Dumping The Ice King His Mini-Tyrant novel Chapter 400

Penelope stood center stage, bowing as the applause swept through the auditorium like a wave. The crowd’s cheers thundered, and already, several parents who knew Clarissa were turning in their seats to compliment her.

“Penelope’s mom, you’ve really raised her well!” one mother beamed.

“Penelope dances so beautifully—she makes the entire performance a joy to watch,” another added.

Parents from the same class quickly chimed in, “It was the right call to have Dafina step back from rehearsals. If she’d stayed in, the show wouldn’t have been nearly this good.”

“Absolutely. Clarissa really saw this coming.”

As they spoke, their glances kept darting—some subtly, some not—toward Selene.

In the microcosm of the school, parents naturally clustered by social circles. Even though Selene’s talent was obvious, she had no connections. And in the social jungle of Capital City’s elite prep school, lacking background meant you were as good as invisible.

Parents eager to nurture ties with the Vaughn family were quick to side with Clarissa.

“Selene, you really ought to thank Clarissa,” one mother said, her tone syrupy but sharp beneath the surface. “She wasn’t targeting your daughter—she was just being practical. Your little girl really isn’t suited for ballet with the rest of the kids.”

Selene gazed toward the stage, not so much as glancing at the cluster of chattering mothers. She lifted her chin and smiled. “Well, I do have to thank her. If it wasn’t for her, my daughter wouldn’t have had the chance to perform on her own.”

Her words carried easily to Clarissa, who sat nearby. Clarissa crossed her legs, folding her hands in her lap, and let out a short, derisive laugh, her posture every bit as smug as her expression.

“We’ll see soon enough if it’s a performance or just a spectacle,” she sneered.

As the show continued, parents who’d already seen their children perform began to lose interest, gathering their coats and filing out quietly.

Altair, noticing the thinning crowd, reached over and tugged gently at Selene’s sleeve. Selene glanced down at his young, worried face and immediately understood.

She leaned closer, her voice soothing, “It’s alright. We’ll stay right here and wait for Daph’s performance.”

Clarissa stood and stretched, smiling to the cluster of nearby parents. “Sitting in here is exhausting. Let’s get some fresh air.”

Parents seated beside her followed suit, trailing after Clarissa as she led them out of the auditorium. They gathered in the hallway, voices low but animated, and their talk drifted back to Selene’s ears.

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