Beatrice frowned slightly. "My lady, what did His Majesty say? Is something wrong?"
"Huh?" Adelheid blinked, looking up as if pulled from deep thought.
Realizing how tightly she gripped the letter, she let out a nervous chuckle and quickly tucked the letter into her purse. "No, no. There's no issue at all."
Cassian, of course, caught her nervous movements. His gaze lingered on where she had just stashed the letter, curiosity flashing behind his emerald eyes.
What had his friend written that she was so quick to hide?
What was that man hiding?
Or rather, what were they hiding?
Adelheid, feeling his gaze on her, cleared her throat and looked up at him. "Sir…?"
Cassian straightened, his usual grin still intact. "Sir Alden." He said smoothly, as though he had been called that all his life.
Adelheid nodded, offering him a polite yet forced smile. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Sir Alden."
Cassian inclined his head, his charming smile never wavering. "Pleasure's all mine, my lady." Then, just as he turned to leave, he suddenly cast Beatrice a glance. "You too, my lady." He winked.
Beatrice made a small, startled sound—something between a gasp and a squeak. "I—"
But before she could string together a proper sentence, Cassian had already turned on his heel and strolled away.
Her entire face immediately turned scarlet in an instant. She stiffened, blinking rapidly as if her brain had just short circuited.
Adelheid turned to her, an eyebrow delicately arched. "Beatrice, are you alright? Your face is rather.. red."
Beatrice let out a gasp before fumbling to open her purse, nearly dropping it in her rush to retrieve a small mirror. The moment she caught sight of her reflection, her eyes widened in horror.
With a sharp snap, she shut the mirror and quickly stuffed it back into her purse.
"N-No, my lady! T-That's just my—my natural complexion! The sun has been rather strong today!"
Adelheid gave a slow nod, her lips twitching as if suppressing a smile. "Ah. Of course."
Beatrice bit her lip, clutching her purse tightly, as if that could steady her flustered state.
Adelheid turned back towards the entrance, eyes settling on the large double door, and soon, a small chuckle escaped her lips.
Beatrice's eyes immediately darted up. "M-My lady… are you l-laughing?"
Adelheid, without looking back, shook her head with an easy smile. "Of course not. Why would I?"
Beatrice pressed her lips together, shifting her weight from foot to foot, her grip on her purse tightening even further.
Adelheid exhaled softly, reaching for the door handle. "Come now, it's time to go in."
And with that, she pushed open the grand doors to the Langston Manor.
As soon as Adelheid pushed open the doors, silence fell.
Murmurs, the clinking of glasses, the laughter—all of it died in an instant.
Dozens of eyes turned to her, but not with warmth. The ladies, dressed in their finest silks, their jeweled fans half raised, stared. Some with awkward glances, others with outright distaste.
Adelheid creased her brows.
Why were they all looking at her?
A sharp, bright voice suddenly bloomed, snapping everyone's attention to her.
"Ah! Heidi has finally arrived!"
Vivienne Langston gracefully descended the staircase, her sharp blue eyes locking onto Adelheid like a predator sizing its prey.
Her gown was a sight to behold—if one were blind. The gown was embellished with golden embroidery that glittered under the chandelier light, studded with pearls along the hem, and at her throat rested a ruby the size of a plum.
Adelheid didn't miss the intention. Vivienne hadn't dressed to impress—she had dressed to outshine everyone.
"Late, are we?" A small smirk curled on Vivienne's lips as she lifted her glass, taking a slow sip before walking toward Adelheid.
The latter barely had time to respond before Vivienne looped an arm through hers. Her grip a little too tight.
Instinctively, Adelheid pulled back with a forced smile. She carefully removed Vivienne's hand from her arm, ensuring her movements were barely noticeable.
It was never good to have her close.
Vivienne chuckled as if she found Adelheid's action amusing, then walked back toward the other ladies, who still had their eyes fixed on Adelheid, and sat down.
Why did they still have their gazes fixed on her?
With the grace of a woman who believed she ruled this court, Vivienne gestured toward an empty seat beside her. "Come, sit. You must be exhausted after keeping us waiting for so long."
Adelheid's lip twitched, but with all eyes still pinned on her, she had little choice. Silently, she stepped forward and sat down, smoothing out her skirt.
Then—
"Oh.." Vivienne's smile faltered, turning to where Beatrice lingered behind Adelheid.
"Go sit with them." She waved a hand toward the far end of the room, where the other lady companions sat.
Adelheid silently clenched her fist.
Lady companions were seated separately from those of higher status, and Vivienne knew that Beatrice was not just any companion—she was of noble birth, even if her family's wealth had waned. To send her away like that was an insult.
Beatrice, on the other hand, did not argue. She simply walked off without a word.
Adelheid watched the latter's retreating figure with a sullen expression.
She could not even utter a word on her behalf.
When she finally turned back, Vivienne's gaze was surprisingly on her. A pleased smirk stretched on her lips.
Though startled, Adelheid kept her composure and cleared her throat. "I apologize for my lateness. I ran into a stranger on my way here."
Vivienne's smirk widened. "Oh? A stranger?" She chuckled, swirling her wine. "Well, never mind that. What we truly want to know is—how did it feel?"
Adelheid frowned. "How did what feel?"
Vivienne's lips curled, she swirled the cup again. "..Being rejected by His Majesty in front of everyone."
The ladies giggled.
Vivienne smiled, lifting her hand as if to inspect her nails. "At least he kissed the back of my palm."
Eloise, one of Vivienne's friends, sighed dramatically, resting her cheek against her knuckles. "He asked my name."
Another woman, Cecilia Vaughn, added with a smile. "And he was rather polite with me."
Adelheid kept her expression neutral.
So he offered them all basic manners? Should she throw a parade?
Not bothering to retort, she forced a smile, as she had already deemed everyone here pathetic.
But they went on.
"Your mother dressed you in such expensive silks the night of the ball.." Daphne suddenly mused, facing Adelheid. "She must've had them lent, surely?"
Selene sighed dramatically. "And yet, despite all that effort, he paid you no heed."
The ladies laughed, but once again, Adelheid did not give them the satisfaction of a distressed expression, and instead widened her forced smile.
One of the ladies, a slender brunette named Lisette Moreau, suddenly leaned in conspiratorially. "Honestly, I doubt he'll even choose a Queen this year. Has anyone actually caught his attention?"
"Not a single one."
"At this rate, our kingdom might truly be left without a Queen." Another lamented.
Adelheid's thoughts unintentionally went back to the King's marriage proposal and choked on her own saliva, coughing out loudly. The ladies turned to her, their amusement briefly pausing.
She quickly composed herself, letting out a light chuckle. "Apologies, I must have had something in my throat."
They ignored her.
Another lady suddenly perked up. "Oh, but I wasn't even there for the King that night."
Adelheid turned her head slightly.
"Have you seen the other lords?" The woman added with a giggle, fanning herself. "Especially the ones who assist His Majesty in running the affairs of the kingdom?"
"Oh yes.." Lady Selene chimed in. "I was particularly there for Lord Cassian. Unfortunately—" She sighed dramatically, gazing down at her chest. "—it seems I had not shown enough of my accentuated breasts, so he hadn't noticed me."
Laughter filled through the room.
Lady Cecilia waved her hand. "I was personally there to catch the attention of any lord. Well.. except Lord Sullivan's."
Adelheid lifted a brow.
Lord Sullivan.
She remembered, he was the lord rumored to be.. different.
Everyone kept their distances from him. Her mother had even warned her specifically not to try pry his attention that night— though she doubted he had even been there.
It was said he rarely attended functions, even when the King himself demanded his presence.
"He may be handsome." Lisette admitted. "I dare say, more than the other lords, but I've heard things."
Adelheid lifted a brow.
There were always rumors about the man—but what intrigued her most, was how people's perceptions of him were always shrouded in darkness.
Lisette leaned in, suddenly lowering her voice. "Aside from his rather cold demeanor—and frightening skin, I've heard some stories about him being very—"
"Oh, ladies, enough." Vivienne finally interrupted—clearly displeased that the conversation had drifted to direction that did not involve her.
She set her glass down and turned to Adelheid with a smile. "By the way, Heidi.."
Adelheid barely had time to steel herself before Vivienne's next words struck at her.
"How is your household faring these days?" She mused, tilting her head. "I heard you can't even afford a proper three course meal anymore."
Adelheid knotted her brows. "What do you mean?"
Vivienne let out a soft, delighted chuckle. "Oh, she's being coy." She looked to the other women as if it were the most amusing thing in the world. "Isn't that adorable?"
Eloise, who had been toying with a golden bracelet on her wrist, finally spoke. "Adelheid." She said sweetly, a lazy smile stretching on her lips. "We all know your father is currently wallowing in debt."
How did she..
Another woman laughed mockingly. "Probably even on the verge of becoming a wretch."
They all burst out in laughter.
Adelheid's vision sharpened.
This wasn't possible.
No one outside their household should have known about this. They had ensured discretion.
So how—
Vivienne clicked her tongue and pouted. "Tsk, tsk. Poor Heidi is wondering how we figured out her tiny secret."
More laughter.
Vivienne finally gulped down the remaining content left in the glass, scooted closer and leaned in—too close—her breath warm against Adelheid's ear.
"Maybe.." She whispered, her lips curling into a devilish smile. "..Because it was my family, who had lent your pathetic father the money he so desperately needed."