Chapter 118: Aftermath

Seated with a leg over the other in front of a large round table covered with smooth silk and scented roses, a lady in a daring red dress with matte blood-red lips leaned to her right.

"Good heavens. What the articles have been saying is indeed right."

Her firm jawline was a sensuous view to any man as she pitched her head to the other side with her brunette hair tidied into a sleek bun and her glistening diamond earrings added to her sophisticated expense. "I bet on the gods of Olympus. Apollo must have been in terrible grief right now."

She says, her composed maiden voice shattered by overwhelming disbelief.

The Scottish and youngest amongst the maidens at the table gently bats her lashes, guileless. "I must say he is dreamy. A royal with dashing attractiveness is surely a title he can claim from the media."

The women all turn their heads towards her seat and let out a whine grunt, pondering why such a thirteen years old teen is lost in the seating placement with them.

"He is, you can see that and everyone is already aware."

"Hating my pledge of not lying, but Maise, the news in your country is seriously obsolete. Do you even have Wi-Fi there?"

Maise nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders in response. "It's a remote part of the country, and I like to spend my time reading books."

The ladies stared at her and then eyed each other in judgment. "That's very . . . traditional."

"But I did see him once in the papers," smiled and responded Maise.

"Uh-huh, the irony of orthodox."

Shantal twirls her finger around the loose lock at the side of her face and runs her tongue between her lips, licking and tasting the sugary spiciness of her apricot wine while watching the ladies quarrel and argue before her.

She rests her elbows on the cushioned armrest of her seat and grins on an impulse.

What's stopping her to play along?

"He likes his woman proud and assertive, but calm and reserved in handling conversations . . ."

The women at the table halt their banter and shift their eyes and attention toward her in an instant, their questioning eyes gleaming in surprise.

She simply lifts her hands slowly and places them on her lap, watching how their widened eyes observed every bit of her little movement in silence.

"Especially at dinner tables," continues Shantal, and she finishes her provocative statement with a short lopsided smile.

She chuckles endearingly inside her head after witnessing every woman at the table collect themselves and sit with their back straight except the innocent teen who tries finishing her blueberry tart.

Well, it is a primary knowledge for royalty to brew their tempers down but be aware of the power they hold. The king only ever marries the exact copy of him, which he and the country find worthy.

Who would want to stain their names with shame?

"From whom have you heard of that?" said Elle, also known as Ellena Auburt.

Ellena is the third daughter of the Auburt Dutchy. The Dutchy is notable for both their broad social and business relations with the affluent people in Europe, however, they only underwent diminutive partnerships with the Woo's on their agricultural project. Nevertheless, they are from noble heritage and cunning enough to indulge themselves in the royal business.

Shantal once again grins. She might have never met any of these ladies sitting before her, but her strength lies in studying everyone's background before any social event.

"The prince is a distant relative of mine from my great-grandmother's side."

Information gives her power, and she happens to always owns the spotlight.

"Oh my, that's news to us. You are?"

Bonnie Reyes. Just turned eighteen last two months ago, born Mexican but has complicated ties with the royal family in Spain says to break the silence in her thick Latina accent. Her tanned skin was glowing in her shimmering golden dress, but her gauging eyes over her thick and long fake lashes were piercing right through Shantal's nerves.

"Shantal Rose."

"The 'Shantal Rose'? As in the CEO designer of Rose Lux?!"

Shantal managed a smile that doesn't reach her eyes after capturing their two-faced smiles enlarging. This is exactly the reason why she prefers the company of innocent and cute Melissa.

"You're looking right at her." She presses her lips together and pops a berry in her mouth. She chews the fruit slowly, buying some time for her to think about ditching every vixen here and look for her adorable cousin near the hundreds of tables around her.

"I knew it was you because I felt like I have seen you somewhere! I followed you on gram. May I say that you are totally stunning!"

"Oh my god! I am absolutely obsessed with your designs. I honestly brought your new summer collection!"

"So did I! The girls in my university are still wearing your iconic silk scarf."

"No way. Really? The Jeuv?"

"I couldn't ever find the soul to not wear it every single day, even at home, but my newfound is the Perle. It goes well on formal dresses. It's beautiful."

Through the lady-like exchanges that were all touché in Shantal's world, somehow her business seems to not be as intriguing for them to have gone back to mentioning the heir again.

"I didn't know you had a linkage with the royalty, but I can completely understand who you are dealing with. Everything is just so evasive, right?"

Shantal scans her eyes through the platform in front, her doe eyes squinting at the masculine figure she sees amidst the crowd.

He undoubtedly stands out far too well.

It's that one thing or two that's similar between them. She bites her lip. "I can tell after living under one roof with him."

Jane's jaw dropped, her bluebell eyes meeting her sister's, Grace.

Shantal, grinned cheekily, seeing the faces of the ladies drop their smiles as well as those tables near them who heard what she said. Well, there was nothing entirely false about what she said. They were staying at the Woo's residence by the upper east wing.

"Your latest gram post. Was that the room or the venue?"

Shantal cock her head to the other side. "Yes, our room."

"Oh My God!"

Well, that was indeed the room she was staying in with Melissa.

"Was that why you did not show up at the pre-gathering with the ladies?"

Shantal laughs and bats her lashes, acting genuine that she had them wrapped around her fingers way too easily. "I would have gone, but he refused to let me go."

By what she meant by 'He', it was her strict father who had forced her to attend the welcoming party for the bride and her . . . Son? Daughter? Pet?

Ugh. She couldn't care less. They weren't worth knowing.

What background is there to even look at?

Just pure pity.

Plus the security of the island was just out of this world. Who would shoot a fish when it accidentally jumped from the sea?!

"By any chance, you should introduce me to him. Shall I leave my family's business card, of course?"

"I heard my dad is starting a new project as well. Do take my calling card."

The ladies all gathered up to her in their wide and double-faced smiles. Shantal knew fair well what those smiles and desperateness smelled like.

Raging sluts trying to steal her man.

"In the next wedding, I suppose." She took a sip of her wine and kept her composed smile, keen to mark her territory, "When he proposes."

"Is the ceremony over?" Maise said, butting into their deep discussion, and instantly, all heads face to their front, seeing the bride, groom, and heir fleeing the exit doors, leaving the venue rowdy with whispers and remarks.

"What's happening?"

_______________________

*Gasp*

Purple eyes open wide and blink up at the opaque-painted ceiling.

He's alive.