Elena’s POV

As the banquet drew to a close, I was speaking with two elders from the northern branch.

A restrained sound of sobbing approached from a distance and shattered the calm.

Sylvia was almost carried forward in Kael’s arms.

Her carefully arranged hair was in disarray.

Fresh scratch marks marred the exposed skin of her body.

She looked fragile and miserable.

Kael’s expression was dark.

His gaze cut through the crowd and fixed on me.

Disappointment and anger churned there without disguise, then he walked straight up to me.

“Elena.” He let out a cold, mocking laugh. “You said you didn’t care who I gave the dress to. And yet you sent people to take revenge on Sylvia behind my back?”

He paused, as if restraining himself, but the accusation in his words had already pronounced my guilt.

“Since when did you become so unreasonable?”

“Kael, don’t do this…”

Sylvia sobbed softly at his side and lightly tugged at his sleeve.

“Maybe… maybe Miss Elena was just angry for a moment. She didn’t mean it… it’s all my fault…”

Her attempt at mediation only drew more accusing and suspicious looks toward me.

I looked at Kael quietly.

I looked at the righteous fury burning in his eyes for another woman.

In my previous life, he had worn that same look when he drove a cross into my throat.

Now, it only made me laugh.

“She told you herself,” I repeated slowly, my tone devoid of emotion. “So you didn’t even ask me a single question. You just brought her here to confront me?”

Kael’s brow tightened further.

My calm was clearly not what he had expected.

But soon he composed himself.

That self assured pride of someone who believed he had seen through everything returned to his eyes.

“Elena, I know you’re jealous. But you went too far. Apologize, and then we can talk.”

“Talk about what?” I cut him off.

I met Kael’s gaze, already bored by his accusations.

“Why would I publicly instruct someone to attack a human blood servant whom you openly protect and whom everyone knows is connected to me?”

“Where is the logic in your verdict, Kael?” I tilted my head slightly, as if dissecting a poorly constructed riddle.

“If I truly harbored resentment toward her, with my abilities there are a hundred ways to make her disappear without a trace. Why resort to something so obvious?”

Kael frowned deeply, but a flicker of doubt passed through his eyes.

He knew the Elena from before.

Impulsive.

Direct.

Easily swayed by his emotions.

The woman standing before him now was composed, rational, almost cold.

And this woman standing in front of him felt unfamiliar.

Sylvia’s face went pale.

She looked at Kael in panic, tears flowing faster.

“I don’t know… maybe I was mistaken. The person who attacked me moved too fast…”

“Mistaken?” I echoed softly, a faint smile forming. “Or do you need more convincing ‘evidence’. Would you like me to help?”

The doubt in Kael’s eyes was instantly drowned by a surge of rage.

My composure, especially that nearly provocative question, struck directly at his need to appear an unquestionable protector before Sylvia.

“Elena!” He finally tore away the last pretense of restraint in his voice. “Look at what you’ve become. Bitter, cold blooded, even saying things like this to a defenseless human!”

He pulled the trembling Sylvia into his side, as if shielding her from me.

“Apologize. Now. Apologize to Sylvia. Immediately.”

His command was absolute, heavy with the authority of his status.

When he saw that I merely crossed my arms without even a flicker in my gaze, he glared at me for a moment.

Then he suddenly turned his head and spoke to Sylvia in a voice loud enough for the entire hall to hear.

“Treat her the way she treated you. I’m here. No one will dare stop you.”

The words fell like a thunderbolt.

To tolerate, even encourage, a human blood servant to strike a pure blood noble at a vampire banquet.

It nearly shattered every unspoken rule.

Sylvia seemed stunned.

She looked up at Kael, tears shimmering in her eyes, disbelief giving way to a twisted delight and barely restrained excitement.

She glanced at Kael’s resolute expression, then at me.

The fear deep in her bones was slowly replaced by warped triumph.

She took a deep breath, loosened herself slightly from Kael’s hold, and slowly raised her hand toward me.

Countless vampire gazes fell upon my back.

Just before her fingertips could reach my cheek.

I seized her wrist and held it in midair.

Her palm hovered inches from my face, unable to move any closer.

The cold from my fingers seeped into her skin.

My crimson eyes locked onto hers.

All color drained from her face, leaving only terror stricken white.

“It seems,” I said calmly, my voice carrying clearly through the dead silent hall, “Kael Aurelian, you have not only learned to pass judgment based on one sided claims, but also to indulge your people in overstepping their place.”

My gaze swept over Sylvia’s face, twisted by pain and fear, before slowly settling on Kael.

He had clearly not expected me to stop her so easily or so calmly.

Shock and humiliation warred across his ashen face.

“You think letting her strike me once would restore your dignity?”

I released my grip lightly.

Sylvia staggered back as if her support had vanished and fell once more into Kael’s arms, clutching her wrist and whimpering softly.

I unhurriedly took a napkin from a nearby tray, wiped the fingers that had touched her.

Only then did I meet Kael’s gaze again, his eyes blazing with fury.

“I’m done with this charade.” I shook my head slowly and let out a cold laugh.

“Based on your astonishing rudeness tonight and your open humiliation of me.”

I paused, ensuring every word reached those present.

“I, Elena, as the heir of the Valemont family, hereby I declare.”

“My family will terminate all cooperation with the Aurelian, effective immediately.”

“All funds will be withdrawn at once.”