《I was Reborn as the Villainess but I will become a Great Sage》Chapter 13
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I marvel at the brilliant display that is the party in my house. As I walk down the steps of the entrance to the ballroom, all eyes are on me and I feel my stomach clench as a nauseous feeling overcomes me. Never before have I ever had so much attention on me, not even in my past life—at least, not so publicly.
Sitting down at the table with my parents, I take deep and even breaths. My mother takes my hand in hers, and I look up at her to find warmth in her eyes. “Happy birthday, my baby Nova. Mama is so proud of you.” She then hands me a small box wrapped in a delicate, pearl white bow.
Immediately, the uneasy feeling in my stomach leaves me and I accept her present. “Mama is the best. Thank you.” I open the present and find a light, solid metal bracelet with an unorthodox cuff clasp.
“If you ever need Mama or Papa, you can insert your mana into it. If ever it’s broken or activated, we will immediately know.”
Ignoring my image, I jump out of my chair and give her a hug. “Thank you. I love you and Papa so much.”
“Oh my, Duchess Allandis has truly taught her daughter well,” a voice says from the nearby. I turn around and see a lady with a dark green dress, covering her laugh with a fan. “I would most certainly be ashamed to give such a show in front of others.”
“If it isn’t the Marchioness Tabbernakis,” my mother returns, gently pulling me off of her and smiling. “How is Gideon doing? I heard that he recently found himself in trouble with his peers at the Royal Academy.”
Kalista Foliage, the wife of the Marquess Tabbernakis, who wished to wed her son to me, laughs in her high society fake laugh. “It was merely a quarrel between young children.”
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My mother returns with her own laugh. “Is that so? I heard that he was suspended from his classes for a time, and this isn’t the first that it’s happened.”
I’m impressed by Lady Kalista’s ability to act. Her expression does not change at all as she deflects the attention back to me. “Don’t all young children do such things in school? I heard the current King himself said that if children weren’t allowed to fool around, they would never learn. On the other hand, I heard that the little lady’s acceptance to the Royal Academy was withdrawn. I wonder why that is?”
“That’s right,” another lady nearby says. “My husband is in the administration of the school and he one day said that the Duke Allandis’ daughter was withdrawn from the school.”
Kalista cuts in before anyone else can reply. “Indeed. If it were merely a mishap, Countess Chadon’s husband could help you sneak her back in within these two years that she has before she needs to begin school.”
I remember Countess Chadon, named Eris Flatteron, from the story, particularly because she tended to be super nosy. She would say things to affirm or deny facts, all the while pretending to take a neutral stance. Indeed, a person’s character cannot be denied.
“My, if I could be of help, I would love to, but my husband, as a pillar of the school, does not take bribes. I don’t know how I could be of help?” the lady replies.
Before my mother can respond, I say, “I thank you for your help, but I have no need to attend the Royal Academy.”
Kalista smirks. “I believe you don’t understand the prestige of the Royal Academy. All high society members send their children there to study for at least six years.”
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“If Marchioness Tabbernakis believes that I would fall for your son while attending the Royal Academy, the Marchioness is sorely mistaken. Even if my parents were to agree to that marriage, I would definitely never agree.”
Kalista’s smile breaks for a second. “What do you mean marriage, Lady Nova?”
“Exactly what I have said. You are trying to pressure my parents into sending me there, in order for your son to woo me.”
“I have never met such an unruly young lady-”
“Then you should leave. Marchioness Tabbernakis, you and your family are not welcome at my banquet.”
Her smile turns angrier and her face reddens. “It was a mistake to come tonight, Duchess Allandis. If I had known your child was uneducated, I would never have come.”
“For insulting my daughter, you and your family will be banned from the entire Duke’s estate,” my mother says. “I wish you a safe journey back home, Marchioness.” Her words, said with such a cold voice, send shivers up my spine.
“Very good, Duchess. I hope you won’t regret today.” After saying her part, she spins on her heel and leaves. Indeed, the antagonists always need to have the last word.
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Stray Cat Strut
In the year 2057, the world has become a corporate-run utopia for the super-rich, and a hellhole for all the rest. Catherine 'Cat' Leblanc is an orphan that is about as far from super-rich as one can be. When the Incursion alarms start blaring and the sky starts raining hungry xenos, it's just another blemish on an already piss-poor afternoon. A cyberpunk magical-girl alien-invasion LitRPG. It’s exactly as wild as it sounds.
8 110The Alterra Project
A hundred years from now, the Earth is now reduced to several domed cities after the last war raised the temperature across the planet, thus raising the sea level. The most common escape for everyone is virtual reality. A new game, Alterra Online, is set to release and promises to be the most realistic mecha/military/political simulation to date, as well as the first full dive massively multiplayer virtual reality game. Gray Wilhelm, like so many others, wants to be one of the first to play. What is Alterra Online's secret? Why do players feel more alive in the game than in real life? And why is the government and Alterra Corporation working on it together? Features:- NO Systems, Reincarnations, Supernatural Powers, harems, or brain dead females that chase after MC.- Believable characters (Moving from WebNovel to RoyalRoad and fixing the novel.)
8 143The Unexpected Engagement of the Marvelous Mr. Penn
In May, 1899, a hundred and fifty unassuming envelopes are delivered to households across the city. Most of them will be picked up by butlers and carried on silver trays to their recipients. All of them contain invitations to the wedding of Lady Eleanor Serrs to Mr. Ryce Penn. When the newspapers hear about it, they start buzzing. Who can blame them? This would be the wedding of the century! She’s the daughter of Duke Erravold Aubrey-Serrs, and the Marvelous Mr. Penn is one of the most famous men in the country. But Penn is famous for being the city’s most notorious thief. He’s an unrepentant attention-seeker with a taste for gems and danger. And Eleanor swears that she’s never met him. Chief Inspector Lucas Haley, Penn’s long-time nemesis, is called in to protect the Aubrey-Serrs family and try to figure out what the master thief is planning. He’ll need all his experience and tenacity for this case, as it quickly becomes obvious more is at stake than the reputation of an innocent woman.
8 77The Queen of School
Hi there, my name is Jason Corvus, you can call me Raven. My parents really (like a lot) wanted to have a boy, so when they found out that I was a girl, they still put me a boyish name. When my father was alive he always wanted to go to Tyndall Quantic Soren high school, but to the common people it was known as an elite school, but in reality, it is a school for those who are more than simple humans. My mother told me to fulfill his last wish and go to that school, but I am not that excited about it. Well, whatever. This time things seem more complicated than before, and I have no idea how long this time will last.
8 110PICTURES IN CARS: Traveling with Instagram
I like pictures taken in cars. Driving at night is kinda mysterious, an intimate thing - and what shall I say? Imagination's a wild thing, and there are stories hidden in your smiles.Instagram is so much more than a vanity thing. Sure, there are a lot of people out there, bloggers, starlets and so-called stars just promoting themselves, but there are also the lovers, the travelers, the real artists playing and inspiring with visuals and words, and so Instagram first of all things means worldwide traveling to me. Here's what I found on my travels there, I wanna share it with you!Title "Pictures In Cars" is inspired by a photo of wonderful hannahtaha.Cover photo © Hannah Taha Visuals belong 2 the artists and travelers. Words belong 2 me.© All Rights Reserved
8 110REAPERS - Book Two: The Hunger and the Sickness
The ancient legends say the goddess of Fate, daughter of Old Trickster, was born without a heart in her hollow breast-and never has it seemed more true. Reaper Team 3 has been shattered and reforged, sent far beyond the front lines and into the remote hinterlands in search of their lost comrades and a meaning behind the strange works of the hobgoblin empire. Meanwhile, intrigue unfolds in the capital city of Camshire, where powerful figures battle with words and knives over the destiny of the Reaper program and the geopolitical landscape as a whole. Familiar faces return changed and new ones emerge to be tested as the future of the Nation and humanity itself swing in the scales.---REAPERS is an epic set in a sprawling dark fantasy universe of tragic characters, complex villains, and shocking story turns.BOOK TWO is a novel-length collection of the Staves 8 through 14, continuing the story from BOOK ONE.Written by THE THORNTON BROTHERS.Visit our Author Page to learn more: http://www.amazon.com/author/thorntonbrothersOr check out our website at: www.themthorntons.com
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