"....Angelina, do you know the reason behind this?" The duke asked.

"Uhm...I'm not sure..." Angelina pretended to be clueless. She didn't want to reveal too much.

It's best to keep your most ofyour skills hidden.

"Then...." Why did Chase Casspan invite her? Is he... could he perhaps be interested in Angelina...? the duke pondered.

He knew Evelina always admired Chase so he was a worried.

Alex glanced at Evelina. She had a blank expression. But he knew she was extremely disappointed and sad.

The hatred towards Angelina grew in his heart. How dare she hurt my precious sister!

Evelina only had one question in her mind: why?

Didn't she treat Chase well? She gave him her handkerchief!

This was clearly a slap in her face!

She gave him her handkerchief, yet he invited her sister instead!

The duchess frowned. She was worried her daughters were going to ruin their bond as sisters over a man.

She wanted her family to be in peace. But it seemed fate had other plans.

"Lina, are you going to accept sir Chase's invitation?" The the duchess asked her daughter while cutting her piece of steak.

"Well....it would be rude of me if I declined..." Angelina acted like she didn't have a choice.

Hmph! Don't act like you didn't want this! Evelina wanted to go over there and beat Angelina. Unfortunately she couldn't lose her temper in front of everyone.

The butler handed Angelina the invitation and helped her open it.

Angelina read it quietly.

"It says...young master Chase would like to invite me over to the Casspan Mansion...today!" Angelina pretended to be surprised.

"Oh? Does it say why?" The duchess said after taking a sip of her wine.

"It does not" Angelina replied.

"Hm..well that's alright." The duchess smiled.

"You should go get ready, Lina. Don't embarrass the Skyler family."

"Of course, mother" Angelina nodded politely.

"Good" the Duchess nodded as well.

********

Angelina wore an elegant light pink gown, and to top it all off, Angelina wore a matching hat.

Angelina got in the carriage.

When she arrived at the Casspan mansion, Angelina saw the Casspan family waiting for her at the entrance.

Angelina gracefully got out the carriage, using Maid's hand for support.

"Mm" the Marchioness nodded in agreement. She thought Angelina was a suitable candidate to be her son's wife.

Angelina approached them. She bowed politely to the family of three and they bowed back.

Angelina...or Lilith spent most of her life with the Casspan family. So she knew what they liked and disliked.

The duke liked a polite and intelligent women.

The duchess liked a virtuous and generous wife.

And Chase...she wasn't too sure. But she did know that he liked a strong, considerate, and kind hearted lady.

Evelina fit Chase's wishes nicely. Of course aside being strong.

Evelina would cry and complain easily to Chase. So she definitely wasn't the perfect embodiment of the traits Chase hoped for.

But Chase didn't seem to mind. He also likes it when his partner relied on him.

"Angelina Van Skyler greets the marquess, marchioness, and young master Casspan."

The marquess nodded.

"It's a pleasure to be having you here with us, lady Angelina." The marchioness said as she smiled in a elegant manner.

"The pleasure is all mine" Angelina smiled back.

The butler of the Casspan mansion led the four inside to the drawing room.

Angelina had a peaceful and good conversation with the Casspan couple. They seemed to be satisfied with her.

They praised her for her Intelligence.

Then the Marchioness said something a little alarming.

"Haha. Lady Angelina is quite knowledgeable. Quite different from those ."

Angelina's body slightly stiffened. She asked, "pardon me for asking, your grace. But would your grace please tell about these rumors?"

"Oh..." The marchioness widened her eyes. It seems she realized what she said would be upsetting to Angelina.

"Oh well...I won't hide this from you. I think you deserve to know." She paused then continued.

"I heard from a couple young ladies gossiping about you during the last gathering I went to. They said you were a rude, and improper lady."

"Many rumors say that after you came back, lady Evelina has been terribly bullied by you."

"This rumor, expesially makes me uncomfortable.... They said that 'the real Angelina' died when she was still ill, and her body was possessed by a demon..."

The more she said, the more softer the Marchioness's voice turned.

Angelina's poker face stiffened hearing the Marchioness's words.

"That ridiculous!" The marquess exclaimed.

"Why would such rumors be spread about lady Angelina?" Chase also seemed upset.

Angelina sneered in her heart.

'my...my... Chase you look quite upset... But you certainly didn't care back then...when the whole empire cursed me behind my back...'

The marquess and marchioness wasn't able to accompany Chase and Angelina all day. They were busy and had many things to do. They eventually left them alone.

Angelina sighed and said, "Young master, I can't help but feel envious..."

Chase looked quite puzzled. "Why is that?"

"Young master has wonderful parents... Young master should cherish them more."

The Casspan couple had a harmonious relationship and they truly loved their son.

Unfortunately marquess Casspan would die in the future, and the widowed marchioness would commit suicide after two years of pain and loneliness.

Chase was still confused but he smiled.

"Of course. I truly feel blessed to be able to be born from such a loving couple." He said as his eyes carried affection.

'wow....must be nice having a family that truly cared' Angelina thought.

Lilith as a child was surrounded by luxuries. She was raised in one of the most powerful noble family.

But now that she thinks about it...

Her childhood was mostly filled with studying.

She spent most of her days studying, going to gatherings, and more.

The 'friends' she had weren't actual friends. They were just party friends that would talk to her at events and gatherings.

When she was being trialed and executed, they didn't do anything.

They merely whispered to each other. Mocking her. It seems they truly enjoyed seeing the previous powerful Lilith Bailey in misery.

Chase noticed the sadness and emptiness in Angelina's eyes and couldn't help but be a little concerned.

"Is something the matter, lady Angelina?"

Angelina finally snapped back to reality.

Angelina was about to say it was nothing, but she suddenly had a brilliant idea.

"Huh? I....I'm just thinking about nonsense..." Angelina said while her eyes showed a bit of tears.

Angelina, in the past found it very difficult to fake cry. So she never used that skill in gatherings.

But now she found it very easy. All she needed to do is to remember her most tragic memories and tears would form in her eyes.

Chase put the two dots together. Angelina was previously praising him for having a wonderful family. Then she became sad...

"It's non of my business but...is something the matter with lady Angelina's family?.."

Chase was quite hesitant to say it, but his curiosity and concern drowned out his hesitance.

'got you!' Angelina snickered in her heart.

"Well..." A pause "I thought when I returned from the Vancelia Empire...I would reunite with my family and live a peaceful life...but turns out I was wrong..."

"My father doesn't hate me but...I can tell he prefers my older siblings more than me..." Tears started to flow down Angelina's beautiful face.

"My brother...I don't know why...but he always ignores me..."

"And my elder sister... although we still get along a little...it seems she also dislikes me a little."

Chase was suprised, but he wasn't shocked.

He didn't expect that a man would be biased towards one of his children, and ignores the other one.

He didn't expect to hear that the gentle and caring young master of the Skyler family ignores and avoids his own sister.

He never expected the innocent and down to earth Evelina to dislike her young sister.

Chase sighed. It seems that you truly can't judge a book by it's cover.

It seems almost no one who was a noble had a pure heart...

Then he did something even Angelina didn't expect.

Chass leaned closer to her and wiped away her fake tears.

"....."

If it was the past, Angelina would definitely be overjoyed and be blushing right now. But now...she felt nothing.

_______________________

A/N: I'm sorry for updating chaps a little more longer than usual. I have a lot of projects assigned by school.

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