Lisette had no idea her little scheme had already been unraveled by Calliope.


    Seeing Calliope agree to her challenge, she could hardly hide her glee, convinced she''d already won. In her mind, Calliope was nothing but a fool this time, she was finally falling for Lisette''s trap.


    "I''ll go first!" Lisette dered boldly, grabbing her ss. Without hesitation, she began downing her drink in rapid gulps, barely pausing for breath, as if afraid Calliope might back out if she hesitated.


    Calliope watched, a spark of amusement and subtle mockery glinting in her eyes. Earlier, as she made her way over, she''d already slipped something into Lisette''s drink. Calliope had easily recognized the drug Lisette was using—and had countered by adding a very simr concoction of her own.


    The irony was almostughable. Lisette had no idea that the very aphrodisiac she''d used—so popr, so sought-after in certain circles—was actually Calliope''s own invention, crafted specifically for ying games of seduction. Now, Lisette was attempting to turn it back on the creator herself.


    Too bad for Lisette, the drug''s effects werepletely wasted on Calliope. She was immune, and, as a matter of good practice, she always carried an antidote with her just in case.


    Lisette fancied herself a schemer, but in truth, she was hopelessly outmatched.


    Unruffled, Calliope lifted her ss with the same effortless poise as ever, regal and untouchable—every inch the princess the room believed her to be.


    The crowd looked on in awe at her unearthly tolerance.


    "She''s unreal! How does she do it?" someone whispered, wide-eyed.


    "I swear, Calliope''s stomach is bottomless. She acts like alcohol has no effect on her at all..."


    "I''ve honestly never seen anyone like her," another chimed in, shaking their head in disbelief.


    "She already drank Blythe-the mighty Blythe-under the table! Now Lisettees along, and she''s still standing. It''s unreal!"


    "She''s honestly superhuman. I wouldn''t believe it if I wasn''t watching it right now."


    "Take my advice: Never challenge Calliope to a drinking contest unless you want to go home humiliated."


    "Come on, though she''s already had so much tonight. She has to be reaching her limit, right?"


    "Exactly. Lisette waiting until Calliope''s so far gone and then challenging her isn''t exactly fair y."


    "Definitely feels like Lisette''s trying to game the system, if you ask me."


    "Still, Calliope doesn''t look bothered. Maybe it''s all the same to her."


    While everyone else gossiped, Portia and Damien shot scathing looks toward Lisette. They were furious-challenging Calliope now, after she''d been drinking all night, was downright low.


    "Lisette, don''t you have any shame?"


    Portia snapped, voice icy with


    contempt. "You haven''t touched a


    drop, but Callie''s been drinking all night.


    Pand you still want to g


    head-to-head? How sneaky can you get?"


    Lisette nced at Portia and let a sly smile curl her lips. “If I didn''t step in now, how


    else would everyone see just how impressive she is?"


    "Oh, so we should be thanking you?" Portia retorted, barely holding back her anger.


    Lisette arched a brow. "I''m just giving her the stage to show everyone how incredible she really is, Besides, it''s not like she''s the type to back down-she''s clearly up for* the challenge."


    "She''s had way too much of course she''s not thinking straight,” Portia shot back. "But what''s your excuse? Are you justpletely shameless?"


    "Yeah. Absolutely shameless," Damien echoed, staring her down with undisguised disgust.


    At that moment, Nigel


    appeared-emerging from the crowd with a cool, forbidding presence that seemed to draw the air around him tight. He strode over to join Portia and Damien, his gaze fixed squarely on Lisette.