\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 41\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 41\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selene\u00a0<\/p>\n
Two harps were brought forward and placed in front of us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One gleamed under the soft lantern light, it was golden, polished, and perfect. It shimmered like something freshly crafted, each string glinting with care and pride. That one, of course, was placed before Sienna.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The other harp stood beside it, white, but dulled with age. Its once-bright sheen had long faded, leaving pale traces of what it used to be. The paint was chipped near the edges, and the strings looked worn from neglect.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Still, when I touched it, I could feel its strength beneath the surface. The frame was steady, the strings taut. A little rough to the touch, yes, but it was dependable. It had been played before, loved once, and even though it had been forgotten, it was still capable of beautiful sound.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I ran my fingers along the strings gently and nodded. This will do.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beside me, Sienna was already smiling at her reflection on the golden harp. She tilted her head toward me with a grin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope that will do, Selene,\u201d she said, her tone dripping with fake sympathy. \u201cThe white one is an old harp. There isn\u2019t another available, so you\u2019ll have to manage. It may look faded, but I\u2019m sure it can still make a sound. Just don\u2019t play too hard. After all, you might break it if you do too much. An old harp will always be old, no matter what you do with it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I almost laughed. Her words were obvious, she was trying to intimidate me, claiming that no matter what I did, I could never beat her. Well, let\u2019s see about that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled faintly, meeting her gaze. \u201cWell, you never know. Even an old harp can still play well if it\u2019s handled with care. You should focus on your harp, and stop trying to distract me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cA-alright.\u201d Her smile stiffened before she looked away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned my attention from her and glanced around. We were sitting at the center of the courtyard stage, where every eye was fixed on us. Lanterns glowed softly above, illuminating the curious, excited faces of the crowd.\u00a0<\/p>\n
People whispered among themselves, their words weaving through the air.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, who do you think will win?\u201d one man murmured.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLady Sienna, of course,\u201d another replied instantly. \u201cShe\u2019s been playing since she was a child. How could she lose?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never heard anything good about Lady Selene,\u201d someone else added with a laugh.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why lie? She knows she\u2019ll be humiliated. Everyone will laugh when she fails.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s obviously doing this for Prince Adrian,\u201d another scoffed. \u201cShe\u2019s always acting dumb around him, chasing him like a love-struck fool.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sat there, hands resting lightly on the faded harp, and let their words drift around me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They weren\u2019t wrong. That was who I used to be. The naive, desperate girl who lived in her sister\u2019s shadow, chasing after a man who barely saw her. The Selene who humiliated herself trying to earn crumbs of affection.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of course, they would think I was doing this for Adrian. It was the easiest assumption to make.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t have the energy to correct fools.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even if I tried, they wouldn\u2019t understand, not when their minds were so small and their tongues so eager to gossip.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 41\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was about to tune them out completely when a lazy voice drifted from somewhere behind the crowd.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDogs bark too much these days.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The words hung in the air.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The murmuring stopped instantly. You could almost feel the collective shock ripple through them. I blinked, a little surprised myself. Who would dare say something like that here, surrounded by nobles and high-ranking wolves?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned my head toward the voice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A woman stood leaning against the far wall, half-hidden by the shadows. She held a glass of wine in one hand, her posture relaxed, and almost careless. The lantern light didn\u2019t quite reach her, but her voice carried confidence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One of the men who had been mocking me bristled, his face flushing red with anger. \u201cWho the hell just called us dogs?\u201d he snapped. \u201cShow yourself!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The woman chuckled. \u201cWhat? Am I wrong?\u201d she said, voice dripping with amusement. \u201cDogs bark too much sometimes, like they don\u2019t know their place.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A few people gasped, others stiffened in offense.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou crazy bitch!\u201d the man growled. \u201cShow your face right now, or I\u2019ll make sure you regret it. How dare you, do know who I am?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
you even\u00a0<\/p>\n
The woman\u2019s laughter rang out. \u201cMust I?\u201d she replied lazily. \u201cAre you even important enough for me to need to know your name?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The man looked ready to explode, but before he could speak again, the woman finally pushed off the wall and stepped into the light.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her presence silenced everyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her long red hair glowed under the moonlight, styled elegantly. Her green eyes shimmered like emeralds, cool and sharp as she swept her gaze across the stunned faces. She took a sip from her glass, then casually brushed a lock of hair behind her\u00a0<\/p>\n
ear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat were you saying again?\u201d she asked with a smirk.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The man froze. His expression shifted from fury to sheer panic as realization hit him. \u201cO-Oh my goddess\u2026 Princess Avery.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked, staring.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Princess Avery. Adrian\u2019s younger sister.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of course. I should have recognized that voice, the sharp confidence, the effortless defiance. She was beautiful, dressed in an extravagant gown, the fabric shimmering with intricate embroidery, Diamonds glittered at her throat, catching the faint light with every movement,\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was always standing out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I remembered her perfectly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my previous life, I used to hate her. I thought she was cruel, arrogant, and mean.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We knew each other from when we were children. For a while we\u2019d been close, but somewhere along the way she pulled away. I never understood why. Back then I convinced myself she was just like everyone else, she was just another person who\u00a0<\/p>\n
would look down on me the moment it suited them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 41\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even as we grew older, Avery still tried to stand up for me sometimes, but I always pushed her away. I\u2019d bare my teeth, snap at her, \u201cI don\u2019t need your pity,\u201d loud enough for everyone around to hear. I turned her kindness into something ugly, another reason to despise her. And when Sienna whispered that Avery only defended me because she pitied me, it lodged deeper. I believed it, and resented her even more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now the man who\u2019d insulted me bowed his head so fast his neck must have cramped. \u201cP-please forgive me, Your Highness,\u201d he stammered to Avery. \u201cI didn\u2019t know it was you. I- I wouldn\u2019t dare-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Avery didn\u2019t bother with theatrics. She scoffed and said, \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter. Not only did you disrespect me, you disrespected the moonborn. That is a harsher punishment.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The man swallowed, tried again to apologize, and she snapped, \u201cGet out. I don\u2019t want to see your ugly face. All of you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
They backed away, faces white, and hurried out of the courtyard with their tails between their legs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHow annoying,\u201d She muttered and then looked my way.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When our eyes met, she paused. There was that old caution in her gaze, as if she\u2019d spent years rehearsing exactly how to look at me without getting hurt. She was about to look away when I smiled and muttered, \u201cThank you, Your Highness.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She blinked, completely off-guard, and heat climbed to her cheeks. She hadn\u2019t expected gratitude. She turned on her heel and walked away. I watched her go and felt something light flutter in my chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maybe, this life could be different. Maybe I should try to know why she\u2019d kept her distance as children, why she\u2019d defended me even when I spat at her. But then I remembered Adrian was her brother, and shook my head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s start the competition. Who wants to go first?\u201d Alpha Rhydian\u2019s voice echoed through the courtyard.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could answer, Sienna shot her hand up. \u201cI will,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019d like to go first, please.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Alpha nodded. Sienna\u2019s smirk widened, and her thoughts slid effortlessly into my mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll play first to set the mood. If I start strong, whatever Selene does will look worse by comparison.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
Predictable. Petty. Perfect.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A slow smile tugged at my lips. Yes, Sienna. Go on. Dig your own grave. I\u2019ll even hand you the first shovel.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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12:49 Tue, Dec 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Hope Is Not Optional \u2014 Manuel Flores 41 \u00a0 Chapter 41\u00a0 Chapter 41\u00a0 Selene\u00a0 Two harps were brought forward and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27835","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-ruthless-tycoons-obsession-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27835","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27835"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27835\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27835"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27835"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27835"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}