TPGV 22

Chapter 22

“What do you think you’re doing, Priscilla?”

Elise protested, shaking the wet dress. The red stain from the wine stood out even more against the blue fabric.

Priscilla smirked arrogantly, glaring at her.

“I just gave you the treatment befitting your filthy blood. Did you really think a mutt like you belonged at this party?”

“I received an invitation, so I’m a guest just like anyone else. You haven’t changed at all—still obsessed with bloodlines.”

Elise spoke with a hardened expression.

It wasn’t even surprising. She had been treated like this often back when she lived in the imperial palace.

Back then, she had no will to fight and simply let it pass. But not now.

She had a goal: to save Hadin, and a firm will to reach Tulleang.

She learned the hard way when she escaped the palace with Hadin—escaping this empire took more than just a faint resolve.

So she couldn’t let something like this defeat her. If she was attacked, she would return it in kind.

“If you knew your place, you’d go back. Are you seriously going to walk around the party like that? In a soaking, pitiful excuse of a dress?”

Priscilla mocked her loudly, drawing attention.

Elise stared coldly at her. Then, without a word, she picked up a wine glass from the table and splashed it right at Priscilla.

Now Priscilla’s dress was drenched in red from the chest to the hem.

Elise had no intention of enjoying a classy salon party anymore. And she wasn’t going to take the humiliation alone.

She would be leaving this country in three months anyway—there was no need to appear dignified to these people.

All she needed was Hadin. In this vast empire, he was the only one on her side.

“You! What do you think you’re doing to me—!”

Furious, Priscilla raised her hand, ready to slap Elise.

As expected, when Priscilla’s hand came at her, Elise grabbed her wrist firmly.

“I simply returned the favor. Did you think you were the only one allowed to throw wine?”

A crowd had gathered, watching the confrontation between the half-sisters with hushed excitement. Even Lexius was watching with a curious expression.

Maybe this is what Madame Angre had intended—bringing up Priscilla the moment Elise arrived.

Maybe she wanted Lexius to grow sick of Elise and push for divorce.

Or maybe rumors of their divorce were already spreading.

“How could trash like you marry Lexius?”

Priscilla trembled with rage as she shouted.

That’s when Elise suddenly remembered—Priscilla had always been interested in Lexius.

She used to say she would marry the empire’s most eligible bachelor.

No one knew why the emperor married Lexius to Elise instead of Priscilla.

“Rex.”

Elise called him using the nickname Calix used for Lexius, trying to sound familiar.

Would Lexius respond?

Her heart pounded with anxiety. She hoped the black magic of enchantment was working—but she wasn’t certain.

Their eyes met—her blue and his red. Lexius stared back, expressionless.

It seemed to have failed. She was about to say something else when—

Lexius smirked, raised an eyebrow, and extended his hand to her.

“Shall we go, Princess? It doesn’t seem like we’re welcome here.”

Elise let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness he reacted the way she hoped.

“Yes. Next time, we should be more selective about the parties we attend.”

She replied gracefully and boldly linked arms with him. She was nervous he might pull away.

But Lexius didn’t reject her. Instead, he draped his jacket over her shoulders and led her out.

Without even glancing at Madame Angre, they exited the hall.

“We’ve ruined the party. What should we do?”

Outside, Elise sighed in concern.

“Don’t worry. We won’t be coming back anyway.”

“But are you sure that’s okay?”

“Madame Angre played a dirty trick. She invited Priscilla knowing you’d attend. That’s an insult to me.”

Lexius replied arrogantly.

“She said it’d be a fun party, but it’s no different from a palace event—just a bit more relaxed.”

“It’s usually enjoyable. Sometimes they have lively political debates.”

“That’s supposed to be fun?”

“It helps with assessing current affairs.”

“Sounds like a very scholarly kind of fun.”

Elise shook her head. Politics and current events were far from her world.

Her interests were confined to the greenhouse, Hadin—and Tulleang.

“It feels wasteful to go straight home. Want to take a walk?”

Lexius suggested gently, but Elise declined.

“No. My dress is ruined. I really liked this one.”

“You can get a new one. Marianne will make you a perfect replacement.”

“Let’s just go home. I didn’t even get to visit the greenhouse today because of the party.”

“You’re more of a farmer than a princess. Even now, you’re thinking about the greenhouse.”

“It’s the only thing I know how to do.”

Elise replied with a smile, hurrying to the carriage. She felt oddly refreshed.

When Lexius offered his hand to help her in, she didn’t refuse. She took it firmly and stepped up with confidence.

Who would’ve thought the emperor’s black magic would come in handy? If Lexius hadn’t taken her side in front of Priscilla, she would’ve been devastated.

And to be honest, she didn’t mind Lexius slowly falling under her spell. Even if she didn’t know where it might lead.