Chapter 3 Heterochromia

I said, "I've already said I didn't do it. I wouldn't fantasize about people I couldn't have." Diana smirked. "Be good if you want to live. Your wolf has not even awakened. If it weren't for Father's kindness, you would have been banished from the tribe a long time ago. You're just a coward your entire life!" That was what Diana was like, constantly rubbing salt on my wounds. I walked over to Diana and said to her in a tone only the both of us could hear. "Don't forget, you're not that great either. You're still drinking my blood!" It was the first time I ever fought back. Since she wanted to rub salt on my wounds, I was not going to just sit there and take it. Diana's face flushed. "Jasmine, I dare you to say that one more time!" I replied provokingly, "I can repeat it as many times as you want! You drink my blood to pretend to be royalty. You're a fake! Without my blood, you're nothing! Diana, what would happen to you if I was gone?" Diana was so furious that she slapped me hard, and I fell to the ground. When I looked back up at her, my hair fell from my face. I was about to say something, but I realized I could see Diana with my right eye. My black eye has been exposed. I frantically covered it again with my hair. The surrounding guests exclaimed in disgust. "Why would a royalty have black eyes?!" "Oh my god! What is happening?" I curled up, not knowing how to explain. My black eye was out of place amidst the sea of red eyes. Their red eyes and scent were the symbols of royalty. Even the servant that has spent all day with me has never seen my black eye. That was because I had always covered my eye with plaster dust from the wall. They thought that I had a birthmark over my eye and that I was embarrassed to show them. I did not dare look up. I knew that black eyes did not exist here. From the corner of my eyes, I could see Diana basking in my misfortune, her eyes gleaming in delight. Did she not know that we were connected? I panicked. No one should know my secret. Diana looked at me with crossed arms. "My, my, Jasmine. Your secret is out in the open now. Do you think you could still afford to be disrespectful to me?" I looked at Diana timidly. Gone was my arrogance. What was left was just endless fear. Diana bent down. "My dear sister. Kneel and beg me. Perhaps I might help you." I looked at Diana's condescending gaze while hearing the comments from the other guests. "I heard that Jasmine's mother is a dirty, lowly commoner. If not, how could she have a black eye!" "But she called Diana her sister. Could it be?" "She's the king's daughter? I've never heard of this before! Didn't they say that Diana's older sister died at birth?" "But she's here!" The guests looked at each other, bewildered. That was right. My father announced to the public that I was dead, but I was secretly raised by my mother. Other than the people in the castle, no one knew I was alive. Diana realized something was wrong. She stood up and waved her hands. "No, she's not my sister. We're not related." Clearly, the guests were not buying it. Diana panicked a little. She knew that some things could not be kept hidden. She grabbed me up from the ground. The guests could still vaguely see my right eye. Diana nudged me rather urgently. "Tell them! Tell them we're not related! Go ahead!" I pursed my lips and said nothing. The murmur of the guests grew louder. "See! She acknowledged it!" "Turns out the Georges have been hiding a Heterochromian. If this gets out, the Georges will be humiliated!" "If the Houghtons find out about this, Vincent would never marry Diana!" As the murmurs grew, I curled up once more. Diana yelled, "Everybody, shut up!" This time, all eyes were on Diana. She stood up straight. "Enough with this nonsense! You have all witnessed how Vincent only wants me as his queen! She is just a piece of trash whose wolf has not awakened!" I knew Diana would put me down at times like this. One of the guests said, "If that's the case, banish her from the wolf tribes! Kick her out of the castle! She's taking up your precious wedding time, Princess!" Diana panicked a little when she heard that I should be banished. "No!" The guests looked at each other in confusion. "Why?" That was because Diana needed my blood to maintain her royalty scent. That was why. Diana stuttered, "N-No reason! She just has to stay!" I knew that no one would believe her. Diana looked at how cowardly I was. She was infuriated, and she kicked me. I remained unmoved. I looked up at her to meet her death glare. It was as if she wanted to skin me alive. Right at that moment, my father and Diana's mother, my stepmother, came over. My father said with a smile "Everyone, don't just stand here. Let's head to the hall!" My stepmother was all smiles too. "It's my daughter's wedding today. Let's not get upset over a tiny incident. There are wines and desserts prepared in the hall." My stepmother pulled me up by the arm. It hurt. She was as cruel as Diana. After all, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The guests were still unconvinced because they thought that having a Heterochromian there was bad luck. Someone yelled, "Why is she here? She's bad luck!" They all looked at me condescendingly. I turned to see my father, stepmother, and Diana. I knew that I was in big trouble. Their glares told me that my existence had ruined the wedding. However, my father and stepmother still tried to soothe the guests. They looked at each other, and then my father said, "Everyone, today is my daughter Diana's wedding. Please let us not get carried away." Some guests were still skeptical. "Then, give us an explanation! Why is there a Heterochromian among the royalties? You would be the butt of the joke if this gets out!"