Saintess? Not Anymore! I'd Rather be a Destroyer-Chapter 145 - 131: Tea Party 3

’I won’t stand by and watch you tarnish Ralph’s reputation without consequences. I’ll put you in your place so that Ralph can continue to shine like the star he was!’ Russell mused, a determined fire burning within her. She daydreamed about witnessing that familiar radiant smile on Ralph’s face once again, her eyes locked in a fierce gaze at Aurianna.

The room, previously buzzing with chatter, once again fell into an awkward silence. Sensing the tension thickening, Lavender decided to take matters into her own hands. She cleared her throat and spoke up, You know, I’ve always held deep admiration for your father, King Girsal," she blurted out, hoping to steer the conversation in a more pleasant direction.

The other girls, finding common ground in this topic, nodded with curiosity in their eyes. "I’ve heard that Sandeph was struggling before your father took the throne, and then it just blossomed," Ann added with an infectious bright expression.

Rosemary, her enthusiasm bubbling over, chimed in, "Yes, King Girsal and Queen Amber must be truly wonderful parents." Her hands clapped together as if celebrating their parental prowess.

However, Aurianna, who had been nursing her sour mood, couldn’t hold back any longer. Her frustration erupted in sharp words. "Can’t you shut the hell up?" Her tone was cutting and impatient.

Ann, unruffled by Aurianna’s outburst, maintained her composure. "While you may be a princess, dear, your language could use some refinement."

Aurianna felt no need to defend herself, muttering under her breath, "Well, aren’t tea parties supposed to be about everyone’s interests, rather than an endless parade of my parent did this and my parent is that talk? What’s more I didn’t know that parties were places for unnecessary quarrels," she grumbled, her gaze veering toward Russell in the corner of her eye.

Marie, sensing the need to bridge the gap and ease the tension, chimed in, "Perhaps Aurianna has a point. We were all just talking about our parents, not ourselves."

Beth, still wary of Aurianna’s mood, hesitated before asking, "So, Princess, what should we talk about then?"

Aurianna leaned on the table, considering the question thoughtfully. "Hmm, do any of you enjoy reading books or playing games?" she asked, her tone softening.

Hetha’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she leaned forward eagerly. "Have any of you read ’The Man of Blackness’?"

Wisna, who appeared as a lady of elegance, inquired with poise, "You mean the one written by Lauten Deniela?" Her orange eyes held a glint of intellectual curiosity.

Agate chimed in, her gray eyes shining with enthusiasm. "Yes, that’s the one!" She had an air of excitement about her, eager talk about their new topic.

"I absolutely adored the part in Chapter 234 when Lady Roberta was swept off her feet by Friacs," Erica exclaimed with pure delight, her enthusiasm infectious as the other girls couldn’t help but join in on the excitement.

As the chatter about the book continued, Aurianna seized the opportunity to indulge in some pastries. She couldn’t help but think, ’While they talk, more food for me.’ she thought with a sly grin. With no concern for the discussion, she happily devoured the pastries, savoring every bite.

Erica, turning her attention to Aurianna, inquired, "Princess, have you had the chance to read the story?"

Aurianna, her tone casual and disinterested, replied, "I have, but I must admit it didn’t quite capture my interest as much as it did yours." She accompanied her response with a nonchalant shrug.

Curious, Chun probed further, "Oh, really? What didn’t you like about it?"

Aurianna fixed them with a cool, calculating gaze before she answered,

"Well, for one, Roberta can be quite a handful. She consistently professes her desire to live an independent life, free from the constraints of marriage, yet she simultaneously leads five different men to believe she has deep romantic feelings for them. That, in my opinion, comes across as rather selfish. To make matters worse, she appears completely oblivious to their emotions and refuses to be honest with them about her true intentions." Aurianna let out a weary sigh and shook her head in disapproval.

Rosemary chimed in, nodding in agreement with Aurianna’s critique. "You know, you’re right."

Wisna, having her own revelation, added, "Now that you mention it, she does come across as rather selfish." A collective sigh of realization swept through the group.

Russel, however, had a different perspective. She boldly interjected, offering a different perspective, "But what’s so wrong about a lady having five handsome suitors vying for her attention? They all adore her, and she’s not to blame for that, right? So I see no problem with this!" She directed a challenging look at Aurianna, her words carrying a hint of defiance. Her words carried a glimmer of hope for some girls in the group.

Aurianna, unyielding in her stance, responded with a coldness that matched her demeanor. "It’s not the number that’s the issue, but rather her failure to respect their feelings and to be forthright with them. What I despise is the fact that she won’t just deny their feelings and tell them all that she’s not interested in romantic relationship. These men genuinely care for her and treat her with respect, but she doesn’t respect them. It’s a matter of honesty and proper love, not the mere presence of multiple suitors."

Russel let out an exasperated click of her tongue before she turned away from Aurianna, her frustration evident in the way she shifted her gaze.

Lavender, observing the escalating tension between the two, couldn’t help but think, ’These two are really making the atmosphere here unbearably stifling.’ She cast a frosty, passive-aggressive glare in their direction, silently expressing her disapproval of their ongoing dispute.

Russel, determined to assert her dominance in this increasingly strained situation, issued an order with a sense of authority. "Slave girl, kindly attend to serving tea for the princess and the others," shel instructed, addressing the girl who knelt below her.

The girl struggled to rise, her efforts punctuated by coughing fits, which in turn earned her a menacing glare from Russel, causing her to quiver in fear.

Aurianna, fully aware that Russel was up to something, responded in a chilly tone, "There’s no need."

Russel, however, persisted with an unsettling smile and gestured dismissively, "I insist." She then unceremoniously kicked the girl forward.

The force of the kick made the girl stumble, but she dared not fall, knowing all too well the consequences that awaited her should she do so.

The girl awkwardly picked up the teapot, her inexperience evident, and approached Aurianna. Her trembling hands showed her fear. As she poured the tea, a sudden, unseen force tugged at her leg chains, causing her to spill the hot liquid all over Aurianna.

Tears welled up in the girl’s eyes, and she trembled, fully aware of the grave error she had just committed. Aurianna’s frigid gaze bore into her, seeming to foreshadow her impending doom.

"I’m sorry, please spare me!" the girl cried out in desperation, bowing deeply in a display of submission

As the tea slowly trickled down her dress, Aurianna’s demeanor turned icier by the second. She locked her piercing gaze onto the girl and then shifted it to Russel. "Did you just spill tea on me?" she inquired, her tone laced with an unsettling calmness.

Russel, undeterred by the gravity of the situation, responded with a smirk and a nonchalant tone, "My apologies for the rude behavior of my servant. I’ll ensure she receives the punishment she deserves. Besides, it’s just tea. No need to like you’re going to kill someone." Her smug grin only served to further infuriate Aurianna.

Yet, Aurianna couldn’t help but hide a sly smile, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes as she observed the foolish grin on Russel’s face.

She rose from the table, her attention now squarely on the girl beneath her, who appeared to be a malnourished teenager.

Aurianna lifted her leg high and brought it crashing down upon the girl, the sickening sound of bones breaking echoing through the room. The girl lay lifeless beneath her shoes, her blood staining Aurianna’s once-silver shoes a gruesome shade of red. Aurianna’s cold gaze shifted to Russel, who trembled visibly.

In the recesses of her mind, Russel’s inner voice rang with confidence, declaring, ’She won’t dare harm me! I’m the daughter of Duke Huns!’ Yet, her trembling hands and a nagging sense of unease told a different story.

Unperturbed by the brewing tension, Russel sprang to her feet and approached Aurianna, her demeanor a carefully crafted façade of innocence. "Are you all right?" she inquired, feigning concern, even as her heart raced.

Aurianna, not one to let the situation slip from her grasp, responded with a chuckle, "Well, you did dare to spill tea on me."

Russel quickly countered, "I wouldn’t dare, princess. It was an accident caused by the slave. She deserved death for pouring tea on you. So, princess, there’s no need to make such a fuss."

"Make a fuss?" Aurianna echoed, followed by another chuckle.

Russel, undeterred, continued, "I don’t mean to be rude, but you do have quite a strong aroma of tea about you," she remarked, holding her nose in playful exaggeration. "If you’d like, I can arrange for a new dress," she added with a hint of mock kindness.

Ignoring Russel’s words, Aurianna questioned, "Do you have any idea what it signifies to spill tea on a member of the Royal family?"

"It was an accident, princess!" Rosemary interjected, coming to Russel’s defense, unaware of the true situation unfolding.

"Lavender do something!" Lavender, tugged on by Rosemary, hesitated for a moment before responding in a low voice, "It’s probably best if they resolve this quickly. It’s clear that Russel was attempting to provoke Aurianna, but her reaction seems to have caught her off guard."

"But didn’t we all agree to support Russel?" Rosemary questioned, her gaze fixed on Lavender.

"If you’re interested in becoming that crazy girl’s enemy, by all means, go ahead. However, I’m sure you’ve sensed already that she’s every bit as dangerous as the rumors suggest. It wasn’t just an empty threat," Lavender said, her voice laced with a touch of caution as she silently sipped her tea, her keen eyes watching the unfolding drama.

Rosemary watched the exchange between Aurianna and Russel with growing unease.

"Accident or not, an apology is in order," Aurianna declared calmly, her gaze calm.

Russel, raising an eyebrow defiantly, countered, "And why should I apologize?"

"Because it’s a matter of politeness. If not, things may take a rather unpleasant turn," Aurianna replied with a wicked grin, sending a shiver down Russel’s spine.

"Unpleasant? Do you think I’m afraid of you?" snapped, her patience finally giving way to a surge of anger. "I wager those rumors are all fabricated to increase your reputation. I know that princesses like you simply laze about, looking pretty and playing all day. Girls like me work tirelessly to uphold our family’s legacy and honor. So, no, I won’t apologize to a bratty princess!"

Aurianna’s retort was swift and chilling. "I’m afraid you won’t have much of a choice in the matter."

"Oh, what are you going to do to me princess?" Russel taunted, her voice laced with provocation as if daring Aurianna to make the first move.

Aurianna, her patience at its breaking point, suddenly closed the distance between them. With a swift, forceful motion, she seized a fistful of Russel’s pink hair, yanking it painfully.

"Since my arrival here, I’ve been holding myself back," Aurianna confessed in a low, chilling tone. As her eyes bore into Russel’s, a twisted smile curled on her lips. "But seeing your face... it brought back all the pain you inflicted on me in the past. Now, I can finally settle the score, with no regrets," she whispered into Russel’s ear, her words dripping with a madness that sent shivers down Russel’s spine.

Panic surged within Russel as she beheld the crazed look in Aurianna’s eyes. ’She’s truly going to kill me!’ she thought in terror, her heart pounding.

"Stop it, you unhinged psycho!" Russel screamed in agony, her voice reverberating through the room as the other girls quaked in fear.

Desperate to break free, Russel struggled to cast a spell, only to discover that her magic had been nullified.

Aurianna’s eerie calm persisted as she continued to torment Russel. "Did you really think a princess like me would waltz in here without protective measures?" taunted, a sinister grin spreading across her lips. Before Russel could react, Aurianna delivered a punishing kick to her abdomen, causing her to cry out in pain. Yet, Aurianna maintained her tight grip on Russel’s hair.

"This is for pouring tea on me," Aurianna declared with a maniacal smile, her hand twisting two of Russel’s fingers. The air filled with Russel’s agonized screams as she clenched her injured fingers helplessly as she stared at Aurianna with pain and hatred.