"What are you following me for?" I walked to a quiet spot behind an artificial mountain, feeling a slight headache as I looked at the young man behind me who clung to me like a little tail.
"I'm protecting you." He said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
I was stunned for a moment, then warmth spread through my chest as if a gentle stream had flowed into it. No one had ever said such words to me before, though I shouldn't be so surprised after all, this was something he had been doing for years. I smiled, gentleness rising in my eyes, and raised my hand with some effort to touch his head. My voice was extremely soft: "Nothing will happen. Go with our eldest brother, you can meet more people, gain more knowledge."
The young man respectfully straightened his back so I wouldn't have to strain to reach him. Since we met, Nick and I had studied in the same place; he never paid attention to his assignments, turning in messy work that made the teachers storm off angrily several times. Only when I taught him myself would he reluctantly read a few lines with me.
"I'm not going." Nick leaned lazily against the rock behind him, head lowered, and in those clear eyes of his shone a dazzling, pristine light, untouched by a speck of dust. He disliked carrying around such dry, simple things; he could clearly memorize them with just one glance, yet those stubborn old teachers repeated the same lessons over and over, truly vexing.
We stayed behind the artificial mountain for a while. When the time was almost up, we headed toward the grand hall, one in front and one behind.
Not long after we left, two figures appeared in the distance behind the artificial mountain. A girl in a bright red dress was fawning over a refined young lady beside her, racking her brain for elegant compliments; meanwhile, the refined young lady remained indifferent, her gaze following my back, her willow brows slightly furrowing. The girl in red panicked when she saw her brow tighten, thinking she had said something wrong. She quickly shut her mouth, face paling, and cautiously asked, "Sister Octavia, is something wrong?"
The one called "Sister Octavia" did not answer. Only when my figure disappeared completely did she regain her composure and shake her head lightly. "Let's go, the banquet is about to start."
During the entire banquet, I remained like a wooden doll, no smiling, no posing, no conversations with other noble ladies. Jason glanced at me several times, signaling for me to join in, but I ignored him, pretending not to see my elder brother's hints.
Halfway through the banquet, a young woman in a flowing gown with watery patterns gracefully walked to the center of the hall. She bowed slightly to everyone, her temperament cool and hazy, her demeanor elegant, noble like a celestial maiden. The moment she appeared, murmurs rippled through the hall. When she began reciting poetry, the hall gradually quieted. Her words flowed effortlessly, her verses brilliant; the instant she stopped, the hall fell silent, then bursts of applause erupted, pushing the banquet to a climax.
I sat quietly in a corner, my gaze dark like ink-soaked jade, no longer holding any light, only shadow. My hand holding the wine cup trembled slightly, the liquid nearly spilling; my heart churned like rippling water disturbed into chaos.
Octavia… long time no see.
The eldest daughter of the Chief Minister, Finnick's younger sister, my closest friend and the one who pushed me into a dead end. In my previous life, I shone brightly at the banquet, unintentionally taking from her the title of the capital's number one talented lady. I never imagined she held a grudge from that moment. That was the first time we met, yet after the banquet, she had stepped forward to befriend me, and we gradually became inseparable confidantes.
Only later did I realize: I was the only fool who thought we were true friends.
After losing my eyesight, I once heard Octavia's voice in the ruined chapel shouting, cursing me. The once affectionate sisterhood had turned merciless; Octavia, as if holding back for years, finally unleashed all her resentment.
Octavia, even if in this life you haven't yet done anything, I must seek justice for my former life. Otherwise, what meaning would my rebirth have?
I had thought I could face my former enemy with indifference. But at this moment, I realized I was still only human, unable to drift through life cold and untouched.
When the applause faded, I did not repeat the stupidity of my previous life, I did not stand up and walk toward the place where thousands of eyes awaited me. My fingers tightened around my wine cup, so hard the veins on the back of my hand stood out, so hard my fingers went pale, trembling as they neared their limit.
Suddenly, a warm, broad hand gently took the cup from me. He pulled my hand beneath the table where no one could see and clasped it tightly, enclosing my hand within his.
"Don't hurt yourself. If you don't want to drink, then don't." He lowered his voice, speaking gently.
His clear, burning gaze fixed on me, but I didn't look back at him.
Following Octavia's line of sight, I indeed saw my fiancé from my previous life. Coincidentally, the man was also looking at me. Our gazes met, and in his eyes I saw astonishment, then a fleeting flash of complicated emotion.
As for me, there was only coldness to the extreme and disgust.
This man was the reason Octavia went mad, the reason the Johnston family fell into ruin.
My hand suddenly throbbed with pain. I turned and saw Nick's face darkened, his eyes predatory as he stared in that direction.
"Nick, it hurts."
He immediately loosened his grip, blinking apologetically, then said in grievance, "Don't look at that guy…"
"Oh? Why not?"
Suppressing his urge to kill, Nick leaned close, gently tugging at the corner of my sleeve, his voice soft and coaxing: "Look at me instead. He's not even as handsome as I am."
I burst out laughing so childish.
I glanced toward the Crown Prince seated at the highest position, my eyes dimming. The fingers within Nick's grasp trembled slightly; sensing my fear, he slowly tightened his hold, giving me strength.
I did not want to face the Anderson family. The Johnston family could not oppose the Chief Minister, nor could we oppose the Crown Prince. I could not become the center of attention, could not provoke that madman, could not let the Johnston household fall into danger.
I had no mind to pay attention to the dances continuing behind us. The fruit wine began to surge in my veins; I forgot that I could not handle strong drink.
After catching me for the third time, Nick finally placed his arm behind me, using the pillar as cover while quietly supporting my weight.
I turned my head to look at him, dazed, my eyes hazy and alluring. In the boy's gaze I saw concern that made my heart pound uncontrollably. So I let go completely, relaxed my whole body, and leaned backward, letting my entire weight fall into his arm.