Everyone watched with bated breath as Drusilla’s fingers carefully wrapped around the ring. Then she paused, seemingly frozen.
"Put it on already!" Cordelia burst out, verbalizing the feelings of everyone in the pavilion.
Drusilla shot her a venomous glance. She stretched out her finger, as though she was going to slide it on, but she did something no one expected.
She drew back her other hand, and flung the ring away! The crowd of women began to scream in horror as they saw the ring fly through the air, seemingly straight into the bushes!
"What on earth!" There was absolute pandemonium as people began to shove each other, hoping to be the lucky ones to find the ring.
"Ladies, please!" Queen Yvaine called for order, but it was useless. Every woman wanted to find the Symphony of the New Dawn. If they found it, what’s stopping them from keeping it?
Daphne immediately dashed towards the gardens, but she lagged behind the pack of opportunistic vultures. She quickly peered around, trying to find her own wedding ring on the ground. Hopefully, it did not end up in the pond!
"Atticus!" Daphne exclaimed to her husband, who didn’t seem worried at all. Even Prince Nathaniel standing next to him had a more horrified look on his face. "Hurry and help me find the ring!"
"There’s no need for that," Atticus said reassuringly at Daphne. He rolled his eyes at all the other women’s desperate attempts to find the ring. All he needed was his magic. He raised his hand, the obsidian in his ring glowing strongly.
All the bushes began floating in the air, uprooted from their positions. Dirt and leaves rained on the floor as Atticus shook them rapidly. More screams echoed in the air, and people began to scuttle back in case they got dirt on their faces. This casual show of power was terrifying!
Meanwhile, Prince Nathaniel could only shoot Atticus a disgruntled glare. This man had no respect for horticulture and a well-maintained garden!
As Atticus had gotten rid of every obstacle, it was all too easy for her to spot her wedding ring. She hurriedly grabbed it and held it close, checking for any scratches. Thankfully, it was perfectly fine, if a bit dirty. She wiped it clean with her own dress, sighing in relief.
Oh, Drusilla was going to pay for this! Daphne vowed to herself.
Back at the pavilion, Drusilla tried to use the distraction caused by Atticus to sneak away. Unfortunately for her, Cordelia saw her and grabbed her arm, preventing her escape.
"Throwing away the Symphony of the New Dawn? You have some nerve!" Cordelia roared as she twisted said arm behind her back, slamming her body against the table. Drusilla screamed in pain and then spat out a mouthful of cake frosting that had found its way into her mouth and up her nostrils.
Daphne stepped back into the pavilion, casting a stony glance at Drusilla.
"Daphne, my dear, how do you wish to handle it?" Atticus asked. "Should I take off her hands or feet first? Or maybe you would like me to shave her bald?"
Drusilla began squirming on the table as she registered Atticus’s words. She gave Prince Nathaniel a desperate look, but he ignored it in favor of staring despondently at his garden. Months of hard work, gone. Just like that.
"No need," Daphne said imperiously. "I’ll handle this."
She nodded to Cordelia, and Cordelia helpfully pinned Drusilla’s other hand down on the table. Drusilla tried to curl her fingers into a tight fist, but Cordelia managed to pry her middle finger free. There was a sharp crack, and Drusilla gasped in pain.
The finger remained outstretched.
"She’s all yours," Cordelia said cheerfully.
Daphne slid the ring onto Drusilla’s finger.
The moonstone that had been glowing blue slowly changed. Daphne couldn’t believe her eyes, but there was no mistaking it― there was a rainbow sheen! It wasn’t as grand as the one belonging to Queen Yvaine, but the fact that it even existed was already a big shock.
"Wow. You really are a harlot!" Cordelia exclaimed loud enough for everyone to hear. Gasps and shrieks filled the air, and women started to jostle to the front to see the truth for themselves.
There was no denying it. Princess Drusilla was no longer untouched. And to make matters more ridiculous, she was younger than Queen Daphne and had no lover!
Drusilla choked out a sob. Oh, she would make Daphne pay for this humiliation! Even if she had to plot for a decade, she would stop at nothing to ensure Daphne fell into destitution and disrepair.
"Drusilla... how could you?" Daphne could only feel disappointed at the turn of events.
She had suspected Drusilla’s lack of virtue, but she never expected it to be true! She took off the ring and slid it back onto her own finger where it belonged.
"Why didn’t you safeguard your virtue? How will you find a good husband at this rate?"
Drusilla let out a deranged laugh, her body shaking violently. Cordelia shot Daphne a worried look, but Daphne could only stare back in confusion. She had never seen Drusilla behave like this!
"Sweet sister, stop acting like you care!" Drusilla spat out angrily, glaring at Daphne with half her face still on the table. "Find a good husband? That’s easy for you to say! Even if you are completely useless, your bloodline will still make you a good bride."
Drusilla’s eyes were bloodshot, her face contorted to that of a furious beast.
"As for me? I could be the purest maiden, the most skilled, the loveliest, but it wouldn’t matter! Because no good man wants to marry the daughter of a whore!" Drusilla yelled in outrage, her anger palpable in every word. "How is that fair to me?"
"It’s not, but I fail to see how―"
"Shut up!" Drusilla roared, and the tablecloth went up in flames. Cordelia jumped back in shock as the flames began to spread around the pavilion, trapping everyone inside it. But Drusilla easily ran straight through the flames.
"Drusilla! Come back!" Daphne exclaimed. She wanted to run after her, but Atticus held her back, his arm wound tightly around her waist.
"Don’t bother with her now. Knowing her attitude, she’s probably going to run to your brother for help."