Underworld Bride Trials 1 Playboy King - Meg Xuemei X. Page 0,39
if he was waiting for someone else. I swore he stared in my direction a few times. I sank deeper into the shadows before I dashed away to the side of the building. I’d checked the geography of the entire palace earlier and knew exactly where the weakest security was.
After I let myself in through a high window of a unisex bathroom, I shrugged off the long coat that protected my dress from being sullied or torn and laid it on a high counter, then I slipped out the door.
Fortunately, I didn’t meet any guards as I pressed myself close to the wall, shielding myself with my ice magic.
It wasn’t long before I found myself standing behind the other dinner guests, cowering in the background and letting them enjoy the spotlight.
It was my third time seeing this place, and the interior still impressed me. Lucifer’s former palace reeked of obscene wealth. Star-like diamonds adorned the gold columns in the vast banquet hall. I should be able to pry off a few big ones when no one was looking. They say you don’t rob the devil, but a girl has needs.
The Duke of Envy suddenly appeared in my face and hissed in a low voice, “Where did you come from?”
“You tell me, Your Highness,” I whispered back, then flashed the invitation in front of him. “Here, if this is what you’re looking for.”
“You didn’t come through the front door.” He swatted the invitation away.
I frowned at him. “Where else could I have come through, Your Highness?”
Never explain yourself, even if you’re caught, and deny everything to the end of the world.
He looked around. “I’ll find out.”
“You do that, Highness,” I said softly, since I didn’t really want to make an enemy out of him, not now. But he’d eventually consider me his worst enemy when I fulfilled the contract on his king.
Two candidates in front of me turned to glare at me, then curtsied to the duke before turning to look ahead as Esme called us forward from the inner hall.
“I’d love to chat more, Highness, but I have to go now.” I gestured at the contestants moving along in front of me.
“I’m watching you,” the duke warned.
“Thank you.” I smiled sweetly at him. “And I’ll watch back.”
He cast me another dark glare, then stormed into the inner hall before us. He didn’t seem to dislike me though. He could easily rat me out or kick me out if he believed I broke some rule, but he’d done neither.
We filed into the inner chamber of the grand hall. I was the last one to step in, yet Loki’s eyes aligned on me immediately, shifting from a dark color to bright green, the same as the Earth Princess’s color. She also turned to look at us. A pained look flitted across the king’s face as he tore his gaze from me to scan the rest of the women, all in lovely, elaborate gowns that exposed as much of their skin as possible.
My gown was a light honey color with a pink flowery pattern. It was simple, elegant, yet designed not to attract too much attention. Bonus—it covered all my scars.
On many planets, bearing scars was a warrior’s pride, but I’d learned that in Earth’s culture, scars were considered ugly. Scars on a woman were an especially big turn-off. I wondered if the Demon King would still show interest when he saw the crisscrossed marks all over my body. That thought suddenly depressed me.
It took no time for Loki’s gaze to rove over me again, lingering longer than necessary, before he swept a glance over at his other dinner guests. He flashed his perfect white teeth and said a few lukewarm words of welcome.
The candidates gave their names before being led toward a long redwood table by the full-length window. A large fireplace burned low, not with wood but with lava. Loki sure knew how to take advantage of Hell’s natural resources.
Veronica was the first to announce her name, loud and proud. Then, like a peacock, she strutted behind a well-dressed servant toward the table, her eyes never leaving the king, while she flaunted her sizable boobs to remind him that they’d fucked not long ago.
Even I got the message. Unfortunately, Loki wasn’t checking her out. He continued to stare at me, but I avoided eye contact and cursed him under my breath for his heated gaze.
Unlike the vampire princess, I wanted none of his attention, which would do me no good other