---
They entered the wide hall where small tables were scattered, elegantly adorned with drinks, while the main table was lavishly decorated with luxurious dishes and surrounded by carefully arranged chairs. Soft music played in the background, gliding lightly despite the crowd's chatter.
Irene stood alone near one of the corners. Even Violet, who usually stayed by her side, was busy chatting with guests. Irene felt fleeting glances cast her way every now and then, and she couldn't deny her growing discomfort.
An hour later, the head butler tapped a glass with a silver spoon, as if announcing the beginning of breakfast. The guests moved to their seats according to the names on their invitation cards. Unfortunately for Irene, her seat was beside Anita and across from a group of aristocratic ladies. She began introducing herself to them one by one, while Viola and Myrna sat at the far end of the table. Viola, ever social, seemed well-liked as she warmly chatted with several women.
Irene sat quietly, trying to maintain her composure. But Anita glanced at her with disdain and whispered in a mocking tone:
— "Are you kidding me right now?"
Irene looked at her silently, and Anita rolled her eyes arrogantly. She didn't reply and kept her gaze forward.
Moments later, Elizabeth stood and gave a gracious speech, followed by a toast in her name. Irene held her glass, but didn't drink, then everyone began their meal.
Irene had no appetite. Her toxic relationship with food was worsening day by day. She barely touched her plate, sitting before it as if it were something foreign.
Anita murmured loud enough for others to hear:
— "Is Valerian food not up to the luxurious Iscardian standards?"
Some heads turned toward them, but Elizabeth quickly interjected in a firm tone:
— "Anita, Irene always eats small portions. Mind your own business."
Viola also glanced at Irene's plate and noticed it was nearly untouched.
The women resumed their chatter while Irene tried to force herself to eat more, but she just couldn't.
She raised her head and looked through the grand glass window before her, overlooking the meticulously arranged garden. She tried to find comfort in the view, hoping it would ease her nausea, but a woman's voice interrupted her thoughts:
— "Ah, Princess Irene… you're so quiet. You haven't spoken at all. Are you alright? You look a bit tired."
Irene replied with a faint smile:
— "I'm fine."
Another woman, smiling slyly, said:
— "Oh! That reminds me… I went shopping for jewelry a few days ago, and the saleswoman told me your husband bought you the most expensive necklace in the store… rare yellow diamonds, for over twenty million crowns! Is that true?"
A sudden silence fell over the hall. Everyone was surprised—especially Viola, whose face showed clear shock. Even Irene was taken aback by the number; it was enough to build several luxury homes. Still, she kept her composure and calmly said:
— "Yes… it's true."
The women resumed speaking with delight:
— "How romantic! You're so lucky!"
The same woman added:
— "The saleswoman said he spent a long time picking it out. He was even willing to pay extra just to get more time to choose the perfect gift."
Another said as she looked at Irene with admiration:
— "A woman as beautiful as you, Princess, deserves to be spoiled like that."
Then one of them asked Irene directly:
— "What's your secret, Princess? My husband barely bothers to get me a gift, and when he does, he asks the head butler to choose it. How did you manage to get a cold man like Prince Lucas to give a gift that valuable?"
Irene tensed and replied:
— "There's no secret… It was a wedding gift."
Another woman chimed in:
— "Your face must be the secret! I thought you two didn't look that compatible at the ceremony, but clearly I was mistaken."
They continued complimenting Lucas and Irene, saying how perfect they looked together.
Amid all this hypocrisy, Irene was still trying to process the price of the necklace.
Meanwhile, Anita turned to Viola. Viola's face was clearly shocked, a war waging inside her. The words Lucas had told her the night before suddenly seemed hollow. Thoughts started flooding her mind—he no longer held her hand like he used to when they were young, he no longer kissed her as he once did, nor embraced her the way he always had. Something had changed since Irene's arrival.
Anger took hold of her, and she looked at Irene with eyes filled with hatred and jealousy. She began repeating to herself:
"I won't let you take him… Never. After all these years of love, he chose you? No. He's mine."
Myrna noticed her sister's trembling hand, held it gently, and whispered:
— "Calm down, sister… don't act rashly. Don't forget, he came just yesterday to see you. He loves you."
Viola looked at her and said with firm resolve:
— "Yes, he loves me… and I won't let her steal him from me."
Myrna was startled by her sister's strange tone. She had never seen her like this—not even when their parents died. Viola had always been the strong one. She now understood her sister was suffering more than ever, and anger boiled silently within her. She looked at Irene with bitterness:
"How dare you break my sister like this?"
Then she whispered to Viola again:
— "Calm down, Viola… don't attract attention. We'll talk at home, alright?"
Viola tried to compose herself and sat down tensely, her hatred for Irene mounting. She couldn't bear hearing more praise about Lucas and Irene, so she abruptly cut in, asking one of the women about her husband's coastal project—even though it was just a rumor she'd heard long ago. She simply wanted to change the subject, and it worked.
---
After breakfast ended, the head butler invited the guests to move to the garden for the tea gathering. One by one, they began walking outside. The weather was unusually pleasant despite the chill, and the garden was decorated with precision.
Inside the hall, Elizabeth held Irene's hand and gently touched her cheek:
— "You don't look well, my dear."
Irene gave a tired smile:
— "I'm fine, truly."
But Elizabeth insisted firmly:
— "I told you not to force yourself to do anything. You can go rest—I'll take care of the guests."
Irene smiled and thanked her. Elizabeth's hands were kind, but her heart didn't feel warm. Irene wished the moment was genuine, but her mind always reminded her that Elizabeth, no matter how kind she seemed, was just like everyone else in her own way.
Suddenly, the moment was broken by Anita's voice from behind:
— "Is it true?"
Irene turned slowly. Myrna and Viola were standing at the door, watching.
Irene asked:
— "What do you mean?"
Anita snapped:
— "Don't play dumb. I'm talking about the necklace."
Irene answered calmly:
— "Yes… it's true."
Anita laughed mockingly:
— "Impossible! Did you get my brother to buy you a necklace that expensive just to satisfy the spoiled Iscardian girl inside you?"
Irene responded in a steady tone:
— "I didn't ask him for anything… He brought it himself."
Anita scoffed:
— "Don't make me laugh. Lucas doesn't even do that for our mother. He used to ask me or Viola to choose the gifts. Did you and the saleswoman plan this story for show?"
At that moment, Elizabeth shouted:
— "Enough, Anita! I saw your brother carrying the bag with my own eyes. Irene didn't lie. Why are you so upset? Your brother is married now—it's only natural that he gives his wife gifts."
Anita yelled:
— "My brother isn't like everyone else! He didn't even want to marry—!"
Elizabeth cut her off quickly, shouting with exasperation:
— "How many times do I have to tell you to watch your mouth? Do you want to kill me with your insolence just to feel satisfied?"
Irene placed her hand gently on Elizabeth's shoulder to calm her down, while Viola stood in silence, now certain that Lucas had indeed bought the necklace. Myrna had no idea how to comfort her, nor how to respond.
Violet arrived, asking with concern:
— "What's going on? Why are you all here?"
She approached her mother and asked:
— "Mother, did something happen?"
Anita shot her a furious look, then stormed out of the hall, leaving everyone in confusion.
Irene held Elizabeth's hand and handed her a glass of water. Violet asked:
— "What happened, Irene?"
Irene replied:
— "I just had an argument with Anita… that's all."
Violet sighed:
— "That stubborn girl… What am I supposed to do with her?"
Then she looked at Irene:
— "Are you alright, Irene?"
Irene answered:
— "Yes, I'm fine."
Elizabeth stood and said gently:
— "You may go now, dear."
Irene asked worriedly:
— "Are you sure you're alright?"
Elizabeth gave a weary smile:
— "You should worry about yourself, Irene… Go rest."
Irene nodded and bowed to her respectfully, then quietly left.
Violet kindly asked Myrna and Viola to head out as well. As they were walking, Viola suddenly stopped and said:
— "Excuse me, Violet, but I need to go to the bathroom."
Violet replied:
— "Of course. There's one in the hall, as you know."
Viola smiled and said, "Yes, sorry."
But instead of going to the bathroom, she returned to the hall, walking quickly down the corridor—her eyes ablaze.