TWO

3.

"This is my sister, Scarlett," he said, introducing me to the group of nobles surrounding him.

I curtsied just as I had practiced millions of times, back straight, hands just lifting up the dress to the correct angle, head slightly down. After curtising, I glanced up at them through my eyelashes just as I had practiced before. I knew this would make me look demure and pretty. Just as my mother had taught me.

The noble who was very apparently the leader of the gang just gave me a simple glance and then returned his attention to my brother.

"Your sister?" he asked, his eyebrows slightly pinched as if trying to search for a distant memory.

"My sister Scarlett, you might have seen her once or twice when she's small," my 'brother' waved his hand nonchalantly. "She stayed in the countryside the last few years. The country air is good for her health, they said."

This seems to settle the question in his mind.

"The girls are over there." The leader waved dismissively towards the tea gathering near the fountain surrounded by flowers.

Apparently he didn't even try to understand my brother, even though he wished to recruit my brother in his quest for the throne.

"See you later, my dear sister," my brother gave me a wave.

I was dismissed. I knew no one was paying me attention, but I curtisied once more and then walked towards the girls near the fountain. Many high ranked noblewoman attended this party, but I only had one target.

4.

I returned to the Lockhart's townhouse before my brother. For the ladies, it's just a tea gathering, after the tea gathering the selected nobleman went on with their card games.

The enormous townhouse was just a shadow of its past, the clock chimed, its sound echoing in the empty mansion, signifying the arrival of midnight.

That was when my brother, Dante Lockhart, stumbled through the door of the drawing room.

"How sweet," he grinned as he saw me. He pulled off his gloves and threw them on the floor. He walked towards me and raised his hand to pat me on my head. "Waiting for me?"

I stayed still as he patted my head. After that I picked up the leather gloves he had thrown on the floor. He was drunk. When he was drunk, he was even more unpredictable than usual.

He had also thrown his coat on the floor. I picked up the coat on the floor without saying anything.

"Look what a nice sister I have!" Dante smiled as if he meant that sincerely.

I lowered my eyes and focused on soothing the creases on his coat.

"How did I do?" I asked silently.

"Don't worry," he said. That's when I realized he was looming in front of me. "My sister is as perfect as always." He picked up a lock of my hair.

I raised my eyes and stared at the man with light blond hair in front of me.

"Don't use those antics on me," he said with the same smile as before. The same smile but his words came out icily cold.

"Don't worry, you're going to snare Prince Gregory in no time." Dante continued to twirl the golden brown lock in his hand. "You have it in your lineage."

He finally gave up my lock of hair, instead he tapped at the corner of my eye and said, "Don't look at me with your eyes."

He then walked out of the room.

He had always hated my eyes, hated when I stared at him. Especially when he was drunk. Maybe because I had my mother's emerald green eyes. The actress who became the mistress of the old Duke Lockhart. The woman who drove his mother crazy.

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