I bit my lower lip, getting frustrated. Catherine had already brought the best evening gowns she had prepared for the past few weeks without me knowing.
Catherine hid her doubt in my fashion sense behind the excuse of my being unavailable due to the training. Yet, I stared at the elegant dresses she had prepared.
"Your grandpa had requested the renowned designers to prepare the gown for your ball, Miss. Still, I visited the shop numerous times to make sure everything comes out perfect, My Lady," Catherine said proudly.
I could feel Catherine's words as my eyes fell on the elegant, royal-blue gown. It appeared straight out of a historical novel with butterflies on the chest and near the waist.
"I had my eyes on it since these dresses arrived, Miss," Catherine said as her eyes sparkled, noticing my gaze. She picked the gown and beckoned the other maids to put it on the mannequin.
"You will look like an absolute Cinderella, My Lady," Catherine cheerfully said, spreading her arms at the gown.
I couldn't take my eyes off the shiny surface of the gown. I wondered if any girl could resist wanting to look like a princess wearing that gown.
However, I had lost my zeal to feel the soft fabric of those dresses due to the incident earlier. My face turned bitter as I recalled the encounter with Caspian earlier that day.
"You better not bother to look acceptable in front of the guests. You are already weak, fragile, and no good with zero looks. What would change if Athereld danced with you? Just because he was gentle with you a few times, do you think you carry any significance to him? I have grown up with Athereld. Guys like him can sweet talk to anyone closing his eyes," Caspian said, pinning me on the wall.
Caspian's grip tightened on my wrist as he increased the pressure. Nevertheless, it was his words that hurt me the most. I stared into his eyes to comprehend if it was disgust or anger.
I couldn't fathom why Caspian was mad at me for asking Athereld for my first dance. However, rather than Athereld, Caspian's words bothered me the most, ruining my entire mood.
Caspian had crossed the boundary already. I pursed my lips, refusing to lower my gaze as we fought a few more seconds, locking our eyes.
"You are unappealing," Caspian said calmly, releasing my wrists. "Nothing about you piques my interest.''
"Do I look like I ever tried?" I bitterly asked back as Caspian left.
*****
"How can the boss say something so cruel to a lady?" Catherine questioned as her eyes widened at my words.
"Has he always been such a thug?" I asked Catherine.
"Boss can get very rough with his enemies. However, he had always been such a gentleman around Miss Aphrodite. He had never mistreated me, either. Yet, he is unexpectedly harsh with you. Probably, he thinks of you as a rival," Catherine said calmly.
"Then I should show him who the boss bitch is," I said, clenching my fists. "Had I not been too much of a goody-two-shoes?" I mumbled.
Catherine stared at me confusedly. However, Catherine appeared more offended than I was by Caspian's words. The woman had developed an unexpected affection towards me. I heard the other maids gossiping about Catherine and how she would always put herself first before anyone. Catherine had always been stiff toward everyone, maintaining a consistent distance, faithfully serving my grandpa.
"My Lady, you must look perfect. No one shall steal your shine tonight. The boss should regret his words," Catherine said determinedly.
"Steal the show? What's there to steal?" I asked flatly. I couldn't comprehend if there was something to steal from an average-looking girl like me.
"What are you talking about, Miss?" Catherine asked as her jaw dropped. "It has become a ritual for the packs to seize the attention of the debut ball, to humiliate the new successor," Catherine explained, fixing the off-shoulder royal-blue gown. "Though it had always been Lady Aphrodite in each party. She doesn't even need to try. Whenever she appears at a party, she automatically gets the spotlight due to her attractiveness. She even wears minimal makeup," Catherine said.
I felt uneasy hearing about Aphrodite. No wonder Caspian could make such crude remarks without considering the emotions of the person before him. However, he had no obligation to develop a liking toward me. If he was disgusted with my appearance, he could avoid me.
"Do not worry. I will give you the perfect makeover. You will glow like a princess," Catherine said as her eyes twinkled, breaching my thoughts. "This debut ball is for you. No matter how beautiful Lady Aphrodite is, I will make sure you look the best like you should."
"As if," I said subconsciously as Catherine's eyes followed me. I didn't care about the attention of others or looking good in front of them.
"How can I punish him, dressing like a princess?" I questioned, smirking while gently stroking the fabric of the gown.
"Miss?" Catherine questioned, frowning.
********
The ball began earlier than I expected. The guests had already filled the massive hall. Perhaps it was due to the position my pack held among the wolves.
Humans were also invited to the party. I could see the press on the red carpet, capturing every moment of it. A smirk appeared in my mouth as I observed patiently on the second floor behind the curtains.
Catherine didn't lie when she said people would be preparing for this event for months or even years. The glamor almost blinded my eyes.
The women tried their best to create the most captivating appearance. Most of them had their eyes on Caspian despite the news of Caspian getting married circulated all over the internet.
Caspian entered the ball shortly. The entire ball couldn't take their eyes off Caspian. Who could think a man could mesmerize an entire hall with his beauty?
The press forgot to click photos as Caspian entered the hall in his Marc Darcy navy-blue suit. The maroon v-neck, sleeveless waistcoat tightly encircled his slender yet masculine figure, revealing the curves in his body.
The white shirt beneath indicated his perfectly formed abs with the navy blue, slim-fit formal trousers. He buried his fingers in his back-brushed silky, blond hair as the folded sleeves revealed the veins in his forearm with the dragon tattoo.
"How can a thug look this good?" I mumbled. However, I didn't get enough time to appreciate Caspian's enchanting appearance as the cameras flashed like thunder engulfing the entire area.
Aphrodite entered, gently linking her arms with Caspian's. Aphrodite appeared dazzling in her brown ball gown with a plunging neckline and spaghetti straps leading to a beautifully embroidered sheer body. The details drip from her natural waistline onto the tulle skirt with a thigh-high slit.
Aphrodite's straight black hair had touched her waist behind with beautiful rounded eyes and plumped lips. Undoubtedly, the couple appeared to be descended from heaven.
"Can humans look this good?" I wondered. I could feel Catherine's words. The ball was already stolen. Anyone could be considered blind if they could release themselves from Aphrodite's charm.
However, I had no intention of capturing the entire ball's attention. It was only Caspian who needed to get punished, after all. I smirked, thinking.
It was time for my entrance. My grandpa looked handsome as usual, even in his fifties. He sobbed outside my room for almost half an hour, wanting to escort me to the ball. Nevertheless, I refused to appear before him, crushing his expectations. I felt bad.
However, I doubted if he would ever agree to escort me like this. I thought, fixing the lapels of my boxy, oversized, dark blazer with a tight-fit sleeveless white crop top inside and dark trousers.