chapter 25

Tu Nan listened to the whispers around her. Bella stomped her foot beside her, her face twisted with jealousy.

“Beautiful lady,” the Prince seemed entranced as well. He walked down the stairs straight to the young girl. “May I have the honor of a dance?”

“Of course.” Cinderella’s cheeks flushed with shyness as she smiled and placed her hand in his.

The musicians began to play.

The Prince and Cinderella danced gracefully in the center of the Ball, while the other girls watched with envy but could do nothing.

Only Tu Nan kept a wary eye on her surroundings.

“Who exactly is that woman who suddenly appeared?” Bella clenched her handkerchief and looked at Cinderella with resentment, never once imagining that she was actually the ‘Cinderella’ she had always looked down upon.

Tu Nan, meanwhile, eyed the various delicacies laid out on both sides of the hall, her head bowed in thought.

“Sister, don’t tell me you’re hungry at a time like this?” Bella shot her a glance and asked mockingly.

Tu Nan extended her left index finger, dipped it into the cream on top of a piece of sponge cake, and replied without much expression, “I am a little hungry. Would you like a piece?”

Bella rolled her eyes and ignored her.

Layla and Bella’s father was a minor noble. Although his power had long since waned, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse, and he retained some reputation.

No matter how much the Prince liked Cinderella, he could not dance with her alone.

This Ball, though nominally for the Prince to choose a bride, also had to observe social niceties.

When the music ended, the Prince reluctantly let go of Cinderella and approached Layla and Bella.

He hesitated in front of the two, paused at the sight of Bella’s swollen cheek, then turned to Tu Nan.

“Beautiful girl, may I invite you to dance?” the Prince offered his hand.

Quite polite.

Tu Nan, of course, could not refuse.

She extended her right hand and lightly placed it in the Prince’s.

Tu Nan did not know the aristocratic ballroom dances, but fortunately, her character was supposed to be uneducated, ignorant, foolish, and mean, so she was perfectly at ease-and even smiling-while stepping on the Prince’s feet several times.

The Prince’s handsome face twisted briefly in pain.

“You are a daughter of the Lester Family? I don’t think I know your name yet.” The Prince was good-tempered; though she stepped on him several times, he showed no sign of anger and spoke to her kindly.

“My name is Layla.” The less said the better, Tu Nan decided to be cautious.

“What a lovely name.” The Prince smiled.

Tu Nan lowered her eyes and pretended to smile shyly.

They continued to dance in silence. As the music drew to a close, just as Tu Nan thought nothing unexpected would happen, the grand chandelier in the center of the hall suddenly crashed down without warning.

Many people were still standing beneath the chandelier, oblivious to the impending disaster. Before they could react, the huge fixture smashed into their bodies. There wasn’t even time to scream; silence followed immediately.

The hall was plunged into sudden darkness.

“Ah-” terrified screams rose one after another.

The Prince’s hand still rested on Tu Nan’s waist. He released her for a second, then quickly drew her close again. Holding her in his arms, his voice took on a serious tone: “Don’t be afraid. With me here, nothing will happen to you.”

If Tu Nan were just an ordinary girl, she would probably have fallen in love with the Prince right then.

The Prince’s chest was broad, and should have felt reassuring, but Tu Nan could not help the goosebumps that spread over her skin.
Who knew what was holding her now.

In the darkness, a thick scent of blood lingered at the tip of her nose, carrying an ominous undertone.

“Everyone, stay quiet, do not make a fuss-” the Prince shouted loudly in the darkness, “Stay where you are, the guards will handle everything at once.”

Tu Nan firmly remembered the Rule, not daring to speak loudly or move around. She could only stand stiffly, blocked in place by the Prince.

Soon, the guards brought in candles, and light returned to the hall.

Only then did Tu Nan manage to break free from the Prince’s embrace. She looked at the Prince again, her pupils shrinking slightly.

When the Prince had invited her to dance, just in case, she had smeared some cream on the Prince’s waist while he wasn’t paying attention. But now, the Prince’s waist was spotlessly clean-there was nothing there.

That crystal chandelier had killed a commoner girl. Her body was almost pierced through by the sharp crystals, and her pale face, with its wide eyes, had lost all light, her expression still twisted in pain from the moment before death.

A large pool of blood spread beneath her.

“Poor girl.”

Tu Nan heard the “Prince” beside her say this, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he ordered the guards to carry away her corpse.

The guards moved quickly, taking away both the crystal chandelier and the body.

When those crystal decorations were pulled from the girl’s body, they were a bewitching red, as if soaked in blood.

The bloodstains on the floor were soon cleaned up. Aside from the faint scent of blood in the air, it was as if nothing had happened here at all.

“Layla…”

The “Prince” finally looked at her, a smile of indiscernible meaning on his lips. “You weren’t frightened, were you?”

Tu Nan’s face was pale, her whole body on the verge of collapse, her voice trembling violently. “Oh God, I was terrified, Your Highness. I think I need to rest for a while. Please forgive me for not being able to keep you company.”

“I’m very sorry that such a thing happened,”

The “Prince” took her hand and pressed a kiss as cold as ice to the back of it.

She shivered.

Its body temperature was frighteningly low, not at all what a normal person’s should be.

Fortunately, it seemed to have little interest in her and soon let her go.

Tu Nan feared he would change his mind, so she curtsied and hurried away at once.

She quickly found Bella, who was still shaken in a corner.

“God, did you see that?” Bella’s face was pale. “How could something like this happen? I was terrified.”

Layla stood beside Bella, quickly scanning the surroundings, but did not see Cinderella anywhere.

Just now, Layla’s attention had been entirely on the Prince beside her, so she hadn’t had a chance to pay attention to Cinderella, nor did she notice when she disappeared.

Where had Cinderella gone?

Had she left in fright, or was there another reason?

“Sister, I’m talking to you,” Bella said discontentedly.

“Did you shout just now?” Layla asked, only caring about this question.

“Of course, I was scared to death.” Bella patted her chest. “Luckily it was just a commoner who died. What would I do if I had been hurt?”

Layla frowned.

This was the second time Bella had broken the Rule, yet she had not been punished at all.

She was quite certain that these scene-related Rules were meant for everyone, not just her.

Could it be that the time hadn’t come yet?

“What on earth are you thinking about?” Bella was furious at her lack of response. “I’m going to tell Father that you don’t care about me at all!”