Chapter 59: Villainess Princess × Slave (22)

Cassian stood outside the grand double doors of her private quarters, his tall figure framed by the warm glow of the corridor torches. He wore his formal black royal guard outfit, complete with silver dragon embroidery along the shoulders, his long dark hair tied back neatly.

Click.

The doors slowly swung open.

A collective gasp echoed from the hallway servants as Lyra stepped out into the candlelight, trailed by her entourage of anxious maids.

She wore a breathtaking red gown fitted tightly at her slender waist, flowing down into a shimmering train embroidered with delicate gold thread. Her long, pitch-black hair fell in loose, silky waves over her shoulder. With her fair, jade-like skin, soft rosy lips, and dark eyes, she looked utterly majestic.

Cassian’s breath hitched in his throat. For a brief second, his dark eyes locked onto her, completely paralyzed by her captivating presence.

Lyra glanced at him, putting on her absolute best villainess smug "What are you staring at, slave? Guide this princess to the banquet hall!"

Cassian quickly snapped back to reality, lowering his head slightly. "Yes, Your Highness."

He stepped forward, extending his broad arm to guide her down the corridor. As they walked side-by-side through the palace, the contrast between her radiant dress and his rugged, dark stature made them look like a picture plucked straight out of a royal painting.

The moment they entered the grand imperial banquet hall, a hush fell over the entire room.

Hundreds of high-ranking nobles, foreign diplomats, and knights turned their heads, their eyes widening in awe as Lyra made her grand entrance.

"Goodness... Her Highness Princess Lyra is truly divine tonight..." a noblewoman whispered behind her fan.

"She is indeed the country’s greatest charm," a young Duke murmured, unable to take his eyes off her.

However, as the crowd’s gazes drifted toward the tall, handsome man walking half a step behind her, excited chatter broke out across the hall!

"Wait... who is that man standing beside her?"

"Is he a visiting prince from the Eastern Empire?!"

"He looks so striking! His posture, his facial features... I thought he was a high dragon royal or something!"

"A prince? Are you blind?! Look at his shoulder crest- he’s just her personal slave guard!"

"A slave?! Good grief, they look like a majestic royal pair together!"

Cassian heard every single whisper fluttering through the crowd. His pitch-black eyes remained calm, but deep inside his chest, a strange, quiet satisfaction flared at the nobles comparing him to a prince standing by her side.

TRUMPET BLASTS ECHO!

"His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor! And His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Julian!" the herald announced loudly.

The entire hall bowed deeply as the tyrant Emperor and Prince Julian entered, taking their seats on the elevated royal dais.

Julian’s amber eyes swept across the room, landing directly on Lyra. A cold smile curled on his lips as he gestured toward the empty chair right beside his own.

"Lyra, my dear sister," Julian purred smoothly, his voice echoing over the quiet hall. "Come, sit beside your Imperial Brother tonight."

A shudder ran down Lyra’s spine. Her face went pale as a ghost. Sit beside the crazy tyrant brother?! I’d rather sit on a bed of nails!

Cassian noticed her shoulder flinching. His jaw tightened into a line, his fist gripping the hilt of his sword as he watched her reluctantly step onto the dais and sit beside Julian.

Cassian took his place standing directly behind her seat, his tall, brooding presence casting a dark shadow over her chair.

"You look breathtaking tonight, sister," Julian whispered close to her ear, his hand reaching out to lightly pat her gloved hand. "I missed your lovely face while I was preparing for the northern war."

Lyra forced a stiff, robotic smile, her body trembling with hidden tension. "T-Thank you, Imperial Brother..."

[ Host! Stay strong! ] the System’s voice chimed in her head. [ Don’t let him intimidate you! Remember, you have a villainess reputation to uphold! ]

I’m trying, okay?! Lyra wailed in her head. He looks like he wants to chop me into pieces and feed me to his hunting dogs!

Just as the suffocating tension was about to break her, servant after servant began pouring into the hall, carrying silver trays piled high with lavish, mouthwatering imperial dishes: roasted duck glazed with honey, steaming buttered lobster tails, sweet berry tarts, and sparkling golden champagne.

Lyra’s dark eyes instantly lit up like bright stars!

The fear, the anxiety, and the Crown Prince’s chilling presence completely evaporated from her mind the moment the sweet scent of glazed duck hit her nose.

FOOD! REAL ROYAL FEAST FOOD! Lyra screamed in absolute bliss internally.

Forgetting her royal etiquette and her terrifying brother sitting right next to her, Lyra grabbed her silver fork and began happily digging into her plate like a starved little squirrel!

Nom! Nom! Nom!

Cassian, standing right behind her chair, watched her rapid transformation with speechless eyes.

One second she was a terrified, shivering bird trembling under Prince Julian’s aura, and the next second her cheeks were stuffed so full of roasted duck that she looked like a cute, chubby hamster

Ding!

A bright blue screen flickered silently in the corner of Cassian’s vision.

[ CASSIAN DRAVEN’S HATRED METRIC UPDATED! ]

Hatred toward Host: 47% ➔ 45%

This girl... Cassian thought, a faint, hidden tug pulling at the corner of his lips. Is her brain made entirely of food?

However, because Lyra was eating far too fast out of pure joy, her modern clumsiness struck hard!

Clatter!

Her silver fork slipped right out of her hand, bouncing off the silk tablecloth and tumbling toward the floor

"Oops!" Lyra squeaked, instinctively diving under the table to grab her fork.

"Lyra?" Julian asked, raising an eyebrow in complete utter confusion as his sister suddenly vanished beneath the tablecloth.

Under the table, Lyra scrambled for her fork, but her dress got tangled around her heels! As she tried to push herself back up, her elbow accidentally bumped into the table leg!

WOBBLE!

A tall glass of red wine sitting near the edge of the table wobbled dangerously, about to tip over and spill alcohol all over her expensive dress and Julian’s golden robes!

Before the glass could shatter, a swift hand reached out from behind her chair!

Cassian had reacted with speed. He caught the tumbling wine glass mid-air without spilling a single drop, while simultaneously reaching his other large hand under the table, catching Lyra firmly by her small waist and lifting her back up onto her plush chair!

Lyra popped back up above the tablecloth, blinking blankly with a piece of parsley still stuck near her lip.

"Ah... thank you," Lyra mumbled under her breath, her cheeks flushing bright pink as Cassian quietly set the wine glass back down and handed her a clean silver fork.

"Careful, Your Highness," Cassian murmured raspy and low, his dark eyes glinting with quiet amusement. "The food isn’t going to run away from you."

Julian watched the swift, intimate interaction between his sister and her slave guard, his amber eyes narrowing into slits.

"You seem very attentive to my sister, slave," Julian drawled smoothly, a toxic aura leaking from his frame. He reached out, his long fingers casually grasping Lyra’s chin and turning her face toward him. "Lyra, if this dirty guard bothers you with his lingering hands, I can have his arms severed right now."

Cassian’s pitch-black eyes turned deadly cold.

Seeing Julian’s fingers touching her delicate jawline, a sudden dark jealousy erupted deep within Cassian’s chest! His heart pounded violently, his hands clenching into a fists as a murderous intent flared in his soul.

He hated seeing anyone touch her. He hated the way the Crown Prince looked at her like a prize. He wanted to rip Julian’s hands off her skin right then and there!

Ding!

[ CASSIAN DRAVEN’S HATRED METRIC UPDATED! ]

Hatred toward Host: 45% ➔ 41%

Lyra quickly pulled her chin away from Julian’s grip, slapping her hands onto her cheeks. "N-No need, Imperial Brother! He was just saving my dress from the wine! Leave him be!"

Noticeably annoyed, Julian let out a cold scoff, turning back to his own glass.

Lyra let out a massive sigh of relief, patting her beating heart under her breath. Phew! Saved his arms again! System, give me a medal!

[ Host! Stop eating duck and pay attention! ] the System’s voice suddenly screamed frantically inside her head, flashing bright yellow lights everywhere! [ LOOK AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE BANQUET HALL! IT’S TIME! ]

Lyra froze. She quickly wiped the parsley off her face and turned her gaze toward the grand double doors of the banquet hall.

The heavy trumpets sounded once more, far softer this time.

"Announcing the arrival of the Chief Imperial Physician... and his daughter, Lady Mabel !" the herald called out.

The crowd of nobles parted.

Walking into the golden candlelight was a young girl wearing a simple, elegant white silk dress. She had glowing porcelain skin, and clear, innocent blue eyes. She radiated an angelic, holy warmth that seemed to illuminate the entire dark palace.

It was Mabel- the original world’s Female Lead!

Ding!

A bright red notification screen popped up right in front of Lyra’s face!

[ MAIN PLOT EVENT ACTIVATED! ]

OBJECTIVE: Intentionally trigger a public confrontation with Mabel by orchestrating a scene where she "accidentally" spills wine all over your dress! Use the ruined dress as leverage to publicly humiliate her in front of the entire noble court, demanding her immediate punishment, and force her to become your personal lower-tier maid on the spot to "pay off her debt"!

PENALTY FOR FAILURE: Severe Neural Punishment!

Lyra swallowed heavily, her heart dropping into her stomach. She slowly turned her head to look at Cassian standing behind her.

Cassian, too, had shifted his pitch-black eyes toward the entrance, his gaze locking onto the angelic girl in white who was walking straight toward the royal dais.

This is it... Lyra thought, a strange, bitter knot tightening inside her chest as she stared at Cassian’s focused face. The Female Lead is finally here. The story is finally starting... and he is going to fall in love with her.