"Please welcome, Princess Ariah Laurenzia with her husband, Grand Prince Elijah Carlisle of the Lucraidian Empire."
The moment the door of the grand hall opened for the both of us to enter, I subconsciously gripped on Prince Elijah's arm as we enter. As my eyes roamed around the grand hall of the palace, I immediately noticed that the interior has a touch of gold and white paint on it and it somehow looked like those baroque mansion and castle that I always see on galleries from the internet when I am trying to find a background for my PowerPoint presentation, from the old movies that I once watched, and from the magazines I once read. It looked sophisticated, elegant, expensive, and regal. Fit for a royal family, indeed. When my eyes went towards the people around us, I could see how people went on different sides of the ballroom just to give us a way to enter, like how Moses made the sea in half as he walked. I don't remember reading this scene in the novel but one thing is for sure—I could tell how these people view us and it didn't felt nice.
In my past life, I am a sociable kind of person. I love people and I love to reciprocate the positive energy that I get from people. But, right now, I just couldn't. I felt like as their eyes were on me, it felt like I'm being scanned, being monitored, being read… and if looks could kill, they could definitely just end me then and there.
I bit my lower lip in nervousness. I could feel how my hands were breaking a cold sweat underneath my gloves that I gripped much tighter on Prince Elijah's arm.
"Your Highness." I gasped and immediately turned my head to look at him. His eyes were fixated on his arm and on my hand that I immediately lose my grip and averted my gaze somewhere.
"O-Oh, I-I'm sorry…" I muttered. "I… uh… I…"
"Are you nervous?" he asked that I immediately shot my gaze back at him.
"Huh?" I muttered dumbly. It took me a second to process what he asked before I spoke once again. "Umm, uh, I…" I sighed. "I am happy to be back in my hometown as well as I am finally back in the home I once knew, the palace, but I… I couldn't remember anything. I couldn't remember anyone and everyone around us right now and I really don't know how to begin I mean, my sister, the Crown Princess prepared everything for me and I appreciate it but I…"
"Shush, darling," he whispered and gently patted my hand on his arm. "It might be saddening to lose your memory but don't rush and force yourself to remember anything. We can start our progress little by little and we could also create new memories… starting from here." He then flaunted a smile.
I stared at him.
Man, if I really didn't know how cruel he was in the entirety of the novel and if I didn't know that he's a villain, I will definitely think that he's a good guy. I mean, he really is good to me these past few days and even though he's always going in and out of the residential palace because of his state meetings since his brother, who is now the next king of the two nations and will be crowned within this week, assigned him in those roles and he still have time to visit the Crown Princess Arabella (wow, consistent yarn?) but since "I" have an amnesia so his precious time to visit and see Princess Arabella was divided into two. Of course, it'll be so alarming to the people to see him hanging around with the crown princess when he has a "sick wife". Lol.
But not gonna lie, he was actually doing great when it comes to his 'husband duties' towards me. He's legit caring and he's really concerned of me and my well-being—totally different from the actual villainous Prince Elijah from the novel that I once read.
Just like… now. He's trying to soothe me because I am nervous.
Heck, he could pass as a comfort character if he didn't just have a black heart.
"Do you think… I can do well tonight?" I asked. Nah, for real, I am trying not to cringe at the lines I am trying to throw at him right now but knowing Princess Ariah, she would definitely say these words to him. Pabebe masyado si ate ghorl kasi.
He smiled and gently squeezed my hand. "Of course, you are. After all, you're my wife, Princess Ariah."
I smiled, trying to reciprocate the energy that he's giving to me right now.
I know, I could tell that whatever he's showing to me is just a façade but I still wanted to be genuine with regards to my emotions and what I show to people.
I am not like the real Princess Ariah… and I am not like him.
"Greetings, Your Highnesses," the people greeted us, bowing their heads.
I could see Prince Elijah nodding at them while I slightly held the skirt of my gown and bowed at them. As usual, the people around us were so surprised, even my own husband.
"Your Highness," Prince Elijah gently grabbed me to straighten myself and with a firm voice, he spoke. "We don't do that."
"Eh? Do what?" I dumbly asked.
"We don't bow to people in the lower ranks like that," he said. "We only do that towards the king, the crown prince and princess, and the other members of the royal family."
That made me furrow my eyebrows and I immediately rewind the memory that I have while reading the novel if I missed something while reading it—like an etiquette or something. But as expected, I don't remember encountering one.
Oops, I legit didn't know that and I bet I did mess up on this part.
But I still have my way to get away from this mess—my 'amnesia' card!
"Oh, did I do it wrong? I apologized, Your Highness. It's just that…" I looked at the people once again and then I looked at him. "They're greeting us so I thought I am going to treat them in the same way."
He gently patted my head. "My sweet Ariah, you're a princess. You don't have to greet them like that. A little nod is fine."
Well, that's kind of awkward. I mean, I did dream of being a princess when I was a kid but man, I think I kinda regretted it now. Royal etiquette is not really my thing. Such a hassle.
"I'll… I'll do better next time," ugh, as you should, self. This man will not going to bat an eye if he kills you so you have to be careful.
"Princess Ariah, my sister!" I turned my head towards Princess Arabella who's now walking towards me with such a huge smile on her face. She's really looking so gorgeous with her gown touched with gold and white which I bet, the sun will definitely get jealous of how much she's definitely shining up the whole room at this moment. Her husband, Prince Lucien is also following her from behind with such a huge smile on his face.
"You made it, brother," Prince Lucien greeted him and his gaze settled on me and smiled as he slightly bowed. "Hello, Your Highness. You looked amazing tonight."
I held my skirt once again and bowed at him. "Thank you so much for the compliment, Your Royal Highness."
"I am so happy that you're here now and I know you did tell me that you don't want us to throw a party for your recovery but I still want to do so, my sister. I want to show how I'm so happy and thankful for you," said Princess Arabella and then she hugged me, tight.
I gently pulled away from her hug and smiled. "Thank you so much, Your Highness. You have no idea how I'm so happy right now."
"Thank you so much for throwing a party for my wife, Your Royal Highness," we turned our heads to Elijah as he bowed at her.
"Everything that makes Ariah happy, I will always do it for her because I love and cherish my sister." She turned to me once again and gave me a smile.
Right, I remembered. She did let Princess Ariah marry her childhood friend Prince Elijah because Ariah is so in love with him and her younger sister legit bitching around to her about it without knowing that he's in love with her, not with Ariah.
That's fortunate because I don't ship Princess Arabella with Prince Elijah. I am AraCien Shipper and I am loyal!
"How are you feeling right now?" he asked once again. Based from how he looked and how he spoke to me, I definitely could tell how a nice and kind-hearted person he is. He definitely is, that's why Princess Arabella fell in love and married him. That's why, knowing how his brother killed him in the novel gave so much ache in my heart. He didn't deserve such tragic end.
I mentally glared at Prince Elijah. Damn you for killing your own brother, for real.
I gave him the softest smile and responded. "I am doing better right now, Your Highness. Although… I still couldn't remember anything and I am also trying to adjust but above all, I am doing and feeling better, thanks to the people and the servants around me who were always taking care of me and nice to me and of course, my husband. I managed to recover this quick because he never failed to take good care of me, to look after me, and being patient to me. Even though I don't remember anything about us… still, I wanted to say that I am so lucky that I married Prince Elijah."
As much as I really don't want to praise him because yeah, he don't deserved being praised like this but of course, I am facing his brother right now and I might raise a suspicion that we're not a loving couple so I just have to do so.
His gentle smile remained on his face. "I am glad."
We turned our heads to Princess Arabella who's now talking to Prince Elijah. I could see how Prince Elijah's gaze soften and warming up to her as well as how gentle and sweet his smile towards her. Prince Lucien joined them in their conversation and Prince Elijah just glimpsed at him then he gave all his attention to the Crown Princess, the woman he always love.
I could feel my chest piercing in pain and this is definitely not my emotion that felt this one… but Ariah's.