There was a knock, making Nyasia give a helpless push against his chest. Dorian turned sideways, then sighed sharply. He let go. He turned away to open the door slightly. Bern stood outside and spoke:
"Your Grace, Lady Kissell's carriage is suddenly broken. A desperate lady tried to curtsy to her carriage, and the horse went wild and kicked her, and the harness was broken."
Nyasia blinked.
'Goodness', she thought with a look of disgust. "I thought this contest was to curtsy to an animal, not a carrier."
"Welcome to Tenusa's nobility," Dorian mocked. "Brains are in short supply."
He glanced back.
"Come to the hall or you'll miss the rest of tonight's show," he said. "Lady Kissell is actually clever. She didn't get to be the Finance Minister's daughter by accident."
"Oh."
Kissells were the Varyns' closest and most influential allies for three generations. And he and Vanery had known each other far longer than he had known her. Yet he almost never mentioned Vanery.
"Desperately want me to watch you rescue your childhood sweetheart, Your Grace?"
He chuckled, amused by her reaction.
"Is that how you see it?"
"Why should I see this show."
"I thought you want to know something," he said, combing out his dark hair lazily. "You've got lessons to cover."
She scoffed.
"By dragging me to a pack of wolves?"
"Sia," he exhaled. "Wolves are too good to represent the nobles. And why do you always think the worst of me? It's not like this before."
Ignoring his complaints, she stood motionless, her mind retracing every moment since the banquet began. Then her gaze fixed on him.
"What are you plotting?"
"Only my duchess gets that answer."
She breathed, rose, and walked past him and Basil out to the corridor while Dorian watched her back, walking casually behind her with a faint smirk as if he had just won something.
...
DORIAN DISAPPEARED when Nyasia had reached the main corridor and joined Fay. 'What's he up to?' she thought. Then they hurried up to the banquet hall and found that some nobles had started leaving. 'The contest is over?'
Meanwhile, Vanery Kissell, calm but with a sad face, was surrounded by a smaller crowd in a corner, which held sharp glances at Karina Venche sitting, her face writhed in pain.
"Lady Venche, I can't believe you actually did that to Lady Kissell's carriage," one lady said hotly.
Karina gritted her teeth, still on her seat. Several maids, ordered by Mrs. Nox, were giving cold compresses on her leg. She couldn't even sob properly because her leg hurt too much.
"Lady Kissell, are you not going to tell them? I wasn't curtsying the horse at all. I bent because you told me there was a kitten beneath your carriage!" Karina said with an indignant tone, then groaned as she felt the cold in her skin.
"I've never denied telling you that," Vanery said calmly, her gaze on Karina. "I just assumed you'd wait for the kitten to come out from under the carriage, because going near a sensitive horse is dangerous."
The ladies thought Lady Kissell's response was reasonable. It was Lady Venche who was reckless and impatient enough to want a diamond necklace. "What can you expect from a mere baron's daughter. Who knows? She might've never held a diamond before," one of them said haughtily.
A few servants came, carrying a wooden stretcher, and transferred Karina there, who was moaning in pain. But no one took a glance at her, as she was ushered away. Meanwhile, Divya standing by the corner saw Nyasia coming forward and quickly spoke:
"Nyasia, dear, please don't judge Lady Kissell. Listen to her side too. I know you're a little concerned about having an injured guest at our banquet. And I'm sure you're hurting, suffering from this mess too. But let's not cause any more trouble."
'She's making it sound like I'm impulsive and wants to scold Lady Kissell and defend Lady Venche,' Nyasia thought.
"Only two aggrieved guests, Mrs. Nox," she said, correcting Divya. "One has an injury. The other is delayed from going home."
"Y—yes, of course," Divya said, with faint stiffness. "I'm just worried, because this is your debut, your first appearance, and your health isn't good yet. This is a failure to me as well."
The ladies looked at the Second Lady Rashet, and some wondered if she felt bitter that her debut hadn't turned out the way she'd planned. She was supposed to be the beautiful, hidden daughter of Marquis Rashet, and yet she was easily overshadowed by the adopted sister. Now, there was an accident.
"Lady Rashet, I apologize for such chaos happening here," Vanery spoke with a meek voice. "I've already told the Marquis that our manor will have people to fetch me. No need to trouble yourself." She breathed. "Please, just focus on Lady Venche, who's in pain."
Again, her response made the ladies admire her even more. Lady Kissell was truly thoughtful and wise. 'Is that why the Grand Duke favors her?' one thought.
Nyasia only pouted a little, as if with an innocent face. "No need to apologize. It's the Rashets who are sorry about the chaos," she said gently. "We'll try our best to keep everyone from killing each other over cats and hens."
The ladies burst into laughter. Except Mrs. Nox's repressed, embittered face. 'Her stiff face needs a massage,' Nyasia thought.
Just then, a female voice spoke.
"Lady Kissell, why must you tell Lady Venche that there was a cat beneath your carriage? I thought this contest is too absurd for a woman like you."
The ladies froze.
It was the Second Princess who had arrived this time and just joined the small crowd of ladies who fell silent.
*