Chapter16 Liberties

Nothing truly good comes out of attending such parties. Aurelia always found herself in peculiar predicaments at events like this, ones she had not meticulously considered beforehand. As crafty as she was, she recognized her human limitations – she couldn’t possibly control every variable in every situation, especially when it involved unpredictable human behavior. Nevertheless, she made a mental note to prepare for potential scenarios at future social gatherings. If she couldn’t predict every twist and turn, at least she could equip herself with a disaster response plan. Opting for a civil approach, Aurelia put on a polite smile for Claudio and accepted his extended hand. Despite their complex history, they were regarded as a family now. After all, both of them carried the Castellan name now. The elite circles they navigated always placed a strong emphasis on maintaining a facade of familial harmony, no matter the tumultuous dynamics that might exist behind the scenes. It was es