181 2.2.6: Debutant Party IV

Adriel was stunned because the daughter he expected to be spoiled had a solemn glaze in her eyes and she dressed with a very pure color, nothing bright and flashy except the diamonds glistening as accessories.

Her eyes were scrutinizing him like he was scrutinizing her, both eyeing each other. She had an aura of coldness surrounding her, resembling the woman next to her who Adriel recognized as the Duchess of Warrington. Her maturity was weird, he couldn't explain it but it was peculiar. It just seemed natural for her, like she was beyond her age despite only turning fifteen years old today.

The Duchess was cold as usual, but she still respected him as she curtsied, silently ushering for the stunned girl to do the same. The girl gracefully curtsied like she had practiced hundreds of times before, the smoothness of the action exceeding his expectations. He raised his hand, his cold expression not shifting from his face. Her hesitance was brief and if he hadn't been paying attention, he would've never noticed it. He wasn't that surprised to see her exhibit anxiety as any normal young socialite having their first official introduction to high society.

She raised her hand and placed in his, both immediately feeling the difference in temperature. Her hand was cold and his was warm. When he felt the temperature, he immediately yanked his hand away and a dark thought flashed in his head before he found it silly. She was just cold. He was being too paranoid. He apologized smoothly, like he had never pulled such a rude stunt, and grabbed her hand again; this time, ignoring the temperature and gripping onto it tightly.

As the main entrance door opened, they were announced and Xiao Yunhua felt her stomach fluttering with nervous butterflies. For the first time in this world, she felt like she was raw in front of thousands of eyes.

She was.

But even the first time that she went to a party, it hadn't felt as nerve-wracking as this one. Seeing the judgmental stares, she just wanted to turn around and run away. Be it her first life or her original life, she did not like to be in the center focus. Although she had attended big events and people looked at her, this particular one, it was all for her. It was intimidating to her. It intimidated her.

As though he could feel her go a shade tenser, he gripped her hand and she broke out of her stupor and looked at him with mixed emotions. This was their first time meeting yet why did he assure her so much? Was it his aura of being the future king? She was just one subject, he would eventually have their calming aura over the entire nation. She wanted to thank him but they walked forward towards the people and they continued to stare at her. They could see that although she wasn't the most beautiful person, she showed potential of developing into one.

"Your...Highness," she tentatively began. He turned to her, having no major reaction at her attempt to start a conversation with him. "I appreciate that you've become my escort for my debutant party." First, she needed to be humble and thank him. Not only would the old woman be appeased, but it was also a step closer to her target. And it would be a tremendous boost to her reputation as the debutant party was a memory that would stick forever since it was the entry to adulthood. To be escorted by a royal, nonetheless the crown prince, it made quite an impression.

The crown prince's lips tilted upwards slightly, but it changed his entire aura to be more handsome. His smile wasn't filled with mirth, but with coldness and a hint of annoyance. "I'm sure by Miss Warrington's insistence, anyone couldn't refuse."

Xiao Yunhua felt helpless.

He was another person who thought that she had chosen him to be her escort herself and had insisted on it. The Duchess had picked the crown prince as her escort so effortlessly, throwing her in the pit of fire in case anything went wrong. No matter how much she could justify herself, she would always be in the wrong because the partner would be—or at least was supposed to be—picked by the person having their debutant party.

So she sighed softly and didn't speak, her sudden silence appearing suspicious to Adriel. He hadn't expected to see such a dreary reaction to his words. Why did she act like that was the last thing she would do. He furrowed his brow. She really was different from the other noble girls that he had met.

The other socialites did act shy, but it was all pretentious and he knew that they were all eyeing his status behind their smiles of flattery. The smiles were sweet and love struck, but filled with an undisclosed dagger. So far, she hadn't exhibited these behaviors even after sitting with each for a quarter of an hour. Either she had pure intent or she was just an excellent actress. As much Adriel wanted to believe that she had pure intent, she was, after all, raised in a duke household. Furthermore, she was raised under the Duchess of Warrington, who was infamous for being a cold and conniving woman. Even his mother, who was a friend of the Duchess and the Queen, sometimes found it difficult to deal with her.

Adriel watched a mixture of emotions swirl in her blue eyes before they hardened to a resolution. He found her innocence of displaying her emotions so easily refreshing, but like god previous thoughts, he could never assume that she wasn't doing it all for an act.

"Your Highness, the matter of how and why you became my escort aside, I am thankful. And as the person with the debutant party, I can't sit idle and was wondering..." her next words were stuck in her throat. She suddenly realized that she was brazenly asking him to waltz with her, who would ever in this era?

He realized what she was going to say and was relieved that she didn't ask, so he did in her stead. He extended his hand and guided her to the middle, where they began the waltz. The others dancing watched, waiting for any mistakes to criticize Violetta. This was her first dance as an adult, so any mistakes would be talked about for a while.

To their surprise, the two were in perfect synch despite their obvious height difference. Xiao Yunhua didn't except for him to be such a smooth and talented dancer, able to keep up with her. Yes she did receive training, but she also had the advantage of a system that helped her learn and adapt the ability better than others. They waltzed the entire song, both avoiding each other's gaze.

As another song began, Xiao Yunhua decided that she needed to speak. If she were to fail at what the Duchess had wanted her to do, then she couldn't imagine the terrible consequences that would follow. It would probably be worse that just isolation, especially now that she was an adult.

"Your Highness is a skilled dancer." She softly said, her eyes still averted.

He didn't respond to her praise but murmured, "Miss Warrington is quite talented as well." More talented than what he expected, since this was her first 'official' dance. Although it was common for children of nobility to attend parties before their official debut and dance, it wasn't anything serious and they didn't get much practice from it. If anything, it was just to get the feel of what it was like. But Adriel could see that she was easily the most skilled out of every other socialite dancing here.

She raised her eyes and was shocked to find him staring at her. Their eyes locked in a battle of who would figure the other out first. Both were prideful and neither was willing to break down their wall, so their gazes were locked for the rest of the song. As they were ready to dance together again for a third one, Xiao Yunhua heard people whisper with her enhanced senses.

"There he is."

"The rumors were that he and the Warrington Daughter had feelings for each other."

"They had a big scandal together, didn't they?"

"They invited him even when her escort is the future king, looks like we'll have a good show!"

Xiao Yunhua followed their gazes and froze when she saw Dominic entering. His chocolate brown eyes were still gentle as ever, but when they met hers, they were filled with an incomprehensible emotion. Xiao Yunhua watched him help a young lady walk, rooted in the spot with the crown prince's hand still in hers from their waltz. It looks like the guilt she felt for him had only been her only whimsy and silliness. He had moved on, even if it was only a couple of months.

She expected for her heart to hurt, but she couldn't feel any pain. Her emotions that she felt for him had vanished as soon as her next target was confirmed, and this reaction to him proved it. At least now, she could be with Adriel with more ease. She didn't have to feel guilty for stealing his first love, no matter how innocent it was. Even though she tried to convince herself to be that way, she still felt remorseful like she did with Zhou Lang. She had promised herself to never think of her first world again because the people were all in the past, but her actions were similar to the ones in the first world. Unlike Zhou Lang, Dominic had moved on, which made her relieved. The guilt was there, but much less.

Despite the brief feelings they harbored for each other, they still had a solid friendship that bloomed out of the respect for each other. System or not, that would never change. If she could get the chance, she wanted to continue the friendship. At least for her, that was what she believed. However, she was sure that with all the rumors surrounding them, the Duchess would never allow her to contact him and invite him over, especially now that she was an adult. Not only would this invoke more rumors, but it could develop into a serious scandal that would harm both of their reputations.

She glanced at the girl. The girl had violet-blue eyes and brunette hair with an innocent and pale face. Her dress was the same color as her eyes and didn't stand out much, but her choice of rose accessories did. Even though it wasn't super costly, her clothes were still befitting of a noble household.

Xiao Yunhua didn't recognize her at first, but now she realized that it was Liliana Roman, the girl who she had went to her birthday party all those months ago. She had definitely matured in the months they hadn't seen other, and in the few months that she hadn't seen them both, she could see the adoration Liliana had in her eyes for Dominic. Clearly, there was a story involved on how her two friends got involved together.

Even though she had only shortly befriended Liliana and didn't know her as well as Dominic, she still was a friend of hers and Xiao Yunhua still cared for her. Unlike her mother, the Roman Miss' violet-blue eyes were filled with kindness. Countess Roman was a shrew but her daughter was the opposite, and that's what Xiao Yunhua liked about her. She was unlike her mother, even though she grew up under her. One liked gossip and one was sweet. It was ironic to her situation. She grew up under the 'care' of the Duchess, but people rumored her to be just as cold as the Duchess of Warrington. She didn't really have her own personality nor was allowed to have one.