Then suddenly Cyril clapped loudly and stood up. Everyone was too surprised to believe their own eyes.
"How shameless!! How absolutely shameless!!! " Cyril said smiling.
But this smile is different. It's a kind of smile that warns everyone "beware".
All the maids and servants stared wide-eyed at Cyril while everyone in the room started whispering to themselves about what just happened.
"What is your problem, Duke Cyril," asked King Zander.
"Well, Your Majesty" replied Cyril calmly, "this is my problem. Do you know that a princess must choose her husband?"
"Of course, I know and my daughter chose Duke Namen. Is there a problem with you, ??" questioned King Zander with a raised eyebrow.
"What do you mean, Your Majesty?!?! If Princess Amandine chose Duke Namen why don't you let her announce it by herself?" Cyril retorted.
He was still smiling but this smile was cold and dangerous.
"I've already announced it to everyone in court! You don't understand this at all! Don't get any ideas, Duke Cyril. Now please sit down and stop being disrespectful" snapped King Zander.
"What if I say I want to hear the announcement myself?" asked Cyril with a smug look on his face.
Cyril looked straight into King Zander's face who was trying hard not to lose his temper. After taking a deep breath, he finally spoke.
"Fine! Go ahead! and ask the princess." said the king sternly as he glared at Cyril. Then he motioned Princess Amandine to stand up once again.
Duke Namen stood up at that moment.
"Why would she need to do that just because you asked?!" Namen asked angrily.
"Because her decision matters," answered Cyril calmly.
"It's so nonsense!!" Duke Namen lost his temper and shouted.
Cyril slowly turned his head towards Namen and looked him in the eyes. Cyril is still wearing a smile but everyone can say that smile is not just a smile.
"Duke Namen, where's your dignity as a duke gone hmm?"
Everyone burst into laughter when Cyril mentioned it.
"You don't have it, do you? " said Cyril.
"But I do have something that you don't, Duke Namen. I have the love of my life by my side," stated Cyril proudly while gesturing towards Princess Amandine who was staring at him with a sweet smile.
Suddenly everyone started cheering. Cyril was standing in the middle of the hall. Princess Amandine was looking lovingly at him.
Cyril had just declared that the princess was his beloved. Cyril's words have caused quite a stir among the crowd. King Zander cleared his throat, which immediately caused silence.
"Oh Boy, don't fantasize too much with such a young age, Amandine has already chosen Namen so just give up" King Zander spoke but he seemed a bit shaking.
"No, she did not choose him...In fact, she chose me" Cyril said boldly.
"How dare you!!" King Zander yelled with anger.
"Father..!" whispered Princess Amandine sadly, "I've chosen him, Father. Please let me marry someone I truly love, " said Princess Amandine pleadingly.
That's when Namen wanted to disappear from everyone's sight. He never thought Cyril would be bold enough to speak up like this in front of everyone even against the King !! the ruler of the whole empire. Namen decided to make Cyril pay for it dearly.
"Alright .." King Zander spoke sternly, "if you're the chosen one then, Cyril, show me if you're worthy of marrying a princess" Without saying anything else, King Zander left the hall alone.
everyone stared at Cyril. A moment later, the Queen stood up.
"So, I guess we've heard our princess's decision now. So I announce that Duke Cyril is now the consort of Princess Amandine" The Queen said softly. Everybody applauded.
Everyone cheers even the servants except for Namen. He felt so humiliated. Namen also left the hall following the King.
Cyril smiled at the princess as he took her hand in his own. Then he kissed her hand and told her
"I love you, my dearest princess. No matter how hard this day will be, I'll be happy because of you." He squeezed her hands tight.
Everyone is so happy for them, especially Cyril's sister Eline. She was so happy that her brother amazingly faced one of the most powerful dukes in the empire.
Duke Ruben was over the moon and he was so proud of his Cyril. Lady Britt couldn't even hold her tears as she was so happy for her son.
The Queen is also smiling so satisfyingly knowing that her little girl is getting married to a brave young man who loves her and can fight the whole world for her.
As for Duke Ruben himself, he felt more than happy for his son. He knows how difficult it is for an ambitious young man to find a good wife.
After all, Duke Ruben is well aware that Cyril is only eighteen years old. In other words, it would take him a lot of years before he is capable of having a family.
But, he still believes that Cyril will eventually meet someone who will make his world brighter. Ruben just didn't know that the time would come this fast.
However, Duke Ruben is so proud of his son. Ruben knows very well that Cyril always wants the best things and works so hard. Ruben wouldn't mind Cyril marrying a commoner but he never thought Cyril would try to reach the Princess.
Ruben knew that Cyril is very ambitious. That's the common thing between him and Cyril.
The Princess is the highest and best woman he can get, yet, Ruben doubts if Cyril truly loves the Princess or if he just wants to marry the best. Ruben also doesn't want Cyril to end up in a loveless marriage.
Ruben also doesn't want to see the Princess getting hurt because of his son. And that's exactly what he feared about this.
He knew his son was smart, ambitious, and very handsome, so what if he was also arrogant and full of himself? What if he thinks only about his personal achievement?
And then, when Duke Ruben saw the way his son staring at the princess. He couldn't help but feel the warmth. He could see the glitter in his eyes as he talked to her.
'oh I'm just overthinking...Cyril is in love with her' Ruben thought himself and released a sigh of relief.
To be continued...