Not imagining!

Emily's expression turned grim upon hearing about what happened to Julius. He didn't deserve to be shamed and looked down upon; if anyone deserved to be shamed, it was the people present in this room. She said to her friend, 

"His name is ruined because it is associated with mine."

"You don't have to blame yourself, Lily. It's not like you are the one who killed Marshall," Janelle said with a frown before adding in a whisper, "and even if you did, the bastard deserved it." 

"He did," Emily replied. She had repeated it so many times the previous night that it became easier to say when she woke up. Less than five minutes later, one of the wealthy middle-aged men appeared before her with his son in tow.

"Princess Emily, it is a pleasure for us to meet again," said the young man, his dark brown hair framing a smile that revealed perfectly even teeth as he greeted her.