Divya admitted she had completely underestimated Nyasia. She thought she could easily be removed with simple maneuvering, but that girl had gotten away every time. Even Maryan's careful plans tonight were avoided. 'Probably Levon is helping her.' No way that girl could stand against all of this, especially after getting poisoned.
She smirked coldly.
But what now?
What could she possibly do?
Some ladies had already assumed that the real daughter had made the adopted daughter leave the party. After all, what else could explain the sudden absence? Surely, that bitch wouldn't just reveal what had happened. The marquis had made sure no one would find out what truly happened at the garden.
...
AT THE BANQUET hall, Lady Karina Venche sniffed arrogantly and crossed her arms. "What's wrong with making pretentious people leave, anyway? They badly want to belong here. A true-blooded lady should be angry."
Yet the ladies wouldn't take her words seriously, because Lady Kissell had made it obvious that she didn't like the Nox sisters ever since that shop incident. Thus, it only ignited the idea that— like Lady Venche—the Second Lady Rashet had bullied the Nox sisters, especially the favored adopted daughter.
"She must have thought her beauty would get her attention here. But the Third Prince was much more interested in the First Lady Rashet. And the Grand Duke was ignoring her earlier, since he likes Lady Kissell," one lady whispered to her companions.
"I admit she's got that haunting look that men would probably die for. But she's too quiet and sounds very dull to talk to. Lady Kissell is truly unique with her charming beauty."
"I think it's a failed debut, to be honest. The Rashets have hidden her so well, she became ignorant."
This rumor reached the princess's table, and Charys only rolled her eyes. 'Who cares about any of these women? They're all still going to bow to me.'
...
AFTER THE DUEL, Dorian had gone to a patio that gave a glimpse of the Paragon Hall. Basil reported that Lady Nyasia Rashet went to the main hall, which could not possibly enter, with elite guards stationed there. 'Why couldn't she stay put?' Dorian thought, his jaw tight.
He returned to the banquet hall and sat silently at his table. Already irritable, he noticed the women's stares and loud whispers. Without looking at anyone, he walked out again and spoke a few words to Kyle, who was scratching his chin.
The moment Dorian left, Kyle approached a Rashet elder who agreed with him to host a 'lively' contest. Kyle stood up with a wide grin and went up to the center aisle.
"Don't worry. It's just a contest for the ladies to liven up their spirits," he said.
The ladies' eyes widened in anticipation. Most of important banquets like this held such contests with great prizes. They wondered what it was.
"It's very simple, my ladies," Kyle said, smirking. "Whoever curtsies to any type of animal outside this hall will receive a diamond necklace. Remember, one must curtsy for at least two minutes, and the animal must stay put. But if a lady curtsies to a pig, she'll receive two diamond necklaces."
"A pig?"
"That's a strange task."
"But it's a diamond necklace!" another exclaimed. "I've never had one. Too expensive."
'Tsk.' Kyle was still smirking, still unable to believe he had to watch this ridiculous game.
Yet, almost immediately, the ladies' section became chaotic as ladies ran outside, trying to find any animal they could on the lawn. Some even went further to the poultry farm at the back of the manor, while the nannies and handmaids followed with pale, frantic faces.
The men also went outside to watch the ridiculous spectacle. And because some of the women had gone as far as the forest, the guards had no choice but to haul them back.
"You bitch! That's mine!" one lady shrieked, grabbing another's wrist to snatch a hen. The two locked in a tug-of-war that quickly devolved into a hair-pulling breakdown.
The elders and the few women who had maintained their pride and dignity looked with disgust at the lawn. 'Whoever made this contest is deranged!' an old noblewoman thought.
...
NYASIA FROWNED as she and Lea were returning to the banquet hall. They were walking along the open corridor where they saw women running on the field. Some were even chasing chickens and fighting over a dirty dog.
She blinked.
'Isn't that Mrs. Reinel's pet?'
She watched as other ladies curtsied to a frog that kept jumping away, or to an angry cat raising its paws to scratch. There were those just kept on running, confused, sweating hard, crying in defeat as their maids tried to get them back to the hall.
'What's going on?' Nyasia thought.
Then she saw Fay running toward them and told them about the absurd contest. "My lady, you wouldn't believe it, but some of those demure hypocrites were the ones who ran fastest earlier. Many of them were the very same ones who gossiped about you," Fay said.
"Sounds familiar. Curtsying to a pig?" Nyasia said with a repressed smile. "Not riding it anymore?"
'How easily that man turned this banquet into a circus,' she thought.
Then, without a warning, a deep, familiar male voice said behind them, "Well, if a woman could ride it, for sure she'd deserve a crown. But since most of them can't even catch it, I'd say a pig is safe tonight."
*