The Duke's Daughter Is A Villainess (22)

"Lucas!" Alice exclaimed in surprise. "I- what are you-"

After she fled from Dahlia and Noah, she didn't expect to run into Lucas. Things had been uncomfortable between them lately, with Alice's feelings for him growing and how often he seemed to be around Dahlia, Alice had been avoiding him for a myriad of reasons. Now that she was face to face with him, she was at a loss for what to do or say.

"Alice." Lucas' voice was cold, unfeeling.

Alice felt she was at a loss. She knew that she had been avoiding Lucas, but she didn't think he would treat her this coldly.

"Lucas, I-"

"Do you think you have any right to say those things to Dahlia?" Lucas said harshly, his eyes glaring and unforgiving. "You're in no position to accuse her of playing with people's hearts... not when you're the one who's been-"

Alice could feel her heart breaking. So in the end Lucas had heard those rumours too... and he believed them! Alice was so convinced that Lucas would know her better, and that out of everyone, he would be the one to trust her. But it seemed even Lucas was now against her. Noah, Lucas... both of them were defending Dahlia to her, as if she was the bad guy here!

"Shut up! You don't know anything." Alice hissed. "What's so good about Dahlia Baudelaire? Why are the both of you so-"

"Alice, stop! Leave Dahlia out of this."

Alice scoffed. So in the end she didn't matter at all when compared to Dahlia? Alice couldn't take it anymore and stormed past him, willing herself not to cry as she did so.

As soon as Alice left, Lucas deflated, his eyes showing his pain and hurt. He hadn't intended on being so harsh on Alice, but lately more and more he felt as if he didn't know her at all, and when he overhead what she was saying to Dahlia, he almost couldn't believe it. The Alice that he knew was sweet and even tempered and would've never jumped to those kind of accusations blindly. He never thought she would've been the type to be envious and jealous of other girls like that either, but he could clearly see how fixated she seemed on trying to tear Dahlia down in front of him.

What exactly happened to the Alice that he used to know?

Dahlia couldn't help but grin as she looked at Lucas' dejected expression. She'd been watching the entire confrontation between Lucas and Alice from afar, and it made her giddy to know that she was able to ruin their relationships so thoroughly.

[Host!!!!]

~Yes?

[You're amazing!]

~I know, right??

Dahlia left the palace that day in high spirits, her good mood infecting even Stella, and the both of them laughed themselves silly on the way home. That night dinner was a lively affair, and even the duke picked up on the good mood and felt himself influenced by it.

While Dahlia was having a fun time with her family, Noah was brooding and reflecting on his feelings for Alice, Alice was crying in bed as she wondered what went wrong, and Lucas was training extra vigorously to chase away the hurt he felt.