Chapter 20: Chapter 20

I got an invitation to the princess tea party and a letter from Mikael. This guy wrote to me every three days, sending letters like a hawk. Nina was still afraid of this bird. I turned the invitation over in my hands. It was rather strange to invite a person the day before the party. Tomorrow was tea for the lady, and next week was her birthday party.

Some girls disappeared in the city again, and these idiots were arranging holidays. To be honest, I didn't even know what the princess looked like. She was hardly mentioned in the novel, only that she was often sick, and her name was Louise. It turned out that she was the half-sister of Mikael and the daughter of the Empress.

"Nina, do you happen to know what Princess Louise likes?"

"My lady, will you accept her invitation? It seems to me that she specifically called you later than everyone else." The maid frowned.

"Why do you think so?"

"I've heard some pretty strange rumours in town."

"What kind?"

"The princess likes the captain of the knights who guards the crown prince." Nina poured her signature tea into a cup for me.

"Seriously? I never heard of such a thing." This news surprised me a little.

"I don't know if this is true or not, but the fact that she called you on the last day is very suspicious."

"What do I have to do with it? Am I disturbing them?"

"My lady, Sir Keane certainly has a thing for you."

"We like to talk, there is nothing between us." I shook my head.

"Lady, would you like me to tell you what rumours are circulating about you?" Nina, smiling slyly, sat down beside me.

"About how terrible and capricious I am?" I chuckled. I wouldn't be surprised if there were rumours like this.

"No, my lady. You made a splash at the debutante ball and the hunt. Everyone just says how beautiful you are."

"It can't be."

"Maybe it's also that the prince is madly in love with you, just like his captain."

"Complete nonsense." I breathed. So someone saw us that night with Keane and spread the word.

"I think the princess called you last because of this. She is driven by envy and jealousy."

"I don't care. If I refuse, I may be in trouble."

"I heard that she collects antique jewellery. There is an antique bracelet in your jewellery box. Give it as a gift."

"Good. So let's do it. What would I do without you, Nina?"

I smiled at her and picked up the book I was reading in the shop, turning to the page where I had stopped.

"Darkness destroyed everything in its path. It hated people and their very existence. Lumiel's heart broke with pain as he saw the suffering of those he loved so much. The darkness was deaf to his pleas to stop, then he sealed it, but it left behind the Red Moon."

I thought I read something about the Red Moon in a scroll that asked me to translate Aiden. Perhaps, as I thought, the same person who wrote the scroll wrote this book; but the problem was that the book was new, and the scroll was ancient.

"The Red Moon was part of the Darkness. She appeared in our world at her will. The moon enhances blood magic, the most terrible magic in the world. The owners of this magic pay for it with the lives of other people. For the use of such a terrible power, all the blood magicians were destroyed, and mentioning it was erased from history. Archmage Thaddeus burned all the books that were associated with her."

I closed the book and put it aside. Every time I read it, I get a terrible feeling. Archmage Thaddeus, Aiden said that he put an end to the madness that the Church of Light created. Was it possible that the Goddess of Ether was the Darkness described in the book? The book fell into my hands not by chance. I would have to show it to Aiden. I just didn't know how to talk to him now. He asked me to see a man in him.

Although he was a good person, Aiden was a womaniser. He said he had enough female attention, so why say such a thing? Was it not enough for him that the entire empire saw a man in him? Was there only me left? Alex was also harassing me, throwing a meaningful look in my direction.

***

The next day, I found the box next to my bed. This was the second time the Duke had given me a gift. Today, it was a golden tiara in the shape of a vine with pearls. Decided to pay off with gifts for his terrible attitude towards his daughter? Nina was more pleased with the gift than I was. We decided that I would wear it to the birthday party, along with a dress from Sarah, and after leaving the estate, we headed to the palace.

There were fewer people on the streets in the city. But near the palace, there was considerable congestion of carriages. Aristocrats were not afraid, because only girls from ordinary people disappeared. The decorations in the palace were striking in their luxury. They certainly did not spare funds from the treasury. Gold and pink ribbons, whimsical flowers with pearls. A pointless waste just for show.

I took a deep breath and headed toward the tea party. Among the girls present, I did not find Sarah. Of course, she was probably not invited, but her bullies were here. They were giggling near a girl with dark hair, and by the colour of her eyes, I immediately determined that this was Princess Louise. I walked up to her and did a reverse.

"You must be Lady Ariana?" Her voice was a little strained.

"I am very pleased that you have heard of me, Your Highness."

"Who hasn't heard of the rose of the empire?"

"I apologise?" I looked at her in surprise.

"Don't be modest, Lady Ariana. Don't you know what they call you?" Her gaze was full of malice. Nina was right. So we would play differently.

"I'm not interested in stupid rumours. I smiled at her. "The people who distribute them have absolutely nothing to do."

"Do you think so?"

"Yes. The city is now restless, and some aristocrats only gossip and have fun."

"What are you implying?" She frowned.

"Absolutely nothing. I just said what I think about the current situation in our city."

"And you are very brave to say so."

"Do you think?" I smiled at her. "It seems to me that I am taking your time from the ladies of honour, they are very bored."

"Lady Ariana, you are a very sassy lady, I don't understand why my brother could like you like that."

"I had no slightest idea why." I shrugged.

"I hope you enjoy your tea, Lady Ariana."

You are reading story Unloved Grand Duke Daughter Shatters the Skies at novel35.com

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."

I bowed to her and moved away from this club of vipers. This girl was clearly spoiled rotten, perhaps due to her poor health and also because she was a princess. It was as if she didn't invite Sarah. I was already repulsed. She judged people by origin, like these bullies. Bella was next to her. I looked at her, and she chuckled. It seemed that this situation amused her very much. I'd been here for no more than half an hour, but I was already tired of this stuffy room. I needed to go out to breathe after the official part was over.

Going out into the corridor, I decided to take a little walk, but this was a mistake, because thanks to my topographical cretinism, I got lost and none of the servants could be seen. The Imperial Palace was huge. How could I get back now? Behind one of the doors, I heard a loud conversation and approached it. The voices were very familiar to me. This was Keane and Mikael.

"I asked you to follow her, not fall in love."

"She is not your fiancee."

"Not yet mine, but soon will be."

"Riya said she wouldn't marry a man she didn't love." It was a little strange to hear how they discussed me.

"What did you call her?"

"She gave me permission. It would be better if he didn't say that."

"How cute. Just to the point of nausea."

"Some things even you can't change. I didn't know it would work like you did."

"But you knew she was chosen as a candidate. What were you thinking?"

"We cannot decide who to love and who not. I was with her for almost three months."

He said he only watched me for a couple of months.

"By my order, you were with her."

"I thought it was a friendly request. Mika, you don't love her."

"She is interesting to me. This is quite enough for marriage."

"Riya is a person, not a pet. What happens when you get tired of her?"

"Every time you call her that, I want to punch you."

"She will be with you like a bird in a cage. Because of your selfishness, you will keep her locked up for the rest of your life. Do you want her to end her life like your mother?"

"I am not like my father."

"Can't you see what she is like? Riya can't live here. She is attached to her younger brother, loves freedom, does not judge people by status."

"That's why she will make a beautiful empress. The people will adore her."

"And you? If she stays with you, she'll kill herself, just like your mother. Our emperor also deprived my aunt of her freedom, and how did it end?"

"Shut up or I'll definitely punch you."

I stumbled back from the door and ran as fast as I could, my head starting to ache with pain.

"I love you more than life itself, Your Highness."

"Lady Valmont, I've heard this before. Come up with something more interesting." After all, this was our last conversation.

"Your highness, why are you so cruel to me?"

"I'm already bored with you, Lady Valmont."

"Tell me, how am I worse than Lady Rosewald?"

"Does it matter now? You made an attempt on the life of someone I love, and therefore you will be beheaded."

"I didn't do it. Why do not you believe me?"

Ariana and Mikael's conversation was playing in my head. My heart, like my head, was bursting with burning pain. It was so painful that I couldn't breathe. I ran out onto the terrace and fell to my knees.

"Ariana, what's wrong with you?" I heard Mikael's voice, as his hand lay on my shoulder.

"Do not touch me." I crawled away from the prince.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't come!" My voice broke into a scream.

There was a flash of bright light. Aiden stepped out of it and sat down next to me.

"I sensed that you were in trouble."

"Aiden, my heart hurts... It hurts so much."

"Hush is fine. Go here." He pulled me towards him.

"Yeah, what the hell is wrong with you? Why are you afraid of me?" After Mikael's words, I closed my eyes and turned away from him.

"Get away from her, Your Highness."

"I forgot to ask you what to do."

My consciousness began to leave me. I could hardly distinguish where I was. The voices kept getting louder.

You can find story with these keywords: Unloved Grand Duke Daughter Shatters the Skies, Read Unloved Grand Duke Daughter Shatters the Skies, Unloved Grand Duke Daughter Shatters the Skies novel, Unloved Grand Duke Daughter Shatters the Skies book, Unloved Grand Duke Daughter Shatters the Skies story, Unloved Grand Duke Daughter Shatters the Skies full, Unloved Grand Duke Daughter Shatters the Skies Latest Chapter