Both birthday celebrations will be held in the evening, thus the servants were still meticulously decorating the Skyler estate for Evelina's celebration. Evelina has always taken her birthday celebrations very seriously. She would personally oversee the servant's preparation of everything and make sure nothing could go wrong.

However this time Evelina was even more careful than last year. Angelina guessed it was due to herself. Evelina inspected everything. Only when she found that nothing was amiss did she calm down.

Angelina stared at the smug look on Evelina's face and responded with a meaningful smile, appearing docile.

Unfortunately for Evelina, the scheme created to ruin her big event was not in the estate at all. But the imperial palace.

Whilst Angelina was strolling through the garden, Alex came to confront her. He forcefully pulled her away to a secluded area of the garden.

"Don't you dare do anything! Eve is sincerely working hard to make sure today's celebration will end in success! Don't get any ideas that go against her!" Alex fiercely warned.

"Brother, I didn't even do anything. You need not to warn me. How could I ever go against my dearest elder sister?" Angelina's appearence looked pitiful and sincere, but her words were too exaggerated that it made it clear she was using sarcasm.

"Don't play your tricks on me! You are always against Eve! I'm warning you, don't do anything or you will be severely punished!" After saying so, Alex left in a huff of anger. But Angelina turned deaf ears to his words and didn't put it to mind at all.

Why must she be scared of him? Sooner or later she will burn this Skyler estate to the ground anyway...

Angelina glared at his departing silhouette before continuing her stroll in the garden.

Soon, evening arrived and everything was ready. Evelina dazzled in soft blue. Today's gown, unlike her usual ones, is much more grand and deserving for a duke's daughter. Her face was beaming with excitement and happiness. How much she wished to see Rienne's expression right now was unimaginable.

"Father, I'm so excited! I wonder what gifts they will give me!" Evelina joyfully told the duke as the whole family waited for the guests.

"Hahaha! Contain your excitement Eve. The guests will be arriving shortly." The duke laughed and patted his joyful daughter's back dotingly.

An hour has passed and yet no guests have arrived. Evelina was becoming impatient but she still continued to wait. They waited and waited and no guests were arriving.

Evelina was blowing up inside. What was going on!? Where are they!? They dared miss her birthday!? How dare they!?

The duke frowned. Where are the guests? The sun has already begun to set!

Only Angelina knew what happened with the guests. Even though she knows no guests will arrive, she still patiently waited for the guests along with the rest. Waiting was worth it for seeing Evelina's, the duke's, and Alex's eyes darken with every passing moment. Their gloomy faces were simply dashing in her eyes.

Only the duchess remained the same. She looked dazed the whole time. It was clear her mind was wandering elsewhere.

The duke finally couldn't wait any longer and called one of his trusted subordinates to inquire about the matter.

On the way to the estate, the guests got word that the crown prince, the second prince, and the princess are attending lady Rienne's birthday celebration! This was a major surprise for them. The imperial children barely attended any events. What changed their minds? And why did they choose Rienne over Evelina?

Moreover the princess was even heard saying, "Whoever attends a fake birthday over a real one is simply a fool with no brains."

How could the nobles dare attend Evelina's celebration after hearing that?

When his subordinate told him what he just found out, the duke instantly flew into a rage.

Once the duke informed Evelina of this, her heart dropped and her previously joyful face sank.

' They all actually attended that idiot Rienne's birthday! Did they not consider giving me face!? Those foolish imbeciles! ' Evelina endured the humiliation and frustrations within her with gritted teeth. Today's her birthday celebration... They ruined her birthday celebration! A duke's favored daughter is actually put to shame like this!?

Alex stared at Angelina with suspicion which was responded to by Angelina's ignorant front.

"Brother? Why are you looking at me like that? I didn't do anything... Oh my, how could this have happened? I never expected they're highnesses to attend Lady Rienne's birthday! Oh no..." Angelina performed a distressed and helpless act, almost causing Evelina to lose control and beat her.

"Father, what can we do? They actually chose for humiliate me like this...!" Evelina poured tears out of her eyes and wept in the duke's arms.

"What else can we do? We need to head over to that Balloria family's estate and save the last bit of face we have!" The duke was so angered, veins popped on his forehead.

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

Rienne was looking at the scene before her with dumbfoundedness. So many attended... The large celebration hall is filled with guests! Even members of the imperial family came to congratulate her on her birthday! She couldn't believe it! This must be the best birthday she's ever had!

She could really die happily right now...

"Mother, father, Adrian look! They're all here for me! Look at all the presents I got!" Rienne turned to her family and boasted. She, just like her family, was completely shocked at the many guest's arrival. She was sure only a few would attend. But unexpectedly they all ended up arriving!

"Yes, yes! They're all here for you, Rin." Duke Balloria laughed with pride. His daughter is so happy, how could he not be happy?

"I told you everything will be alright, sister." Adrian patted her back with encouragement.

"Hahaha! My daughter is so amazing! Your birthday will definitely be the talk of the capital for days! As for that lady Evelina... Mother will not forget to settle this score with her!" Duchess Balloria hugged her daughter tightly. Only she knew how angry she felt when she saw her daughter arriving back home crying after confronting that wench! As her mother, she will not let this slide!

The nobles secretly stole glances of the two princes and the princess. They all felt quite awkward and ashamed. The gifts they had prepared were originally for Evelina but they ended up giving it to Rienne.

They had no intention to offend duke Skyler but they couldn't offend the imperial family!

"I'm quite shocked. His highness and her highness usually don't attend birthdays. They only ever appear in royal events." One whispered to another.

"I felt like my heart was about to jump right out of my chest when my subordinate reported the princess's words!"

"Lady Evelina must be feeling quite embarrassed... She has never faced such humiliation..."

"Look! Even the Casspan family didn't attend lady Evelina's birthday...!"

"Not having her own fiance attend her birthday, lady Evelina's heart must be shattered..."

"Do you think the Skyler family will come here?"

"It's most likely they will..."

Though Evelina's admirers felt slightly concerned for her, others who were not so fond of Evelina rejoiced with Rienne.

"Congratulations lady Rienne! I would've dreaded coming to Lady Shameless's birthday!" They toasted and cheered.

"Happy birthday, lady Rienne. You finally got what you've always wished for!"

"Lady Evelina's glorious reputation is slowly chipping away! Hahaha! Oh I have been waiting for this!"

"She deserves all that is horrible!" Alice smiled after so long.

"Hahahah! I can't wait to see Evelina come here defeatedly and wish me happy birthday! Ah, I wish I could hang a painting of that scene. I'll look at it everyday!" Rienne laughed together with her friends.

Only Arianna was silent. She looked around and saw lady Sonia and lady Harper standing around, looking embarrassed. She chuckled after seeing them.

"Look, the Skyler family is here!"

The lively hall immediately quietened down. Everyone stopped their discussions and focused their attention on the newly arrived guests.

Evelina's face was pale and her eyes were swollen. She kept her head down and clenched the skirt of her gown. Except for Angelina and the dazed duchess, the rest had ashen expressions.

All the guests, after seeing them, pulled their heads down and avoided the duke's threatening gaze.

"Happy birthday Rienne." Angelina was the first to break the silence and handed Rienne a present.

"Thank you Lina! I'm glad you came!" Rienne excitedly hopped to Angelina and took the present from her hands.

"Thanks for coming here, lady Evelina. I'm so delighted to have you here..." Rienne dragged her voice as she taunted Evelina with a wicked smirk spread on her face.

"..." Evelina secretly cast Rienne a chilly glare

"Oh? Are you not going to wish me a happy birthday?" Rienne raised her head high and glared back at her.

"..." Evelina wanted to strangle Rienne but she held herself back. With reluctance, Evelina slowly bent over and congratulated Rienne, "Congratulations, lady Rienne. I wish you a prosperous and happy year."

Rienne knew her words were insincere. She rolled her eyes and turned away from Evelina with a "hmph".

Seeing Rienne ignore her and arrogantly turn away, Evelina's face darkened. This would be the perfect time for her to shed tears, but she was too angry to act pitiful.

The nobles couldn't bear to look at the dark expressions of the duke, Alex, and Evelina any longer and stopped paying attention to them. Soon everything turned lively again but a gloomy atmosphere followed four members of the Skyler family.

'This idiotic and annoying brat dared to humiliate me! I'll not forget this! This wench! I'll ruin your life and make sure your reputation plummets!' Evelina held a glass of wine as she glared at Rienne's back. But whilst doing so, she heard the sound of spurting liquor being poured from behind.

"Ah!" Evelina immediately turned around and pulled the now wet and wine stained skirt of her gown.

Alice stood behind her, holding an empty wine glass. Her face blank as muttered an "apology".

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that... It must've slipped."