"You said you didn't wish for her to die, right? You obviously won't wish to die, so why are you hesitant?" I asked, unable to wipe the grin off my face. The murmurs grew louder which only increased the grin. "I'll count to ten, Lady Batch. Oh, sorry, I mean I'll count to ten, Batch. If you don't drink it I'll hand you over to Percando's knight, and believe me they know how to torture people. It's your choice," I said and she flinched spilling a little. It's funny how I only realized now that we always had knights following us around except when I go on my lone adventures.
"Eight. The more you spill it the more your time reduces. Seven," I counted loving the torture I was putting her through. "Six."
She kept crying, but I didn't really care, I saw her mother crying from my peripheral view, but I didn't feel any remorse, if I didn't know and Lily took the poison, what would everyone say? They'd probably make a fuss and start a pointless investigation while Lily was already dead.
"Five," I continued. If Batch didn't take my place as favorite she'd have been one of my bullies.
"I'm sorry," she begged.
"Sorry for what? You didn't do anything," I said.
"Please," she begged, but I was enjoying it too much to stop, it's not like I'd actually let her drink the poison.
"Rose," I heard Lily's voice and turned to see her crying. What's wrong with her?
"Please stop," she begged. Say what now? I walked to Lily and said,
"Lily, you believed them when they said I did it, didn't you? Why didn't you cry and beg? Why didn't you say I didn't?" Lily's gasp only made my blood boil more, I'm embarrassed that this girl is my elder sister. "If you can't bear to watch, just f… just go," I said, turning my attention back to Batch.
"If you won't drink it, should I?" I asked, and her eyes shot up to meet mine. Batch stared at me in shock, but she didn't dare say a word. "I mean, you didn't wish for Lily's death, right? Does that mean you wished for mine?" I asked and she gulped taking a step back. I took the cup from her hand and brought it to my lips. Five, four, three, two, one. No one said a word, no one stopped me, Lily didn't cry and beg. Should I just drink it to prove a point to all of them?
I laughed out loud and threw the glass on the floor beside Batch's leg, close enough for a glass to injure her. I saw the blood and laughed in satisfaction. I turned to Lily, who just watched wide-eyed without saying a word. Did your tank run dry? Or do you really want me dead?
"Hypocrite," I said and walked away. Everyone cleared from my path because I'm sure they knew that I could punch someone with the way I was feeling. "Go and arrest Lady Batch Green for trying to poison a member of the Percando family," I ordered the knights who were waiting for us outside. They didn't ask questions they just followed orders, it's a good thing I said "member" that way they'd assume its Lily since I look fine.
I got into the carriage but told the coachman to wait for Lily, she came a few minutes later and sat quietly opposite me. I didn't say a word, I just walked out the minute we got home. I made a mental note to ask the duke why his ancestors choose to build their house in such a secluded place.
I walked to my room quietly and prepared a bath for myself, it felt so nice. I lied on my bed beside Poppy, who was fast asleep as always. I touched his scales and smiled.
"Poppy, you won't believe how cool I was today," I said. "You know, Poppy, I sometimes wonder what I'd be doing now if all 'that' didn't happen," I said but got no response because he was asleep.
I stood up and walked outside to the balcony looking outside at the night view. It felt nice but I didn't feel nice. One teardrop, two tear drops, then a river of tears. I hate them all. I sat on the floor and crossed my knees to my chest and kept my head on it. I hate it here.
The next morning I woke up on my bed. When I woke up and walked to the bed was a distant memory. I sat up, feeling as sick as I was before.
"I hope its over," I said to myself standing up. A bath, food, sleep, that was all I had in mind and that was exactly what I did. And for the next two weeks my schedule remained that, but somewhere along the line rejecting Jupiter's letters joined in the daily plan.
"Another one?" I asked Millie as she walked in, reaching for one of my already prepared rejection letters.
"No, your father summoned you," she said.
"Oh, she has probably given up," I said, standing up.
"I hope so," Millie said.
I walked out and made my way to the grand duke's study, I don't go there often because… well, not really a fan of Dan's. I walked in and curtsied to the duke, he just nodded and continued his work. Okay? I was standing there for a few minutes before he finally spoke.
"I received a letter from the Ucranus family." Everything became blur, she really doesn't give up. Jupiter really won't rest until she gets her revenge. What will she do? Poor wine on me? Frame me? I'll just have to take it. "Why did you reject all those letters?" he asked.
"After what happened at the last ball, I would rather not see or speak to Lady Jupiter," I answered sincerely.
"You never explained yourself," he said accusingly.
"Well, I'm sure your daughter already told you what happened, so there's no point," I said, and he looked at me in shock. I shouldn't have said that.
"The Ucranus offered their sincere apology for the misunderstanding, I already accepted the invitation so go to the ball," he said dismissively. I clenched my teeth and walked out holding in the curse that was already at the tip of my tongue.