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The Archduchess was well aware of this: but her expression had not changed. Still with the same relaxed look she waited for Her Majesty\'s answer.

Camilla gave her a piercing look.

«How dare that insolent…!»

From the start, the viscount\'s daughter had invited Leriana to the banquet — to enjoy her misery. She wanted to see the disappointment and pain on her face: after Camilla had taken everything from her. But she never expected that she would allow something like this to happen.

The girl herself decided to intervene and directly point out Lady Ashford\'s situation.

But at that moment, as if she realized what she was about to do, Rachel held up her hand.

— «I\'ve got it,» she whispered.

— But…» Camille hesitated.

— Don\'t worry. Just wait here.

The viscount\'s daughter nodded and did not argue.

After calming her fiancée, Rachel glared at the Archduchess. She never accepted her hand.

— Your Grace, what do you think you are doing? — She said coldly.

Leriana smiled.

— I have already told you. I want to begin our introduction with a dance.

Rachel arched an eyebrow.

— Is there nothing about this situation that embarrasses you?

— «Embarrassed?» Hmm… Should there be?

Is she playing dumb or does she really not get it? What was going on only irritated Rachel more. Join the journey at m-vlempy _r.

— I already have a fiancée,» she reminded him softly, «You\'re only disadvantaging yourself by doing this.

Leriana pretended to think about it.

— Oh, that\'s the thing…» she nodded understandingly. «Well, that\'s all right. Your fiancée isn\'t a wall and she\'ll move over.

Good thing they were close enough at this point that only Rachel could hear the Archduchess\' answer. Otherwise, such blatant impudence would have been the cause of a scandal.

Rachel\'s eye twitched. She hadn\'t expected a high-ranking lady to behave this way. Such direct rudeness among the noble ladies was hard to find…

But the girl held on. Camilla had waited so long for this feast… Rachel did not want to spoil it with bloodshed.

So, clenched her teeth, she merely gritted her teeth:

— I\'m sorry. But I don\'t dance with anyone but my fiancée.

Leriane gasped.

— How noble of you. I truly admire it!

Rachel hummed and turned away from her.

— You should know that I will turn a blind eye to your transgression today only.

— Of course, of course…» the Archduchess smiled politely as she lowered her hand, «I\'m sorry I didn\'t think of that right away.

When the incident had gradually dissipated — Rachel went dancing with Camilla as planned. The latter turned out to be very happy that the girl had stood up for her in public. And was even more jubilant over Leriane\'s defeat.

Let her know her place!

The Archduchess herself stood in the crowd of guests with a glass of wine — and watched them dance. From the outside it seemed that they really looked very well together. Elegant and sophisticated, Camille moved beautifully and complemented Rachel perfectly. People said it was a match made in heaven.

But Leriana\'s response to that was only a snicker.

«In heaven? Big deal!»

The girl had long ago decided that no matter what happened, she would not let anyone take what was hers.

***

After the banquet was over towards midnight — the guests slowly began to disperse. Camilla was also one of the first to leave.

— Your Majesty, I\'m so tired tonight… Do you mind if I go to bed first?

— Of course,» Rachel nodded at her, «The servants will escort you.

The girl herself still had some work left to do in the study — and she was going to go to bed as soon as she finished it. Kissing her fiancée goodbye on the forehead, Rachel promised that she would come to her soon.

The guards escorted Camilla to her chambers, while Rachel herself turned and headed in the opposite direction. It didn\'t look like anything was going to happen. Suddenly…

— Your Majesty.

Rachel suddenly heard a voice behind her. She turned around slowly.

Standing across from her was the Archduchess Ashford. The same one Rachel had almost forgotten about.

— What do you want? — She frowned.

— Nothing in particular,» Leriana shrugged, «I was just waiting for us to be alone.

Rachel was taken aback. Hadn\'t she already made her intentions quite clear to her? She had no intention of having any relations with girls other than Camilla.

Was the Archduchess so shortsighted — that she couldn\'t understand it the first time?

Rachel grinned. They were alone in the middle of an empty corridor, and the girl could no longer hide behind fake politeness.

— Mind you,» Rachel addressed her informally, «If your behavior continues to cross the line… I don\'t care about your status. I don\'t care if you\'re an Archduchess or something.

Leriana was genuinely surprised.

— Your Majesty, I\'m afraid you have the wrong impression of me… Where have I acted \'unworthily\'?

— You know all too well,» she growled, «Your attempts to hurt my fiancée\'s honor are utterly futile.

— Oh, I see…» She smiled, «But I didn\'t do it for Her Highness.

Her pupils dilated.

— Then what was your purpose…?

They had only known each other one evening: but the Archduchess had already behaved extremely frivolously toward her. Now she\'s stalking her after the banquet is over…

In a word, strange.

Rachel could not understand the reason for such defiant behavior. For the sake of power, was the Archduchess trying to get close to her in this way? Well, it was a bad idea. Rachel had not made any corrupt deals with aristocrats and had no intention of doing so.

Therefore, if this cheeky girl continued to walk the line like that, then…

Right now Rachel intended to dot the I\'s and cross the T\'s once and for all. But the next second the unexpected happened.

Lady Ashford suddenly pressed her against the wall.

Rachel was at a loss for words.

— What are you…?!

— You are my target, Your Majesty,» Leriana said bluntly.

Rachel stared at her in astonishment.

— I want the entire empire to know that I fell in love with you at first sight.