章 28: Banquet 3
"Your Majesty." Lily turned to Queen Hannah, "Do you remember sending an invitation to Miss Vianka?"
"Of course, not." The third queen replied, walking away from the king.
The guests burst into a hushed laughter.
"Miss Vianka." She turned to the woman.
What great allies we would have made, she thought to herself, but continued in a calm voice, "You must know that an invitation is needed for attending things like this."
Vianka turned slightly to the King who was barely even looking her way. Biting her lips as she faced her head to the ground, she muttered, "I know about this, Your highness, however-"
"However you still choose to come without an invitation." The first prince interrupted. His mocking smirk causing every cell in her body to burn in anger.
"Pardon my intrusion, Your highnesses. However, an invitation was sent to the harem." A man with long silver hair and beautiful grey eyes hidden behind rimmed glasses, his calm demeanour quietened the murmuring guests as he made his way through the parted crowd, "Miss Vianka just happened to be the only one available for attendence." A small smile graced his lips.
"Oh my! It seems I forgot that Miss Vianka was part of the harem. My apologies." Queen Hannah placed her hand over her lips as she sighed, "Having to take care of everything on my own must have taken a toll on me."
"Right. After all, your majesty wouldn't do such a thing on purpose." He added, walking to Vianka's side. He then stretched out his hand and bowed slightly, "Shall me leave now, Miss? I think the princess has received your gift well."
Vianka breathed in sharply and a smile quickly formed on her dark-coloured lip, "Sure."
Lily's eyes remained on the pair as they made their way last the crowd and to the furthest balcony.
Her expression remained the same on the outside but internally, she had a million thoughts running through her head. The man who just left with Vianka was obviously someone the people knew well, however, Lily knew nothing about him, not in this life nor the last.
The progress that Vianka had made since she came to the palace wouldn't have been possible with the kind of character she had, her ability to make rash decisions and recklessly display her emotions would have been a stumbling block for her. However, if a person with the aura of the silver-haired man was actually the person behind her then it was possible. From the way he acted, and walked to the way he spoke, everything screamed grace and elegance.
"Your highness." Lily called out to Perez who was now sitting on Queen Hannah's seat with a glass of wine in his hand.
"Hmm?"
"Who was that man? The man with the silver hair?" She asked without hesitation.
"Miss Vianka's twin brother." He answered nonchalantly.
"Pardon?" Lily's eyes widened. They did not look alike one bit, neither did they act alike. Vianka was like the hyacinth reckless demoness, while the man seemed like the angel behind you who would actually plunge a knife in your heart after gaining your trust.
"I know right?" Perez clicked his tongue, "How unbelievable. His name is Nerian, and well, they really are related by blood according to our investigation."
"..." Lily remained silent. The information was barely enough but at least, she now knew of his existence. Such power-forces needed to be watched at all time.
"You need more information?" He glanced at her, swirling the wine in his glass, "Well, that is all the information we got on them, providing that they were just commoners in the past. It would have been such a bother if they came from a fallen noble family."
Lily's eyes lingered around the direction of the balcony that they went to.
What if they really were from a fallen noble family? And why weren't they known in in her past life?
* ~ *
"How dare she! Time and time again, I have hoped I wouldn't have to walk down this part! How dare that bratty wench?!" Vianka cursed, biting on her fingers.
Nerian had choosen to bring her to the darkest and furthest balcony so as to let her vent as much as she wished, without being heard by someone else.
"Ugh! Did you even see how she looked at me?!"
"Calm down, Vianka." He leaned against the balustrade, looking at the dimly-lit west garden, "The first princess is not someone you can simply mess with."
"Right. Playing along with her won't do." She murmured, wiping her hands on a handkerchief.
"She managed to gain the support of the King and third queen in such a such time...even the first prince, his hatred for the second queen know no bounds, yet..."
"I know what to do." Vianka murmured, staring at the direction of the banquet, "I know just what to do." She spoke louder and turned to where Nerian once stood but not even a shadow of him was left in sight.
She cursed quietly underneath her breath and walked out of the balcony.
* ~ *
In less than an hour, the banquet had become even more bubbly as more guests had arrived and the presence of multiple royal family members made the guests even more jovial. The king and the third queen were sitted on the terrace above, and the intoxicated Perez was half-asleep beside her.
At this point, she was already tired. Most of the kids her age had left already except Christina who clung by her aunt's side.
She called a servant who was bringing more drinks to Perez who was almost unconscious. Picking up the remaining glass on his tray, she waved him off and glanced at the content of the glass. Her body may to young to have alcohol, however, this was light champagne, so hopefully, she wouldn't lose herself. And besides she was already so thirsty.
She twirled the glass in her hand and glanced at the door again. Vianka was sitting around, but Nerian must have left since he got no official invitation. Neither the second queen, Camille nor Franz came by.
Lily took small sips, and eventually finished a whole glass. And this point, Perez had somehow woken up and ordered lots of fruit juices for her.
"Thank you." She smiled, picking up a glass of pineapple juice. The champagne she drank earlier had already quenched her taste, though it left a bitter taste in her mouth.
"Don't drink such things from now on." Perez handed the empty glass of champagne to a passing servant.
"Yes yes." Lily waved her hand at him. Her small smile broke slightly as a slight pang of pain in her lower abdomen interrupted her train of thoughts.
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