"Ah! Lady Callista and Miss Duncan, care to join us for tea?" One of the ladies asked.

"Sure, thank you for the invite, Lady Smith" Aderi replied with a smile.

"The pleasure is all mine, m'lady" Lady Smith replied with respect due to Aderi having a much higher status than her.

Aderi and Ari sat down next to each other as Lady Smith poured them their tea.

"thank you very much for the tea" Aderi said thanking Lady Smith.

"Yes indeed, thank you very much, Lady Smith," Ari said also thanking the lady.

"My pleasure" Lady Smith replied with a smile.

across Aderi was her stepmother, she was glaring at Aderi but Aderi brushed it off.

"So Lady Aderi, I heard it's your first time in a hunting festival, how are you liking it so far?" One of the ladies in the circle asked.

"It's very nice, the atmosphere is very great, I'm looking forward to what the event is going to be like" Aderi replied with a smile.

"Why did you attend only now?" One of the ladies asked again. before Aderi couldn't even answer her stepmother butted in.

"Cause she is a lock-in, her father is so bewildered by her behavior that it was hard for her to take around" Leni replied for Aderi. the other gasped.

"Now, now...mother, don't spread nonsense in a place like this. in the manor we all know that you hated me so much that you have forbidden my father to take me out," Aderi said calmly as she sipped her tea. everyone gasped again and started whispering to one another.

"I never knew they have a rocky relationship"

"me neither!"

"no wonder they don't attend the same events"

"Is the duchess...mistreating the one and only heir of the Callista?"

"ehem-- I hope you don't mind me butting in, but I also heard you were scared of your face" One of the men in the crowd joined in. Aderi knew who it was since she studied all of the nobles. he was Leni smirked and Aderi knew that the viscount is a friend of Leni.

"Excuse me, not to be so rude Viscount...but I know Aderi for so long and there is no such thing that happened as that" Someone spoke from behind Aderi, and Aderi knew who it was.

"Now, now Lucas...no need to get so upset, what he said is true" Aderi replied. everyone gasped again. everyone was shocked including Lucas.

"I also heard you were a disgrace in the Callista's because you weren't announced when you were born," Another one of Leni's friends said as she followed it with a giggle. this girl was the wife of Viscount Ronald. her name was Mira.

"you also belittle status, you respect people like those people beside you but not respecting people with higher rank" Another one of Leni's friends followed Mira's insult. this one was Baron Alex.

Leni kept smirking, and Aderi knew all of these people speaking up were her friends since no one knows this information.

"it seems like playing nice isn't working in my favor today," Aderi said as she followed it with a short chuckle. after that, she smiled at Leni and her friends, her eyes though tell a different story.

"If we are talking about status, you three combined is nothing compared to , a young lady who as you said was recently introduced," Aderi said as she put her teacup down.

"I can have my father take your title off, or even have you executed for speaking ill on behalf of the Callista's," Aderi said with a serious glare.

"It seems like you are forgetting who I am...if so, let me remind you of who I am," Aderi said as she crossed her hands

"I am Aderi Nova Lacita Callista, daughter of Duke Callista and the late Duchess Lacita Callista" Aderi said introducing herself. Leni's friends went silent for a moment.

"Why would the duke do that? he doesn't even like you" Mira said, her tone was distressed and angry.

"Cause I am that important to my father, my father didn't introduce me since people like you in the nobility are disgusting. you talk about respect when you can't even respect someone like me who has a higher status than you,"

"These two appreciate me for who I was, so they deserve that respect, as for my face...didn't you know? this duchess the little friend of yours is the reason for my self-doubt in my younger self,"

"She is abusive and someone who mocks me every day because I have the face of her enemy...My Mother, you all know that story quite well, don't you all?" Aderi asked Leni's friends with a smile.

"You insolent brat! Don't you dare spread lies about me!" Leni said as she stood up.

"Lies? isn't that what you do? telling your friends useless lies, and for what? to belittle me?" Aderi asked.

"Tsk- a girl like you has a lot to talk about but can't even hurt a cockroach," Leni said mocking Aderi.

"Are you sure? You can't even lift a bow" Aderi replied back.

"So do you" Leni responded.

"Are you sure?" Aderi asked again.

"Fine! if you are so great, why don't you join the hunting!?" Leni said challenging Aderi.

"I don't think she can even lift a bow," Mira said laughing, everyone started whispering to one another again.

"What are they thinking?...the lady cannot handle the animals there, especially in the danger zone"

"aren't they too harsh on lady callista?"

"Doesn't that also prove the duchess is mistreating the lady?"

Aderi stood up with a sigh and walked towards a man who was sitting behind her.

"Viscount Andrew, may I borrow your bow and one arrow for a minute?" Aderi asked the viscount who was in the crowd.

"A-are sure m'lady? it's heavy" The viscount asked worriedly.

"Indeed Aderi! A bow is heavier than you can imagine" Lucas said stopping Aderi.

"Please listen to them, Lady Aderi," Ari said as she thug on Aderi's sleeves.

"I know what I am doing," Aderi said as she took the bow from viscount with ease.

everyone was shocked that a frail lady could lift a heavy bow, someone like Aderi would have trouble lifting a bow since she looks fragile.

"See, I can lift it with ease," Aderi said to lucas beside her who was looking at her with worry in his eyes

Aderi looked at Leni but saw Jake behind Leni. Jake smiled at Aderi while setting up a target.

"So? what are you planning on doing?" Baron Alex asked with mockery in his tone. Aderi sighed when Jake nodded with a smile.

"yeah, but you can't shoot one!" Leni said laughing, suddenly an arrow flew across her face, missing her by an inch.

"Y-YOU ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME!?" Leni yelled as she stood up slamming the table.

"There is a target behind you, Viscount Jake set it up," Aderi said, everyone looked behind Leni and indeed Jake was there leaning on the wall with a target next to him.

"You weren't kidding when you said you can use a bow," Lucas said to Aderi with a proud smile. Aderi nodded.

"I wouldn't make such a claim if I don't know how to use one," Aderi said as she gave the bow back to the viscount.

"About your offer," Aderi said looking at Leni and her friends.

"I'll join the hunting, I will represent the Lacita's...There's no rule that says a female cannot join right? I'm sure the king will approve" Aderi said with a smile before she walked away, Ari followed after her.

"Wow...Lady Aderi you were so cool back there! you made me scared, the glare and your cold tone of voice gave me shivers, you were like a villain!" Ari said complementing Aderi.

"Well...I am the villainess in this novel, but I guess Aderi's villainess aura remains even if I play nice" Aderi thought.

"If Lady Ari got scared of what I did there...I cannot even imagine how scared she was when she was bullied by Aderi in the original novel" Aderi thought as she looked at Ari with a warm smile.

"Aderi!" Thomas said running to her.

"Just in time father! I want to join the hunting" Aderi said with a smile.

"Huh? why? I know you said that but I didn't think you were serious" Thomas said.

"I am serious, father...all I need now is the approval of my grandparents since I'll be representing the Lacita's" Aderi said.

"We approve" Her grandmother responded from behind.

"ah! grandma! when did you arrive" Aderi asked?

"Since the drama happened" Her grandmother replied with a chuckle.

"They are actually the ones who reported everything to me, don't worry, I'll scold and punish her friends," Thomas said reassuring Aderi.

"N-no need for that father" Aderi replied.

"They dare spout nonsense and belittle my daughter and get away with it!? I don't think so" Thomas replied.

"well...do as you wish, I cannot even convince you otherwise," Aderi said laughing.

"But seriously...are you sure about joining?" Thomas asked with worry in his eyes.

"I got this, father" Aderi replied with a smile reassuring her father.

"very well then, I'll talk to the king so he can put your name on the participant's list. Thomas replied.

"Thank you, father," Aderi said with a smile.

"Well get ready, it's gonna start soon," Thomas said with a smile as he patted Aderi's head before walking away.

"Good thing I'm in my archery team in my school, who knew my mvp skills are gonna be handy here," Aderi thought to herself.

"Also good thing females in the Callista's are strong, otherwise I won't be able to lift that heavy bow," Aderi thought as she looked at her hands.

"People are testing my patience...maybe playing nice all the time is not good," Aderi thought as she followed it with a sigh.

°

°

°

"Your majesty" Thomas greeted the king as he bowed.

"Ah! Duke Callista...what brings you here?" The king asked.

"I am here on behalf of my daughter" Thomas responded.

"Is everything alright?" The king asked.

"She wants to join the hunting representing the Lacita's...I am here on her behalf so she can register" Thomas replied.

"oh? A frail girl like her would join? would that be okay? this hunting is very dangerous Duke Callista...are you sure you are letting her?" The queen asked. Thomas nodded.

"She surprised me there...she knows how to use a bow and is pretty good at it, I'm sure she will be fine" Thomas responded to the queen.

"Well...the Lacita do not have a representative, so sure... I'll register Lady Callista's name" The king replied.

"Thank you very much, your majesty!" Thomas said bowing.

"tell her to get ready, it will start soon," The king said with a smile.

"Will do, thank you, your majesty...If you'll excuse me" Thomas said, the king nodded and Thomas left.

"Aderi will join the hunting?" Caelias asked himself who eavesdropped on the conversation.