<h4>Chapter 158 - Who Will Decorate The Wall?</h4>


    The banquet hosted by the Thornhart''s had exceeded my expectation. It was more grandiose, decent, and bustling than I thought. Unlike how I imagined it as a ughterhouse with a hanging carcass of humans around.


    "Greetings to her royal highness." A nobledy performed a curtsy in front of Sivi. "The house of Thornhart is honored to have you in our humbled banquet."


    Humbled banquet? Everything sparkled in my eyes. How was this humble? I pursed my lips as I stood behind Sivi and distanced myself a little. She had attracted a lot of attention.


    "Please, rise." Sivi gestured as she sported a kind smile. Her tone and movements exuded elegance. It was not hard to notice.


    "The House of Thornhart had always supported the royal family…"


    Sivi''s voice faded in the indistinct chattering spreading in the air as I looked around. Sivi was not the only one who attracted the attention of noblemen and women, but Yul as well.


    Yul told us he would get some drinks for us, but now he was trapped around nobledies. It was a surprise he hadn''t snapped and made a fuss. Instead, he was politely smiling as he conversed with thedies.


    ''Two-faced,'' Imented as I giggled internally upon meeting Yul''s re before I averted my gaze.


    I held my wrist, biting my inner lip as I gazed down. Being in this banquet of vampires entuated my disposition as someone who''s not part of the high society or their world.


    What did I expect beforeing here? Be epted and mingle with noble vampires? No. I expected this much, and I''m not even sad about it.


    I''m just bothered that ever since we arrived here, I felt like I''m being watched. Hence, I was being careful and had been trying to distance myself from those two.


    "Lilou," I snapped back to the currentpse upon hearing Sivi. "Come here, dear."


    Sivi held her hand towards me as I sported a forced smile and nodded. I trudged towards her and stood beside her.


    "Greetings, Countess Thornhart." I curtsied, applying all the lessons I learned back in the pce.


    If Sivi didn''t send me a proper instructor to learn the pce etiquette, I would have done what Fabian taught me. I didn''t want to judge Fabian''s lessons, but I believed the pce was slightly more meticulous in this area.


    "I heard a lot about the future duchess. It''s a pleasure to finally meet thedy who captivated the heart of the Duke of Grimsbanne," Countess Thornhart remarked, smiling, while discreetly studying me.


    "Lady Lilou is a precious sister to me. I hope you will be more epting of her in the future." Sivi chuckled as she linked arms with me, startling me with her action.


    Sivi, I don''t actually n to be epted, were the worlds tempting to escape my mouth, but I bit my tongue to stop myself. I only sported a smile and kept my thoughts to myself.


    "Fufu! I see your royal highness had grown fond of Lady Lilou."


    "The Avolire pce had more colors and life when Lilou came. Even the aloof ninth prince favored her~!" Sivi eximed proudly, chuckling while covering her lips with the back of her hand.


    Sivi''s ims attracted the attention of nobles around us. I bit my lower lips, discreetly tugging Sivi''s arms to stop her. She''s purposely doing it.


    "Oh, my! No wonder the ninth prince who never attended any banquet even once is here! I must thank Lady Lilou, then," Countess Thornhart humored as sheughed along with Sivi.


    I never thought Yul''s attendance was more than just rare. No wonder the nobledies fawned around him with such enthusiasm.


    "Oh, my, sister!" Suddenly, a familiar arrogant voice of a woman came from our side. "I didn''t know you''d be attending as well. I didn''t believe the rumors about her royal highness attending as someone''s partner."


    I turned my head in the voice''s direction and saw her prancing her way towards us, fanning herself elegantly. Cassara.


    "Greetings to her royal highness." Countess Thornhart greeted as she performed a curtsy. I instinctively did as well.


    "My, sister. It''s good to see you," Sivi said with a smile. "You''re as beautiful as ever!"


    Cassara smirked, nodding approvingly before shifting her sharp gaze at me. "I see you had slowly adjusted to the Capital."


    (How dare you act like one of us?) were the direct trantion that registered in my head from her remarks.


    "It''s all thanks to her royal highness''s guidance. Although I''m stillcking and inexperienced, I will do my best not to disappoint her," I replied politely, bowing my head as there was no reason to argue with her.


    I''d rather let her insult me now and leave me alone immediately. It was already hard to put a front before these many people. Did she think I''m enjoying this?


    "Oh?" Cassara arched her brow as she lifted her chin up. "Is that so?"


    That was quick for her to concede. I didn''t expect that.


    "Pfft—!" I nced at Sivi, who let out a restrained chuckle, covering her sly smirk with the back of her hand. "Sister, you don''t have to feel disheartened. I know Lilou will understand that you are busy so you didn''t have spare time to spend time with her."


    "I am, indeed, preupied because of the recent events," Cassara replied calmly with a nod. "Speaking of which, can I have a moment with you, sister? And Countess?"


    I furrowed my brows as I scrutinized Cassara. I thought she''d lose her cool and act arrogant after Sivi''s mild provocation, but she didn''t.


    Sivi narrowed her eyes as she exchanged eye contact with Cassara, and then nodded.


    "Alright," Sivi agreed and cast me a look. "I will leave for a moment. Will you be alright with Yul?"


    "Yes, your royal highness. You don''t have to worry about me," I replied politely, as it seemed it was something important.


    Sivi only gave me a warm smile before they walked away. Now that Yul and Sivi weren''t here, the sense of dread I''d been stomping down crept up to my heart. I''m all alone.


    I discreetly walked back and stood near the wall, keeping my chin up. I looked around, and Yul was nowhere to be found. I''m fine being alone and not gathering attention, but I felt like the more I try, the feeling of being watched gets stronger.


    "This banquet is more enervating than I thought," I murmured under my breath, sighing, as I just wanted to get home.


    "Sister, what are you doing here all alone?" Suddenly, Dom''s yful voice reached my ears before I sensed his figure beside me.


    I slowly raised my head and faced him. "I just thought that someone should be left to decorate the wall."


    "Haha! If you say it like that, it''s quite upsetting to hear." Dom chuckled, his hand carrying a ss of red wine. Was it really red wine, though?


    I only offered him a smile to end a conversation with him. I never had many interactions with Dominique inparison with Yul. So, his presence brought difort to me.


    "Are you waiting for Yul?" He asked.


    "No, your highness."


    "Is that so?" Dom nodded in understanding. "How about I apany you? You can''t be alone here, you know the reason."


    I wanted to refuse his offer, but he had a point. "If it''s not a bother, thank you, your highness."


    "It''s alright. I don''t n on taking home a nobledy tonight," He replied with a nonchnt shrug. "Anyway, there is an event, the Thornhart prepared for entertainment. Do you want to see it?"


    Dom held his ss to his lips, keeping his eyes on me.


    "A separate event?" I murmured as I knitted my brows in intrigue.


    "You can say it''s more like a sport," He said, handing his hand for me to grasp. "You''ll know if youe with me."


    "You won''t lure me out to a quiet ce to kill me, right?" I blurted out, covering my lips as soon as I realized it.


    "Haha! You have quite the imagination, sister! However, even if I have that intention, I won''t just admit it." Dom chuckled mischievously as he shook his head. "Fret not. You might not believe me, but I had no n such as that. Stefan will torture me for life without killing me," He humored as the corner of his lips stretched into a grin.


    I studied him for quite some time before I took his hand. "I will die anyway."


    Little did I know, the thing he was talking about was something that would prove me how little my imagination was.