Camellia's Crisis (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

"Anmarie, dear, what are you looking at?"

A soft voice suddenly sounded from behind Herio, frightening her into whipping around. She saw a dazzlingly pretty girl in an emerald-green lace gown, her hair piled high and a pair of foxlike eyes set in her face, smiling at her.

"Ah, Veronique, it's you." Herio blinked instinctively and forced herself to stay calm. "You... didn't hear anything, did you?"

"No." Veronique Legris smiled and shook her head. "What is it? Did I miss something?"

"No, no, nothing, nothing." Herio let out a breath in relief.

"Why didn't you go to the banquet?" Miss Legris said, casually lifting her eyes—and just happened to glimpse Camellia's retreating back.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, then in an instant she put on a concerned expression, took Herio by the arm, and said softly, "Dear, out of a friend's duty, I must remind you that it would be best to avoid that woman as much as possible from now on."

Herio immediately turned her head, incredulous.

"What are you talking about!"

Legris sighed.

"You must face reality, dear. Look at that bewitching face of hers, and that graceful waist. No man could resist her, and naturally that includes, cough... His Highness. Besides, she has Miss Perna's protection as well. Alas, I know that woman may once have treated you harshly, but you truly cannot afford to provoke her..."

Nobles loved gossip most of all, so there was almost no one in Versailles Palace who did not know about the incident at Notre-Dame de Paris when the True Love Charm was snatched.

Herio was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She planted both hands on her hips, her face flushed crimson, and even her voice turned shrill.

"On what grounds? She is only a lowly Moravian!