' to be a palace attendant in such a crowded place?
"Well then."
As if there was nothing more to see, Neris turned abruptly. Megara, trying not to look back, gestured to call her maid. Passing the drink she received without asking to Megara, she whispered a few words.
The maid briefly disappeared from the reception and soon returned.
"Miss, I recognized the person you mentioned. They said they saw that person in the Grunehalts family earlier."
Among the high nobility, attendants and maids often knew each other's faces. And if someone wanted to play a prank on someone...
'I won't use just anyone.'
Because you couldn't afford to make a mistake and use the wrong person.
It was fortunate that the competent maid quickly used her connections and came back. Megara knew Natasha was capable of such tricks, but when she almost fell for it, she snapped back to reality. Her heart felt like it was freezing cold.
If she had mindlessly drunk the drink earlier, she could have been seriously harmed for life. What would she do as a Duchess, or as a Princess? If blamed for not producing an heir, she would likely face divorce.
Despite growing up playing together since childhood, could things really escalate to this extent?
'I won't let it go quietly.'
Feeling the boiling hatred towards Natasha, Megara gritted her teeth.
If it came to this, she had to do the same on her end as well.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone