Chapter 160 - The Banquet of Sinister Schemes (Part 3)

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Verone saw the arrival of the Crown Prince and Princess. Her eye twitched when she noticed the matching outfits of the couple. No matter how elegantly she dressed, she still looked like an oddball when she walked together with the couple.

Verone was already in a dilemma before the start of the banquet. It seemed that the Crown Prince and Princess planned to make her feel alienated. Everyone in the banquet would surely notice that she was the third wheel. Her plan of getting together with the Crown Prince and make it looked like they were the real couple might go down the drain.

She did not know whether the Crown Princess was the brain behind wearing matching outfits with the Crown Prince or someone else. Even her accessories were carefully chosen. Zenia was wearing the finest pieces of jewelry that money could buy. They could distract the onlookers to divert their prying eyes from her face.

"Young Madam, hurry up and don't drag us down. We are about to make our entrance. Count Camarillo and his guests might think that we are deliberately making a late appearance just because the Crown Prince is with us." Zenia scolded Verone in front of many people.

Vaughn did not say anything out loud and kept quiet. Verone did not like the Crown Prince's lack of concern.

'This little devil already started attacking.'

Everyone began to murmur and some even pointed their finger at Verone. Those who were friendly with her before thought that she was a member of the Royal family. Because of Zenia's scolding, they learned her true identity.

"That's the second wife of the Crown Prince? Why did she come together with the Crown Prince and Princess?"

"Just look at her. The Crown Prince and Princess wear matching suits, while she looks like a sore thumb."

"Is she even allowed to attend this banquet? She's just a second wife. My mother told me that her position is no better than that of an ordinary concubine."

"It's good that she is beautiful, I think that's her only redeeming quality. I heard that the Crown Princess is the daughter of Ovid Anisen, and everyone knows who Ovid Anisen is."           

"I don't think that the Crown Prince would keep her if she's not beautiful. Her family background is only so-so. The Crown Princess looks elegant while the second wife looks like a peasant if not for her gorgeous dress."

"Hush, I heard that the second wife is the Left Minister's niece. Be careful with the things you say."

Verone and Zenia could hear them all. Zenia smirked while Verone gritted her teeth. She could not bring herself to yell at those people for fear of disgracing herself further. Zenia did not hesitate to attack first. With just a few sentences, she made people speak ill of Verone.

Someone in Count Camarillo's side reported the incident about the Crown Princess and Verone, and he nodded his head. He looked for the Left Minister who was busy talking with someone whom the Count had never seen before. It seemed like the Crown Princess was no pushover. He should not have believed the rumors.

He sighed. The banquet was arranged by the Left Minister and only used his name. He owed the Left Minister a debt of gratitude when his family almost went bankrupt. In return, he promised the Left Minister that he would do everything in his power to fulfill whatever the left Minister wanted him to do.

Count Bernard Cordove was also there and even caught wind of the incident in the front gate. He smiled.

'Looks like the Crown Princess will give another awesome performance today.'

"Father, why are you smiling silly?" The Count's youngest son, Kristoff Cordove, teased his father when he asked.

It was the first banquet that the father and son attended together. Count Cordove knew that the Crown Prince would be attending the banquet with his second wife. There were rumors that the Crown Prince would soon abandon his main wife in favor of the second wife. Count Cordove knew that it was impossible to happen. He accepted the invitation just to see how things would end.

"Oh, I'm looking forward to seeing a good play."

Kristoff gave his father a puzzled look, and Count Cordove simply smiled at his son.

The banquet was meant to humiliate the Crown Princess. Although Count Camarillo was reluctant to do it, he was compelled to fulfill his promise. It was a known fact that Ovid Anisen loved his only daughter very much, not to mention the overly protective Commander Zander Anisen. No one would dare touch that powerful family, but Count Camarillo had no other choice. After the banquet, he was almost certain that his family would not be spared from Ovid's wrath.

The guard at the front entrance of the hall tapped his staff.

"Presenting His Highness the Crown Prince and the Second Wife."

Everyone looked at the entrance and murmurs echoed in the air. Zenia took Vaughn's arm and smiled secretly.

'You want to humiliate me by not giving me an introduction? You are looking for trouble.'

Zenia made sure that Verone would not be able to walk together with them and could only stay behind. Verone clenched her fist.

"Is that the Second Wife holding the Crown Prince's arm? Who's the woman behind them, the Crown Princess?"

"That can't be. The woman walking behind them is beautiful. I heard that the Crown Princess is extremely ugly."

"The woman holding the Crown Prince's arm should be the Crown Princess. She's wearing a face veil to hide her ugliness."

The women chuckled when someone mentioned the Crown Princess' ugliness.

"But compared to the Crown Princess, isn't the Second Wife more pitiful? I mean, she can't even walk side by side with the Crown Prince."

Verone was getting angrier by the minute. She did not expect that she would suffer from humiliation in the banquet that the Left Minister meticulously organized. Count Camarillo was one of the Left Ministers supporters, and she could tell that everything was planned by the Left Minister.

"Your Highness Crown Prince, it is my honor to have you here in this banquet," Count Camarillo greeted Vaughn, and then he turned at Zenia's direction, "This must be the Second Wife."

"Count Camarillo, this is the Crown Princess, my wife Zenia Anisen," Vaughn corrected Count Camarillo who began to sweat profusely.

Everyone was looking at them. Verone was waiting for Vaughn to introduce her to the Count, but Vaughn did no such thing.

"Oh, so it's the Crown Princess. My apologies, Your Highness, but I specifically asked for the presence of the Second Wife in the invitation. I thought that His Highness would come with only the Second Wife."

Murmurs began to fill the air once more.

Zenia sneered, "Count Camarillo, the Crown Prince and I are already married. I am the rightful owner of the title of Crown Princess. You should know that when you invited the Crown Prince, you have also invited me since we are a husband and wife who went through a wedding ceremony. I thought the people of Tissuria put great value in their customs and traditions. If not, I would never have attended this banquet."

Count Camarillo saw how Zenia's eyes sparkled. He became speechless for a moment. It was the first time that he had seen such a beautiful pair of eyes.

"My apologies Crown Princess, I did not mean to offend you."

"None taken. I suggest that you be careful the next time around. The next person that you offend may not be as forgiving as me. This is just a piece of friendly advice. You may never be as lucky as you are today."

Count Camarillo felt the threat in Zenia's words. He believed the Left Minister when he told him that the daughter of Ovid Anisen could be easily manipulated. The woman he talked to was someone who knew how to use her power and authority.

"You have other guests, Count Camarillo. We will not detain you further," Vaughn patted Zenia's hand, which was holding his arm.

They walked away from Count Camarillo, and Verone could do nothing but follow behind. The Left Minister saw everything and cursed Zenia.

'This woman is a lot more troublesome than I thought.'

He looked at Verone who obviously felt the Left Minister's gaze but decided not to turn around. The Left Minister shook his head and tried to calm himself.

Count Cordove sneered when he heard the conversation between Count Camarillo and Zenia. The banquet would get more interesting later. He was glad that he did not miss it.

The members of the Royal Family who attended the banquet, including Damien, saw everything. The Second Prince who seated himself near the entrance heard and saw everything loud and clear.

'Ah, sister-in-law really hid her true self well. I did not expect her to be like this. Interesting…'

Damien clenched his fists. Once more, his plan was not going according to how he designed it. He began blaming Zenia for all his failures. He did not know that most of them were actually foiled by her. He wanted to slash her right there and then, but he was aware that doing so could only invite more trouble to him.

Zenia and Vaughn took the table near the Second Prince who lifted his wine glass to them. Zenia bowed her head slightly to acknowledge his gesture. She knew that the Second Prince was their ally. Vaughn blocked Zenia's line of sight and hid his wife from the Second Prince's view.

The Second Prince shook his head and chuckled lightly. He had never thought that he would see the day when his younger brother would act childishly. It was obvious that Vaughn did not want him to look at Zenia. It only made the Second Prince more curious about the true appearance of the Crown Princess.

Vaughn ordered Verone to sit across the table while he sat beside Zenia. They did not bring any maids with them, and Verone was feeling extremely annoyed at the moment.

The drinks were served, and Zenia deliberately whispered something to Vaughn to give ample time for Verone to put something in the glass. She noticed that Verone wiped the sweat from her brows. Zenia had a hunch that Verone would use Lotharia.

Verone stood up and came to Vaughn, "Crown Prince, let me do the honor to serve you a drink."

Vaughn took it from Verone and lifted the wine glass, "Enjoy your meal."

Verone smirked and slowly walked to her chair. Zenia quickly switched the spiked wine glass with another one when the attendant carrying a tray of glasses of wine passed by her. Verone did not notice the switch as she imagined the things that could take place later.

Frome Zenia's action, Vaughn knew that there was something wrong with his wine.

He whispered to his wife, "Is it Lotharia?"

"Uhuh."

"What will happen to the one who drinks it?"

"That is no longer my concern, and it is not my problem anymore."

Vaughn looked at his wife who happily drank her wine.

'This little devil is really something…'

Soon, music began to fill the hall. Count Camarillo and his wife went to the center and began to dance. Everyone enjoyed watching the delightful dance of the couple. Countess Lizbeth Camarillo had been known for her grace and beauty. She danced so well that Zenia felt like she would only disgrace herself when she danced together with the Countess.

Count Cordove and his son were looking intently at the Crown Prince's table. They could feel that the Crown Prince and Princess were in a harmonious relationship. Count Cordove sighed. He was still hoping that the Crown Prince would soon divorce Zenia. He would no longer wait for someone else to propose first and would directly see Ovid Anisen in person. 

"Father, is the Crown Princess the woman you wanted me to marry before?"

"Hmm, I sent a proposal to the Anisens before the talks of marriage between the Crown Prince and Zenia Anisen popped up. But I did not receive any reply. I believe that the proposal never reached them. Otherwise, they should've sent a rejection reply."

"I think Zenia Anisen is not like what the rumors say."

"The rumors about her are so vicious, but you should not believe them right away."

"I agree with you, Father. She seems to be a fascinating woman. It's too bad that the Crown Prince is already married to her."

Count Cordove looked at his son, "Do you like Zenia Anisen?"

Kristoff blushed and did not answer his father. For Count Cordove, his son's reaction was enough to answer his question. He sighed and regretted that he did not make a follow-up on his proposal earlier. Zenia Anisen was the daughter-in-law that he had been waiting to meet all his life.

After Count and Countess Camarillo finished their dance, almost everyone stood up together with their dance partners. Verone also stood up to ask Vaughn for a dance, but Zenia beat her to it. The Crown Princess looked at Verone and sneered before she led the Crown Prince to the dance floor. Verone could swear that she saw Zenia sneering at her behind the face veil.

"Is this okay? I mean, wouldn't it be better if we just sit and watch everyone?" Vaughn whispered in Zenia's ear.

Their actions looked intimate in the eyes of others. The murmurs started once again. Most women talked about Verone as the unfavored second wife. Verone gritted her teeth and tried to calm herself.

"If we are dancing, it is easy for me to look around and see. Come twirl me more so I can survey the area better."

Vaughn sighed and followed Zenia. One of Damien's supporters went to Verone and asked her for a dance. Vaughn and Zenia were busy scanning the place, and they did not notice that Verone inched her way toward them.

Verone pretended to trip and lunged forward to Zenia.

"Aaahh!" Verone shouted to attract everyone's attention as she deliberately pulled Zenia's face veil.

It was too late to avoid Verone's attack, and Zenia's face had been totally exposed.