The Villainess Does It With Class

Chapter 108 - Prelude To The Ball Pt. 3

She had never owned such a fine dress before, and a very expensive one as that. Just from the material and the branding alone, she is certain that this is no ordinary piece.

Her eyes then drifted to the embroidery in the innerside of the neckline which had caught her attention.

Elen.

Estelle' arms began to shake from shock that she almost dropped the gown from her hands. She clearly knew of that name and she's very familiar with it. It was why she was feeling light headed all of a sudden.

She was not crazily interested over these type of things because there was no reason for her to be. She only have 3 decent dresses in her possession and they are all outdated and old.

Estelle who grew up not having the lavish life did not once wished or got jealous of other people's clothes. She is aware that having those ugly feelings wouldn't make her situation any better.

But she truly knows of the esteemed mysterious designer who is always the talk of the town. All of her creations would always be a trend after it gets out, and every single noble ladies out there are like thirsty birds waiting to flock.

"W-why?" She spluttered out in awe. She blinked once, then twice, confirming what she's seeing.

Elen's dresses are something that is not acquired so easily. She heard that there's always a bid and costs a fortune. Estelle knew all of that, hence she also knows that the person who sent this is not a joke.

"They must be a very very rich person..."

To be able to afford this and then give it away...

Again, there came her question as to why. Why would someone give this to her and why would they waste money on her?

Estelle carefully placed the dress back to the box and slowly sat down, feeling dazed.

---***

There was a knock on the door before a uniformed man discreetly lets himself inside the big spacious room. It was grand, fit for a royalty. Everywhere you look, a valuable pieces can be found.

There was a sweet smelling scent that wafts all over the place, intoxicating anyone who would breathe it in for too much.

A slender figure of a woman was sitting in front of the vanity table, looking at her reflection as one of her maidservants brush her long dark hair. She was wearing nothing else but a red silk robe that accentuated her curves graciously.

The man cleared his throat before speaking.

"There's a letter from Forcas, Your Majesty," he said.

"Hmm..." was her only response.

The man then got closer and offered it to her.

The woman's equally dark eyes stared at the envelope for a second before her hands reached out and grabbed it.

A smile made itself known from her thin ruby lips as she read what it said. She felt extremely pleased by the contents of the letter, eyes dancing in merriment.

"It seems like everything is falling into places, Albert," she breathed out.

Her maid acted as if she does not hear anything nor see anything, just as what she was trained to do.

The woman then leaned forward to the mirror and touched her smooth white skin on her cheek.

"I will have them in my hands soon."

Albert did not answer, he doesn't need to. There was a considerably long silence that pervaded the bed chamber before he broke it.

"Is Her Majesty going to attend the Founding Ball?"

Her dark eyes dimmed for a second, mood getting damp out of the blue. The maid felt it and she couldn't help but be anxious.

If Her Majesty gets angry, it would end up ugly.

Her head then tilted to look at Albert and let out a small chuckle.

"I am a Regina, a queen. So of course, I would." The woman turned to the mirror, admiring herself once more-- "Isn't it time to let myself known again? It's the Empire's Founding Event after all."

Albert, like the competent butler that he is, nodded.

"Understood. I will prepare everything Her Majesty needs."

Albert then bowed in respect and tactfully reatreated from the room, leaving them.

The woman raised her hand, dismissing her maidservant who heeded her command.

Left alone in that wide expanse of a grand bedroom, the woman stared at the same face who was looking back at her. The reflection looked cold but beautiful. Her dark magnetic eyes sharply glinted, showing a deep resentment. To whom? Only her knows.

She then stared at the big portrait of Emperor Mikhail which was hanging just in front of her bed. She deliberately had it put there, so every single time that she would open her eyes, he would be the first face that she would see.

She then would be reminded of him and her hatred.

"My Emperor... I bet you had already forgotten about me..." she whispers.