"Unbelievable… absolutely unbelievable. A useless layabout like you, tying down someone of Evelyn's caliber." Quinn sneered openly, causing many eyes to turn our way at the commotion.
"Tell me, Aurlius, how does it feel to stumble through life with nothing but your family name to hold you up? Truly, I'm curious. A man of your talents, or rather, your lack of them, shouldn't be standing anywhere near Lady Evelyn."
While listening to his speech, I stealthily took out my phone, immediately finding the currently trending livestream.
It had around 20 million live viewers, which may seem incredible, however it's not anywhere near the records.
For reference, there are around 650 million people in the empire. With around 97% internet access across the two human empires, that's only around 3% viewership.
News regarding massive rift-breaks or broadcasts of the Great Empire Summit can reach up to 25% nationwide viewership.
My engagement was much more popular than the broadcasts of others' ceremonies though, considering it involved me—the disgrace of the empire—and Evelyn, a radiant glory of the empire.
In an announcing, venomous tone, he declared "everyone knows she was forced. No sane woman would look twice at you unless she was being maneuvered like a chess piece."
Ending his tirade there, he gave me an opportunity to speak. At his final words, I nearly snorted.
Is he blind? He's looking at my face and thinks no woman would want to be with me?
All the attention was on us now, waiting for my move.
Evelyn and Anastasia both looked worried, wondering what I will pull this time. I had previously told them going forward, I will change my approach of playing the villain.
Ahh, Quinn. Unfortunate little Quinn…
He expected me to play the third-rate arrogant villain type, preparing lines for that, but I'm different now.
I was going to change the script, and with Quinn's hot temper, it was going to be easy to humiliate him.
Setting my wine cup down, I inquired with a slight snark, "oh—how many times did you practice that speech in the mirror, I wonder? Did you hire a Voxford professor to write those lines, or did you use AI? With your family finances, I'm not confident you can afford an expert."
Quinn's expression contorted at my words, partly because I insulted his family, but also because I wasn't going along with his little scheme. Without the lines ChapGTP prepared for him, how was he going to ridicule me?
Many people were surprised by my witty words, greatly uncharacteristic of me.
"Say that again. I dare you…" Quinn hissed in a low and threatening tone, making me smile.
I grinned inwardly. This is the exact type of 'tough guy' I expected to come out of him when there's no script.
"Oh—how many times did you practice that speech in the mirror, I wonder? Did you hire a Voxford professor to write those lines, or did you use AI? With your family finances, I'm not confident you can afford an expert." I repeated.
Flashing a smile, I mockingly asked, "there, I said it again. What are you gonna do about it?"
Quinn's face twisted, fiercely glaring at me, realizing he, in fact, can't do anything. What was he going to do?
Attack the heir at his engagement ceremony? Just because he couldn't handle one insult when he dished out so many before?
I knew now, he likely wanted to challenge me to a duel.
Originally, he wanted me to be the one to initiate the challenge as it was unbecoming of him, a high noble heir, to barge into someone's engagement and challenge them.
But, by now, it was clear I wasn't going to be provoked, so he needs to find a somewhat justifiable cause to challenge and humiliate me to possibly break off the engagement.
Not to mention, his pathetic pride must also be hurt. As one of the generation's brightest talents, he had always been treated with respect and admiration.
Now, he was being played with by the empire's biggest disgrace. Revenge was probably blazing bright in his mind.
"Oh sorry, I didn't take into account you may just have hearing problems. That was quite inconsiderate of me. Your family is in quite the situation after all, it's not surprising hearing aids may be out of the budget."
I continued mocking him and his family, making him grit his teeth in anger.
The audience now openly laughed at my remark, hurting his fragile ego even more. He had expected praise for saving the trapped heroine, but everyone was laughing at him?
Checking the broadcast again, I saw that our scuffle was driving its popularity. Viewership had jumped by roughly 400,000—a 2% increase.
Collecting his thoughts for an extended period of time, he finally retorted "don't try to change the subject," in a low and slow tone. "Tell me, does it bother you? Knowing Evelyn's only marrying you because her father had a knife at her back. Knowing she'd never choose someone like you willingly."
Suddenly, Evelyn interjected with irritation. "What if I did choose him willingly? And what say do you have in *my* engagement? Young heir of Steelsoul?" she questioned angrily.
Quinn and many members of the audience were surprised at her interruption, defending me. Though, they quickly convinced themselves that she'd just given up on trying to break the engagement and merely wanted it to end without fuss, unable to comprehend she could like me.
"Oh, you don't need to lie. We all know you didn't choose someone like him," Quinn said in an almost tender tone. "If you had the freedom, you would surely choose somebody more fitting."
Evelyn let out a sharp, derisive snort. "And that 'somebody' is you?" she asked, voice dripping with mockery.
Quinn didn't even seem to notice the contempt in her voice. Instead, he straightened, as if this was his grand moment.
"Yes, that's right! I have admired you for so long Lady Evelyn. I can't just stand by while you're forced into a marriage because of your family's pressure! Choose me, and I swear I'll handle the fallout with the Astreas! I'm far greater a man than Aurelius will ever be!"
He put on his manliest face as he spouted that nonsense, extending a hand out to Evelyn, genuinely expecting her to fall graciously into his arms.
Some members of the audience shared a similar belief, watching with bated breaths, eager to see if this engagement was going to be derailed.
Many wished it, either out of hatred for me, or simply desiring to see some juicy drama unfold.
Everyone waited for Evelyn's response, which didn't take long as a hearty laugh pierced through the hall.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA—! You think you're better than Aurlius? With a face like that? Hahaha, please. Even your reflection probably winces when you look into the mirror." She ridiculed with a mocking expression, looking more beautiful than ever.
Only to me though.
Gasps ranged out in the crowd while others remained speechless. They were all shocked beyond belief.
'Is this the true 'Queen of Ashes?' A shallow girl who valued appearance above all else?'
Quinn's face was mortified and simmering with anger beneath the surface, but he calmed himself down.
He had known there was a chance she may reject him, however, never in his wildest nightmares did he believe Evelyn would openly humiliate him like this.
As a result, he was still in denial, believing she had to have been coerced by her family to take my side. This was only natural though, he had expected praise and gratitude from valiantly saving the damsel in distress, yet she was insulting him?
After convincing himself of his delusions, he was about to say something when I cut in.
"Now, darling~, don't say that," I tenderly said with a soft smile as I warmly looked into her eyes, cupping her cheek. This made Evelyn and many young women who were watching blush.
On the other hand, many men—especially Quinn—were fuming at the intimate scene, particularly on the fact she blushed at my touch.
"You know his family situation, eye surgery is incredibly expensive. You should be more considerate in the future."
At my mockery, once again poking fun at his declining family, Quinn's face warring with jealousy and disbelief quickly contorted into anger as he slammed the table, fiercely glaring at me.
"YOU…!" He spat, unable to contain his fury.
Right as he was about to continue, I softly and innocently asked, "me?" provoking him again.
This caused his expression to further twist, barring him from being even qualified for 'okay' in appearance.
Unfortunately, instead of doing something crazy that he'd regret later, he managed to hold himself back, taking deep breaths as he gathered his thoughts.
"What about me? What were you going to say?"
"Oh, I see. Too scared to talk, huh?"
I continued provoking him, however he kept his calm and gathered his thoughts.
Honestly, I should applaud him for his self-restraint. I expected my words to make him snap and do something reckless out of anger by now.
Based on his character from the novel, he should've blown up by now.
Eventually, with everybody's eyes on him, Quinn began speaking again.
"Lady Evelyn, eventually, you'll realize good looks won't lead you anywhere and that Aurelius is just a disgrace. Someone who doesn't belong with you, someone who will only tarnish and taint the great reputation that you've built up."
At this, Evelyn seemed like she wanted to speak up again, but I stopped her with a gesture of my hand.
"I will prove to you today, I alone am worthy of you. Not this filthy trash…"
Based on the slight trembling on her arm, I could predict that she was probably clenching her fist tightly right now at his degrading words towards me.
Hehe… She really cares a lot for me…
Breaking me out of my thoughts, Quinn spoke up, rising to his full height.
Narrowing his eyes, he declared "I challenge you, Aurelius Augustus Astrea, heir of the Astrea Duchy to a Rite of Honor. I shall even lower my cultivation to match yours." His voice was low, controlled, and deadly serious.