As sunset approached, the maids began preparing Irene for the grand evening gala.
With Sally's help, she chose a beautiful winter gown worthy of a bride's first public appearance. It was a warm shade of blue, adorned with delicate embroidery along the sleeves and hemline. A long white fur cloak completed the look, giving her a halo of regal elegance.
Sally applied soft makeup and styled her hair in a simple half-updo that revealed her neck and delicate jewelry. She looked stunning... so stunning that the servants paused their work just to admire her.
Irene looked at herself in the mirror and smiled faintly, almost mockingly.
"Elvira's obsession with appearances... has made some things easier for me," she thought.
Just then, Elizabeth entered the room. She covered her mouth in astonishment, then walked up to her, admiring:
"My God… you'll be the talk of the night."
Irene thanked her calmly and told her that Anita and Violet had gone ahead to the hall, and Lucas had come directly from work. Elizabeth nodded and said,
"Shall we go now? We're already late."
The two left the room together. As they made their way to the carriage, whispers followed Irene, and the staff's gazes lingered on her—like they were seeing her for the first time.
Inside the carriage, Irene sat silently. A slight tension brewed within her that she couldn't hide. Elizabeth noticed and gently took her hand.
"Enjoy every moment... Even if you hear something upsetting, let it go. All girls go through these things... even I still get criticized."
Irene smiled faintly and looked out the window.
They finally arrived. The cold was biting, and the wind whipped harshly across their faces.
The hall was massive, located in the city center, preceded by a wide garden lit with lights and surrounded by ornate white fences. As she stepped down from the carriage, Irene looked around. It was a beautiful sight—but to the right, near a side gate, stood a large angled mirror. Her reflection appeared briefly.
She stopped, staring silently, her eyes touched with a mysterious sadness.
"Irene, come on… let's go in," Elizabeth said.
Irene nodded quietly and walked beside her into the hall.
As soon as they entered, heads turned toward the entrance. Everyone froze for a moment, staring at her as if she were a creature from another world.
Whispers rose—the entire hall paused for a few seconds. The ladies of high society approached to greet Queen Elizabeth, who then introduced Irene with a simple line:
"I'm happy today to present my son's wife."
Praises flowed like honey from their lips:
"So beautiful!"
"How elegant!"
"She doesn't even look like she's from here…"
Irene responded with a polite smile and a slight bow—poised, yet emotionally distant.
Across the hall, Lucas stood with Louis and some of his friends, a glass in his hand, watching her in silence.
One friend nudged him, grinning:
"Damn, man, how are you this lucky?"
Another laughed,
"Is she even real? Looks like an angel fell from the sky."
A third whispered,
"I heard some Iskard women are blonde… looks like the rumor's true."
A fourth added jokingly,
"Should I move to Iskard then?"
Lucas didn't respond. He just sipped his drink, his eyes never leaving her. His expression gave nothing away.
As for Irene—among all those faces, she searched for one thing.
Or rather… one person.
Elsewhere in the hall, Anita stood near a side table, pretending to be busy with her drink, her eyes fixed on Irene.
Beside her stood Viola and some other girls, exchanging glances and whispers thick with jealousy.
Anita scoffed,
"Hah... look at her."
She tilted her head and added,
"She doesn't look shy like she claimed… she moves like she knows exactly what to do."
Viola tried to calm things down,
"Maybe she's just trying to present herself well. It's her first formal appearance."
Anita laughed,
"Oh, really? Then why the act? Didn't she say she hated attention? Didn't she say she chose a simple wedding because she's 'introverted'?"
One of the girls asked in confusion,
"Yeah! Didn't you say that yourself, Anita? That she didn't like parties and wanted a private ceremony?"
Anita waved dismissively,
"It was all an act. A trick to make herself seem humble and pure—to downplay the royal family in front of other kingdoms."
Another girl whispered,
"Still… she looks like she spent a week preparing. No introvert looks like that."
A second agreed,
"Exactly… she's captivating. Everyone's watching her."
Anita smirked,
"Of course they are. Isn't that the whole point?"
Viola murmured, still watching Irene:
"Don't be quick to judge, Anita. Maybe she's just masking her nerves… No one knows what's really inside her."
Anita gave a cold chuckle:
"Why are you always so kind? You were supposed to be in her place... You, not her."
She sighed and continued:
"Do you even believe her? Didn't she attend the council with you? Isn't that ridiculous? A girl who came out of nowhere, pretending to be shy, suddenly sitting in the High Council—only the most elite in Valerian are allowed in. How was she even let in?"
Viola replied cautiously,
"Yeah, I was surprised too, but thinking about it… I suppose the king allowed it because she carries the Valerian title now."
Anita waved dismissively,
"I don't care about titles. Even if that lizard lives in the palace, she hasn't been here a full year! Honestly, I don't trust her... at all. She's from Iskard, after all."
Another girl chimed in:
"I heard my father talking about it… Honestly, everyone knows about her mother's reputation."
"Exactly… the spy."
"Don't forget—her mother was a beauty too, but just a snake. Seduced the king, stole important files, and vanished for over ten years."
One added quickly,
"I heard she used to sneak into his room at night… to seduce him."
Another:
"Maybe this one does the same. Snakes don't give birth to rabbits."
A third laughed,
"Still, can't deny she's gorgeous… maybe she's using that as her only weapon."
Viola sensed the conversation was crossing a line. She responded with calm firmness:
"Enough, please. We shouldn't speak that way about someone we don't even know. Rumors aren't proof—and it's inappropriate to say such things about anyone."
Anita looked at her and said:
"You're always defending everyone."
One girl suddenly said:
"But aren't you even angry, Viola? That girl is from a kingdom we don't even respect, and now… she's married to Lucas!"
Another added:
"Exactly. Lucas—the most handsome, the bravest. The dream of every girl here. And now she gets him?"
A third, eyes gleaming:
"If I were you, I'd never forgive her. You should be the one beside him, you know him, you match him. But her…"
She looked toward Irene with disdain.
"She's pretty, yes… but she's not right for him."
Viola replied softly, trying to end the spiral:
"Marriage is fate. We don't control what's destined for us. Besides… Lucas is married to her now. So, please—for Lucas's sake at least—don't say such things again."
Then she turned to Anita and said:
"Anita dear… please accept that she's your brother's wife now. Her reputation is tied to his."
Anita snapped:
"Why are you making me feel guilty? You know I can't stand her—and I didn't lie! I'm just saying what everyone is thinking. And no one in Valerian would dare say anything about my brother! Everyone knows he's the kingdom's hero—so don't worry about his reputation."
Another girl sitting nearby smiled slightly and said:
"Honestly, what Anita said is true. Be realistic, Viola. No one will protect Irene's reputation—not in council, not in the press, not even in royal events. Everyone knows she's not fit for Lucas."
"Yeah, Viola. Why are you defending her? I swear everyone at this party—and even before—says the same thing."
Viola, with a steady tone, replied:
"… I just don't think it's wise to speak about her this way—not just for her, but for Lucas."
She paused, then continued with a firmer tone:
"Lucas doesn't deserve to be caught in conflicts like this. The worse things get around her, the more damage it'll cause him first."
She looked slowly at Anita and added:
"I just don't want anyone to get hurt because of her. That's all."
But in her heart, it wasn't "just" that.
She looked again at Irene—and saw her like never before.
As if light surrounded her. As if she truly belonged to the scene… despite all that was said.
And Viola felt something strange… a tightness in her chest, like jealousy—or guilt—or even betrayal.
A feeling that wasn't like her.
---
Irene was still searching for Lady Emilia's granddaughter—Eleanor—with calm but focused eyes. As she looked up, her gaze landed on Viola, standing with Anita and the others, watching her silently. Viola's gaze was sharp—not full of hatred, but not neutral either.
Irene met her eyes briefly and whispered internally:
"Now I can't lower my guard around her either."
Not long after, the coordinator announced the start of the couples' dance.
The music began.
And whispers quickly rose among the guests.
Everyone expected Lucas to step toward his wife for their first dance—especially since this was her official social debut.
But Lucas… didn't even look her way.
He stood chatting with Louis, unaffected.
The whispers grew louder:
"Even at their wedding, he didn't kiss her. And now, he's ignoring her again in public."
"Does he hate her that much?"
Anita leaned toward Viola and whispered with a sly smile:
"See? My brother can't stand her… He only wants you, Viola. Don't break your heart—he doesn't love her at all."
On the other side of the hall, Elizabeth had noticed what was happening. Anger surged in her—she marched toward her son and said sharply, with a subtle threat:
"If you don't dance with your wife now, I'll leave this hall immediately—and I won't speak to you again."
Louis also chimed in, looking at Lucas with pleading eyes:
"Please, Lucas. Do it for me. Just tonight."
Lucas sighed in annoyance, eyes cast downward:
"How annoying…"
But when he looked up, his eyes searched for Viola…
He found her staring blankly, not even glancing his way.
His brows tightened.
Then, suddenly, he moved toward Irene.
Everyone was still frozen.
Lucas walked steadily until he stood before Irene and extended his hand—without a word.
Irene, surrounded by whispers and stares, looked at his hand slowly.
Despite the sting of humiliation, she composed herself and said to herself:
"Endure it… I have a goal to achieve."
She smiled softly and placed her hand in his.
He took it, and together, they walked to the dance floor.
One of the girls turned to Viola and said:
"Viola… look."
Viola froze.
Her eyes widened as she saw Lucas heading to dance with Irene before everyone.
She couldn't bear it.
She whispered softly:
"I need to go to the restroom."
And quietly left.
The girls watched her go. Some wore clear looks of sympathy.
Anita, never missing a chance, added snidely:
"It was my mother who talked to him—I'm sure she's the one who forced him to dance with that Iskardian girl."
At that moment, Lucas and Irene stood ready to dance.
But Lucas's eyes… were elsewhere.
He had just seen Viola walking out of the hall, without even glancing back.
To be continued
+++++
Now
Want to do something fun I'll ask y'all question everytime and see if you guys can guess the correct answer and don't worry i won't spoiled to much
the question:
do you think viola is good or bad person ?