Andromeda's tone dripped with scorn, her eyes glinting with deep malice. "A Knowledge Fair, Lady Sylvette? How quaint. Are you so desperate to prove your worth that you'll challenge a mere child?"
Sylvette's composure had completely shattered. This child had pushed her to the edge of fury. Her voice was laced with a fierce determination to topple Andromeda's arrogance, noble bloodline or not. "I see no child before me, Princess Andromeda. I see a student who has much to learn, and perhaps a taste of humility is just what you need."
Andromeda's laughter filled the room, a sinister melody that seemed to echo with cruelty. Her words were a venomous taunt, and she tilted her head slightly, her charm concealing the danger beneath. "Humility? From someone like you? You, who couldn't even secure a respectable position in your own family? It's almost pitiable."
Sylvette's patience was wearing thin, but she refused to yield to a child's barbs. She struggled to keep her voice steady despite the mounting tension. She had raised her voice earlier, but now it was irrelevant. Her only goal was to break through the armor of this arrogant young noble. "Princess Andromeda, you may mock me all you want, but remember this—it's not just knowledge that makes a scholar. It's the wisdom to use that knowledge wisely."
Andromeda's grin widened, and she blinked slowly, as if finding this truly amusing. "Wisdom? Oh, Lady Sylvette, I'm afraid that's something you lack. But don't worry, I'll be more than happy to teach you a lesson or two. In fact, I can't wait to see you bow down before me in front of the entire academy."
Sylvette's patience finally snapped, and her voice was seething with anger. "You underestimate me, Princess Andromeda. I accept your challenge, and I'll make sure you regret ever crossing paths with me. You'll bow before the crowd, not me, and admit your arrogance."
Andromeda's eyes gleamed with a dark intensity as she leaned in closer, her voice a dangerous whisper. She felt like she finally had Sylvette in her grasp. "Oh, Lady Sylvette, you have no idea what you've just signed up for. I can't wait to see you humiliated, groveling at my feet. You will not only acknowledge my superiority, but you will also beg for mercy. I declare, after I win, you will become my slave."
The room seemed to grow colder with the weight of their animosity, and the once-confident scholar, Sylvette LeBlanc, now faced a daunting challenge. It threatened not only her reputation but her very freedom. Andromeda, on the other hand, reveled in the power she had over her new tutor, her eyes gleaming with a darkness that seemed to have no bounds.
As the tension in the room escalated, Lady Sylvette LeBlanc couldn't contain her frustration any longer. Her face contorted with irritation, and she leaned in towards Andromeda, her voice dripping with scorn as she slammed her hands on the table, "Oh, little Princess Andromeda Ruelle Bethel, you truly have no idea what you've gotten yourself into. When I'm through with you, you won't even be able to stand tall. Not even the grand duke can save you now!"
Andromeda, never one to back down from a challenge, retorted venomously, her voice laced with malice, "Is that a promise, Lady Sylvette? I can't wait to see you try."
With that, Sylvette, fuming with anger, abruptly left the room. Andromeda, triumphant in her ability to provoke her tutor, smirked as Sylvette stormed away.
Once Sylvette had departed, Andromeda took a deep breath to compose herself. She knew that her next move required subtlety and manipulation. Delicately, she poked at her eyes, forcing them to water. She wanted to appear as though she had been mistreated and humiliated during the lesson.
Outside the study, Dennis, her loyal maid, caught sight of Sylvette exiting the room in a huff. Concerned, she approached the frustrated tutor and asked, "Lady Sylvette, is everything all right?"
Sylvette, still seething from her encounter with Andromeda, rudely replied, "It's none of your concern, Dennis. Just leave me be."
Dennis, taken aback by Sylvette's harsh response, watched as the tutor stormed away. Worried about what had transpired, she decided to check on Princess Andromeda.
Entering the study, Dennis found Andromeda sitting on the chair, her eyes red and watery. Concerned for the young princess, Dennis rushed to her side, fetching a glass of water and a handkerchief from her pocket. She couldn't believe what she saw. Just what in the world had happened? It completely slipped her mind how suspicious Andromeda's orders were earlier. Instead, all she could see was the princess miserably sniffling in the chair.
"Princess Andromeda, what happened in here? Are you okay, Princess?" Dennis asked, her voice filled with genuine worry as she stood near the chair, putting the glass in front of Andromeda, who finally looked up, her beautiful hazel eyes red and filled with tears. Her little nose was pink, and she seemed to be in pain.
Andromeda, her voice quivering, replied with feigned vulnerability, "It was awful, Dennis. Lady Sylvette was so cruel to me. She insulted me and made me cry."
Every word felt like it was thrown at her with such force. How dare that woman treat the princess with disdain, especially when they had been nothing but benevolent?
Dennis, now furious on Andromeda's behalf, comforted the princess and said, "I'll make sure this reaches the Duchess. You shouldn't have to endure such treatment, my lady."
Andromeda, her eyes still brimming with tears, subtly manipulated Dennis into taking action. "Thank you, Dennis," she said, her voice trembling as she used the handkerchief to wipe her tears, "Please, let Head Maid Mari Glen know about this. I trust she will inform my mother."
Andromeda, her voice filled with a chilling, manipulative tone, continued, "Make sure Lady Sylvette faces the consequences of her actions, Dennis. She started to talk about LeBlanc and even challenged me. It was so scary. I think Lady Sylvette holds a grudge against me, now." Her voice held the innocence of a child who knew nothing of malice of adults and it only made Dennis furious but she remained composed to be not rude in front of the Princess.
Dennis, unaware of the depth of Andromeda's manipulation, nodded in agreement. "Princess, you don't have to worry! Lady Sylvette will not get away with this. Please, let me help you get back to your bedroom."
Andromeda, still maintaining her facade of vulnerability, nodded weakly, "Yes, please, Dennis."
Dennis gently picked up the frail princess in her arms, cradling her with care. The soft rustle of Andromeda's gown and the delicate fragrance of her perfume lingered in the air as they walked. The corridor seemed to stretch on forever as she carried her precious charge.
Once they arrived, the room enveloped them in its hushed ambiance. The muted sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting gentle patterns on the floor. Dennis carefully set Andromeda down on the bed, the mattress yielding to her form with a slight creak.
Andromeda, pretending to be grateful for Dennis's support, managed a faint smile as she said, "Thank you, Dennis."
Dennis only gently smiled but the shadow over her face didn't go away. Her heart was restless and she could be at peace until she had informed Mariglen.
Dennis, always attentive to the needs of the princess, helped her change into a more comfortable, lovely white dress. The fabric was cool and soft against Andromeda's skin, a stark contrast to the tension that had gripped the room earlier. The room was filled with the gentle sounds of fabric brushing against fabric as the change was made. Dennis made sure everything was just right, from the arrangement of the pillows to the alignment of Andromeda's dress.
She lingered for a moment, adjusting a stray lock of Andromeda's hair, and said, "Rest well, Princess. I'll inform Head Maid Mariglen about the incident, and we'll make sure Lady Sylvette faces the consequences." Andromeda only softly nodded, looking innocent and conflicted.
As the door closed behind Dennis, the softness of the sheets enveloping her like a cloud. The room was now awash with a sense of relief and quiet victory. Her plan had worked flawlessly, and a sinister grin played upon her lips. It was a grin that carried the weight of years of hatred and resentment, a dark and twisted culmination of her deepest emotions.
Her thoughts swirled in a chaotic dance, like a whirlpool of madness in the depths of her mind. She remembered the times when she had been hunted down in the past, each memory sharpened to a razor's edge. Every slight, every betrayal, every name that had contributed to her downfall was etched in her memory like a macabre masterpiece. It was as if the very fabric of her being had been woven from the threads of vengeance and insanity.
But now, she had returned from the abyss of death, reborn with a newfound purpose. The taste of sweet revenge lingered on her tongue, and the knowledge that no one would be able to stop her drove her deeper into the depths of her own madness. She reveled in the chaos of her thoughts, relishing in the idea of dismantling those who had wronged her, piece by agonizing piece.
In the quiet solitude of her room, Andromeda's laughter echoed, a chilling and unhinged sound that sent shivers down her own spine. She knew that the path she had chosen was a treacherous one, but she welcomed the darkness with open arms. For in the shadows, she found her true self—a charming villainess with a heart consumed by the flames of vengeance and madness.