"Sarah, how do I look?" Rose asked her maid, who had just dressed her, looking at the mirror to check for any imperfections in the cloth she wore. Rose considered Sarah, the brown-haired and eyed girl, more as a sister than a maid.
"Young mistress, you look spectacular and fabulous, like a goddess in the mortal realm," Sarah said, her eyes glowing as she looked at Rose, who wore a stunning purple gown with lily embroidery.
"All the guys at the party will be head over heels for you," Sarah added.
"You're sure?" Rose asked in surprise, not expecting the dress to complement her so well.
"I hope he likes it," Rose muttered, holding her red cheeks like a girl in love.
Sarah, who saw the love in Rose's eyes, knew what was happening and was happy that her young mistress had finally fallen in love. During her younger years, Sarah wondered if she would be this happy if not for Rose.
"Why didn't you awaken your ability?" Rose asked.
"Don't tell me they bullied you after I left?" Rose showed her protective side.
"No, young miss," Sarah quickly waved her hands, assuring Rose that no one had bullied her.
"By the time I turned fifteen, the awakening day had generally passed, so it's not until next year that I'll be able to awaken," Sarah explained.
"That's better. If anyone dares bully you, don't forget I've got your back," Rose said, her words making Sarah feel like crying. No one had taken care of her like Rose had.
"Hey, don't cry; you wouldn't want to spoil my birthday, would you?" Rose teased, giving Sarah a pat on the head.
Sarah laughed, forcing back her tears. "Then let's go."
Rose took a deep breath and headed out of the dressing room, Sarah following her in a beautiful black gown, her beauty on par with Rose's.
As Rose entered the crowd's view, gasps of surprise filled the air from both men and women.
"You see, I told you; all guys would be head over heels for you," Sarah whispered, teasing Rose.
Rose blushed but quickly hid it with a smile, which made the crowd gasp even more. Rose didn't mind; her mind was occupied by one person.
Darting her eyes through the crowd, she couldn't find him.
"Maybe he's in an inconspicuous place," she thought, knowing Draco disliked standing out, especially among nobles.
So, she began to sneakily look for places where Draco might be.
"May I have the pleasure of dancing with you?" Casper's voice interrupted her search, and her expression turned into a frown.
When she thought of finding a way to reject him, the crowd's shout stopped her. Casper was her childhood friend, and although they had been apart for over five years, she thought dancing with him wasn't a big deal.
Unbeknownst to her, her decision had sparked someone's raging jealousy.
"Then I would be in your care," Rose said, placing her hand on Casper's, and they danced to the noble music, the crowd cheering them on.
However, Rose's mind wasn't on the dance; she was still looking for Draco, which Casper noticed. He saw that her dance steps were stiff.
When Rose finally saw Draco, she only saw his back as he left Blum's group. Seeing this, her mood turned sour, as if she had been dealt a great blow to her heart.
The main person she had made sure she looked perfect for had walked away without even acknowledging her.
Earlier, when she asked Draco in the car what was special about today, and he said he didn't know, she felt disheartened.
Now, seeing him leave without even greeting her happy birthday, made her feel like crying and stopping the dance.
It wasn't about birthday gifts or anything; she just felt down that the person she expected to congratulate her first had forgotten her birthday.
Casper noticed Rose's facial expression and followed her gaze to see Draco's withdrawing figure. His face darkened; the girl he had been chasing since childhood, unaware of his feelings, was now dancing with him, yet her attention was on another guy entirely. It was a slap to his face.
"It looks like I have to proceed with the plans," Casper thought, tugging Rose's clothes to get her attention.
"As the birthday girl, you have to be conscious of your image; you wouldn't want it to be a disaster," Casper whispered, making Rose blush with embarrassment at being caught red-handed.
Unbeknownst to her, Draco caught this moment, noticing someone was gazing at him. In his mind, he was already thinking irrationally, his jealousy raging like fire.
"They're a perfect match."
"Yes, they look like a god and goddess descending into the world."
"Awwn, I wish for them to fall in love; their marriage would be successful."
Draco heard a guy and a lady from the clans discussing Rose and Casper, but every word felt like a blow to his heart.
Squeezing his hands, Draco sighed and headed away.
"They're right," he thought. "Casper has a better background than me, who lived in the slums, and is more handsome. He also has the same talent."
Nobility, talent, and face were what ladies sought nowadays.
If Blum and Ming could hear Draco's thoughts, they would have beaten him. Didn't he know how long Rose had been chasing him, even before he awakened? Now he was behaving like a simp, keeping quiet about his feelings and watching another guy take her away.
Draco walked until he saw the person he was looking for.
"Brother Damien, I heard the head of the family wants to see me."
"My father?" Damien asked in surprise, and Draco nodded.
Whispering to someone beside him, who seemed more like a bodyguard, Damien said, "I have sent someone to confirm this. In the meantime, just enjoy yourself at the party."
Draco sighed, feeling his plan to escape the party had failed.
He couldn't bear the sight of Rose and Casper, which was why he came to ask to meet their father.
Heading back to where Blum and the others were staying, Ming frowned.
"Where the hell did you go?"
"Nothing's wrong; I just went to discuss something with Rose's brother," Draco said, taking out his phone to read a novel.
Ming felt uneasy.
"Blum, what's wrong with Draco?" Ming whispered.
Blum grinned. "It's what we call youth."
Ming fell into deep thought, trying to understand Blum's meaning.
Looking at Draco, he saw his face filled with wrath as he peeked somewhere while reading.
Following Draco's gaze, Ming saw Rose and Casper dancing.
"Oh sh*t," Ming thought, never expecting Draco to be this jealous.
Meanwhile, Rose noticed Draco's return, and her mood improved.
A smile plastered on her face, but Casper's body blocked Draco's view, making it seem like she was smiling at Casper.
Draco's jealousy intensified, and Blum and Ming sensed the stiff air.
They saw Draco squeezing his phone due to jealousy.
If they weren't familiar with Draco, they would have thought this was another person posing as him.
"Mr. Draco, the head of the family has decided to meet you now," a bodyguard in a white and black suit said, calming Draco.
"Sure, lead the way," Draco replied, following the bodyguard out of the villa.
Blum and the others wondered why the head of the Everett Family wanted to meet him.
The bodyguard took Draco to a secluded building and asked him to enter.
"Draco Xandros, it's a pleasure meeting you," a tall figure said, turning his back to Draco.
The voice shocked Draco, sparking a killing intent and resurfacing a dark memory.
His face turned demonic.