Evening approached and I sat idly in my room. Once in a while, even a great mastermind had to have an uneventful moments filled with peaceful silence and thoughts.

But that seemed too much to ask for.

Harper appeared in my room, with some news. "My lady, the Marquis just called for a family dinner."

"Right now?" I asked, too tired to go downstairs, but to my dismay, Harper nodded.

I sighed, and got up from my chair. Although I could rebelliously decide not to come for the dinner, I was curious about his intentions. He had been away from the mansion for the past three days, since the wedding got crashed by a beast. We hadn't crossed paths and I was sure when we would, it would end up being a catastrophic banter.

A banter that I quite enjoyed.

Quickly, Harper helped me change our of my simple gown and into a modest blue dress, fit for a family dinner. Simple yet elegantly designed with sapphires at the hem. Seeing the blue colour, reminded me of something.

'The magic stone....'

My thoughts led me to the drawer, near the mirror. Opening it, I peered at the blue magic stone Nathan had given me. It laid in a set, alongside my other jewels, looking harmless. However, my magic filled eyes could sense the special energy surrounding the precious stone.
Ever since it had radiated heat a few days ago at the wedding, it had shown no further reaction. I tried all I could, in a test to make the stone show any kind of magical reaction, but to no avail.

The dinner would soon begin so I quietly closed the drawer and headed downstairs. Like always, on my way to the dinning, I almost never had a peaceful arrival and had always encountered someone. Someone rather unpleasant, yet still so very much, beneath me.

"Oh, Adrianna, I didn't see you there."

Olivia, stepped on the hem of my long gown, acting like it was a simple accident. However, her indifferent voice and glare betrayed her pretense. Irked by the bold move of hers, I retaliated by stretching my hands forward and shoving her away from me.

Oh how shocked she was, that she fell backwards on her behind, with a loud thud. Her face contorted in pain as she shrieked from the impact. I stared down at her with a condescending look for a moment, before switching to a surprised and sorry one. "Olivia! I didn't see you either. "

Just like her, I wore an innocent expression, and feigned an apologetic look as her maids scrambled to help her up. As one reacher out to her, she swatted their hand away and got up by herself, an angry frown on her face.

"You shoved me! And now you pretend that it's an accident!" Olivia had seen my initial smirk, which I had made no effort to hide from her. But everyone around us thought it was a genuine mistake, and considered that I was innocent.

"M-my lady, the lady accidentally hit you because you bumped into her first." One of her maids said, in an attempt to clam her. But this was the wrong approach, as Olivia's eyes widened in annoyance and she raised her hand to hit the maid.

"Olivia!" A voice boomed from behind, making Olivia's hand freeze in mid-air. My eyes flicked towards the speaker, and I saw Cardin, Olivia's older brother, striding towards us.

Olivia's face twisted in a scowl, but she slowly lowered her hand, her eyes flashing with anger. Cardin's gaze swept over the scene, while annoyance was evident in his dark purple eyes.

The maids and servants in the hallway bowed their heads, acknowledging Cardin. Sadly, he was the official successor of the Deor family, therefore possessing authority above mine. Yet, his stance and presence was always lacking in charisma or power of any form.

"What's going on here?" It was rare to see him angry, since he was usually quiet. Now, there was an eerie and strange look in his eyes as his gaze shifted from Olivia then to me.

Olivia's lips pursed.  She also seemed surprised by his angry countenance, and slowly said. "Adrianna shoved me,"

Cardin's eyes narrowed, his gaze still on me, and I boldly looked back. For a moment, I felt a tension in the air, before he turned back to Olivia, and said. "You should apologize, because you bumped into Adrianna first. I've been watching"

The way how he said it was creepy, coupled with the dark look in his eyes. He looked like a possessive madman.

"Apologize, Olivia," he repeated, and for the first time since I've known him, his voice had a firm command in it.

Olivia's face twisted in a scowl, but she muttered a half-hearted apology, then angrily turned away and stormed off to the dining. All the servants hurriedly left, leaving I and Cardin in the hallway. I had a feeling of deja vu, as the situation felt the same like what has transpired between us at the temple, some days ago.

Not exchanging a word, I sidestepped, then began to walk pass him. Only this time, he muttered. "I'm honestly glad your wedding didn't go through."

I was already walking away, and acted as if I didn't hear anything. Each day, Cardin seemed more creepy than the last. My reassurance was the fact that I knew how to keep in check, and I could wield him as a tool in the future and snatch the Deor family title from father's desired successor.

So I'd let the young man swim in his repugnant desires. As long as it caused me no harm.

***
By the time I arrived at the dinning table, everyone except for father had arrived. Cardin quietly trailed behind me and took his seat on the right hand of father's chair at the table, while mother was on the left side. Seeing me, she smiled and I returned it back as I sat on my seat.

'When I returned back to the mansion two days ago, we had a talk and resolved all misunderstandings. It's good to know we're both in the same boat'

Though the initial doubts I had towards mother, have now planted a seed of wariness in my mind. After all, I still don't know who targeted my business. All I have now as a suspect is this mysterious magic guild Henry is currently looking into.

That's a matter for another day, because right now I'm curious as to why father has called for this family dinner. As I completely settled on m seat, my eyes travelled to Olivia who still looked angry, to Paisley whose head was facing down, then to madam Ashley who sat beside mother.

For a moment, our eyes met, and she went stared back at each other. She smiled a me. A smile filled with amusement, just like the one she had given me a few days ago in the carriage. I suddenly remembered the statement she had made about 'helping me with my future plans.' What could she have meant by that?

I recalled on the day when the monsters attacked, she had looked at Nathan with a very horrified expression. Or had I been mistaken, and she was just simply frightened by the appearance of the monster?

'No. There must be something.'

Everyday she seemed to act even weirder. It was suspicious. Furthermore, she was in contact with the magic guild who had brought false reports on my magic organization, and had some people attack Nathan. But Nathan had said the magic guild was affiliated with the Belv Duchy.

Whatever it was, Paisley's mother was now included in my list of suspects. However, as a mere mistress of the uncaring Marquis Deor, how did she acquire enough power to affect me, and why would I be her enemy?

The more I thought about it, the more an ominous feeling crept up on me.

But I did well to hide it, as I turned away from Ashley, and realized father had arrived in the dining and was moving towards his seat.

All the servants bowed in greetings, while everyone at the table looked at him in acknowledgement. I observed his face and realized he was quite tired. Too tired to show any reaction as I smirked at him the moment our eyes met.

He simply turned away and began to address us. "I decided to call this quick family dinner because of the banquet tomorrow, hosted by the Farret County in honour of the returning imperial knights."

We all silently watched him, reach for his food and take an uninterested bite, before continuing. "Everyone needs to attend the event tomorrow. From what I hear, the imperial family contacted the Farrets"

As he said this, he turned to Olivia who flinched under his gaze. Nervously she said. "Th-thomas didn't say anything about that."

Olivia seemed to fear father above anything else. In the first place, her status as a noble lady was only possible because father took her and Cardin in, upon the death of their mother. Furthermore, she was able to get engaged to Count Thomas Farret who she was smitten with, only because she was a lady of the Deor family. Thus, it was an unspoken expectation that she had to repay father in some sort of way. Ideally, it would be in the form of political benefits.

Yet, it seemed she was unable to do even that, and this displeased father.

He gave her an unimpressed look and went on. "Anyways. Tomorrow, we don't know if the Crown Prince will make an official appearance."

Mother pitched in. "Even if he doesn't, he could make an appearance discreetly without announcing himself."

Father looked her way, then replied. "Yes. But we're familiar with a lot of families whose sons went off to the war. At the party, they'll simply point out the Crown Prince for us."

Quietly, I sipped the glass of wine placed on the table, while listening to them.

'It's not that simple father. I'm afraid even the imperial knights won't be able to identify their Crown Prince.'

Though I had placed a bet, it wasn't that Nathan wouldn't attend the banquet. In fact, the plan was to make an impression. The bet was whether or not Nathan would make an official appearance. Tomorrow, he wouldn't be attending as the Crown Prince. And we'd make sure the other knights wouldn't be able to identify him then.

Everything seemed quite amusing to me.

Father's dark purple eyes held cynicism, as he spoke more. "We have to hold the Deor family name in high prestige. Olivia, you'll attend with Count Farret as your partner."

Olivia quickly nodded, already aware, and was eager for father's attention to shift from her.

"Cardin, I heard what happened to your fiance. So you'll attend without a partner. But make sure to use this opportunity to mingle with the returned young Lords."

I was interested in what happened to Cardin's fiance. At the tea party, a lady had brought the topic up and I was truly surprised. Apparently, his fiance, who was a Marquis' daughter from the East, has just recently passed away from an illness. It didn't seem like Cardin was distraught by the news.

Well that wasn't surprising, considering how odd he was.

"Paisley, you'll attend alone."

Paisley looked up from her plate. Her eyes widened and she said. "But daddy, I wanted to attend with Ronald."

As she said this, the whole room fell silent. I held myself back from laughing, but a small chuckle escaped from me and it rang through the silence. It was so funny watching her address him with something cute like 'daddy' while father was silently shaking with anger.

'Is this the person you want to present as a candidate for the Crown Princess position? Someone who can barely act with common sense!"

Madam Ashley spoke up this time. "Paisley that can't be possible. By now, you should understand this." Her tone was filled with displeasure. She also seemed annoyed by Paisley's statement.

Well who wouldn't?

Ronald had already distanced himself from her. The possibility of a relationship between both of them going on was further destroyed with the recent events.

'After all the years were I'd taken Paisley under my wing, you'd think she'd be smarter.'

Unfortunately, the heroine seemed to be stupid through and through.

'It's a good thing that I was reborn so Nathan wouldn't be stuck with such a witless lady.'

Father was in no mood to engage with Paisley further. Being the last ward, and obviously the best (even if he wouldn't agree), he addressed me finally.

"Adrianna." His tone was filled with dislike. Unlike his cold voice when he was talking to Cardin, Olivia and Paisley, he blatantly showed his dissatisfaction towards me. "I've spoken to some young Lords today, and I'm still thinking who should be your partner."

I dropped my fork on my plate, with a loud clatter. "There will be no need for that." Everyone turned their attention to me, surprised at my cold voice and interruption.

My words seemed to aggravate father even more, but he did a good job in controlling his temper, as he asked. "Why exactly is that?"

Now that the room's attention was on me, I seized the moment to make my grand announcement. I took in everyone's expression, before I gently smiled and made my declaration.

"I'll be attending the celebratory banquet with my lover."