A Sweet Girl Won't Be Fooled By The Villainess - [Vol. 3] Chapter 23
[Vol. 3] Chapter 23: Nothing to Fear
Discovering that Princess Sissi seemed to covet her, Ifia quickly entered a state of high alert in a split second, as if a little hedgehog had raised all its spines across its body. Even if the other party was the princess of Taric Kingdom, Ifia did not back down. Her eyes, as obsidian-like as they were, looked back defiantly!
Hmm! Are her eyes bigger? She definitely won’t lose!
While Ifia sounded the alarm in her heart, Princess Sissi silently observed and evaluated her.
A height of just 1.6 meters, is that really someone people like? Even children under ten in Taric Kingdom are taller than her. Even if her face is considered cute, cuteness is worthless compared to sexiness. And judging by her demeanor, she doesn’t seem very intelligent, quite foolish indeed… After all, intelligent people wouldn’t provoke her openly on her land.
Therefore, after summing up her observations, Princess Sissi came to a conclusion.
Nothing to fear.
Princess Sissi had no interest in such a weak opponent. She didn’t continue to play the staring game with Ifia but casually leaned backward. The deep blue bustier tightened due to the wide movement.
With a healthy wheat-colored skin that seemed to surge like waves, deeply accentuated by the constriction of the bustier, Princess Sissi exuded an alluring charm. Her long legs elegantly crossed, causing the short skirt to flick upward, revealing the sensual curves of her thighs. It looked as if it was enticing one to explore deeper, not stopping until reaching that mysterious forbidden zone.
Initially, Ifia was delighted that Princess Sissi withdrew from her gaze, thinking she had intimidated her with her own aura. But then…
Watching Princess Sissi, shamelessly displaying such a posture in public, Ifia was certain she was trying to seduce Amelia! Ifia was furious and her competitive spirit was ignited.
She also had it!
And hers was also big!
Proudly raising her chest and head like a proud little swan, with the satisfying idea of getting back at the princess, Ifia directly raised her hand in front of Princess Sissi, asserting her claim by holding onto Amelia’s arm.
If not for the sake of saving face, she would have publicly declared her ownership with a triumphant ‘Mine’.
As Ifia approached with a disgruntled huff, Amelia’s hand holding the teacup paused for a moment. Then, to conceal the amusement at the corner of her mouth, she directly emptied the tea from the cup with a single gulp.
The purple eyes reflected a sense of satisfaction from the successful execution of her plan. Indeed, everyone has a purpose. It all depends on how they are arranged.
For example, Princess Sissi’s role could redirect Ifia’s attention away from others and focus it on herself.
“Guests from the Sith Empire, please enjoy the delicacies of Taric Kingdom. Feel at home,” Princess Sissi announced.
The serving speed of the palace maids was swift, and soon, dishes filled the dozens of tables. With Princess Sissi’s voice, the banquet officially commenced. The temporarily paused dances resumed, and the vibrant drumbeat echoed once again.
Compared to the Sith Empire’s bread and thick soup, Taric Kingdom’s cuisine mostly featured meat. Boiled ingredients were scarce, with a variety of grilled meats, some vegetables and fruits, and light soups.
The authentic grilled meat, in particular, was exceptionally flavorful. Ifia pierced a small piece of beef with her fork, finding it evenly cooked. As she bit into it, the harmonious combination of the citrusy flavors from ingredients like lime and orange made her taste buds dance with delight.
Delicious! As someone familiar with kitchen affairs, Ifia appreciated the quality of the meat in Taric Kingdom.
It should not be captivity but rather free-range, allowing them ample room for movement. The delicious food temporarily eased Ifia’s vigilance. However, reality did not permit her any negligence.
Because the enemies had arrived!
“Beautiful lady, may I inquire about your name?”
While the Sith Empire envoy enjoyed the local delicacies, Princess Sissi did not remain seated but stood up and walked straight toward the direction where Amelia was seated. Once she reached her destination, she warmly smiled at everyone, taking a direct route rather than a circuitous one.
This was in stark contrast to her cold demeanor towards Prince Carloy, leaving the nobles of the Sith Empire feeling uneasy. Before reaching the palace, they had been speculating about who was stronger between Princess Sissi and Amelia Barlen. Now, was it about to unfold?
They wondered if there would be an on-the-spot confrontation and if they would be caught in the crossfire. Worries made the nobles feel the meat in their mouths losing its flavor.
As attention focused on the developing situation, Prince Carloy, more interested in seeing trouble for Amelia Barlen, was willing to overlook Princess Sissi’s indifference. He even graciously stood up to introduce her, “This is the daughter of Duke Barlen, Amelia Barlen, an outstanding figure among the younger generation of the Sith Empire.”
At this moment, praising Amelia Barlen, Prince Carloy showed no reluctance.
If it weren’t for the fear of exposing his ulterior motives by speaking too much, Prince Carloy would have praised Amelia Barlen to the skies. This way, he thought, it would make Princess Sissi more interested, ideally leading to a conflict between these two women. He wanted to be the fisherman who reaps the benefits.
However, as the calculating thoughts echoed in Prince Carloy’s mind, Princess Sissi heard his words, and her blue eyes instantly sparkled. She truly was the woman she had set her sights on.
In Taric Kingdom, meek men and women were not in favor. On the contrary, powerful and formidable individuals were passionately pursued. The ability to easily control the weak was appealing, while strong individuals ignited the desire for conquest. Of course, there were those who liked the meek, but for Princess Sissi, she preferred an equal partner, someone who would provide a challenge.
From the moment she laid eyes on Amelia Barlen, she was captivated by her cold and indifferent demeanor. Perhaps, this was what they called love at first sight. It compelled her to urgently want to get to know and understand Amelia, actively preparing to showcase her own strengths.
Even though, at this moment, Amelia remained as aloof as ever, not lifting an eyelid or acknowledging her, the princess found herself more attracted to her.
However, as Princess Sissi learned Amelia Barlen’s name, before she could say anything, Ifia, who had been busy enjoying the delicious food, immediately set down her cutlery. It was as if she was defending her own territory, reaching out to grasp Amelia’s arm.
The whole person was about to plunge into her embrace. Later, with a provocative lift of her head, Ifia locked eyes with Princess Sissi, displaying a demeanor that said, ‘She is mine.’
This unexpected closeness made Princess Sissi, who had been indifferent to Ifia, momentarily stunned. Soon after, she gritted her teeth in frustration.
Who is this woman? How could she be so close to Amelia Barlen, who always presented herself with an air of aloofness? Instead of pushing away this impolite woman, Amelia, in an unexpected turn, tenderly placed diced beef, already cut, into her mouth. The woman proudly opened her mouth to receive it, and her black eyes gleamed with a sense of triumph.
Seeing this scene, Princess Sissi frowned, feeling displeased. It seemed she had underestimated this woman. Perhaps, appearing foolish was just a disguise, and in reality, she was a cunning and highly skilled individual. Entrancing someone like Amelia Barlen, a woman of extraordinary talents, indicated that this woman was no ordinary character.
Maybe it was because Princess Sissi’s scrutiny lasted too long, but the Prince Carloy, who had been eagerly anticipating a conflict between Princess Sissi and Amelia Barlen, reluctantly continued to introduce her.
“She is called Ifia, a student at the Pulis Academy, and an alumna with Amelia Barlen.” Speaking of Ifia, Prince Carloy paused, not directly stating that she and Amelia Barlen were good friends. After all, even though he hadn’t explicitly said that Amelia Barlen was his fiancée, if the people of Taric knew about it, having a fiancée with a commoner friend would be considered unbelievable and embarrassing for the nobles of the Sith Empire.
Prince Carloy had considered asking Amelia Barlen to stop associating with commoners. However, considering the arrogance of the Barlen family, even if he said it, Amelia Barlen probably wouldn’t listen. The damned Barlen family – one day, he would rid himself of this cancer!
“Alumna…” Princess Sissi murmured, then noticed that Amelia Barlen didn’t even glance in her direction. She felt a bit disappointed but not discouraged.
In accordance with the customs of Taric, as long as you fancy someone, you can directly make a move. However, because of her concern for Amelia Barlen, Princess Sissi didn’t want to be too forward. She had to restrain her instincts, act with politeness and elegance, and first establish contact with Amelia Barlen to gain favor.
With these thoughts in mind, Princess Sissi gave Amelia Barlen a shy smile, not wanting to appear too aggressive to leave a good impression. She decided not to continue pushing too hard.
As if she really wanted to get to know them. This made the Sith Empire nobles who were stealing glances in this direction secretly relieved. Prince Carloy, on the other hand, frowned in displeasure, not seeing things develop as expected, feeling extremely frustrated.
Ifia, on the other hand, upon seeing Princess Sissi finally leave, let go of her previously confident posture, as if a punctured balloon, suddenly deflated. She was on the verge of slumping directly onto the table. Amelia, noticing this, smiled and then gently patted Ifia’s back.
After some casual concern, Amelia asked, “Ifia, why are you eating so little? Are you feeling unwell?”
Hearing Amelia’s caring words, Ifia hummed a couple of times. She was not physically unwell but emotionally uncomfortable. However, when she looked up and met Amelia’s beautiful eyes, her mischievous thoughts of causing trouble immediately subsided. Instead, she leaned against Amelia with a hum and, in a very straightforward manner, declared, “I want to eat barbecue.”
Amelia didn’t say anything in response but obediently continued to feed her. However, unable to resist, she reached out and gently pinched Ifia’s adorable cheek. When Ifia looked at her with a complaint, Amelia reluctantly let go.
Silently thinking, Princess Sissi, this useful tool, should be able to be of great use in the future. She enjoyed seeing Ifia’s adorable jealous appearance.
“Everyone, Princess Sissi has already arranged accommodations. Please allow us to lead the way.”
After the sumptuous feast, the Sith Empire delegation, led by the palace maids, went to their lodgings. It’s unclear whether Princess Sissi deliberately arranged it, but Ifia and Amelia were separated. However, Amelia directly exchanged places with a noble staying next to Ifia, and they naturally became neighbors.
This turn of events quickly improved Ifia’s initially gloomy mood. She returned to her room with a proud attitude. Initially, she intended to lie down on the soft big bed and relax, but she heard a conversation nearby from the open window.
Oh, the smell of gossip!
Ifia quickly approached the window. Near some short trees and leaves for cover, she was not easily noticed. So she perked up her ears, openly eavesdropping on the gossip.
“Recently, don’t get close to the Sith Empire delegation, or you’ll be scolded by Princess.”
“Did Princess Sissi set her sights on a new target again?”
???
Princess Sissi!!!
As soon as she heard that name, Ifia’s spirits soared, eager to find out more about what would unfold.