Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 440

Phoenix lightly swirled the wine glass in her hand, the crimson liquid spinning smoothly against the crystal walls.

She lifted her eyelids lazily, her tone completely indifferent. "You want me to play? Do you even deserve to hear me?"

Jade's smile instantly froze, her hands clenching into tight fists beneath her dress. She desperately maintained her posture, forcing a strained smile. "Miss Prescott, what exactly do you mean by that?"

"Are you saying that none of the esteemed guests and elders here tonight are worthy of hearing you play?"

Her words sent a shockwave through the room, immediately sparking a chorus of low murmurs across the banquet hall.

"Miss Prescott may be Yara's chosen successor, but... this arrogance is out of control. Even Yara back in her prime wasn't this insolent."

"Hah, ignorant upstarts always bite off more than they can chew. Coming from a small town, she obviously doesn't understand the rules of Highcrest. Can't say I'm surprised."

"I thought Yara's successor would be a force to be reckoned with. Turns out, she's nothing but an amateur."

The waves of blatant criticism surged toward her, but Phoenix ignored them completely. Instead, an unfiltered, mocking smirk spread across her lips. Before she could even respond, Duncan eagerly jumped out to kick her while she was down.

"Miss Prescott, you are the star of tonight's welcome banquet. If the guest of honor refuses to show any grace, wouldn't we just become a joke to the outside world?" Duncan turned to the crowd, pasting on an apologetic smile. "Everyone, I am truly sorry. Miss Prescott just arrived from a small place like Cloudhaven and doesn't quite understand the etiquette of Highcrest yet. Please forgive her lack of manners."

His words sounded like an attempt to smooth things over, but every single syllable was designed to permanently brand Phoenix as a 'country bumpkin.'

"Heh." Phoenix let out a low chuckle. The sound was lazy and casual, yet somehow it cut right through the noise of the room, forcing everyone into an involuntary silence.

"Duncan makes a fair point. I am indeed from a small town. But..." She dragged out the word, her gaze sweeping over the crowd like a razor. "I stand by what I said. You don't deserve to hear me play."

A sharp glint flashed in Duncan's eyes.

Since this foolish girl insisted on throwing herself onto the sword, he was more than happy to add fuel to the fire.

But then, Phoenix's tone shifted abruptly. "Of course, since you're all begging to hear me play, I suppose it's not entirely out of the question. It's just... there has to be a price."

"A price?" Jade blinked, then burst into a mocking sneer as if she had just heard the funniest joke in the world. "You? You think you have the right to demand a price from us?"

"Jade, you're quite confident in your piano skills, aren't you?" Phoenix shot a sideways glance at Nolan, giving him a reassuring look to hold his tongue for a moment, before speaking with deliberate slowness. "Do you want to make a bet with me?"

"A bet?" Jade frowned deeply. "On what?"

"If I play better than you, your entire family moves out of the St. Claire estate immediately."

The moment the words dropped, the entire room erupted in shock.

Duncan and Lorraine's faces instantly turned ashen, staring at Phoenix like she was an absolute lunatic.

How dare this woman spout such arrogant nonsense!

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