Rules Be Damned

Back with Emilia, she had already begun interrogating Nicholas on what he knew of Sophia.

Sophia didn't look the least bit worried, nor did she seem interested in their topic of conversation. She was rather preoccupied with the looks Louis and Clarisse were giving her.

'Are you sure about what you said about him, no feelings whatsoever?' Clarisse said just by glances alone.

'Of course not,' her look said whilst she glanced at Clarisse blankly.

Louis glanced between Sophia and Clarisse.

He looked at his sister in a dubious manner.

Perhaps it was because he couldn't accept Sophia would change so easily, or because he - along with Clarisse - knew she wouldn't change overnight.

He just couldn't put his finger on it. Why Sophia denied everything whilst seeming enamored in Nicholas. Was it all some kind of sick joke? What exactly was going on?

He'd come to whilst Emilia was asking Nicholas a question.

"What's the one thing you adore about Sophia?" She asked, despite personally thinking Sophia had no redeeming qualities herself.

Nicholas thought about it long and hard, despite already having an answer. He had no intentions of feeding into Sophia's ego and if he'd said the wrong thing, he'd have an infuriated duchess to deal with.

He answered truthfully, "I suppose I adore her fierce loyalty to those she loves and cares about."

Despite his sentimental reply, he spoke coolly, a lack of friendliness to his voice.

"Continue," Emilia urged curiously.

She fully disagreed with what he had said, but nevertheless, she wanted to hear it from his point of view.

Sophia was also intrigued, of course, because he was speaking of her.

She listened carefully and was taken aback with his answer.

She'd thought that Nicholas hated her with all his being. Heck, she assumed this was all part of the ruse, as was all their affectionate displays, and fun they had. It was all part of an elaborate plan for their own benefits. Or so she thought.

She heard Nicholas continue to plead his case.

"The way she stays fiercely loyal to those she loves, and sticks by them no matter whatever happens. I may not have known her for long, but the way she refuses to be disloyal or break her friends and family's faith in her is something I duly respect and hold her in high regard for," Nicholas said, being fully genuine and sincere with his words.

Julia nodded, a pleased smile curved on her face. Clarisse and Louis looked equally as astonished whilst Sheila and Kiara had a look of utter jealousy on their faces.

Sophia had to bite her lip to stop herself from grinning like a dork.

His answer made her that content, something that was rare when it came to her.

_

"Well the luncheon didn't go too poorly now did it?" Clarisse asked in an attempt to console her friend.

Sophia groaned.

"Claire, Emilia did more talking than eating the entire luncheon," Sophia reasoned.

"And if it was not bad enough that everyone was listening in and was given a free peek into what…"

"Right, that's enough said," Sophia declared.

Claire comforted her friend, "Soph, if the worst thing Nicholas said throughout the entire luncheon was what Nicholas said he adored of you, you're in the clear."

She placed a hand on Sophia's shoulder.

"Soph, it's fine, stop overthinking," she comforted.

"Besides, you never were the type to overthink and be emotional," Clarisse reasoned.

"But… it was all in the past, and if Nicholas has this sort of effect on you… this soon…" Clarisse started.

Sophia winced.

"Don't say it," she pleaded.

"I don't," she said, looking Clarisse directly in the eye.

Clarisse sighed.

"Alright, alright, jeez," she said in annoyance.

"Changing topics," she then said.

"Up for entering tomorrow's ball together?" She asked coyly.

"Aww, you shouldn't need to ask," Sophia answered almost instantly.

"Of course, that goes without saying," she reassured.

"Let's enter that ballroom in pure royal fashion," she said with a smirk.

Clarisse winked at Sophia.

"Let's."

_

A day later, with the girls in their own formal attire, making their way to the ballroom where Kiara and Sheila's going away ball was being held.

Since this time around, it was a ball being held for her dearest nieces, Emilia went all out. As shown by the liberties she took in planning the ball.

A herald was on standby once he noticed the two ladies nearing the ballroom entrance. As he was to do whenever dignitaries were making an entrance, he announced their arrival to everyone else in the ballroom.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DUCHESS SOPHIA HELENA VICTORIA BELLE WINDSOR OF BELDOVIA AND COUNTESS CLARISSE SARAH ADELINE BEAUMONT OF SAMAR," he announced to the entire room.

Everyone in the ballroom looked upwards to see the two ladies dressed to the nines.

Clarisse donned a floor-length light purple gown made of tulle, with shiny sequins embroidered in it, pairing the ensemble with lilac stilettos.

Sophia on the other hand, wore an elegant, pale blue off the shoulder gown made off silk tulle along with patent leather heels, and sterling silver earrings.

The two ladies looked gorgeous, outshining the two ladies the ball was held for by their own looks.

"I totally do not regret making this entrance with you, Claire," Sophia said with a smile.

"We never cease to amaze now do we?" Clarisse asked, looking at the crowd from the balcony. They looked as small as ants.

Sophia chuckled.

"We don't, now let's rock this ball," Sophia proposed.

She looked at a crowd of men gathering at the bottom of the grand staircase. They were royals of various kingdoms, their ranks ranging from kings, to mere lords.

"And looks like a certain group of men have already offered to be our dates," Clarisse said, looking down upon the group of men, literally.

Sophia stifled a laugh.

'I suppose one part of the intricate ruse is consorting with other men and getting satisfying reactions from him, rules be damned,' she muttered under her breath.