Rosella waved her hand to Lilith to dismiss her. If something happens, Rosella can't protect Lilith, not because she is weak, but because she had not trained in Sacred Magic. The only way to expel and exterminate the contracted Evil Spirit.
Lilith knew it and did not force the princess. But give her some words.
"Princess, be careful. Besides the shadow, I sense a certain amount of hostility in the hall."
When Rosella reaches the banquet hall's main door, the knight announcing arrivals saw her.
He bowed his head and made her arrival announce.
"Cullen Kingdom's Third Princess, Cherished Princess Rosella."
The chatter inside the hall faded in an instant.
Everyone's focus was upstairs in the main hallway. After the door opened, tall white pillars lead the way through a black hallway decorated with different unknown statuettes and luminous lights.
As she walks through, reaching the end of the hallway. What welcomes her sight is the Grand Hall Banquet, the pure marble floor, and alluring ceiling sky captivate her while the classic lights create an outdoor atmosphere that no one cannot forget.
After the hallway, there's a staircase with 98 ladders.
From the moment she steps out into the hallway, she feels the looks of everyone on her. She did not dress up, she just wears a dress she hadn't worn before.
Looking at the banquet hall, she feels as if she had entered the Magnificent main hall.
The Palace had three halls, one of them being the [Glorious Main Hall]. Every Kingdom had one, where all the Kings and Queens of every kingdom come together.
The second hall is the [Grand Hall Banquet]. Where the princes and princesses celebrate their birthdays and some other festivities.
The third hall is different. And few people had gone inside.
Rosella made her way down the staircase. Looking at the gardenias on the staircase made her frown.
'Aren't these…' she did not finish her words when she heard a sudden mocking laugh.
"Third Princess Rosella, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Elmira, Borges Kingdom's Eldest Prince's Fiancée."
When Rosella heard her words, she had a sudden understanding.
When she was seven years old, the then twelve years old Borges Kingdom's Eldest Prince was an invited guest in the Cullen Kingdom. He was playing close to a river near the woods behind the Castle, he fell because he did not know how to swim, and he almost drowned.
Even though Borges Kingdom's Eldest Prince, Julian, is a human without magic, he had a certain charm. Many casters express their wish to protect him.
At that time, he was alone, and the seven years old Rosella happened to pass by and saved him. Since then, he had fallen in love with her.
And because she can't get engaged with a non-caster. Julian had to make a do with the woman his father chooses.
But the regret in his heart did not extinguish. And Elmira, the Second Duke of Borges Kingdom's daughter, becomes his fiancée. And she had become hostile towards Rosella since then.
'Sigh.' Rosella feels tired only by hearing her voice.
Rosella saw a lady dressed in a white evening dress, her curly long hair rolled up her head, and she wore a diamond-encrusted diadem, which was playful and elegant.
"Lady Elmira." Nodded Rosella towards her, acknowledging her presence but not her greeting.
This made Elmira angrier.
"Third Princess, I assume you came late because you were waiting for your eldest royal sister to come?" Elmira's poisonous words made everyone look at Rosella differently.
Part of the people present knew Rosella's identity, but neither of them moves to speak for her. They only stood there, waiting for a good show, with a smirk on their faces.
Another part was neutral. They neither joined to watch the show nor did they speak for Rosella.
The rest of the people present did not know Rosella, and they didn't know her title. Few understood the name the knight announced when she came. So, the words made many have bad impressions of Rosella.
"Oh, so she is the little sister of Princess Valentina. How can she be so rude?"
"Yes, how could she grow up so different from Princess Valentina?"
"Ah, so she is a princess too? So we can punish this kind of repulsive behavior in my kingdom. With such a displeased behavior, she won't get married."
"Tsk, can she be worthy of the Cullen Kingdom title as a Princess?"
Many Ladies went too far in their words. Each and every word was so heavy, that Rosella felt a headache coming. Their words did not match their eyes.
Jealousy, envy, hostility, hatred, and many other emotions, Rosella did not notice.
She could understand their behaviors and knew they were like unknown little wild flowers on the side of the road who always love competing in beauty.
The ones who knew Rosella's title and identity frowned. They took their companions and left the scene. They saw the calm and collected Rosella and expected a slap on the people who spoke badly.
"Lady Elmira, be careful with your words. My First Royal Sister Valentina's birthday banquet is for her only. I have come at this time because I know she will come later. And I don't like to interact with many hypocritical people like yourself." Rosella spoke, neither too fast nor too slow.
Her voice was steady and her calm and high demeanor worthy of a Princess. And worthy of her title, Cherished Third Princess.
Lady Elmira's face reddened as she heard the surrounding whispers.
"Oh, look at her. Only because she is the Borges Kingdom's Eldest Prince's fiancée, her courage is high."
"Did she look at herself in the mirror before coming here?"
"I think she did not, because she is so confident in her false beauty."
"Maybe it's because she did not want to disgust herself in the mirror and cry before coming."
Those Ladies' words were rude and baseless and made Elmira lose all her face. Clenched her fists to the point to dig her nail into her flesh, almost bleeding.
Her hatred grew and grew, an ominous aura flow out of her.
'Isn't she a non-caster? Why do I perceive magic from her?' Rosella frowned, and many others around did the same.
Only those with magic perception could notice Lady Elmira's changes.
The atmosphere become heavy and gloomy as Lady Elmira's anger grew. But before it could explode, the knight announces Princess Valentina's arrival.
"Cullen Kingdom's First Princess, Princess Valentina."