Her Gilded Revenge For Stolen Fate novel Chapter 6

Chapter 6 Confrontation

“You’re sitting on 20 Fortune Points. Celia has 90,” the System explained. “Snag a Golden Plume, and you steal 10 points from her. But if you drop below zero, the world will erase you.”

In other words, she’d disappear completely.

“So I lose 20 more, and I’m toast. Talk about living on the edge.” Vivian scoffed. “Celia’s Fortune is through the roof while mine’s in the gutter.

“Even if I ran to the Duchess of Aurea right now and spilled the beans about the baby swap, I’ve got nothing to back it up.”

“No one would buy it,” the System replied.

Vivian knew she couldn’t take Celia down overnight.

“I have to start by ripping off the masks Celia and Sylvia hide behind,” she murmured. “Once people see their true colors, they’ll start doubting the past. I need to shatter that perfect image. Only then can I finally take back everything they stole.”

*****

The hunting trip went sideways in less than three days. First, Gloria took an unplanned dip in a pool. Then, whispers started flying that one of the Snyder girls had tried to cozy up to Xavier.

The drama killed the king’s mood fast. He called the whole thing off, rounded up his ministers and officers, and marched the entire party straight back to Aurestus.

*****

Back at Aurea Manor, Vivian walked into the main hall to find Beatrice at the head of the room, looking like thunder. Vivian didn’t have to guess why—news of the underwear scandal had clearly beaten them home.

Out of the corner of her eye, Vivian saw Celia looking pale and shaken, while Sylvia was putting on her usual act of “deep concern.” The sight was enough to make Vivian’s stomach turn.

Everyone started to pay their respects to Beatrice.

Beatrice slammed her hand down on the table, the sound echoing through the room.

“Sylvia,” she said, her voice tight. “Simon was sick, so Flora stayed behind to care for him. But before you left, she personally entrusted you to watch the girls. So tell me, how did you let something this shameful happen?”

Flora Snyder was the Duchess of Aurea.

Sylvia’s voice hitched with panic. “Please, let me explain. It’s not what you think. A maid who tried to catch Prince Xavier’s eye left that underwear in his tent. It had nothing to do with our girls. The maid has already been dealt with.”

Beatrice didn’t blink. She just idly twisted the bracelet on her wrist. “If that’s true, then why did Celia sign over her silk shop to Vivian?”

That shop was a goldmine, staffed by the best embroiderers in Aurestus. It had been Beatrice’s gift for Celia’s sixteenth birthday.

‘If there’s nothing to hide,’ Beatrice thought, ‘why give away something that valuable?’

Celia knitted her brows, looking heartbroken.

“Grandmother,” she began, “after that underwear was found, everyone started whispering about girls in our family. But Vivian’s name was dragged through the mud the worst. Giving her the silk shop was the only way I could think of to make things right.”

Sylvia dabbed at the corner of her eye with a handkerchief. “The girls have always looked out for each other, just like you taught them. Lady Celia was just trying to make it up to Vivian. Please don’t be angry with her.”

Ever since the fiasco at last year’s birthday party, Beatrice had completely shut Vivian out. The wall between them was solid.

“Look out for each other? Please,” sneered Nina Snyder, Vivian’s younger cousin. Her father, Henry Snyder, was Quentin’s younger brother. “Some people are just taking advantage of Celia’s soft heart. They’ve got the nerve to grab whatever they want.”

“What’s so funny?” Nina snapped, glaring at Vivian.

“I’m laughing at you sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong,” Vivian said slowly, her voice dripping with scorn. “You really don’t know your place.

“You aren’t even my father’s daughter, yet here you are, meddling in family business. What’s next? Should he ask your permission before picking which concubine to sleep with?”

Vivian flashed a dazzling smile. The unscarred side of her face was stunning, but her words were pure poison.

Beatrice kept her eyes fixed on Vivian.

Ever since Vivian got that scar on her cheek at five years old, she had always worn her hair loose to hide it.

But since coming back from the hunt, she seemed like a different person. Her hair was perfectly tied up; the timidity was gone, replaced by cool, unshakeable confidence.

‘Now that is how my granddaughter should act,’ Beatrice thought, giving a tiny, almost invisible nod of approval.

Contrary to what everyone believed, Beatrice never actually blamed Vivian for the crystal statue incident. She knew someone had set the girl up. But openly defending Vivian would have just painted a target on her back.

Nina was young and not used to hearing such pointed remarks. Her eyes welled up with angry tears.

It took her a moment to steady herself. “Grandmother, Vivian has gone too far!” she whined. “You have to stand up for me.”