"Oh my! I'm soooo sorry, your grace!" I finally spoke up after another moment of silence clasping my mouth with my hand to feign shock.

Though it was more to cover the smile of amusement playing on my lips. I couldn't help it, he looked like a pissed cat soaked in red wine, it was just too cute.

But it was understandable that he was mad, Anartis hated the scent of wine, just the sight of it made his face get all twisted. Which was exactly how I hoped he'd feel about me after today.

"My foot must've caught onto my dress-" I let out a gasp of surprise, taking a step back as I felt some kind of liquid substance splash on me when I realized that it was wine.

Anartis probably felt pissed but knew he couldn't use magic to torment me so he wanted to get back at me by dumping his glass of wine at me as well.

"Oh..." Silence once again ran through the air as I hung my head low, before the duke and Avis's eyes widened when I spilled the wine, but now their jaw dropped open too.

"How very considerate of you, your grace!" I suddenly exclaimed clasping my cheek with my hand just as the duke was about to barge into the terrance.

'This infuriating little sorcerer! I can't believe I thought he looked cute for even a second!' But I couldn't even say anything since I'm the one who started it, might as well use this to my advantage.

"... Huh?" Anartis blinked at me as he was once more thrown into a dilemma of confusion.

"You did that because you wanted us to match, right?! We weren't able to discuss it before since your schedule is always so tight but I've heard couples usually go to such occasions in matching attire!" I then began spewing some random bullshit and somehow made it sound believable.

"No... I-" "Aww! You're just too kind, you're grace!" I cut Anartis off as hus grip tightened on the glass hearing all this nonsense causing the glass to crack, well, damn.

"Well, then! We should go show everyone how great our relationship is! That's ought to help your reputation!" I clasped onto Anartos's arm as I dragged him out of the terrance.

'Sadly, I doubt it'll help your personality. Whatever, I've still got a whole lot of entertainment left for you today, Anartis! Let's see just how long you'll be able to keep that poker face of yours!'

"It's time for the dance anyway!" I added a moment later as I swung the door open while the duke and Avis stuck their bodies to the wall next to the door in a terrible attempt to hide.

"W-wait! My lady!" Anartis called out as I dragged him to the center of the dance floor, he was probably thinking, "Is she trying to put us in the spotlight?", and yes, yes I was.

Whispers and mutters of surprise and confusion erupted from the crowd which soon turned into hushed comments of belittlement and insults. Though they were only directed towards me.

No sane person would ever dare insult him, the second grand duke of the empire, the tyrant who tortures the one he is to interrogate with a poker face, and the master of the magic tower.

"Let's dance, your grace!" I called out cheerfully as I held his hands in mine and began twirling like an absolute idiot with no knowledge of what was considered a waltz and what wasn't.

Well, that part was kinda true but that's only because of how this wasn't even my world or my body and I was in no position whatsoever to even think I would ever need to learn how to waltz.

"Wait! My lady! This isn't considered-" I only twirled faster cutting him off as I dragged him along with me before suddenly letting go of him.

"Oh my! Are you alright?!" I rushed to Anartis who had just fallen flat on his butt.

I could barely contain my laughter at this point, but Ardeat had helped me prepare myself for this through intense training.

"I'm sorry my hand slipped, I couldn't hold onto you at such a speed with such slender and weak hands." I apologized with a tearful expression on my face as I hung my head low.

One thing I did learn in my world, however, was how to act innocent in all kinds of situations under all kinds of pressure.

Like when I  smacked the hell out of my little brother and he snitched.

Also for all the times I came to school late or got in a fistfight with some jerk in the hallway and had to put the blame on the other individual.

Was it a very noble trait? No. Was it a useful one? Yes.

"Here! I'll help you up!" I than put my beaming smile back on my face as I held my hand out to him while getting up.

It was clear he didn't want to but Anartis still reluctantly grabbed hold of my reach-out hand as I yanked him up to his feet.

"Oh, no! You've ruined your clothes!" I gasped as Anartis simply sighed at my observation, didn't I know that it's best to keep quiet at times like is?

Well, it's not like anyone would say anything to him, but still. Did I not care about my reputation? No. No, I didn't.

"I'm fine. It's nothing to worry about-" "We must ho wash it off right this instant!" I cut Anartis off leaning closer with my brows furrowed in concern.

"... Pardon?" Anartis blinked, once again taken by surprise and confusion as I locked his arm with me and began dragging him away.

"Come on!" I yanked him out of the palace towards the East garden.

I was originally going to do this right after spilling the wine on him, but then he did an uno reverse on me so I couldn't.

"We have to wash it off!" I declared as I shoved Anartis into the huge fountain built in the center of the garden.

"Ah! You're soaked! I'm sorry!" I apologized for the hundredth time today as Anartis sat up running his hand through his hair to push his bangs out of the way.

He wasn't even bothering to get out since he was already drenched. He instead decided to spend that energy on glaring at me.

Not that I had issue with since he still looked so horribly charming even while being drenched frowning, and with wine staining his outfit.

"Tsk, my lady. You don't seem to be feeling well today. You should go home." Anartis sighed finally stepping out of the fountain.

"Oh, please don't worry about me. I'm absolutely fine!" I dismissed his suggestion once again grabbing his wrist as I began dragging him towards the garden.

"Then, since we're already here, why don't we go explore the palace garden?!" I suggested with a bright smile, I was enjoying this way too much.

But I couldn't help but enjoy seeing him get so irritated at my tactics.

Anartis hated the scent of wine, I spilled wine on him. And even though it annoyed me that he also spilled it on me after that.

I guess it wasn't all that bad since I was already dressed in everything he hates.

I twirled and dropped him. And though he might not have a particular dislike to that. It was of course incredibly rude and no one would like to be dropped.

And then I shoved him into the place fountain. Again, he might not have a particular dislike to that, but it didn't mean he wouldn't be offended by it.

But it seems that he's reached the limit of his patience now.

"Lady Sovine!" Anartis called out in a rather irritated and aggressive tone as he ripped his hand out of my grip, which was completely understandable.

'Yes! Now, please hate me and break off the engagement!'

"Please go home! If you stay here like that any longer than we are both bound to get sick!" Anartis declared grabbing my wrist, now I was the one being dragged.

"Huh...?" I was more surprised about the fact that he hadn't broken off the engagement off, with the BS I had just pulled.

Anyone would think that I'm absolutely nuts and hesitate to even linger near me anymore, much less be engaged to me.

Yet all he's going on about is me going home. Did I drop him too hard? Did the force of falling on his butt end up shaking his brain too hard?

"N-no, I'm really fine!" I reassured yanking my wrist back, unintentionally dragging him along.

"No, you are not! You are clearly sick, and if not physically, than mentally!" Anartis yanked my wrist back toward him, dragging me along.

"I said I'm not!" I yanked it back.

"Oh, please! I would've personally taken you to a physician if I could but since this is the royal palace. I cannot." Anartis yanked it back towards him.

"You're mistaken! I am simply very clumsy!" I gave him some measly excuse as I yanked my wrist back, once again slightly dragging him along.

"You must've hit your head somewhere and injured it then!" Anartis refused to give up as he yanked my hand towards him, dragging me along with him.

"I did not-" "What the hell is going on here?" A familiar voice suddenly called out causing both me and Anartis to turn to the individual in horror.

"Now, just why the hell is Anartis drenched like that, and why are you both playing tug of war with her arm?" And there stood, Avis, looking very pissed.

"Ah... Well, you see..." I trailed off trying to think of a suitable excuse for this situation.

"She needs to go home and get checked by a doctor!" And just as I had finally managed to think of an excuse, Anartis snitched.

"Yeah, I know. We had a doctor check on her recently but he said there was nothing wrong with her." Avis sighed like I had been eating away at his soul or something.

"Well, whatever. Sovine. It's time to go back." Avis informed causing me to glare at him.

"What? Already?" I grumbled, I couldn't leave yet! Anartis hadn't said he'd break off the engagement yet!

"Well, duh. You didn't expect us to let you walk around like that for the whole night, did you?" Avis raised a brow at me, eyeing my red stained dress.

"Yes, take her." Anartis nudged me forward towards Avis, well, this just meant that he was getting sick of me. So I didn't really mind it.

"Fine. Let's go." I sighed following Avis back to the carriage, it's not like I wasn't aware that it would probably take more than just one night to finish this.

I was still hoping that I'd be able to finish it off today though. It's not like I'm looking forward to staying in this engagement.

-----

"Haa... I can't believe you..." Luden sighed deeply, massaging his temple on the carriage ride home.

For whatever reason, they decided to ride in the same carriage as me on the ride home, now I knew that it was so they could insult me on my behavior.

"What were you thinking? What would you have done if his grace didn't hold back and just decided to kill you right there and then?" Luden lectured.

"It's fine, bro." Avis intervened resting his hand on Luden's shoulder.

"Let her do what she wants. She's been whining to us to kill her anyway. It's not like her death will do us any harm anyway." Avis didn't even glance at me for single moment before turning towards the window.

"But just so you know, we won't bother holding a funeral if you die." Avis added the next second, and it was starting to annoy me.

Sure, I already knew this family couldn't care less about what happened to Sovine or if she suddenly died one day. They might've even been happy.

And Sovine might've been fine with it, but I wasn't. If they couldn't care less if I died, why wouldn't they just save me the trouble and kill me already?

Did they enjoy seeing Sovine always fight so hard for their affection? Did they enjoy shutting her down? Belittling her?

What about me? Did they enjoy seeing me run around asking for them to just release me of this damn world already?

The duke seemed to have noticed that I was in a bad mood now considering how he turned from me to Avis with a frown on his face.

"Avis-" "Get out"

-----

"Did... She really just kick me out..?" And just like that Avis had been kicked out of the carriage in the middle of nowhere, in the dead of the night.

"..." The tension hanged heavy in the as the remaining two brothers and the duke stared at me dumbfounded.

But I on the other hand, was feeling amazing. How could I not? That jerk had it coming with all that shit he was spewing.

"Oh, please. He'll live, he's one of the most skilled knights of this empire after all, isn't he?" I rolled my eyes at their reactions to me kicking Avis out.

"Even so, Sovine. It's improper of the grand duke's daughter to act like this." Luden began lecturing me again, he was only acknowledging me as the grand duke's daughter now to get me to do as he wanted.

"Tsk, fine. You can join him if you're so worried." And just like that, Luden was also tossed out of the carriage.

"..." And he simply could not believe it.

To be continued...

Did you like it?? 🍟🍟

I did, this is by far my favorite chapter 😋