Going back 15 minutes...

"So, how good are your acting skills?" The Voice asked Selena.

"My... acting skills?" Selena pondered. "I don't think I have ever acted in my life."

"Seriously? That can't be right. Everyone puts up an act at least one time in their lives. No one can show their true selves all the time. When you are desperately hungry, but still stick to table manners in order to not embarrass yourself, that is acting. When you are hurt emotionally but don't show it on your face, that is acting too. When you accidentally eat a spicy chili in front of your date but don't go immediately drink from the river even though your throat is now a summer home for the devil, that is superb acting."

Selena was silent for a moment before answering, "That last one was too specific... Are you that person in question?"

"That's beside the point..." The Voice ignored her question, "Are you saying that you have really never acted in your life?"

"I... If you put it that way, yes, I have..." Selena replied, remembering the incident where she and her little brother were both injured while playing but she pretended to be fine to make sure he gets treated first. " But I doubt it would be enough to accomplish what you want me to do."

"Relax, I can teach you..." The Voice replied casually.

"Now?" Selena asked. "How much can you teach me anyway before the party ends----"

Whoooshh.....!!!

Before Selena could finish that question, a surge of information came rushing into her head like a river in a storm. Her feet gave away and she sat on the ground.

Memories, that didn't belong to her affixed themselves in her mind. The memories looked like someone was watching theatre plays, but the theatre was inside a small box, switching into another play with the click of a button on a smaller box.

"Wh-What is this?" Selena felt alarmed.

"These are all the movies, tv shows, and dramas that I have watched. I am only showing you those which resonate with your surroundings so as to not confuse you too much." The Voice replied within the stormy surge.

"Etch into your mind their acting, their poses, their voices... make it your own, become an actor, that would not shame those who you are inspired from." The Voice echoed, as the surge came to a stop.

Selena was in a daze for a moment as her brain organized the information. She didn't expect this at all. The Voice taught her all kinds of things that would take years to learn. Isn't that... too convenient.

"Alright... chop, chop!!" The Voice ordered, "Get up. Also, take that broken cursed bangle with you. I have a plan that will make Grant wish he was dead and you would still be able to keep your hands clean. Also, I am pretty sure I can help you win back your father's love."

Selena was still for a moment, before closing her eyes. She exhaled deeply as if she was releasing all the strain on her body and soul, sending a small shiver down her body.

She got up from the ground gracefully, her dress was not even moved that much by that action. She started walking out of the room, but her steps were so light now that even the heels she was wearing made no sound. Her walk was so perfect and well-timed, her dress did not move at all as she walked and if someone saw her right now, they would think that she was floating in the air.

The Memories of Acting were deeply etched within her mind, but the memories alone would have been useless if she was unable to comprehend them. It was her ability to absorb whatever she was taught at an aggressive rate that brought out such an incredible change in her actions. Selena and the Voice may not be aware of it now, but inadvertently, she had already become the world's greatest actor. In the future, even after a century, her acting skills would be the talk of the theatre world. She would one day be dubbed as... The Ice Queen of the Stage.

"Now that I think about it, I don't even know your name yet..." Selena asked the Voice. An eerie calmness in her tone.

"Hmm... I used to have one, but for some reason, I can't remember it. You know what, just call me, Soul..." he replied.

"Soul?" Selena chuckled inwardly at that name, "That's a good name..." she said, as she finally left the room, leaving behind the chains that shackled her. If there would be a book on the future happenings of the world, this room would hold a significant place as the origin where the real change of the world begins. As for whether the change would be good or bad, only time will tell.

***

"I-I am sorry for that. I didn't realize you were going to meet the Prince." Patricia explained her actions as she was dancing with Grant. Her meeting with the Prince was unexpected, and it almost made a huge mess for Grant.

"Sigh... don't worry about it, we got away cleanly. So it is only a slight hiccup.", Grant replied as he leads the dance, surrounded by many such couples, dancing to the music.

Truthfully, Grant was a bit disappointed. He didn't expect Patricia to lose herself like that. The engagement between him and Selena was not broken officially yet. If he was seen with another lady before it was announced, it would be detrimental to his image. Not to mention, the wrath of Marquis Booker Manor that he would have to face. Marquis Booker and Selena may have become distant over time, but she was still his daughter. It was the first time Grant realized how lacking Patricia was in thinking before she acts. Selena always kept her wits whenever she was around. He may not have liked her too much, but her perception of the situation was good and her actions would change accordingly. This was also the reason his Father wanted him to marry Selena. He knew he had to train Patricia properly if she was to replace Selena in his father's eyes.

"I-I am still worried about something..." Patricia spoke worriedly, which brought Grant out of his train of thoughts.

"What's wrong?" Grant asked making sure that no one around them was hearing to their conversation.

"W-What if, Selena... she... made a scene? This was all too sudden. What if she immediately reported to the Marquis?" Patricia spoke her mind. She had known Selena for a long time and the latter considered her to be a good friend. Such an intense betrayal, surely she would retaliate.

"Humph... You are worried about nothing." Grant made it clear. "Selena is a Marquis's daughter. She knows better than to make a scene. If she did, her own family would also have to go through the muddy swamp of gossip. She is already fallen in the eyes of the Marquis, the gossip would make her fall even more."

"As for telling the Duke about us..." Grant continued, "She wouldn't dare, at least, not for a couple of days considering her closed nature. It will give me enough time to arrange a couple of things with her and strike a deal."

"Strike a Deal?" Patricia asked.

"Yes, I accidentally stumbled onto some information that I know she would be interested in. It would be enough to get her off my back until I properly break off the engagement." Grant replied confidently.

"S-So, everything is fine...?" Patricia asked hopefully.

"Of Course, everything is just fi----" before Grant could finish that sentence. A cold voice emanated from behind his back.

"Are you enjoying the party?" a female voice asked. A strong chill was felt from the voice which sent shivers up Grant's back.

The Voice was not loud, but it was still heard by everyone at the party. The Voice carried pain, anger, and even despair. Everyone is guilty of something, some are small whereas some are big. So when Selena asked if they were enjoying the party, a chill similar to Grant's was sent up everyone's spine as well. Their guilt made them feel as if Selena was talking to them. They immediately hushed up and stared at the figure descending down the stairs. The entire Hall fell silent, even the musicians stopped, intimidated by Selena's voice.

To quiet down an entire hall of aristocrats with a single question, it truly spoke of Selena's current acting skills. Even, Princess Rose was stumped. Forget her, even the First Prince turned his head.

Grant's heart stopped momentarily at the sight when he turned around. Selena was standing on the stairs, staring at him. If her sharp gaze could pierce through his heart, he would already be dead. The others also noticed her face. There were a variety of emotions displayed on it. Sadness, pain, heartbreak, and anger. She displayed the emotions so perfectly that everyone felt that the lady in front of them was hurt emotionally pretty badly and the target of her question was the one who hurt her. It immediately lit a spark of pity in everyone's heart and anger against the one who hurt her.

"Who is she...?" The silent crowd immediately started murmuring.

"I don't know, but it's obvious she is distressed about something."

"Ah...!! I remember meeting her once. She is Marquis Booker's daughter."

"Marquis Booker's daughter...? Isn't she engaged to Marquis Johnson's Son? Did something happen between them?"

Such was the mentality of masses. They would immediately assume things without clarifying the matter. However, thanks to Selena's acting and the information network of the Aristocrats, their assumption was spot on.

"Marquis Booker's daughter?" Princess Rose frowned. 'If this girl was Selena Booker, who is the person next to Grant?' she thought.

'It's over...' Grant sweated profusely. He didn't expect at all for Selena to make such a scene. 'Why? Isn't she afraid that Marquis Booker's name would also be muddled by this incident? Or maybe... she wants it to happen. Crap...!! Did I underestimate the shallowness of her relation to her Father?'

By his side, Patricia trembled violently. She was truly scared out of her wits. She unconsciously held onto Grant's arm. Many people who noticed it immediately frowned upon the sight. Her actions confirmed their theories.

Ignoring everyone else, Selena walked slowly down the stairs. Unlike before, her walk was not graceful, but it looked like she was barely able to stand, let alone walk as if she would fall down with the slightest wind. It added to her pitiful image that was already engraved in the minds of the audience.

"Why... Why did you do this, Grant?" Selena asked as she walked towards the now despised couple.

Grant unknowingly took a step back, his voice trembling, "L-Lady S-Selena, this is not a good place to talk about this. L-Let's go someplace else." He had to contain the situation, and fast. For every second he wasted, his image took a huge hit. He had to take her away fast.

"Go somewhere else?" Selena asked with a bitter tone, "You mean inside the room on the upper floor where you broke off our engagement and threw this ring at me?" She continued while showing the engagement ring in her hand in a way that everyone could see it.

Gong...!!! A sound went off in Grant's head. If there was any hope of salvaging the situation, it was now gone. He gazed around, and as expected, the crowd was either looking at him with disdain or discussing amongst themselves while pointing at him. It should be noted that everyone present at the party were unmarried young masters and ladies from various manors. Since it was a Prince's party, his guests were also around his age. All the adults were in a different hall celebrating. Such was the custom. If there was an adult, maybe they would have noticed the peculiarity of the situation, but the young minds were simply mesmerized by Selena's acting.

"How shameless..."

"Is the woman by his side the one he broke off the engagement for?"

"Is he an idiot?"

The Crowd's chatter invaded Grant's ears and he realized that he was being blamed for the entire incident even though it was Selena who came down making a scene. He was hoping Selena would not make a scene because Marquis Booker would also share the shame. But contrary to his expectations, everyone felt pity for Selena and no one blamed her for making a scene after the supposed brutal actions of Grant.

While the show was continuing as expected, The First Prince was observing Selena. When she produced the ring. He frowned, but not because of the ring, but because of the ominous cracked bangle on her wrist. He recognized it as a magic item and immediately beckoned his aide.

"Find the Court Mage immediately, and be discreet," he ordered in a grim voice. Years of military training had made him sensitive to unnatural circumstances. If the situation would go out of hand, he would interfere if necessary, but he would need information first, for all he knows, the goal of this entire fiasco could be him.

Selena dropped herself down to her knees and spoke in a pitiful voice, "Why Grant, why did you do this? What could my best friend Patricia give you that I couldn't, please tell me."

The Crowd's imagination exploded with that sentence. It made clear to them that Grant dumped Selena for the woman by his side who was called Patricia and was also the best friend of the victim. This made Patricia the target of the audience's scorn as well. She trembled as she tilted her head down, not daring to face anyone, let alone Selena.

But their imaginations did not stop there. 'What could she give you that I couldn't?' that sentence reverbed through their brains. Why would someone of Grant's position dump Selena and go after a Baron's daughter? Isn't it obvious? She gave him something that Selena didn't wish to give before marriage. How vulgar...!!!

If Grant and Patricia were not buried enough yet, this made them reach the center of the earth. Premarital relations were not that uncommon, however, to have it exposed was another matter altogether. Not to mention, to actually cheat on a fiancé and then break off the engagement himself, did he did not have any shame at all?

"I-I..." Grant trembled violently. He also understood the implications behind those words. But he couldn't refute them completely as it was somewhat true. Even though they didn't go the full way, they still had some intimate moments. The guilt was written all over his face, and many people in the crowd managed to see it, thus solidifying the theory.

Seeing no way out, Grant gave up on weaseling out and decided to face the fire head-on.

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