I will not die a Villainess's death

Adam currently sat on the side-thorn, his eyes setting as he glared across the hall at the gossiping nobles.

Eve looked uncomfortable at his side, her eyes darting around in an attempt to get away from the prying looks as well. Her dress attracted too much attention with the small Royal creat it held.

'It's all Eve's fault I am being made the bad guy here. How many times do I have to yell out that I don't like Eve for these people to get it?'

It was not only the nobles who were gossiping about their current arrangement. The common people seemed to be loving the idea of Adam and Eve being a couple as well.

"I'm so glad Elysia is not here to hear all this. I would never be able to look her in the face again."

The only thing that made this situation bearable was Eve's expression of discomfort.

Too many people had come to congratulate her on "finally getting her rightful place at the Crown Prince's side" for her not to be angry.

"Adam, are you not going to do anything about all this gossip? I am sure Elysia would be sad if she heard these people talking about your engagement with her like that."

"Well, Elysia is not here right now so I don't care."

That one sentence summed up Adam's mood. Eve's disgusting look aimed his way was one Adam was familiar with. But even it could not bring Adam's mood up.

Not when he could hear his servants being happy for this 'true love'.

"They look so good together. I knew Lady Eve was the best choice for Prince Adam."

"Can you see, she is even wearing the Royal crest. Then, isn't this an official couple blessed by the Royal Family? I am so glad Lady Elysia is finally out of the picture."

"I heard that she's not coming today. Even I would choose not to come if this happened to me. Lady Elysia sure had her pride."

Adam almost burned those babble mouths alive but Eve's hold on his arm kept him in check. Her healing magic was a warning for Adam to control himself or she would knock him out.

However, to the onlookers, this was just another sweet gesture between the 'unofficial' couple.

"Aww, how cute. Aren't you happy to be with the Prince, Lady Eve-?"

The sister who was speaking trailed off as soon as she met Eve's dark smile. That smile was enough to make the sister back off with a frightened eep.

The Royal couple smiled happily at the hall but there was a dangerous air around them.

"Let's just find mother and father. I am sick and tired of this ball already."

Adam wanted to retire early. Without Elysia here he did not want to spend much time in this useless company.

And especially not when everyone was dissing Elysia and talking about how good he looked with Eve at his side.

Are you enjoying yourself alongside Eve, Adam? Although I understand your disappointment that Elysia is not present, you should also consider your other possibilities. You won't have the opportunity to experiment once you get married to Elysia. Who knows, you might end yourself falling even more in love with someone else. "

At his mother's remarks, Adam scowled.

He had known her all his life and knew she was joking when she said that. She was already aware of his draconic nature and that no one else was suitable for him.

Elysia.

However, the queen's abrupt comments caused the hall to start moving.

Everyone whose daughters met the requirements to marry into his clan started to move in his direction when the Royal Family stated it aloud.

Help me out or you're going to die,

Eve, who appeared to be about to take off and leave Adam alone, heard Adam spit forth those words.

Eve was forced to submit to him and stay with him when she was in his death grasp. The finest remedy, in Adam's opinion, was her distressed face.

However, it did not take long before the hall went quiet. And it was all because of one statement.

"Announcing, Lord Lucas Dirac and his partner, Lady Elysia Dirac from the Duke's house."

The announcer's voice echoed in the hallway and Adam instantly pushed the lady in front of him aside to have a look.

He did not want to believe his ears and his eyes but there was no way Adam would ever mistake Elysia for anyone else.

Her black hair and blue eyes were the same as ever but her unfamiliar dress and her get-up were what drew Adam's eyes to her. She looked different from normal but still like the Elysia he knew

She presents well. She may have even worn a dress bearing the Dirac family crest.

In response to Eve's compliment, Adam felt a snarl rise in his throat. Elysia had always been fine in his eyes, but the absence of her garment was flattering.

"She does look good and I don't like it. She's painting herself to be an easy target tonight."

This was Elysia's first appearance as a noble and there would be many eyes on her tonight. Adam hated the fact that he was not the one at her side right now.

Even though he was aware that her brother was the furthest thing from a threat, his instincts did not grasp this.

They wanted him to sever Elysia's relationship with her brother in order to lay claim to her body. Adam had to try to resist the need to mark their territory even though his teeth were aching.

"Your lip is gushing blood. You must exercise self-control or you will show that you lack it.

Adam nearly pushed Eve away in annoyance when her breath brushed across his ear. He was currently irritated by everything and yearned to grab Elysia and drag her away.

"Keep your distance and stop bothering me."

"Too bad for you but you do need to control yourself. Elysia and her brother are headed this way so you might want to get yourself under control."

Adam frowned at Eve's words but it was true. He could feel Elysia's energy nearing his direction.

People parted to allow the Dirac couple to walk toward the Royal Family and Adam's eyes instantly found Elysia's blue ones.

She looked in his direction, her eyes going dark as she took in his and Eve's relative closeness before they went blank.

'Not good. Elysia misunderstood what is happening here. I need to say something."

Adam opened his mouth but the window of interference had passed. The Dirac duo was giving their greeting to his parents before they turned toward him and Eve.

"You and Lady Eve make a lovely couple, my lord. I am sure you both are making a lot of people jealous today."

Elysia sounded normal when she spoke it and Adam wanted to reassure her that nothing was going on between him and Eve.

At the same time, he felt rage build up inside him at the realization that Elysia had lied to him about not being able to make it to the ball with him.

"Come on Elysia, you know it is not like that between me and Adam. And if you ask me, I think you look much better than anyone else tonight. Don't you agree, Adam?"

Eve's nudge snapped Adam out of his mixed thoughts. Her glare was full of disapproving anger it took a few seconds to realize why that was.

'I spaced out. How much time did I miss?'

"You look good today but you always look beautiful anyway. But you should have told me if you were going to make it after all. I won't have to take someone else with me here today."

Eve gave a tired sigh at Adam's side and even his mother looked disappointed. They only gave such reactions when Adam messed up but he could not tell how he had messed up.

But he must have because Elysia had a bitter look on her face for a second before she masked it with a polite smile.

"Ah, I think we've taken enough of your time, your highness, Lady Eve. We should take our leave now."

Adam took a step to follow Elysia before Eve's hand on his arm stopped him from leaving.

"What's the big deal? I am just going after Elysia."

Eve's irritated look inflated at his answer and now she looked pissed off instead. Adam could tell that the nobles were looking at them and Eve realized that as well.

So she made the sensible decision of dragging him toward a secluded spot to talk things out.

"Hey, what are you doing? There would be even more rumors because of what you just did."

"As if you are not making matters worse already. I knew you were bad at compliments but you should not have put Elysia on the spot like that. You went quiet for a few minutes and all you could say to her was that she 'always looks beautiful' and then process to grill her out. At least wait until you are alone to pull that stunt."

"Why are you so insensitive? At least look at the place and time before you cause trouble."

Eve sounded angry at him and that made Adam angry as well. Why did he have to care about the feelings of those insignificant people? They never cared about his feelings before when they gossiped about him.

"Why should I? It doesn't affect me-"

"But it will affect Elysia's standing. Do you want her to be troubled by all this?"

"Of course not. Why would Elysia need to be troubled by all this?"

"Adam, I don't know if I should pity you or feel angry at you. Why don't you get human emotions? Is it because of your draconic nature that makes you blind to what is happening? Listen, you might not get hurt by what is being said but it will bug Elysia. So calm down and think about her feelings."

Those words were like water on the fire and they instantly calmed Adam down.

Of course, he knew that Elysia felt troubled by something all this time but he had never thought it to be the people's talk.

But it was true that Elysia's mood tended to change once in a while when she heard people talk about Adam and Eve being in 'love.'

"Why does she feel troubled by it? I love her not you. Isn't it the same for you with her?"

"I know. I love Elysia too. But I am sure Elysia doesn't know. Sometimes, one cannot know what the other is feeling unless it is spelled out to them. I am afraid that this is the same case."

Adam's shoulders were hunched at Eve's words and his face twisted into a frown before he opened his mouth to let a whine.

"Feelings are troublesome."

"They are but that is also why they are precious to us."