Chapter 1382
Before the gala officially commenced, the main hall was already packed with Vaelion City’s elite, reclusive aristocrats, and the heads of massive corporate syndicates.
Groups gathered in small clusters, speaking in hushed, calculating tones.
Many were simply in awe.
“The Lancasters really spared no expense p>
“Calling this a debutante gala is an understatement. The security and scale feel like a state-level summit p>
“They’re putting her right on the pedestal, completely in the open p>
“Isabella lived with them for years, and they never threw anything remotely like this for her p>
“Are you seriously comparing them? The Lancasters already put out the press release. Isabella was adopted. Tonight is about their real flesh and blood p>
“Keep your voice down. I heard Isabella tried to sabotage the real heiress and got herself thrown in a cell. No one even dares mention her name anymore p>
“Still, this new Miss Lancaster must be something else to make them pull out all the stops the second she steps foot in the city p>
“Didn’t you see the guest list? The national treasures from Marington College’s faculty are here p>
“I think I saw the Blackwood family arrive, too p>
“The Blackwoods? You mean Nicholas Blackwood is actually here p>
“It makes sense. The real heiress is actually impressive. Captain of the Elyndorian team at the Global Elite Challenge, representing Marington College. I heard her scores were absolutely terrifying p>
“I saw her at Brianna Blackwood’s debutante ball a while back. She’s stunning, and her aura is completely different from the usual socialites p>
“Mr. Blackwood treated her very uniquely that night. I thought they were just close, but I never expected her to be the Lancaster heiress! A billionaire heiress and the Blackwood heir. They’re a match made in heaven p>
The lavish praise flowed endlessly.
But.
When the spotlight is that bright, the shadows grow bitter.
On the far side of the room.
A clique of wealthy women from self-proclaimed ‘legacy’ families clustered together, sipping champagne and sneering.
“Impressive? Please. She grew up in the backcountry. What kind of class could she possibly have p>
“Exactly. All she did was participate in some academic tournament p>
“The Lancasters know how to play
the media. She gets a little fame
from the national team, and suddenly theyre throwing this massive gala. It’s obvious they’re
using the national team’s prestige to
legitimize the country bumpkin p>
“I guarantee they pulled strings to force her onto the team in the first place just so she could pad her resume on the global stage p>
Another woman laughed mockingly. “I heard she spent her entire childhood in the dirt. I wonder if she can even handle a room like this without having a panic attack p>
“It’s going to be hilarious if she trips over her own gown or doesn’t know which fork to use p>
The words had barely left her mouth.
Bang.
A champagne flute was slammed aggressively onto the table right next to them. “Who exactly are you saying can’t handle a room p>
The voice belonged to Lydia Brooks.
She stood there in a sleek, elegant gown, her face practically carved from ice.
Flanking her were Caleb Sommers, Vanessa Vance, Jasper Sterling, and over a dozen other members of the Elyndorian team.
They were the ones who had fought in the bloodiest international academic war in history.
Their collective presence was suffocating.
The wealthy women startled.
Recognizing them as the national
team competitors, they tried to
brush it off with forged smiles We
weren’t saying anything. Just
making casual conversation p>
Lydia sneered. “Casual conversation p>
The rest of the team laughed coldly. “You take someone who bled to bring glory to our country and accuse her of riding our coattails p>
“You take a family trying to honor their own daughter and call it a cheap PR stunt p>
“You call that casual conversation p>
The socialites were used to being treated like royalty. Being cornered and berated
by a group of college kids immediately darkened their expressions.
“Don’t think just because you went to some tournament you can talk to us like that! If you weren’t on that team, you wouldn’t even be allowed to breathe the air in a place like this p>