I'm the Bad Guy

The Franchesca Family sat at a table that was much closer to the front and many ladies had surrounded them. Lady Vanessa, Viscount Colleen's concubine, one of the bolder ones, asked, "Lady Gweneth Franchesca, what do you think of Lady Melanie?"

Lady Gweneth, the wife of Duke Franchesca's only brother, Lord Travis, asked in bewilderment, "Lady Melanie? Who's that?"

Deliberately ignoring Lady Melanie who just debuted in high society today was the most insulting reply. The others around the table chuckled and Lady Vanessa went on. "Lady Gweneth, I was talking about Lady Melanie Von Diovre, the Duke's only daughter who just made a debut tonight."

Lady Gweneth didn't even raise an eyebrow. "Her? Didn't she just showed her face now? It's nothing extraordinary. I suppose she's just another brat who grew up in wealth. There is nothing interesting about her except that she's the Duke's overly protected daughter."

Lady Vanessa said, "That's what everyone says. But after all, she used to be as famous as soon as she was born on the same day as your daughter. The temple's oracle then declared of a genius of the century and they were both called the 'two genius girls of the imperial capital back then'."

Their table was some distance away from where Melanie and the Duke were seated, but the hall was rather quiet and everyone heard it. It was just that the Duke was invited by Viscount Colleen and his companions to check out the new structure of the property which was located a minutes away from the main hall of the manor. So now, only the young Melanie and the other ladies were left on the table.

Lady Gweneth smiled. "The oracle said, 'a genius', which refers to a single person. My daughter has proven through her accomplishments that she's truly a born genius, unlike the others who only lives on it without proof. It would be shameless to be called a genius without validation. Some others just enjoy the title. That's why we should never be too greedy. My dear daughter, Lady Bernadeth Erin Francesca, knew from the very beginning that you can't be called a born genius without validating it."

Lady Elizabeth, the second daughter of the Franchesca Dukedom, said proudly, "My sister is already the best student in the Royal Academy, the most prestidous Academy in the continent now and she'll only get better. As for a certain someone... she's long fallen from grace with only a few who'll even remember her and she should stay just there. But no, she's just as shameless as she could be to even boldly just walk around, and show up after hiding all these years. Shame on her!"

"Lady Elizabeth!" Lady Gweneth cast a stern look at her second daughter and feigned a vexed tone. "Watch your language!"

"I'm just telling the truth!" Lady Elizabeth said indignantly. "Even I am in the Royal Academy now, but she...Haha...a so called born genius of the century, could not even be compared with me, she's nothing. How dare people still mention her old fame? If she has any sense of shame, she should have just lived quietly as she did in the past. She's like an insult to us all!"

Lady Elizabeth raised her voice deliberately, making sure that Lady Melanie from the distant table could hear it. Anyone who genuinely cared about Lady Melanie would have jumped to their feet by now. However, none had the courage to face the ladies of the Franchesca Dukedom. Being active in the high society for many years, they called the shots as they hold the most power and influence. Now that the Duke is not present inside the hall, they are trying to put pressure on his only daughter and ostracize her so her debut today could only end up as a failure. Lady Gweneth and Lady Elizabeth only exchanged satisfied looks at the following insults and murmurs that errupted inside the main hall.

Elijah clenched her fists. No one with any sense of self-respect would turn a deaf ear to such humiliating words. However, Elijah knew better than anyone that she couldn't do anything reckless. She was able to deal with the Von Diovre' fools and so there is less headache. She knew that her early debut as Lady Melanie would not be easy but she didn't expect the ladies of the Franchesca Dukedom to be overly hostile towards her. Not to mention that Lady Vanessa, the concubine of her distant relative, is also hostile towards her. If not, why would she mention that old oracle about her being a born genius.

'So this is how you want to play this, huh?' Elijah though and mentally smirked.

The Duke's only daughter and heir was truly something outstanding, but here in the imperial capital, she knew that her influence and power still wasn't strong enough. Many will just see her as a young lady with no mother and only has the Duke's backing. Not to mention that her absentee father, the Duke, was also literally socially dead as he was never active in high society for many years since her mother died.

'I need to make it even harder to forgive the Duke because of laying out this premise.' Elijah thought lightly as she softly grit her teeth.

Elijah wasn't going to take it lying down, though. She was going to rise to her feet when —

"Lady Melanie Von Diovre —"

A unfamiliar voice ran out. It was a cheeky yet melodious male voice. And Elijah wasn't the only one who heard it. Everyone turned in that direction. Following the source of that voice, a handsome llteenager sat on the hedge to their right, beaming at her. Some kind of bright light shone behind him, which then gave his smile a blurry effect and making it all the more stunning. Evaluating his aura, Elijah concluded that one couldn't help but cheer up at the uplifting air the teenager gave off.

"It's the young Lord Caleb Richie Franchesca!"

Everyone cried out in surprise as murmurs spread all throughout the hall. Lord Caleb, the chosen heir of the Franchesca Dukedom, was infamous in the imperial capital for his unruly behavior. As the heir of the Franchesca Dukedom, his mother doted on him, which had resulted in his current personality. He could behave like the most spoiled young lord of the century. It was common knowledge that there is only one person who can control this young lad and make him obey, one person only — the empire's second prince.

The eyes of many ladies lit up at the sight of Lord Caleb and the atmosphere suddenly changed as the attention was shifted from Lady Melanie. Of course many would pay attention to him as one of the most eligible bachelors in the Empire. Not only was Lord Caleb handsome, he also had a superior status. In the list of "ideal husbands" in the imperial capital, he was second only to prince of the Royal Family.

'Tsk. Funny how easily the hostile atmosphere towards me changed as soon as this hooligan appeared.' Elijah thought bitterly.

Not noticing her reaction, she automatically frowned at the young gentleman which made Lord Caleb who saw her reaction chuckle softly.

'This is the first time someone frowned at me so openly. And she's even a lady. Really did not disappoint. No wonder that boring second prince is interested in her.' He thought fondly. 'Let's play for a while more while that demon is still not here.'

"Lady Melanie!" Lord Caleb hopped off the hedge, ran up to the young lady, and rubbed her hair in an affectionate manner. His warm smile reminded one of the pleasant spring sunlight. "Congratulations on your early debut! And it's nice to see you again."

The smiles froze on many of the young ladies' faces, especially on Lady Gweneth and Lady Elizabeth who witnessed this scene.

'Were the young lady Melanie Von Diovre and young Lord Caleb...very close?' Everyone pondered.

Elijah threw a questioning and dirty look at him. "Your hand, young Lord Caleb."

"What?" Lord Caleb was bewildered as he saw hostility from the young lady in front of him. He was amused that he wanted to tease her more.

"Off me. QUICKLY...Hands off me." Elijah glared with much warning. She hated when other people touched her head, especially strangers like this hooligan. For her, it was pure bad luck.

"Sure." Seeing her frown deeply, Lord Caleb obeyed right away as he was sure she will smack him that instant if he didn't. He patted her on the shoulder instead and smiled broadly. "You're here for the banquet as well? Gosh, isn't it so boring? Come, I'll show you around."

"Oh? Yeah?" Elijah replied slyly and then secretly stepped on his foot.

"Ah!" Lord Caleb cried out and gave the young lady an accusing look with an exaggerated expression, "Hey! You..."

Elijah just gave him her fakest warm smile with a warning look.

'This young lady dared to step on my foot when I was just trying to save her.' Caleb thought and looked aggrieved.

Lady Elizabeth clenched her fists and stared at Lady Melanie in hatred, wishing that she could pierce her with her gaze. She had been secretly in love with her cousin for a very long time and she couldn't get over her infatuation. She was only a distant relative but was rather talented and so at the age of five, she was adopted by Lord Travis and Lady Gweneth to become their second daughter and assist their first daughter, Lady Bernadeth. She was thankful for her luck to be adopted by a high status family which led her to meet and grow up with Caleb. As she grew older, her feelings for the young lord grew and she had hinted to her mother on multiple occasions to propose her marriage with him but was only scolded in the end. Never had she expected that Lord Caleb would be so familiar with Lady Melanie. She grit her teeth so hard out of jealousy that her molars almost broke in her frustration. However, she couldn't even do anything about it.

Elijah then turned to the young lad who just recovered from pain and smirked. Then she whispered hastily, "Get back to wherever you came from. Now."

Lord Caleb then darted a look at her, then whispered in her ear, "Aren't you angry about all these people saying such things about you? How about I get revenge for you? Besides, I was just saving you out of here."

All human beings were emotional animals. Caleb believed that Lady Melanie would be touched by his iniative and feel grateful towards him for his good intentions. He smiled inwardly at the thought.

'Once I gain a good relationship with this young lady, I will surely have an upperhand against that demon prince. Hahaha.' Caleb thought and laughed inwardly at his plan.

"That won't be necessary." Elijah turned him down casually. "Your help. I don't need it."

"Huh?" Lord Caleb blurted out in daze as his crystal of imagination started to crack, he stared at the young lady. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Elijah said with her brows raised, her expression was serious and stoic. "I have my own plan. I don't need you. So can you please stay far away from me. I don't even know you."

'Ha. Truly interesting. No wonder he was reacting that way. Well, I think the future will be fun ftom now on.' He thought.

"Alright. But I'm just here if you need me." Lord Caleb whispered with a cheeky smile. The young lady looked very beautiful but also adorable, especially when she puffed out her cheeks and glared at him like she was doing now. 'It was so cute, hahaha —'

"Hands off —" Elijah pointed out as she saw his hand reach out to her head once again and he dashed off before the young lady could stepped on his already injured foot once again, laughing all the way back.

"Lord Caleb!" Lady Gweneth tried to call out but the young lord left as abruptly as he had arrived, like a tornado. And so, the guests remained astonished as to what had just transpired.

"Is Lady Melanie that familiar with Young Lord Caleb?" Lady Vanessa was the first to speak. "I didn't know that —"

Lady Gweneth's face darkened a little.

Lady Vanessa continued, "Everyone knows that Young Lord Caleb is His Royal Highness, the second prince's good friend. If Lady Melanie is on such good terms with Young Lord Caleb, can it be that...his Royal Highness is also quite familiar with her?"

Both Lady Gweneth and Lady Elizabeth's face were livid.

"No, it's not like that!" Lady Elizabeth yelled out in her frustration and protested loudly. "That...that Lady Melanie just wouldn't leave my cousin alone. She's so annoying!"

"What?" Everyone was shocked by the statement.

"It's true!" Lady Elizabeth raised both hands as she began her series of lies. "There was this one time, I saw with my own eyes that Lady Melanie was sneaking into the Palace's Training Grounds just to get the knights attention. And Lord Caleb was there too. Too bad for her, his Royal Highness who was there didn't like it at all. He told Lord Caleb then to drag Lady Melanie to get the h—"

'This girl had the audacity to spout lies! And she was slandering Lady Melanie, herself, right in front of me!' Elijah smirked with a sly smile.

As a woman of the modern age, Elijah would never stand for such a thing!

"PAKKKHHH!!!" A loud noise echoed through the entire hall.

Lady Melanie slapped Lady Elizabeth hard on the cheek! Everyone was astonished! Nobody even noticed her walking towards Lady Elizabeth as everything happened too fast.

Lady Melanie Von Diovre really did it!

No one knew how she did it. All they saw was a figure in a fiery red dress sweeping by and the next thing they knew, Lady Elizabeth was standing there dazed, holding her swollen cheek after a loaded slap broke out. Lady Elizabeth wasn't the only one dumbfounded. The entire hall was as baffled as she was!

Lady Melanie, the only daughter of Duke Orvin Von Diovre, whose name was in the mud a couple of minutes ago had just slapped Lady Elizabeth in front of everyone! She might as well have slapped everyone of the Franchesca family!

'Is a this a declaration of war?' Everyone thought as both Von Diovre and Franchesca were both powerful families of the highest prestige.

Lady Vanessa was the first to realize what had happened! She hadn't expected that Lady Melanie could move so fast, let alone that she could be so bold! For a moment, she didn't know what to do, for she realized that things were beyond her control that instant...she only wanted to accomplish her end of the deal which is to make Lady Melanie's debut a failure. Though she might have accomplished this because of the bad reputation this event will have on her, but her safety and her family's safety were also compromised. Lord Pierre's instructions resonated in her head. He had told her to fawn over Lady Gweneth as best as she could and to give her a reason to target the young lady Melanie once the Duke is out of sight. But now...everything escalted to a point where even she couldn't do anything. Lady Melanie had just slapped a daughter of the Franchesca Dukedom in public!

"That...Lady Melanie..." Everyone stared with their mouths agape.

Only then did Lady Elizabeth come back to her senses, and her eyes went bloodshot red. "Lady Melanie! You dare hit me! How dare you hit me in front of everyone?! I'm gonna kill you!"

Lady Elizabeth flipped her sleeve and aggressively attacked Lady Melanie. Everyone blanched at the sight.

Infuriated, Lady Elizabeth brandished her nails at Lady Melanie's face. "I'm gonna rip your face off!"

Elijah smoothly shifted sideways, evading Lady Elizabeth's attack. Meanwhile, she lifted her foot a little and tripped the latter making her fall.

"Ahhh —" Lady Elizabeth cried as she missed her target and lost her footing. She fell head first toward a table! She sucked in her breath at the pain! THUD!

When Lady Gweneth saw what was going on, she glowered at Lady Elizabeth's uncultured behavior and said harshly, "Such capricious things to say and do! Are you a child? Get up this instant!"

"But —" Lady Elizabeth felt aggrieved.

"Now!" Lady Gweneth was very intimidating when she straightened her face.

Lady Elizabeth would have stormed off on any other day, but now, she only stood there stubbornly with tears in her eyes. "But it was her who slapped me first, mother! She must have been mad that her secret is now out in the open and that —"

"One more lie and I'll rip your mouth off, Lady Elizabeth." Elijah warned sternly, her face serious and void of emotions. For a 12 year old, her aura was shockingly intimidating. She just looked blank as if what she's dealing with were all trivial affairs. "I may have just debuted today but everyone must have heard of my reputation. I am afterall the evil young princess of Von Diovre Dukedom."

'That's right. Years of slandering from Lord Pierre and Lady Gloriette made everyone know me as an evil, capricious spoiled brat. I was overly protected by my father and so I did as I wanted and abused everyone around me. And that's how bad my reputation is.' Elijah thought and smirked. 'Since it's this bad, then why not take advantage of it? Afterall, I'm the Bad Guy in this story.'

'Villains are supposed to act as villains, right?"

***