Chatter echoed through the room and soft music played as the noble ladies interacted with one another, drinking and conversing as they assembled in the grand Meeting Hall at the Flower Manor in Fortshire.
They had arrived just three hours prior, and once they finished settling in, they gathered in the meeting hall for the assembly with the Queen Dowager, the Queen, Princess Elizabeth, and the Duchess of Fortshire.
Ariel seated quietly toward the back of the meeting hall. She found herself at a modest table shared with none other than Lady Monica Dinkley—her past best friend and the sister of the monster who had murdered her in cold blood.
Ariel still refused to accept that Monica was involved in the tragedies of her past. She wanted to believe her former friend was innocent, but deep down, it felt highly unlikely given that Monica was related to that monster—Aaron, her ex-husband who had murdered her in cold blood.
She had tried to avoid Monica at all costs ever since arriving at Flower Manor six hours earlier. Unfortunately, because Monica was the host of the gathering, Ariel had no choice but to cross paths with her—and the sheer audacity of the woman to sit with her at the back table!
Ariel wanted no trouble and desperately hoped to avoid being noticed, especially given the scandal that had erupted two days prior. Most of the noble ladies already looked down on her, viewing her as an outsider—a mere daughter of a lowly Duke, who lacked the substantial wealth, powerful lineage, and backing of the high-ranking ladies and royal princesses from other kingdoms.
"So what are your talents, Lady Ariel?"
Ariel froze at the sweet voice sounding beside her. She turned slowly to face Monica, who had asked the question and was looking at her with innocent eyes. Ariel rolled her eyes internally before setting her glass down, looking at Monica, and gently replying, "I have an MBA in business, a degree in royal politics and an honorary diploma in noble etiquette—and as for my hobbies, I like to sing, play the piano, and also the violin."
"Well, that's good," said Monica. "I also had a friend, you know, my best friend that I told you about—who looked just like you."
Ariel froze at Monica's remark.
Monica continued, "She had the exact same degrees—a degree in noble etiquette and an MBA in business, alongside politics—and her favorite hobbies were also singing, playing the piano, and playing the violin. Although, unlike you, she had an extra talent...painting. It really was one of her favourite hobbies." She paused as she reminisced. "She had truly loved to paint."
Ariel also remembered how much they used to paint together when she was still that girl and with her.
Monica's words pierced her heart. It stung with memories, she still remembered how the two of them would spend hours upon hours of the afternoon painting and doing calligraphy, losing all track of time until they were called multiple times by their mother to come take some refreshments or a break. It was one of their most special, secret hobbies that they both had cherished very much.
The memory almost brought tears to her eyes, and she truly wondered how someone she had shared such a sisterly bond with could betray her so deeply. Even though she knew it was possible, she simply didn't have the heart to accept that it could really happen. She still wanted to believe it was all a lie, that Monica would never have been involved and was still the sweet, innocent, caring best friend she had known in the past.
Especially seeing Monica's gloomy face, it felt as though Monica genuinely cared for and loved Anastasia just like a sister.
Yet, as the saying goes, looks can be deceiving. A person can look broken and innocent while secretly being thrilled and enjoying the downfall of their enemies. Instead of feeling pity or hurt, Ariel knew she should feel remorse and disgust toward Monica, because the truth of the matter was clear, even though they had shared a bond of affection, greed had blinded Monica to the point of ending Anastasia's life. After all, even Anastasia's own father's sister hadn't cared about her own mother, having actually killed her purely out of greed.
Anastasia had learned the hard way how greed could control people's emotions to the point of turning them into monsters. She knew she had to be very careful not to let herself become entangled with the very enemies sworn to destroy her.
Rousing herself from those painful thoughts and the heavy silence that followed, she cleared her throat, watched Monica's gloomy face, and said, "That woman must have meant a lot to you. I'm really sorry."
Monica sniffed a little before turning to face Ariel and said, "It's okay, Lady Ariel, I'm fine. Yes, she really did mean a lot to me—more than you can even imagine. Every day hasn't been the same ever since she was gone. I wish that I could have, you know... well, never mind."
Ariel felt a wave of disappointment wash over her when Monica didn't finish her sentence, stopping abruptly and deciding to change the topic.
"I'm sorry that I'm boring you with my old stories," Monica said. "We really should be talking about you. Tell me something—why did you really agree to become the Queen Dowager's pardon? Were you and the Crown Prince really acquainted before all of this?"
Ariel looked at Monica intently for a brief moment before turning her head to face the rest of the noble ladies, who were still stealing glances and whispering, obviously continuing to gossip about the recent scandal. She knew that Monica was an exceptionally intelligent, smart, and witty person. If anyone was going to give her a hard time in this competition—not to mention prove to be her greatest competitor for Daniel's hand—it was most definitely her.
Catherine was spoiled and arrogant and relied purely on indignation and the heavy backing of her family in order to become the future Crown Princess and, eventually, Queen of the Kingdom.
However, Monica relied on her own intelligence, wit, and cunning to get exactly what she wanted. She was on par with Ariel, and Ariel knew that very well, meaning she had to tread very carefully. Monica might expose her in a fine fix—revealing that she was actually Anastasia, who had risen from the dead, and not her cousin sister, Raymond's daughter, who had died a long time ago.
Fixing her gaze on Monica, she replied, "Lady Monica, I suggest that you choose your words very carefully. Otherwise, things will become very difficult for you in this competition."
She then averted her gaze and looked toward the upper dais, where the Dowager Queen sat conversing with the Queen and the Duchess of Fortshire.
"I didn't seek the Queen Dowager's backing, and I wasn't acquainted with the Crown Prince in that manner. As for what you saw in the photos, the evidence was fabricated and manipulated. Those individuals you saw...the day before yesterday forged the Crown Prince and I's identities and used it to fabricate a non-existing love story between the two of us, and I think you know better than anyone why they did that.
"But I won't lie to you—yes, the Crown Prince and I were acquainted before the bridal selection had begun. You can even ask the Queen herself how the Crown Prince and I were acquainted. Perhaps you can even ask your mother to ask the Queen Dowager how the Crown Prince and I crossed paths. I'm sure they'll definitely give you the answer that you seek.
"As for me, I'd rather not say anything more, because looking at you right now and the way you're questioning me, it's obvious that whatever I say, you won't believe it, will you?"
Monica stiffened in feigned surprise. She shifted her gaze away from Ariel, taken aback that Ariel hadn't given her the answers she sought or admitted to having a romantic relationship with the Crown Prince the way she had expected.
She had been so sure this woman would slip up or reveal something, especially given how friendly Ariel had seemed since the day they first met, which had led Monica to think she would easily open up.
Instead, it was clear this woman was crafty, sharp, and highly intellectual. No wonder Catherine viewed her as such a massive threat, she truly was dangerous. Ariel hadn't explicitly admitted to a relationship with the Crown Prince, but she hadn't outright denied it either, leaving Monica to wonder and giving just enough ambiguity.
Ariel knew that whatever she said, Monica would always believe what she wanted. Now, the only way to confirm her suspicions was to either ask the Queen Dowager herself—or perhaps even inquire with the reigning Queen, exactly as Ariel had suggested, to uncover the truth about their relationship and see if she and the Crown Prince had truly been acquainted long before the competition ever began.
Monica could now see that Ariel was not someone who could be easily fooled. No wonder Catherine had been blindsided and put in her place at the ball that day, she now recognized that this opponent was truly not someone to be taken lightly.
She had thought a soft, friendly approach would coax Ariel into opening up, but it was clear this woman always treaded carefully. Monica already knew the dangerous, high-stakes game this competition brought, and Ariel was neither shaken nor easily manipulated by anyone.
Taking careful note of this, Monica decided she needed to tread lightly and avoid getting too deeply entangled with her—otherwise, she might end up walking right into a trap of her own making one day.
Trying to ease the tension and make things look a little less awkward, Monica forced a laugh and said, "Oh, Lady Ariel, you really are something else, aren't you?"
She leaned back, studying Ariel with a new lens, and added, "I truly am impressed. You certainly aren't the type of woman who is easily swayed."
Ariel offered a measured smile and replied, "Likewise. And I can see that you aren't a target that is easily fooled, either. Perhaps we do have a few things in common after all."
Monica chuckled softly. "I suppose I do believe so. Maybe that is one thing we really do share—we're smart, witty, and intellectual. We might just have the sharpest brains in this competition, far more than anyone else here. And honestly, I have to confess, I'm truly glad I've actually found a real competitor in all of this. Everyone else behaves like children, they don't even have the courage, the wits, or the smarts to survive past the first stage of this competition."
She glanced toward the other clusters of noble ladies before looking back. "Of course, as usual, most people just rely on the power standing behind them in order to move forward. But who knows? Maybe this time, things will turn out very differently."
"I agree with that as well. It really might be very different, and I do hope that we both remain good sports until we find out who truly triumphs in this race, right?"
"Absolutely. I can't wait to see how it all unfolds," Monica said, a smile still gracing her lips. She raised her glass and offered a toast. "To the smartest and most intellectual ladies in the competition. May the best one win."
Ariel smiled in return, lifting her own glass. "Yes, may the best one win."
They clinked their glasses together, holding each other's gaze intently with sharp, calculating eyes before taking a sip of their wine.
Now, let the game begin.