n

n

nAfter hearing Melissa's loud comments, other people as well started whispering and murmuring amongst themselves.

n

"Oh my. How could this be?

"

n

"This princess is trying to get too much attention. Isn't this her party to begin with?

"

n

"How shameless. I heard that she is a bastard child.

"

n

"Yes. Yes. I heard that too. Her mother somehow tricked the King and seduced him, so she was executed.

"

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"Our King is so kind.. If it was my father he would have executed both the mother and the child for such a cheap ploy.

"

nSylvia narrowed her eyes and stopped walking away. If this woman had a problem with her, she wanted to know what it was.

nShe could clearly hear other people talking about her as they were not even bothering to lower their voices.

nAnd she already had an inkling as to why they were behaving so brazenly.

nHad the news spread so fast?

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"Hmm? Golden dress? I did not know that there was a dress code for the royal family.

" She coldly shot back, a hint of mockery in her tone that was hard to miss.

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"Besides, his majesty sent me this dress to wear.

"

nMelissa became even angrier after hearing the blunt disrespect in the way she talked about the royal family.

n

"What? Are you spewing nonsense because father is no longer around?

"

n

"How could you not know? Is Mrs. Gruger not coming in every day to tutor you? Or is your brain that small that you need a year to grasp even basic common sense?

"

n

"You neither have our bloodline nor have a brain. I wonder how is it that you are my sister?

"

nSylvia chuckled coldly.

"Princess Melissa. I have no reason to lie. And it's entirely up to you whether you want to believe my words or not.

"

n

"But I am not particularly in a mood to stand here and argue with you.

"

n

"I think you are the one who is humiliating yourself and the family by standing here and creating a scene.

"

nThe princess glared back at Sylvia but she couldn't say anything because that would make her seem very petty.

nIn the end, she silently fumed and turned around to leave. The other sister, Kel, looked more nervous and troubled rather than angry.

nShe batted her long eyelashes at Sylvia apologetically, looking like a deer caught in trouble, and then quickly ran after Melissa, following her out of the room.

nSylvia sighed and she as well turned to leave as she was now only surrounded by random people who were hovering near her, glancing at her often but no one walked over to her to start a conversation or even to exchange greetings.

nEven the tall and dark man she had been talking to earlier was nowhere to be seen.

nSylvia shook her head tiredly. If they did not want to accept her in the first place, then why go through all this trouble and purposefully humiliate her.

nShe neither planned on staying here nor planned on becoming a part of their family. If only they could have asked her beforehand, then all of this could have been avoided.

nSylvia didn't feel like staying in the grand hall any longer.

nShe could already hear people whispering things behind her back and it looked like most of them knew about her white mana affinity. They had labeled her weak and useless.

nSylvia smiled bitterly and since this time no one was particularly blocking her path, she strolled out of the hall without turning back.

nShe walked along the long empty corridors and quickly snuck out to the gardens when she heard some voices in the distance.

nThere was a path through the garden as well that she could take to reach her quarters and she decided to do that.

nThe inside of the palace was too heavy and suffocating for her to even breathe that as soon as she stepped out, she let out a deep breath.

nAs she strolled through the garden, the cool embrace of the moon comforted her and she felt as if she was full of energy again, even though only seconds ago she had felt completely drained.

nIt couldn't ease the pain in her heart but it surely eased the tiredness in her body.

nSoon she reached the small pond that she loved with the enchanting golden lotuses. She softly sighed and laid next to the pond which was her favorite thing to do in this palace.

nShe looked up at the sky, gazing at the bright crescent moon and the numerous stars scattered across.

nWhy did it feel like they were all gazing at her back? Sylvia couldn't help but chuckle at the weird silly notion.

nAs she blankly continued looking at the distance… all the confusing thoughts flitted across her mind.

nThe father who didn't want her… the kind grand father… the invitation to stay at the palace… her dress… this party… her new ability to shift into a beast… her abysmal mana affinity and the very fact that she was a princess!!!

nEverything seemed so surreal.

nShe felt like a stranger in her own life.

nAnd to make things worse… the one person whom she truly cared for was no longer with her.

nHe had taken her heart, crushed it into a million pieces, and thrown back at her.

nSylvia smiled, a single tear drop managing to escape her mesmerizing eyes.

n

"You seem to like this place a lot.

"

nA familiar face with a strong jawline, deep blue eyes, and dancing wild silver locks came into her view.

nSylvia blinked, snapping out of her trance and she slowly sat up.

n

"Not a fan of the party?

" Roman asked, raising a brow.

nShe shook her head and was about to stand up when the man flopped onto the grassy lawn next to her.

nHe passed something to her that looked like a bundle of cloth napkins, placing it on her lap.

n

"This is indeed a good spot to spend a quite evening.

" He gazed at the lotus flowers and muttered.

n