When the young ladies were volunteering to participate in the embroidery competition, surprisingly, Evelina volunteered as well.

Angelina stared at her, puzzled.

It wasn't unexpected for Arianna to participate in the competition, she was talented. But Evelina wasn't good at embroidery at all...

Once again, a palace servant lead the participating ladies to the side room. In the room was a large round table. Surrounding it was 12 seats. Fortunately, it was just enough for the 10 ladies who were competing.

On the table were embroidering tools and blank white handkerchiefs.

They all took their seats and their 1st rank maids stood behind them.

However, Angelina had Lia and not Marie, who was her first rank maid. So Lia was the one who stood behind her.

"Her highness, the princess has permitted for your graces to freely embroider anything on the handkerchiefs laid before you all. Do try to meet her highness's expectations." The palace servant who led them here said. He and a few more palace servants stayed with the ladies, to observe them.

Angelina sat between Evelina and Arianna. She calmly took her time embroidering.

When Angelina turned to her left, she found Evelina embroidering in a careless manner.

Angelina couldn't even tell what Evelina was embroidering. It was simply too messy. It looked like a random shape. It seems Evelina was just playing around...

As the ball continued, the participating ladies were given three hours to complete their handkerchiefs.

Angelina was halfway done when she swept her gaze over the other ladies. Eventually her gaze landed on a young lady possessing honey brown hair.

Lady Harper

She didn't seem to understand how to embroider. She seemed to merely be copying what others around her were doing.

After two hours of embroidering, they were given a 5 minute break. The maids went out to bring and serve their masters warm tea.

When Lia came back, she watched as Angelina drank her tea and messaged Angelina's shoulders.

"Is my lady tired?" She asked.

"Slightly. But I'm alright." Angelina responded, without giving her a glance.

"....."

"Lady Angelina, may I speak to you for a moment?" Arianna approched her.

"Of course." Angelina followed Arianna to the corner of the room to discuss. Arianna was discussing the plans of the boutique's opening.

Angelina was too focused in the conversation, she didn't even notice anything that happened around her.

"Everything is ready, lady Angelina. All it's left is the two unfinished gowns. But I assure you they will be ready soon." Arianna nodded. Her face remained expressionless.

"Very good." Angelina tapped Arianna's shoulder with a smile. When she walked back to her seat, she saw Evelina giving Carol her handkerchief.

Those who has finished their handkerchiefs early were instructed to give them to their maids, so their maids could take them to the palace servants.

It was shocking. Evelina was done? Was she trying to purposely lose? She had absolutely no talent in embroidery at all...

Angelina exhaled and sat back down on her seat. As soon as she sat down, Evelina stood and left. But not before casting her a mocking glance.

Angelina immediately knew something was wrong.

She looked behind her and faced Lia's usual expression.

"My lady?" Lia tilted her head slightly, looking confused.

"....." Angelina looked at her handkerchief that was laid before her in a daze. It was flipped over. So she stretched out her hand to place it on it's back and...

It wasn't her's....

The rules stated that you shouldn't show anyone competing your handkerchief, so she flipped it over to hide it.

It seems someone has switched her handkerchief with another's.

It was not hard to guess who's handkerchief it was.

Angelina chuckled. She finally found the reason for Evelina purposely making a messy design on her handkerchief.

It was to sabotage her.

She had only one hour left...

Angelina picked up the embroidery tools and stared at the handkerchief she held. She was going to fix it.

Angelina worked hard fixing the handkerchief, but she wasn't going to make it. She didn't have much time. So she decided to use a small trick...

The ladies who were still embroidering was pleasantly surprised. Shouldn't time have run out? Why has the palace servant not announced anything yet?

They decided not to do anything. They hadn't finished their handkerchiefs anyway!

************

Back in the ballroom, Elizabeth looked down on the dancing nobles and yawned. Why hasn't it begun?

Some of the young ladies, who have finished, were already dancing and chatting in the ballroom.

After a few more minutes, the nobles gathering in the middle of the ballroom separates as they saw some palace servants pull in a long table.

"Oh finally...!" Elizabeth smiled ambiguously.

The palace servants placed down the handkerchiefs according to the young women's ranks. Soon a few women emerge from the side room and stood before their own handkerchiefs.

Evelina and the other ladies who finished early followed suit.

"Your highnesses, everything is ready." A servant bowed and informed the royals.

"Very good." The Emperor stood up, followed by his family members, and walked down from the higher platform.

The participating ladies bowed respectfully and greeted them, "greeting the Imperial family! We are honored to be in your presence!"

"Raise your heads, ladies. You all must have worked hard. The one who has embroidered the handkerchief that attracted the princess's interest will be rewarded with the princess's sapphire necklace!" The Emperor announced to all.

Most of the ladies smiled with excitement. It was an honor to receive any jewelery or valuables possessed by the Imperial family.

But Angelina and Arianna looked indifferent. They were both from high standing families. They did not lack treasures.

However Evelina looked strange. She looked eager and yet indifferent. The thing she wanted wasn't the necklace... But something else...

"When the princess stands in front of you, flip over and reveal your handkerchief! The princess will choose the one to her liking." The Empress clapped twice.

Elizabeth watched as the ladies near her flipped over their handkerchiefs. But she was unamused. It was all nothing special.

When she saw Harper's handkerchief, she barely could contain her laughter. She didn't know if she should pity this girl or laugh at her.

Harper seemed to barely know how to embroider. There was nothing but two small flowers embroidered on the handkerchief.

Seeing Arianna's handkerchief, Elizabeth smiled.

' this one is pretty good..." Elizabeth praised Arianna in her heart.

But then her eyes widened when looking at 'Evelina's handkerchief.'

It was beautiful. It looked alive as if it was about to jump off the handkerchief!

Elizabeth could tell the handkerchief was embroidered with great care and attention. Truly pleasing to the eyes.

Elizabeth raised her head to look at Evelina and complemented her, "you're very talented."

"T-thank you princess..." Evelina quickly curtsied and said bashfully.

The crowd stared at Evelina in awe. Truly befitting for the empire's number one beauty! Evelina truly lives up to her reputation!

They were all certain Evelina was going to win.

"Mm." Elizabeth nodded. Then the little princess walked to Angelina.

"This is...." She was stunned.

This was a medela flower...

"You actually embroidered a medela flower...?" Elizabeth asked. Her eyes showed she was clearly surprised..

Hearing the princess's words, the crowd gasped with shock and broke into an uproar.

The medela flowers were the flowers of fortune, healing, and cure. It was said to be only grown in the goddess's most grandest garden. Stories say drinking the medela flower tea would mean being in good health forever.

However they were also known for something else. The medela flowers were terribly difficult to embroider! Though beautiful, it possessed a unique and special shape. The medela flowers were much easier to be drawn or painted. Embroidering it was nearly impossible. Since the old times, there has only been few people who could embroider it!

But turns out the youngest lady of the Skyler household is one of the rare people who had such abilities!

"Oh dear! I can't believe this...."

"The last person to have embroidered the medela flower appeared almost a century ago!"

"The Skyler family must be truly blessed to have such a daughter!"

"My, I'm so envious..."

As Elizabeth stared into Angelina's clear eyes, her smile grew wider.

Not only was Angelina's handkerchief beautifully embroidered, it also touched her heart. Embroidering a medela flower for her was sign that Angelina wishes her hood health right?

Elizabeth reached out her hand and took the handkerchief.

"I like this one."

An immediate storm of cheers echoed in the ballroom.

Angelina smiled charmingly and bowed her head.

Truthfully, she also found it difficult to embroider such a flower. But thanks to Evelina, she was able to in the end.

Evelina was merely messing around. Little did she know that she was basically making the guide lines for Angelina to use...

As the Emperor announced Angelina as the embroidery competition's winner, Angelina leaned in closer and whispered into Evelina's ear.

"This is all thanks to you, sister. Thank you for helping me win."