Revenge Served Cold.

"Are you alright, sister?" asked Vincent in a worried voice. George was already pulling her back to her seat.

She looked at the ashen face of the baroness. She remembered how they celebrated her downfall. How they have goaded when her family died.

She was the one dying yet others asked them if they were fine and now the situation has changed.

But instead of feeling happy, all she felt was.. Bitterness.

Garrison was giving her a doubtful look but she did not care. His turn would come too. But just like she had died in the end, after witnessing the death of all her loved ones, he was going to lose in the end, after seeing the downfall of all his pawns.

"If you are not feeling well, you can go rest." Garrison, who was talking to the royal family all this while, finally turned to look at Ana.

His eyes were cold without a hint of worry, but Ana shook her head.

"I am the host of the party, it will leave a bad impression if I leave. I am already feeling guilty for the punishment of Baron Neverie." her voice was filled with fear and pain.

Many who were waiting for a chance to insult her paused. The feeling of protecting the weak and being strong started to grow among other noble ladies.

"Why are you feeling bad? Your brother did the right thing! How can a lower noble like him dare to slap the duchess?"

"Yes, I did not understand how he got the courage?"

Everyone started to blame the baron Neverie at once.

"Why exactly did he slap you?" asked Garrison, finally looking at her with his piercing eyes.

Ana's eyes fell. She was hoping that he would not ask the question in front of everyone but she underestimated him.

"Rowan, will you leave the table for a moment, please!" She looked so worried that many exchanged glances.

"Or can we discuss it later?" Her hesitation and fear for the child already told the story.

"Darling, how about you share a dance with me now?" George was the first to act as he held the hands of his daughter and took her away from the table.

Garry stood up and walked back to the table assigned for royal families. His majesty was not there but Meredith and Lucas had attended the party.

"Is she okay now?" Meredith looked worried as glance at dancing Ana. "it must have hurt."

"Did she tell the reason?" asked Lucas as he took a sip of his drink "I am sure Lord Neverie is not an unreasonable man."

"It was about Rowan! She is very sensitive when it comes to my son." Gary took a sip. His eyes were cold and devoid of any emotion.

Meredith and Lucas did not know what Garry was thinking at all.

"Oh! Did he spout nonsense about Rowan. If that is the case, cutting hands is a small punishment. He should be hanged to death." Lucas nodded as he looked at Garrison who just shook his head.

"I will investigate the matter first. Their family had been loyal to us for a long time." his reply brought a smile at the face of the siblings, "i think the party had served its cause already."

"Aah, you want to leave?" asked Meredith in an upset tone but he still nodded his head.

"It can't be helped then, we should leave too." Garrison stood up and bowed his head slightly as he walked back to his table and informed Rowan that he was leaving.

When the dance ended, Ana only found Rowan and Diana sitting on the table.

"Vincent needed to leave to give a statement and record the accident." Ana smiled as she understood the meaning of the words of her mother.

"You must go and rest too. Your face might swell without treatment." Ana looked at the exit door and nodded her head.

"Then I apologize." She stood up and left to rest.

The rooms were booked for everyone in the church if they wanted to rest. Third floor was booked for the married couple. Higher nobles were given the second floor, while the first floor was for the lower nobles.

Ana had already checked the names list before the wedding. Instead of going to the third floor, she stopped in front of the third room on the first floor with her maid.

"How could that wench! She did it intentionally to take revenge. I have told you not to confront her." the shrill voice of the woman fell in her ears.

A sly smile filled her lips but her eyes turned darker. She knocked on the door a few times and then started walking away.

"Are you sure about it, my lady? I think it is dangerous." The maid fidgeted but Ana took out her earrings and placed them in the hands of the maid.

The maid bit her lips but nodded her head when Ana started walking again.

The door was opened by viscount Felenotia.

"What is it?" he glared at the maid with menacing eyes when she bowed her head back.

"The duchess is returning to her room alone. No one would notice if she fell from the stairs. And it is hard to survive after falling from the third floor.

Even if she did, I am sure she would lose more than her hands."

"...." the man stared hard at the woman with doubt in his eyes.

"If it was done properly. She would not be able to see the face of the culprit. But maids can not be trusted. They may open their mouth when pressured. What do you think about viscount?" she asked with a smile when the man's eyes turned darker.

"I do not understand what nonsense you are spouting." he turned to close the door again when the maid laughed, pausing him.

"Give me five gold coins and I will not understand what I am sprouting too. What do you say, my lord?"