The fresh air caressed Penelope's face, she took a large gulp of air and then let it out.
"Heavens..." the girl leaned on the balcony railing.
She had to go out to the terrace, she felt too overwhelmed.
It wasn't just the pressure of being the center of attention of so many people, there was something else weighing on her... She knew a secret she shouldn't know.
She'd seen it, the argument between her father and her mother.
Well, in fact she'd discovered that man wasn't even her real father.
That night she'd discovered too many things, but the most shocking was finding out what her father wanted to do.
He wanted to end someone.
While the idea of being engaged to a stranger didn't please her, having to kill him wasn't funny either.
She didn't know what her father's plan was, she only knew he'd do it to avoid her engagement.
That's why she decided to cancel it, or at least try. If she showed herself disagreeable enough with that boy, surely he wouldn't want to marry her.
It was a perfect plan... At least in her eyes.
"I hope this ends soon," the girl sighed.
But then, the terrace door opened.
The girl turned somewhat nervously, seeing who was approaching her blood froze.
"Well well well look what we have here," a shrill voice said. "If it isn't the birthday girl. What are you doing here so alone? Did you get anxiety?"
Who spoke was Claire Lionhart. Someone belonging to one of the five great ducal houses.
Like her.
Her blue eyes fixed arrogantly on the girl, while resting one of her hands on her hip.
Her blonde hair was styled in a side ringlet ponytail, with the tips dyed pink.
It wasn't strange, the ringlet hairstyle was trending in high society. Every so often all kinds of different fashions ran that noble women didn't hesitate to follow.
It was almost a social norm, and not following it could be used as a mockery tool.
From garments, hats, hairstyles or accessories, everything was possible.
This time, the fashion was wearing hair with ringlets.
This was visible in the retinue accompanying Claire. Six girls with a different ringlet hairstyle.
Anyone who saw them together would think they were part of some kind of cult that worships ringlet hairstyles.
Penelope would have laughed at them, if it weren't for the fact her mother forced her to follow that fashion too.
"I just wanted to get some air," the girl replied with a low gaze and trembling voice.
Why had they invited her? Why her?
Penelope knew it would be poorly viewed not to invite one of the great houses... but she still didn't like it.
She quickly tried to look for an exit but, it was already too late, she couldn't escape.
That pack had surrounded her, cutting off any escape route.
And something was clear, they didn't have good intentions.
"Oh come on, you don't have to act so defensive," Claire said while approaching Penelope feigning sympathy while taking her hand. "We're friends aren't we?"
The purple-haired girl pulled away uncomfortably.
"I don't remember us being that close."
Her voice was low, but audible. The girl regretted having said that, it wasn't good to provoke Claire.
She knew it, after all the reason she asked her mother not to attend more events among nobles was to not run into that hateful girl.
"Are you rejecting Miss Claire's sincere kindness? How dare you?" one of the blonde's lackeys said.
Penelope's shoulders trembled slightly, this wasn't going in a good direction.
"I d—"
"Amanda please, no need to exaggerate," Claire interposed, feigning concern. "Penelope didn't mean to be so brusque, she's just having a hard time," she affirmed while getting behind her, putting her hands on her shoulders.
Penelope felt a chill when she did.
"Isn't that so?" she asked maliciously in her ear.
The purple-haired girl could only shake her head.
"Really? That's not what I've heard," the blonde separated to stand in front of her again. "Aren't you engaged to a very dangerous delinquent or something like that?"
Penelope's eyes opened in surprise, that wasn't supposed to come to light.
"H-how?" she began, but was interrupted.
"So it was true, how horrible," Claire said with false concern.
Her retinue also added some comments of feigned pity, which made Penelope feel suffocated.
It wasn't the first time Claire humiliated her, it wasn't just mockery. She was cruel.
Claire was the reason Penelope developed a terrible phobia of insects... and social events in general.
She believed time would have healed those traumas, but that fear she thought had vanished, was just hidden waiting for an opportunity to reappear.
"Do you really feel good about that?"
Penelope hesitated, but knew she had to respond.
"N-no."
"Really? Then why don't you say anything? Didn't you tell your parents?" The blonde tilted her head confused.
Penelope didn't have a chance to respond.
"How is it possible your parents accept that? Don't they love you?" another voice added.
"No!" the girl exclaimed, she couldn't let them say that. "That's not true..."
Claire nodded, putting a hand on the girl's shoulder again.
"I agree, there's no way your parents hate you but... Is Notos really your father?"
Penelope's breath caught.
How did she know?
No, it was true... Everyone knew that story, how her mother tried to escape with a commoner she loved, but in the end the latter was... Murdered.
Her grandfather forced her to marry Notos, but when they did the wedding ceremony, her mother already had a baby in her womb.
Was she foolish for not having seen it? Wasn't it too obvious?
"Really sad, that old man was never your father, and now he forces you to marry a dangerous criminal," Claire added, doing so, Penelope's world began to become blurry.
The atmosphere became icy. And while she heard the mockery of the others, hidden with false compassion.
Little by little, she felt her eyes moisten, she couldn't take much more.
"You know... If that happened to me, I'd take my life," Claire's voice then said.
How could she suggest such a thing so easily?
Even her retinue fell silent, dismayed by the girl's words.
Penelope felt a stab of pain in her chest, that had gone too far... But for some reason, Claire's words seemed to have some logic.
"Will you be happy if you keep living? What's the point of living life if you don't enjoy it? It's better to end quickly and without suffering, don't you think?"
It was no longer a shrill voice heard escaping from Claire's mouth, but a hypnotic and particularly... Convincing whisper.
The woman began to approach Penelope who instinctively began to back away until she bumped into the railing behind her. Doing so, by simple reflex she looked at the ground... There was something hypnotic about it, the idea of jumping was increasingly attractive.
The blonde's eyes shone, her cheeks were tinged with red. A sharp smile had appeared on her face.
She was enjoying it too much.
"That's it~ jump. It's best for everyone, don't you think?"
Penelope's body was invaded by a strange tranquility... She was right, that would be best for everyone.
Who would miss her?
"You shouldn't worry about doing that. In your position, I would do the same."
The girl felt relief, because soon all her problems would be solved...
Though something prevented her from reaching that happiness.
"Heh. I completely agree with you, Bitch," an arrogant voice said.
Everyone turned to see who was speaking, a brat with blonde hair and red eyes.
Seeing him, Claire glared at him.
"However, it would be fair for you to jump first, don't you think?"
On the brat's face appeared a twisted smile, even more macabre than Claire's.
Lloyd had arrived... And he wasn't going to stand idly by at what he'd seen.