Chapter 6: A Friend Or A Foe

"Announcing the Duke of Sinclair and Young lady of house Sinclair." A man wearing the uniform of the royal Knights, shouted out the name of every person entering the ballroom.

It is customary for every guest to enter the ballroom in an order, decided on the basis of their noble rank. Caelestis Lancaster had long entered the ballroom. The Sinclairs ranked second in the hierarchy, if the royal family is excluded.

In terms of power and wealth, however, they are equal to the Lancaster Family.

Caelestis hurried his way to meet up to his best friend. They hugged each other and a formal greeting followed. 

Once they were done, Caelestis' gaze turned to Eleanore's. Instead of greeting her, he turned back to Hael to strike a conversation after giving Eleanore a completely out of syllabus expression.

Eleanore had never read about this in the Web novel, it was an expression out of the world of that book. What was it? Disgust perhaps? Or pity, no it was something in the middle of both.

Hael left Eleanore alone at a corner after explaining that he had something important to discuss with Caelestis. For some reason, Hael noticed a sense of sadness in Eleanore's expression. Did she also wish to join them in the conversation? However, as far as Hael could remember, she never had any interest in the kingdom's affairs before.

After a few more minutes and after the ball room was half full the final name was called out. "Announcing the renowned self made dressmaker, Baroness Stella."

Eleanore grabbed a glass of wine that had passed by her. It looked like red wine. As she sipped the sweet wine which felt bitter after she gulped it, she wondered why Stella was given such a flashy entrance.

Then she realised that it was none other than Caelestis. He must have made the crown prince give such an order to the announcer.

"Goodness! What great love he has for Stella!" Eleanore sighed as she took another sip of the wine, forgetting its bland bitter taste at the end.

"I know, right?" Someone stood beside her, holding the same wine Eleanore was drinking.

She was wearing a bright red dress, similar to the color of blood. Moreover, the color went well with her pale tone and beautiful grass green eyes and bright cyan hair.

It didn't take much long to recognise this person, Eleanore's sidekick. Flora Demaria.

"The Grand Duke must have done it." She continued. "That bitch, I can't understand what kind of black magic she has done on him."

One thing about Flora, she was a people pleaser and Eleanore was the only person included in people she liked to please. Eleanore could never understand her reason to act like that. 

Why would she ever need a friend like Eleanore in her life?

"Ha! Flora. You can stop now. You don't need to say all those things just to make me feel good." Eleanore assured her. "I am over him. If Baroness Stella wants him, she can have him."

Flora paused on hearing that. She was trying to organize her thoughts. Eleanore, who would do anything to have the Grand Duke by her side, to increase her glamor in the society, is telling her she is over him. That's a lie. An absolute lie.

"I am not lying and this is not a new conspiracy from my side. I swear." Eleanore turned to look at Flora. In return Flora's gaze also fell on her dearest friend, who had finally by god's grace come back from her delulu world.

"I am proud of you, my dearest friend. You have done well." They made a toast to Eleanore's freedom and drank the whole glass of the wine they both hated in one go.

Just then they heard whispers of people filled with shock and anxiety, murmuring in the ballroom. Eleanore turns to the way from where the most whispering sounds were coming from.

"The Grand Duke has done it. He has asked for Stella's hand." One said.

"I can't believe it." Others said, astonished by this strange occurance.

"She is truly a Cinderella." One more said, getting jealous of Stella's good fate.

Flora turned to find Eleanore in a completely awed state. Although she had declared her freedom from her five year long crush, it was still too soon to accept that.

On the other hand, that was least of Eleanore's worries. She was wearing a surprised expression because it was too early for him to confess his feelings. There was definitely still time for that.

To make things worse, the translucent window appeared with a new notification for Eleanore.

||Chapter 1: Kidnapping Of Stella

Caelestis Lancaster, one of the pillars of the country Seraphine, grows obsessed with his best Friend Stella. On the occasion of the Crown prince's 20th birthday, he finally confesses his love to Stella. However, Stella refuses to accept his confession by rejecting him in front of the whole crowd. Enraged by this, Caelestis kidnaps Stella from the party.

Eleanore Sinclair plays a very important role in getting Stella kidnapped by Duke Caelestis Lancaster, making people think she was only recovering at his mansion.

Quest 1: Stop Stella's Kidnapping.

Task 1: Ask For Caelestis First Dance.

Continue||

"What the hell?" Eleanore unknowingly let it out on reading the Task 1 floating in front of her two stunned eyes.

"Elle!! Calm down. Do not do anything stupid." Flora warned on hearing that. "You can't ruin their moment. I know it's too soon but you need to let it go. Get yourself together."

Eleanore looked at worried Flora and then turned back to look at Task 1. She could just refuse the quest but then her eyes fell on a note.

|| Note: If you do not complete the sub-quest.

Penalty: Reputation will decrease by 10000

If completed.

Reward: Reputation decrease by 1000||

'Does that mean no matter what I do my Reputation will deplete either way? But then again, at least I won't die. But why would the system ask me to dance with Caelestis? Will he even accept my proposal?' Eleanore looked horrible at that moment. 

Flora didn't know what to do. Getting her out of this ballroom felt like the best option to her.