Flora, who had been sitting next to me, giggled when she saw how her mother was acting. “I’m sure Prince Rufus must be confused. He probably didn’t expect to meet a loyal fan of his father here.”
I also burst into laughter the moment Flora made that comment. During that time, Hulda was asking Rufus about his father’s hobbies and interests. Although Rufus wasn’t showing any kind of disinterest in her, I could tell that he was at a loss. This was probably the first time he had seen someone enthusiastic enough to know every single detail about the lycan king. Hulda was truly Ethan’s die-hard fan.
Soon I noticed that not everyone was enjoying the night as the rest did. Every now and then, Alina would blurt out some mean, harsh words, which also confused me.
It seemed like she was really mad at me, but I just didn’t know why. Flora was also mad at Alina. She kept complaining about her rudeness in a hushed voice, but I just shook my head and urged her to stop. “Just ignore her, Flora.”
But all of a sudden, Alina raised her glassand walked up to me before saying, “Sylvia, I’d like to propose a toast to you.”
Although I thought her actions were strange, I also stood up and raised my glass. Alina smiled before drinking her wine. Then, she extended her hand and said, “I’m sorry for what I did before.”
I hesitated for a while, but I eventually extended my hand to touch hers. As soon as our hands touched, I felt a sharp, sudden sting on my palm.
I immediately shook off her hand and stepped back in shock.
Alina’s POV
Everyone was shocked by Sylvia’s yelp. Rufus approached me with a frosty expression and grasped my wrist tightly. “What’s in your hand? Show me!”
Pain lanced through my hand. I swallowed the fear that threatened to overwhelm me and curled my fingers more firmly around the object I was holding.
If Rufus saw it, he would Kill me.
That was the general course of action in the imperial palace. If anyone hurt Sylvia, that person would meet a miserable end.
I wasn’t afraid before, but now even my father was on Sylvia’s side, and no one would speak in my defense.
Rufus was so enraged that he tightened his grip. Finally, I felt my fingers go numb and the razor blade I’d hidden between them clattered to the ground.
Upon hearing the sound of the blade hitting the ground, everyone turned in my direction.
My father was furious. “Alina! What are you doing?”
My body involuntarily began shaking. Ever since I was a child, I would get frightened when my father became stern with me. Now, it was a well-established habit that I couldn’t break.
He picked up the blade from the ground, his body vibrating with anger. “You want to Kill Sylvia?”
I bit my lower lip and didn’t answer him. I believed his question was ridiculous. If I truly wanted to Kill Sylvia, why would I wait till now? My father was so agitated that he wasn’t thinking straight.
It was certainly looking like the witch was correct. Sylvia was his favorite daughter. And I was just a fool.
Rufus’ lips curled up in contempt and he shoved my hand away. Then he walked to Sylvia and gently examined her wound.
I almost went insane with jealousy when I saw this. If Sylvia hadn’t entered our lives, perhaps I would be the one Rufus tended to so tenderly.
I glared fiercely at the she-wolf beside Warren.
She was so terrified that she hid herself behind him and didn’t even look up from the floor. What a coward.
I didn’t see the point of having such a meek mate, but Warren was extremely protective of her. Since the second he had stepped foot into the banquet hall, he had been constantly attending to this woman’s every need, worried that she might be unhappy. He was behaving like her slave.
My heart stung painfully as if several thousand bugs were gnawing at it simultaneously. Even the people who always stood by my side had left me. What was left for me to be nostalgic about in this world?
I would love it if everything was destroyed. I didn’t want to see these people anymore. I stepped back alone, putting distance between us.
Everyone was gathered around Sylvia and no one paid any attention to me.
This was exactly what I wanted.
I slipped my hand, which was stained with Sylvia’s blood, into my pocket and clasped the gemstone. Then, I repeatedly rubbed the stone.
I only took the gemstone out to check it after the blood on my hand had dried. Surely, the gemstone had now turned light pink.
I inhaled deeply, clutched the gemstone between my fingers, and slowly walked forward.
My heart was beating like a jungle drum. I was petrified about the outcome.
I skirted everyone from a point that was farthest away from my father. When I began walking toward him, my palm suddenly felt hot.
My hand shook and I froze in my tracks. The gem was burning hot.
I didn’t dare to get close to my father again, so I walked around everyone. During this time, Flora had her eyes trained on me, as if she was apprehensive that I would do something to hurt Sylvia again.
I ignored her intense gaze. I clutched the gemstone so tightly that I could feel it cut painfully into my palm. My mind was scrambled.
When I got closer to my father again, the gemstone also began to burn again.
I clenched my jaw tightly and approached him with measured steps. The more I closed the distance between us, the hotter the gemstone got.
Alina’s POV
The gemstone in my palm was becoming progressively hotter. Tears unconsciously spilled from my eyes because of the burning sensation. I swallowed a screamed and my body shook uncontrollably.
The truth had turned out to be so cruel. I was a laughing stock.
This whole scenario was like a vile joke. Everything that I was proud of had shattered into pieces like glass. Human emotions could be so phony.
It didn’t matter if it was my father or Warren.
Even Owen, who always loved me above everyone else, didn’t even spare me a glance after he had gained a daughter-in-law.
The extremely high temperature of the gem seemed to want to make me face the reality. The burning sensation in my hand made my breaths come more rapidly.
Immense sadness and resentment tore my worthless soul apart.
I scanned everyone in a state of panic, hoping that someone would speak up and tell me that what I was thinking was untrue.
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