"That's right. I heard you've met Malvin's henchman."
"If I'm not mistaken, he proposed to you too, didn't he?"
"They say it was what he wanted before he went abroad with Malvin."
"Although afterward, he was humiliated when his wish got out and became a topic of conversation."
"But at least he knew his place. He backed off right away because he understood where he stood."
Every one of those remarks came from the girl who had looked cynical toward Selina from the very beginning. The other girls merely fell silent, nervous as they sensed the faint sparks flying between the cynical girl and Selina.
Selina, on the other hand, still looked perfectly calm and had yet to respond to a single one of the cynical girl's remarks.
'Huh. Because everyone praises her, she thinks she can become the social leader? Just because her sisters married rich men, someone as ordinary as her dares to act so superior,' thought the cynical girl, whose name was Karina.
'That's why you should know your place too! Just like Malvin's henchman!' Karina sneered inwardly.
"Imagine how angry your mother was when she found out about that proposal," Karina continued.
Since Selina remained silent, Karina felt increasingly victorious at having implicitly put her down. She kept up her attacks, trying to break Selina's spirit. By pretending to disparage Malvin's henchman, Karina intended her words to serve as a reflection of Selina, whom she believed didn't know her place.
"Well ... I get it. Although I heard Malvin's henchman is still considered wealthy, we don't know whether that's really true."
"Your mother put so much effort into your marriage plans. But since you were involved with a man of unclear origins, it's only natural that your mother got so angry and ended up insulting him."
"So, what do you think, Selina? What's your opinion of Malvin's henchman?" Karina finally asked after going on at length about an incident from several years ago. "Was he really such a pathetic man?"
"I don't know," Selina replied briefly.
"Don't be like that ... Come on, tell us. What's wrong with telling your own friend?" Karina pressed. "Don't tell me you don't remember. That was something you should never have forgotten."
Selina smiled beautifully before finally answering, "You think that's the only proposal I've ever received from a man? I've received so many that I can't even remember it."
That single cutting reply from Selina instantly irritated Karina. Karina had gone on and on trying to humiliate Selina, yet Selina remained calm and graceful, answering with effortless elegance.
"What you said is true," Karina muttered, trying to appear unaffected. "Besides, I heard you're going to marry Raka, so of course you wouldn't remember someone like Malvin's henchman."
"But how should I put this ...? On your birthday, when Raka was supposedly going to propose to you, Raka actually ruined the party because some urgent matter came up. I was worried about you," Karina said sarcastically.
"Selina, everyone knows your mother is always going in and out of Raka's residence and his aunt's place too. Your mother has been trying so hard to get you into the Lore family, hasn't she?" Karina taunted.
"Is that all you can say?" Selina concluded. Her demeanor remained calm, but her eyes were now fixed sharply on Karina. Karina went rigid under her gaze.
"You know that yourself, don't you ...?" Selina continued as she rose from her seat. "How does my wonderful mother deal with people who annoy her?"
"I-I was just ..." Karina immediately began to stammer. Selina's increasingly close approach, accompanied by that cold stare, left her frightened and flustered.
"Don't worry ..." Selina spoke once she was standing behind Karina's chair. "Even though my mother is coldhearted and ruthless, she usually only chooses opponents who are her equal."