King Xander decided to celebrate Lord Eros's achievement as he won the first round.
"I promise to do better, next time." Said Prince Griffith. "For you."
"No, I'll win the second round." Interjected Prince Galician, "Am I right, your highness?"
She shrugged. She was then asked in front.
Mistress Geneva spoke, "Good evening everyone. This lovely night is a special one. But since the princess's suitor, Lord Eros won, I'd like to request a piano song played by the princess herself."
The concubine's gaze fell on her and she gritted her teeth.
Well, since she'd always escaped her classes, she wasn't the best pianist, even back in the real world, she has zero knowledge about that. In this novel, she's worse, and everyone in the palace knows that. Yet here is the concubine, making her lose face to the public.
The mistress smiled innocently, enjoying this scene. The concubine knows exactly her weakness and knows when to play her cards well.
Princess Asteria could feel her father and brother's worried gaze.
She couldn't say no. No. Not ever. She's too competitive and prideful to even back down from this.
Some of the noble ladies who watched let out a chuckle and she stopped and glared at each of them, "You want your fingers to be cut off?"
And they were silenced at her question, afraid of her threat.
"Language, dear daughter." Said her father.
Her brother Apollo stood up and caught everyone's attention, attempting to save her face. "I believe the princess is too tired-"
"No." She cut his sentence off, "I'll
play it. It's what the CONCUBINE requests, right?" Asteria emphasized the word concubine, making sure that Mistress Geneva is aware of her place.
No matter what kind of antics Mistress Geneva will do, be it an attention seeker, she will not become an empress.
The princess went into the piano and breathed deeply, feeling all the stares at her. Slowly but gracefully, she let her hands feel on the keys of the piano, before starting to click on random tunes.
She cringed, hearing how off-key she was yet she continued, determined to finish this and hoping that some miracle might happen.
She paused to catch a breath. It wasn't even hot yet she is sweating profusely.
She spotted her brothers cheering for her by the side and she started again.
But now, her playing was good enough already. She furrowed her eyebrows, happy at the same time curious how she got so talented now.
Must be a miracle?
She looked at the crowd and the smile wiped out from her face the moment she saw Lord Eros, beside the king, smirking at her as he hold a glass of wine.
Right. Of course, he's the dark mage. He could easily manipulate or make a spell and make her good at playing the piano.
Everyone who was watching, has their mouth agape, including her brothers and of course, Mistress Geneva who was rolling her eyes at her.
Lord Eros instantly approached her at the center and silently joined her, making the melody more beautiful.
The crowd instantly applauded them, mesmerized by their performance.
She smiled fakery at Lord Eros, "This is your spell, isn't it?"
Lord Eros nodded, "Yes, I won't deny that."
"Stop it, instantly." She ordered, but Lord Eros scoffed.
"Why? Can't you see how jealous they are right now and wishes to be you?"
She looked around to see the noble ladies who laughed at her earlier were now full of jealousy.
Baroness Cortez, one of the women she hated, was now watching Lord Eros with a dreamy sigh.
She raised her eyebrows and gave the baroness a smirk to tease her.
Princess Asteria then proceeded to let Lord Eros's long and beautiful fingers guide her to the piano keys, now giving up on complaining. They stayed in that position for a few minutes, quietly sitting at each other by the piano with everyone watching them.
As soon as they were finished, everyone came to Lord Eros to greet him, and her family went to her.
"When did you learn how to play the piano like that?" Prince Ares was the first one to taunt her.
She just snorted at her brother, as she cocked her head to the concubine mockingly.
"So? What can you say, Mistress Geneva?"
Mistress Geneva averted her gaze to the side and pursed her lips, "You played..it well, I suppose."
Tsk. See? That attention-seeker concubine never stood a chance against her. She then tried to go to Lord Eros, who was still swarmed with the nobles greeting him, including the ladies.
"You played it well, Lord Eros." Said Baroness Cortez.
She saw how they tried to flirt with Lord Eros, as Lord Eros was just smiling at them charmingly and nodding.
She scoffed, wanting to attack them and say "he is mine" but she stopped herself, not wanting to come as someone who was jealous. That will only make Lord Eros's ego boost and she's ashamed to let that happen.
And jealous? Her? No! Never! She's Princess Asteria for goodness sake!
Prince Griffith and Prince Galician came to keep her company soon after.
But the whole night passed with Lord Eros chatting with the ladies, and Princess Asteria just wanted to leave that hall right there and then.
She was going to the door when Lord Eros instantly blocked her way, "Princess, want to see Red? Let-"
She rolled her eyes, "Shut up. I don't want to see you."
He chuckled heartily at that, but his eyes were twinkling in delight, "I can see that you're jealous, Princess." He said. "I must say, I am loving this…I want to make you jealous more…"
She clicked her tongue, "What? Who are you to make me jealous? You're just-"
"Keep denying it." He stated, "But my eyes are only for you."
She snorted. If Lord Eros were in the real world, he would most definitely be a f*ck boy. And she's 100% he would pick up all the ladies because of his words alone.
The orchestra played and Lord Eros extended his hand, "Want to dance?"
She shook her head, "Hmm, no thanks. I'll have to retire.
He pouted, "But this is a celebration that the king held for my achievement. Please, princess?"
She sighed, "Fine."
And he pulled her to the dance floor. They danced for a few minutes until the princess felt like her shoes were killing her.
The night ended with the ladies gushing over about Lord Eros, and she knew that they found their prey to hunt on.
Since Vita is still at the banquet hall and helps the other royal maids, Princess Asteria has to walk alone to her room. She has to pass by the river and she stopped, feeling like she was being followed.
Turning around, she sighed, seeing that it was just Mistress Geneva.
"Mistress Geneva didn't expect I'll bump you in here." She said fiercely, grabbing her dress, "Or do you have other plans as you are trying to follow me to my room?"
"Princess, how lovely to see you here." The concubine replied.
Princess Asteria nodded, "Why do you keep on showing your horrible face to me? I thought we hate each other?" Since they are alone now, what's the use of acting nice right?
Mistress Geneva just smiled at her as if she was keeping something important and then said in one breath, "I've been feeling something off about your suitor."
"Oh, you mean Prince Galician?" Really, having a useless talk with this woman felt like she was wasting her precious time.
"No. Lord Eros. I did some digging and found something shocking." She opened her fan and giggled, "He's Lord Eros, the dark mage…isn't he?"
Princess Asteria blinked, her throat becoming dry as she heard that. This cunning b*tch, of course, she'll know this..: she has some powerful backing behind the shadows…
Princess Asteria recovered herself, "You mean you pried on his private matter? Who are you to do that?"
The concubine cocked an eyebrow, "You don't seem surprised, princess. Is it that you already know his real identity?"