Chapter 9

I didn't like going to balls, it's a place for socializing and I started to feel left out whenever there were more than 6 people in a group. And a ball had hundreds of people. Of course the rule of survival was to find your own group of friends. It's not like I didn't have friends. I did. The tragic thing was one of my friends wa far away in another country since her father was a diplomat. The other was as sociable as a butterfly.

So I was left alone. But I had been to my fair share of balls and I had been once Queen. I learned how to disguise myself. I held my head high up and stood there, like I had a purpose standing there alone.

"Liana, surprise!" Someone shouted behind me.

I pretended to be surprised. I had my guess. It was Sally, my friend whose father was a diplomat. A royal ball for Lord Astor had not happened in my previous life, but Sally had tried to do something similar in a gathering hosted by Sebastian's aunt tomorrow in my previous life.

"Sally, you came back!"

"Yes! For a month! I missed you Liana! I nearly could not recognize you! You look so elegant and the aura!"

"Who are you kidding?" I rolled my eyes.

"I heard this Lord Astor is really handsome," Sally whispered.

"Haven't you seen your fair share of handsome guys already in the court of a foreign kingdom?"

"Liana!" she giggled. "Well why aren't there more handsome guys in our own kingdom?"

Just then, a servant approached me and told me Sebastian had been waiting for me. I thanked him and told Sally to go find something to eat first.

I looked around the room to try to find Sebastian. A couple was standing beside him. The tall handsome guy was without a doubt Lord Astor, the petite girl next to him must be Lady Astor. I walked towards the place Sebastian was standing and greeted the couple next to him,"Lord and Lady Astor, it is a pleasure to meet you."

After some discussion, Lord Astor decided to talk to Sebastian alone.

"Then I'll leave Eirlys in your hand, please take care of her," Lord Astor said with a charming smile.

Lord Astor whispered something in Lady Astor's ears and lovingly patted her on her head. She rolled her eyes, but still smiled sweetly and uttered, "Yes, my lord.'

Mother, you should come and see how a true lovely couple acted like. Stop day dreaming and think Sebastian and I were a lovely couple.

Surprisingly, just like Lord Astor, Sebastian leaned forward and whispered, "Go to the dessert table, I hope you enjoy the desserts."

With a nod, the two of them left. Leaving me with the beloved wife of a powerful lord. Life was hard even for a reborn girl.

"Would you like some desserts, Lady Astor?"

"I'd love to."

I offered her my hand and led her to the dessert table. I picked out a dessert for Lady Astor while I enjoyed my favorite cake. The whole table was filled with desserts I like. Did Sebastian order that? It couldn't be, right? He shouldn't have noticed my preferences in those two years...

But he did notice me reading an encyclopedia (even though I did not actually read one)...

I was (pretending to be) gracefully having small talks with Lady Astor when I noticed a girl tripped just behind Lady Astor, champagne in the glass she was holding flew through the air. I could not allow an honorable guest to be dripping in wine. In a split second, I decided to use my power. The champagne sloshed back into the glass and stayed there.

Nausea swept through me as I smiled at Lady Astor and edged her closer to the wall. "Let me get you another tart."

I tried to hold in the cough building up in my throat. It's too much.

I picked out the chocolate tart Lady Astor seemed to enjoy. Handed it over to her and excused myself, asking Sally to look after her on my way out.

Just behind the column around the corner, I started coughing. A metallic taste filled my mouth.

"Are you alright?"

I looked up and saw Sebastian staring down at me, eyes with something akin to concern.

"I am sorry, I left Lady Astor. I promised I took good care of her before leaving, I ask Sally to..." I continued to cough my lung out. "I asked..."

"Stop talking, Laina! Am I such a cold-hearted monster in your heart?"

He seemed angry, he looked angry... I had never seen him this angry...

"Do you need to rest?" he asked again, arm around my shoulder.

Then everything turned black.

When I opened my eyes, I was back at home.

I found a small glass bottle in my hand. It looked quite like a poisonous potion. That was when I notice a note tucked in my other hand.

'Medicine. Get well soon.

Sebastian.'

Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum... What sound could it be except for my racing heart?