"You! Why would you do that!?" Evelina shouted and looked down at her stained gown. Her favorite gown is ruined! Ruined! The wine stain will definetly be difficult to get rid off due to the gown's light color...

"Sorry lady Evelina... I didn't mean it! It's merely an accident... Don't be mad." Alice took another glass of wine and turned to Evelina, appearing distressed as she said, "Please forgive me lady Evelina. If you're mad then..."

Alice poured the wine on the skirt of her own dress.

"What..." Evelina was stunned. Before she knew it, people were crowding around her and Alice, watching them and excitedly gossiping.

"Did lady Evelina just scream at that young lady from the Illiya family?"

"I never expected lady Evelina, who's usually so shy and delicate, to shout so loudly..."

"I'm quite disappointed. I never expected such unruly behavior from lady Evelina..."

"It was merely an accident. Why did she have to scream at lady Alice that way?"

Evelina was completely dumbfounded at her hearing their whispers. She was the one who got wine poured on her most treasured gown! Why are they looking at her like she's the evildoer!?

"Evelina you little wench!" Rienne, who wasn't paying attention to the commotion before, rushed Alice in a hurry. She wasn't completely aware of what happened but all that was important now is that she can't let Evelina bully Alice!

"Alice, are you alright? What happened!?" Rienne questioned impatiently.

"It's my fault. I accidentally spilled wine on lady Evelina... Therefore It's only right for me to pour wine on myself!" Alice lowered her head in shame.

"What!? I have never heard such a thing!? It was an accident! Why should you do that to yourself!? Hmph! Why feel sorry for spilling wine on her? I personally take pleasure from it!" Rienne grabbed a glass of wine from the table by them and splashed it all over Evelina's head.

"Ahh!" Evelina screamed. Her body shuddered as the cold wine was dumped all over her.

"...." The hall immediately quietened down after gasping.

Rienne's hatred towards Evelina wasn't hidden at all but no one expected her to do such an act...!

No one knew how proud duchess Balloria is of her daughter at this moment. Meanwhile duke Balloria bowed his head and sighed. His daughter truly takes after his wife...

"How could you!" Evelina is almost completely soaked. Her hair was dripping with wine and her gown was wet! She has never been treated so horribly all her life!

"What? Which young man are you going to seduce to help you this time?" Rienne crossed her arms and glared at the kneeling young lady with a gaze made of disdain.

"Lady Rienne, it was really my fault! Don't treat lady Evelina this way..." Alice took out a handkerchief and knelt beside Evelina to wipe her dripping wet blonde hair. As she carefully "helped'' Evelina, she whispered into her ears.

"B*tch, you murdered my brother. You think I was just gonna stand aside and let you off?"

Evelina's pupils shrank and shivers ran down her spine. Alice's voice was much colder than before. It gave off an unsettling feeling in one's heart.

"Don't help her, Alice!" Rienne pulled Alice up and had a maid take her away to change.

"Eve!" Alex ran out of the crowd and covered Evelina with his coat. He helped her up and looked at Rienne with disgust.

"How dare you! What did my sister even do!? Lady Rienne, you can't just bully my sister just because you dislike her!" He scolded, disregarding the eyes of the nobles closely watching him with anticipation and ridicule.

"Oh? Scolding me on my own birthday? Sir Alex, did you forget this is the Balloria estate and not your Skyler estate? This is my territory. What I say, goes." Rienne gave two nearby guards a look, "Sir Alex had disrespected me on my own birthday and had disrupted my birthday celebration, he must be punished! Drag him out and lock him with the horses! He will only be released when my party ends!"

The two guards hesitantly restrained Alex's arms. Alex struggled fiercely but his efforts were futile. He couldn't free himself from the two guards.

"Duke Balloria, that is my son! Your daughter has no right to punish him! Stop this at once!" Duke Skyler clenched his teeth and ordered Duke Balloria. Duke Balloria was pulled into a dilemma and his mind was aching. He only made a choice once his dear wife cast him a cold glare, causing him to cave in.

"Ahem! Ahem! Your son did shout at my eldest daughter. Duke Skyler, do give me some face." Duke Balloria coughed and gave the duke an awkward glance.

"You!" Veins popped out on duke Skyler's forehead and he stormed off to vent his anger and frustrations.

"Rienne, you should entertain their highnesses. They did attend your birthday. You mustn't ignore them." Adrian whispered and advised his twin older sister.

As if she didn't hear him, Rienne didn't respond to him at all. She was too overwhelmed with excitement and joy to pay attention to anyone right now. She had successfully humiliated Evelina and that annoyingly overprotective brother of her's. This is the best birthday ever!

Angelina sighed. Rienne didn't even pay to mind her loving and worried younger brother... Is she not aware of how lucky she is to have such a caring brother?

"Rienne, you should entertain their highnesses. They did attend your birthday. You mustn't ignore them." Angelina repeated Adrian's words.

"Oh yes, of course! Broad-minded as always Lina! I will listen to you and do as you say!" Rienne immediately broke away from her wandering mind and nodded like a rattle to Angelina's wise words. She skipped away to find the imperial children whilst ignoring the guest's gazes.

"..." Adrian dejectedly hung his head. His sister is so cruel...

"Don't be discouraged. Rienne's just...distracted. I'm sure she's aware of how much you care for her, sir Adrian." Angelina patted his back.

"Thank you for your words, lady Angelina." Adrian felt slightly better and restored the smile on his face.

Angelina chuckled. It's good that Rienne has such a good brother. With Rienne's temperament, only people like Adrian can bear her...

Angelina peeked at the harmonious looking duke and duchess Balloria and moved her gaze away after a moment.

Angelina wanted to leave the hall to find the duchess but a hand reached out and stopped her. She didn't even need to think that hard to guess who it was.

"What is it, Chase?" Angelina impatiently turned around and looked at the handsome young man, whom she had avoided recently. Whenever they attended the same event, he would always try to talk to her but she would always either walk away or ignore him. Speaking to him is just too awkward and painful.

Facing his amethyst eyes would only bring back horrible memories...

His eyes sank when he heard her indifferent tone but he somewhat expected it. He sighed, "Please stop avoiding me, Lilith. I really don't know how to talk to you these days..."

"Then don't." She coldly interrupted before he could speak another word.

"Lilith..." His heart was crushed and lungs torn. He can't believe that cold and piercing gaze used to look at him with admiration and... Love. He didn't want their relationship to stay in this awkward stalemate. He didn't want the last memory of her in his mind to be her chilly and pained eyes. He wanted to make it up to her... No matter how impossible it might be.

"Please let go of my hand. This behavior of your's could potentially creat troublesome rumors about myself." Angelina shook her palm in an attempt to free her hand from his grasp. But he held her hand firmly. Only after a moment of silence did he reluctantly let go.

He watched as she turned away and left without even looking back once.

Angelina searched but couldn't find duchess Beatrice. But she wasn't worried. She had a guess in her heart what the duchess was doing and whom she was with. Beatrice's family, the Ordelines are not in the event hall with the other noble guests. They're most likely with her.

The Ordeline family is a count family and they have always been very private. They were quite influential before but their power and wealth had been slowly draining away in the past few years. Everyone knew the family wasn't doing as well as before. And the nobles didn't even try lending a hand. They loved kicking rival families down when they were at their weakest. Now the aristocrats are merely waiting for their downfall...

Angelina returned to the event hall and helped Rienne entertain the two princes and young princess. Elizabeth was as cheery as usual. She got along with Rienne quite well.

The crown prince, as expected, behaved just like the rumors. Quiet, cold, polite, and couldn't take his head out of books. The most he would do was nod and respond with a few words.

Angelina found the second prince quite... Peculiar. He was outgoing and friendly but all he talked about was either reptiles or bugs. Angelina felt slightly uncomfortable speaking to him, though that may sound rude of her. She was merely too disturbed with the discussion of a cockroach's intestines...

Angelina wanted to enjoy Rienne's birthday more but was forced to leave along with the other members of the Skyler family.

Inside the carriage, Angelina furrowed her brows and restrained herself from vomiting due to the dreadful smell exuding from Alex.

Even Evelina couldn't stand it. She had to cover her nose with a handkerchief to avoid suffocating to death.

"...." Alex's face was as red as a monkey's butt. His family avoided him like the plague and sat as far away as they could. How could he not feel embarrassed!?

"Brother, look at elder sister's face. She clearly is not comfortable and neither are we. Do put us into consideration and sit somewhere else. Perhaps outside...with the coachmen." Angelina looked at Alex with disgust and said.

Her words caused Alex's red face to darken. He looked to his darling sister Eve and his father. They didn't show an objection...

Thus he was forced to sit outside along with the coachmen...

As soon as the carriage stopped in front of the mansion, Alex rushed to get inside and take a long bath.

Angelina couldn't stop herself from laughing when witnessing the scene of him running in like a wild dog.

Shortly after, she saw the duchess slowly enter and went to one of the mansion's grand balconies. The silver-haired duchess's silhouette looked very lonely when bathed in moonlight.

"Mother, you seem troubled." Angelina stood beside the duchess and showed a concerned face. What a pity. The duchess is an extremely beautiful woman but the gloomy air around her made it almost unnoticeable.

The duchess seemed to be eager to speak and replied quickly, "Lina, I don't know if I can stay here. My position as duchess is unstable and yet...they don't want me to leave. I don't know what to do..."

She wanted to leave. Beatrice knows she can't hold onto her status as duchess firmly anymore. So why should she stay? But her family forbade her from divorcing. She was pulled away by them before and was given a harsh scolding. They instructed her to focus on working to gain the duke's favor to help stable her position. But she's been trying for years and nothing worked. Why are they still insisting?

She felt it was all ridiculous but she failed to speak her mind.

"Well, if father does have plans on replacing you, I doubt he can find a woman more suitable to stand in the position of duchess than you, mother." Angelina knew the duchess wasn't in a very optimistic state and decided to give her some encouragement.

But she was met with an unexpected response.

"Lina, I'm not as good as you think... I'm a horrible mother." The duchess bent down and held onto the balcony's railing, her eyes reddened as she fought back tears.

"What? Mother, you're a wonderful mother already. Supportive, understanding, and kind. That's enough." Angelina raised her brows with puzzlement.

"No, I failed to do a mother's most important task. Protecting my children. But I can't even do that..."

"..." Angelina wanted to ask questions but she remained silent and chose to listen obediently.

"Eve and Lex, they both hate me." The duchess uttered these words with great difficulty.

She could never forget that moment, years ago, when her two children stared at her with resentment and hatred lingering in their eyes.