Saintess? Not Anymore! I'd Rather be a Destroyer-Chapter 143 - 129: Tea Party
Mike cradled a green communication cube in his hand within the modest confines of his servant’s quarters, which, despite its modest size, was quite luxurious and beautiful.
Vatium’s voice echoed through the cube. "How’s life in the palace, Mike?"
Mike responded with a light chuckle, "Security’s as tight as ever. They don’t leave any room for intruders, and the servants undergo rigorous examinations."
"I see," Vatium acknowledged.
"By the way, has Ostusi been given the communication cube?" Vatium inquired, and Mike confirmed with a nod.
"Yes, I handed one to him. He’ll probably reach out to you, or you can contact him," Mike replied.
Vatium’s tone turned serious, making Mike’s nerves tingle. "I need to discuss some important matters with him."
Mike couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Ostusi, thinking, ’He’s in for a lecture from Vatium. Sorry, Master Ostusi.’
Vatium continued, "Also, could you keep an eye on Aurianna for me and protect her?"
Mike’s face lit up with enthusiasm. "Of course, sir! I’ll protect her with my life!" But suddenly, his expression grew solemn. "However..."
"However?" Vatium inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"There have been rumors circulating that the princess is a level 400," Mike nervously revealed. Vatium fell silent for a moment.
"Hmm, hmm," Vatium muttered, but when the full weight of Mike’s words settled in, Vatium gasped for breath, coughing frantically.
"What did you say?!" Vatium exclaimed in sheer shock.
_________
On July 14th, just nine days before the impending war...
Inside a luxurious living room, sapphire statues glistened in the afternoon sun’s rays. Above, a massive floating chandelier swayed gracefully from the ceiling, while small blue creatures floated about. Female knights stood guard at every door and window, watchful and vigilant.
In the center of the room, a woman gently brushed the soft, silky white hair of a teenager.
"A tea party?" Aurianna inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"Remember on church day, that you were invited to Russel’s tea party in her dukedom. Isn’t that wonderful, Princess?" Shialor announced, holding up an invitation card.
"The tea party is set for tomorrow afternoon at 2 pm in their splendid garden, one of the kingdom’s most enchanting spots," Queen Amber chimed in with enthusiasm, continuing to brush Aurianna’s hair tenderly. "It’s a place to relax and make new friends," she added, her eyes sparkling. Aurianna couldn’t help but roll her eyes in response as she thought, ’She means make new connections and strong allies. But I have no need for that since I have other plans in mind.’
’I suppose my chance has finally arrived,’ Aurianna mused with an eerie smile, sending a chill down her mother’s spine.
"Shialor, please send a message to Russel informing her that I will indeed attend her tea party!" Aurianna exclaimed with a radiant smile, making Shialor uncomfortable. She had little choice but to comply with Aurianna’s wishes.
"As you wish, Princess," Shialor replied with a respectful bow.
’With that creepy smile of hers again she’s probably plotting something diabolical,’ Nevertheless, a nervous smile crept onto her flushed face as she couldn’t help but wonder, ’I’m so eager to know what she’ll do this time.’
_______ 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
Aurianna’s carriage pulled up in front of a grand mansion, one that could almost rival her mansion in size, though not in luxury and it was far smaller compared to King Girsal’s. Her sharp eyes caught sight of a line of maids and a contingent of guards standing at the entrance.
She wasted no time and stepped out, casting a critical gaze over the assembled staff. An unmistakable look of disdain crossed her face. "She couldn’t even be bothered to come out and greet me, despite me knowing I would be coming. Talk about a lack of respect for authority," she muttered, crossing her arms. "Not a single one of them made an effort to welcome me."
"Jenna, you stay here," Aurianna instructed, turning to her knight adorned in resplendent golden armor.
"But, Princess, my duty is to be by your side at all times to ensure your safety!" Jenna protested, fixing Aurianna with her unwavering black gaze. Her long hair was neatly tied up, and her brown skin radiated under the warm sun.
"Just stay put. I can handle myself just fine. If my life’s truly in danger, then you can intervene," Aurianna stated, and Jenna reluctantly conceded to her request.
"Princess, please follow us. We’re honored to have you here. Thank you for gracing us with your presence," all the maids and butlers stationed at the entrance greeted in unison, seemingly captivated by Aurianna’s breathtaking beauty.
As Aurianna reached her designated spot, the servants offered one final bow before departing. As she entered the garden, she was greeted by a lush oasis of well-tended greenery, adorned with an array of blooming flowers, shrubs, and trees. Ivy gracefully climbed up the pillars, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of roses, peonies, and lavender.
Aurianna strolled down a stone pathway, embellished with dancing daisies that swayed with her every step. On a whim, she immediately stomped on one of the flowers, crushing it beneath her shoe. Witnessing this ruthless act, the remaining dancing flowers quickly scattered and sought refuge in the safety of the rose bushes, hoping to evade the cold-hearted girl moving on.
Surveying the area, Aurianna’s eyes fell upon a silver fountain, water elegantly spouting from the mouth of a dragon at its center.
Amidst the harmonious melodies played by instrumentalists on a small stage in the distance, there was an unfortunate interruption in the form of raucous laughter from a group of girls, shattering the otherwise tranquil atmosphere.
As Aurianna made her way into the tea party, she couldn’t help but notice a group of young girls, their laughter and giggles echoing through the garden. They seemed to be the center of attention, having a good time at the expense of a girl with rabbit ears and furry legs, unmistakably marked as a slave by the collar around her neck.
Aurianna took in the scene, her indifference evident. What they were doing was of no concern to her, and it appeared that everyone had momentarily forgotten her impending arrival.
Within the gathering, Aurianna’s eyes fell upon twelve girls, all dressed to the nines in lavish gowns and adorned with expensive jewelry. Her teeth clenched when she spotted a familiar face among them: a young, brown-skinned girl with long pink hair and captivating brown eyes—Russel.
Aurianna swiftly regained her composure, and it didn’t go unnoticed by the girls. "Nice to meet you, Princess," the girls greeted her with bright, eager smiles, unable to contain their admiration for Aurianna’s stunning appearance.
Aurianna donned a luxurious and beautiful dress in shades of gray, red, and black, with a hemline that gracefully stopped above her knees, featuring short sleeves. Her hair was fashioned into two charming pigtails, and her shoes, although impressively high to her thighs, seemed to be as comfortable as they were stylish and made of soft fabric.
"Princess, you look absolutely beautiful!" one of the girls exclaimed, her compliment echoed by the nods of agreement from the others.
Russel, who couldn’t help but notice the immediate shift of attention from herself to Aurianna, felt a surge of irritation. She rose from her seat, approaching Aurianna with a smug smile. "I’m Russel, daughter of Duke Huns and Duchess Victoria," Russel introduced herself, her white silk gown glistening.
"It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Russel," Aurianna replied with a cold smile that sent a shiver down Russel’s spine.
’How dare this brat look down on me!’ Russel seethed inwardly, though her smile remained.
"Please, take a seat, Princess," Russel offered, and two girls promptly provided Aurianna with a chair, which she gracefully accepted.
"Princess, you look stunning!" another girl praised, her eyes fixed on Aurianna’s hair. She attempted to reach out and touch it, but Aurianna swiftly deflected her hand, leaving the girl momentarily surprised.
"I hope you won’t try that again...," Aurianna remarked with a smile that captivated the young girl, who nodded shyly.
"Call me Lavender," she introduced herself with a bashful twirl of her light red hair.
With all eyes now on Aurianna, Russel couldn’t help but clench her fists and seethed inwardly. ’Everyone’s attention should be on me; after all, this is my party!’
With a prideful smile, Russel declared, "You know my dad’s the Duke and my mom’s the Duchess," flipping her hair in a show of confidence.
The other girls reacted with a synchronized gasp, even though it was pretty clear they weren’t exactly hearing this for the first time. It was more like they were going along with Russel’s game. "Duke and Duchess? That’s gotta be pretty exciting! So, what’s it like being around them all day? I bet they’re strict," one of them asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
"Absolutely," Russel continued, not missing a beat. "Being a Duke’s daughter, I’ve got to be the child for younger noble ladies to look up to. Dad even hinted that he might let me marry a prince someday."
Rosemary, a girl with blonde locks and brown eyes, couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. "You mean Prince Ralph, right?"
A hint of blush crept onto Russel’s cheeks, and she admitted with a coy smile, "Well, let’s hope so."
A wicked grin played on Aurianna’s lips as she taunted, "You wanna get married to that so-called worthless brother of mine?"
Russel shot Aurianna a withering glare, her irritation evident. "Ralph’s not worthless! He’s brilliant, sharp, has a heart of gold, and, if I might add, he is extremely handsome!"
Aurianna couldn’t resist a mocking retort. "Chi, chi, la, la, la. Oh, my gosh, who’s been feeding you all that bullcrap? I know some folks can stoop low, but marrying that dimwit is a new low to me?"
Russel fired back, her anger simmering. "Zip it! How dare you speak about your own brother that way?"
Sensing the rising tension, one of the teenage girls decided to change the topic, exclaiming, "Hey, my mom just got back from a trip to the Nobolia continent and brought back some gucci worm silk!" Shossi, a girl with short, light purple hair, announced with enthusiasm.
{ I remember I posted the map in one of the chaps. But I don’t remember which one. (༎ຶ ෴ ༎ຶ)(• ▽ •;). But I have arranged it in my server, from a very long time ago so it’s still there. }
"Gucci worms are only found near volcanic hotspots! The threads they spin are super fine and sturdy. Plus, they also have amazing healing properties and are the softest thing you will ever touch!" Lavender chimed in, sporting a smile.
Another girl jumped in with excitement. "Yeah, they kinda look like giant worms that burrow in the ground, don’t they? Pretty fascinating critters," Chun beamed.
Ann nodded approvingly. "You bet. They live deep underground in dark holes within volcanoes, making ’em a real challenge to find!"
