Chapter 8: She’s a Bad Woman
A heavy silence descended upon the banquet hall, the air thick with disbelief and confusion.
Tastes, as they say, are subjective.
Some might be drawn to Loseweisse’s ethereal beauty, others to the regal elegance of a princess…
Some might prefer the charms of an older woman…
While others might harbor a penchant for the more… petite variety.
There were even those whose tastes leaned towards the more mature charms of Saint Monique, the High Priestess of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess.
But to choose an unremarkable, lowborn maid? Was the Hero’s mind addled?
Angelica, though possessing a certain comeliness, was clearly an unsuitable match for the Hero.
Even Emperor Wadsworth, Pope Augustus, and Saint Monique were speechless, unsure how to react to this unexpected turn of events.
For Loseweisse, who had already prepared her carefully crafted rejection, this public humiliation was a slap in the face.
Her cheeks burned with shame, her fingers digging into her palms as she struggled to contain her rage.
She didn’t love Qin Chu. In fact, she found him repulsive. The thought of marrying him was abhorrent.
The mere act of sharing a carriage with him, of breathing the same air, had been a trial. She had prepared a flawless excuse, a delicate blend of duty and deferment, to let him down gently.
But while she might reject him, she would not tolerate being rejected by him.
Her beautiful features twisted in a grimace, her eyes blazing with fury.
The silence stretched on for an agonizingly long moment before the room erupted in a cacophony of whispers and gasps.
The noblewomen, huddled together, exchanged confused glances, their eyes darting between Qin Chu, Angelica, and Loseweisse.
Wasn’t the Holy Maiden supposed to be the Hero’s destined lover? Why would he choose a maid?
Could it be that Loseweisse wasn’t the true Holy Maiden after all? Perhaps Angelica was the chosen one?
Though no one dared to voice their suspicions aloud, the seeds of doubt had been sown, waiting to take root and blossom into full-blown scandal.
The whispers, like a swarm of venomous insects, buzzed around Loseweisse, each word a stinging barb aimed at her carefully constructed image.
Her initial disgust for Qin Chu morphed into a burning hatred, a venomous desire for revenge.
Natia’s expression was a mixture of surprise, curiosity, and perhaps, a touch of envy.
Angelica, overwhelmed by the sudden attention, blushed furiously. The weight of countless gazes, filled with curiosity and speculation, made her skin crawl. She hadn’t felt this self-conscious in years.
Qin Chu’s hand, warm and reassuring, enveloped hers, sending a jolt of electricity through her body. A strange tingling sensation spread through her limbs, leaving her weak and breathless.
The Touch of Lust, working its insidious magic, stirred a deep longing within her.
Her lips parted, her eyes glazing over as her body betrayed her, reacting in ways she couldn’t control.
Qin Chu smiled, his voice a soothing balm to her troubled soul. “My beautiful lady,” he said, his gaze never leaving hers. “Will you marry me?”
Angelica swallowed, her throat dry. As Qin Chu had anticipated, she wasn’t a fool.
The initial shock quickly gave way to a cold, calculating assessment of the situation. This was her chance, her opportunity to escape Loseweisse’s clutches.
Even if he was only attracted to her physically, it didn’t matter. As long as she could break free from her tormentor, anything was worth the risk.
She had endured years of abuse, her body and spirit pushed to the brink of collapse. She was drowning, and Qin Chu’s proposal was a lifeline, a chance at a new beginning.
She took a deep breath, summoning all her courage. “I…” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. “I accept.”
“No!” a shrill voice cut through the air, silencing the room.
It was Loseweisse.
Her beautiful face was contorted in a mask of rage, her cheeks flushed, her eyes wide and wild.
Hatred burned in their depths.
Qin Chu turned to face her, his eyes narrowing, a sly smile playing on his lips. “And why not, Holy Maiden?” he asked, his voice deceptively calm.
“My proposal to Lady Angelica is none of your concern, is it?”
Loseweisse swallowed, her face paling.
Her outburst had been impulsive, a knee-jerk reaction to Angelica’s impending acceptance. She hadn’t thought it through, hadn’t prepared a suitable excuse.
But she was quick-witted, her mind already racing, searching for a way to regain control of the situation.
“Please, Hero,” she said, her voice regaining its usual composure. “Don’t misunderstand.”
“You are free to choose any woman you desire,” she continued, her gaze sweeping across the room, taking in the hopeful faces of the assembled noblewomen and nuns. “Even though the prophecy states that we are destined to be together, your happiness is my priority. If you choose another… I will offer you my blessing.”
“But Angelica… she is different. She was once a Holy Maiden candidate, but she… she used dark magic to curse her rivals. She is a dangerous woman.”
She stepped closer to Qin Chu, placing a hand on his arm, her touch light yet possessive. Her eyes, wide and pleading, met his.
“She might have served me faithfully for the past three years, but I fear her true nature hasn’t changed. If you make her your wife, she might try to harm you.”
“And that,” she added, her voice dropping to a whisper, her gaze searching his, “would break my heart.”
No man, she thought, could resist her now.
Even Jie Luo, despite his initial rejection, had been drawn to her, his heart softening under her charm.
This… this imposter would be no different.
She had already won.
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