Chapter 12: Returning to the mansion

I stood there, in shock, trying to process how all of this had happened. 

It was my debutant ball, and then Hera arrived in a gown so fancy you'd think it was her wedding or at least her ball. It was her fault I was covered in cake and wine. 

Then, in front of everyone, she made it seem as though I had pushed her.

Eugene came as he put his jacket over me, gently taking my hand as he got me out. 

I was still wondering if I was in the right book, as he asked the servants to prepare a hot bath for me.

I smiled, saying, "Thanks, Eugene. This is probably the last time I'll see you for a while, isn't it?" 

Eugene nodded with a smile before saying, "Sorry your birthday didn't go as planned, but I do have something, I hope this will make your night better, though you may not want it, considering your current circumstances."

"Come on, just give it to me."

He hesitated before giving me a chocolate cupcake, saying, "I asked one of the maids to get one for you from the kitchen. It's your favorite, right?"

I stared at him, shocked, before grinning as I said, "I'd hug, but I don't want to get whatever is on me on you."

Eugene suddenly gently moved my hair out of the way before kissing me on the cheek, mumbling, "Happy birthday." 

His face was completely red, making him look even more adorable than usual!

I couldn't help but lightly laugh as he stuttered, "Well, t- till next time, Lady Selene."

"Till next time, Lord Eugene," I replied, smiling.

I had finished taking a bath when Trixie entered my room, holding a knife. 

She didn't give it to me as she said, "If you plan on doing it, don't back down at the last second."

"Huh? Wait, did you think I was going to kill someone?!" I exclaimed, shocked.

"Yes."

I sighed before collecting the knife and cutting the cupcake in two, handing one half to Trixie. 

"I just wanted to eat a cupcake with you. It's no fun eating it alone on your birthday."

Trixie looked at me, surprised, before saying, "You really need friends."

"Shut up! Just go!" I replied, throwing a pillow and blushing out of embarrassment.

Trixie just laughed as she left, saying, "Happy birthday, Lady Selene."

"Thanks," I mumbled, with a tiny smile.

I finished the cupcake before going back to reading the book I had left for that disaster of a ball, eventually dozing off.

I had already told Trixie we would leave first thing in the morning. 

I told the princess goodbye, thanked her family for letting me have my ball here, and talked a little before leaving for the main mansion.

A week had passed since the incident as I stared at the newspaper in my hand.

'Adopted daughter of Earl Sebastian makes her grand debut and has already left a bad impression on the nobles.' 

'Selene Deacon has anger issues?'

By the way I DO NOT!

'Date of the crown prince pushed by Selene Deacon.'

Lies.

It wasn't just one newspaper about me and what happened at the ball, but rather 7 newspapers about it.

One for each day since the ball. It was like the biggest incident of the year.

I turned to the one for today as I read, 

'A week Lady Hera finally commented on the situation.'

"Oh, it was all just so terribly unfortunate for dear Selelina," Lady Hera recounted, her voice soft and tinged with genuine sorrow that seemed to emanate from her very soul. 

Her large, expressive, beautiful blue eyes, prettier than any gem still slightly red-rimmed, conveyed deep distress not for herself, but for the evening's host."

If I didn't know better, I'd say the person who wrote this article has already fallen for Hera.

"She looked so startled, and I was just trying to help, to wipe away the ghastly spill from her lovely gown. My immediate thought was only for her comfort. To write the wrong I had done." Lady Hera said.

It was at this point, as Lady Hera selflessly attempted to clean the stains and food from Lady Selene's ruined attire, that the incident escalated. As Lady Selene was visibly angered by the situation reached out and pushed Miss Hera onto the polished marble floor. 

A hush fell over the room, rapidly replaced by a murmur of concern as the crown prince rushed to Lady Hera's side.

Despite the shock and the sudden pain, that must have been Lady Hera's first words when we asked about it were not of complaint, but of immediate concern for Lady Selene's reputation. "Oh, no, no, please, don't fuss over me," she whispered, tears finally brimming in her eyes.

"Selelina certainly didn't mean any harm, I'm quite certain of it. It was simply an unfortunate…reflex, perhaps? 

She's still calling me that?!

We were both so startled, and I must have been terribly clumsy, or perhaps just so flustered, because the next thing I knew, I lost my footing. 

I hope no one will blame her for this unfortunate incident. I wouldn't want the reason everyone turns against Lady Selelina to be because of me."

'I doubt that, but why exactly does she hate me so much?' I thought to myself, 'But I have to admit she's good at this, way too good.'

I stopped reading, turning to Trixie as I asked, "Why am I reading this again?"

"So next time you'll remember if you're going to push someone, don't do it with so many witnesses." Trixie calmly replied.

"I-..." I froze, not even knowing how to reply to that, when I suddenly heard someone scream my name.

"Selene Deacon, show yourself!" a female voice exclaimed from outside.

I felt a chill down my spine. For some reason, when I heard that voice calling my name, I knew I was going to get wrapped up into something.

I turned to Trixie as I asked, "Who's the crazy person screaming my name?"

"If I'm not wrong that would be Lord Sebastian's niece, your cousin-" Trixie calmly replied, but was interrupted mid-sentence

I ducked, barely dogging one of the doors that literally flew across the room. I hid behind Trixie as a beautiful woman with long curly brown hair and piercing purple eyes walked in.

The maids followed behind as they tried to calm her down, saying, "Please, my lady, you know how much Lord Sebastian hates it when you break things."

"Yes, yes. Send the bill to my father, he'll handle it." She replied, scanning the room before stopping as she spotted Trixie.

She walked towards us as she said, "Trixie, move."

"Of course," Trixie said with a smile as I cursed her under my breath.

The woman stopped in front of me as she said, "Short black hair, red eyes like blood, you're Selene Deacon, aren't you?"

"Depends on who's asking," I replied, trying to figure out how she made the door fly across the room. 

My thoughts were cut short. I didn't even see it. All I know is one minute I was flying across the room, the next I hit a table, breaking it in two.

My thoughts were foggy, blood dripping from my head as she stared at me before walking away, saying, "Heal her. I need her conscious."

A few of the maids immediately rushed to my side while the others went to get a healing potion.