Henrie visited Yohana's chamber earlier than the designated time to leave for the party, probably worried about her dress too. When Thea opened the door, he gaped in shock to see Yohana.
"You look exquisite. Thea, your fingers worked magic," he blabbered, making Yohana chuckle.
"Would you like to come in, Your Highness? Her Ladyship is ready to go, but there's still time for some tea," Thea suggested, content with the compliment Henrie gently gave her.
"I would like that. Thank you, Thea," he replied.
While Thea was gone to fetch tea, Yohana stood still, relishing Henrie's regal charm in the royal blue silk ensemble, perfectly complementing Yohana's dress. The silk fabric draped elegantly on his tall and lean frame, tailored to perfection. The richness of the royal blue hue enhanced the intensity of his piercing blue eyes.
His attire was meticulously crafted with intricate silver embroidery that flowed along the edges, highlighting his status as the crown prince. It exuded a sense of authority and sophistication.
Unlike Yohana's mask, which would be fastened to her face, Henrie would use the stick-on mask to conceal his face.
"I'm glad it all worked out in the end. That girl deserves a raise," Henrie said. "I will see to it that she gets the bonus for her contribution."
"Yes, she has helped me a lot. I would be grateful if you could do that. Thank you," Yohana replied.
They both sat on the sofa, waiting for Thea to bring the tea. Henrie brought up the possible perpetrator and claimed that he already knew who did it.
"It seems that my mother has ordered someone to do that." He let out a long sigh and rested his elbow on his thigh. "What should I do with her? Why is she doing this to you?"
"She wants you to be with Katja, doesn't she?" Yohana remarked.
"Yes. But that's her wish, not mine," he replied.
Yohana assured Henrie that she could manage the challenges Queen Emma put. She didn't want him to be involved in this matter as it might complicate things. Henrie reluctantly followed her wish.
Thea entered with the tea. They enjoyed the evening tea and finally departed for the Meindl Duchy, where the masquerade party was held.
***
Yohana and Henrie disembarked from the carriage and strolled down the red carpet leading to the main hall.
Their entrance demanded attention from the already present guests, even though their masks should conceal their identities. However, Yohana's silver hair seemed to give her identity away. The moment Henrie dropped his hand holding the mask, their identities were confirmed.
Among the crowd, Yohana noticed a particularly handsome dark-haired man who also seemed to recognize her. He raised his glass in a welcoming gesture, and Yohana reciprocated.
Her suspicions about the queen being the mastermind behind the dress incident were confirmed when Queen Emma turned pale upon seeing Yohana in a flawless dress, as if the previous damage never occurred.
"Let's greet your parents," Yohana said, pulling Henrie's arm toward where the queen was standing with her friends.
"Are you sure?" Henrie seemed worried that the queen might cause trouble again, but Yohana was undeterred.
"Yes, we have to show her this dress," Yohana replied confidently.
As they approached the king and queen, they bowed in respect. "Greetings, Your Majesties."
While the king responded with a nod, Queen Emma directly faced Henrie, touching his chin affectionately. "You look very handsome tonight, my prince."
"Thank you, Mother," Henrie replied, ensuring that the queen acknowledged Yohana as well. However, Queen Emma turned around to her friends instead.
Moving toward the banquet, Henrie checked on Yohana. "How are you doing, Runa?"
"I'm alright, Henrie. Look, there are people who would like to speak with you. You should engage with them." Yohana gently pushed Henrie forward.
It was important for him to socialize and expand his network to solidify his position as the crown prince and gain support from the nobles. Building strong relationships with them would also help advance his programs.
While Henrie was away, Yohana made an effort to get acquainted with other guests. She approached a group of young ladies of similar age and greeted them with a friendly "Good evening."
However, she was met with cold gazes instead of a warm welcome. The ladies immediately scattered, clearly not wanting to engage with her.
Undeterred, Yohana tried to approach another group of young ladies, but they showed even more hostility toward her, likely due to their masked anonymity. Some of them bumped into her harshly, almost causing her to stumble.
One young lady spoke up, "Lady Runa, please don't take this personally but I wish you would refrain from speaking to me. If Her Majesty sees this, my family will get into trouble."
The lady quickly left, avoiding any further interaction with Yohana. With no one else willing to engage with her, Yohana retreated to a corner, calmly sipping her beverage.
Soon, Fabian came to her, handing her a full glass, which she gratefully accepted, replacing the empty one in her hand. He asked, "How are you, sister?"
Yohana answered honestly, "I am in good health, although my spirits could be better."
Fabian guessed, "The queen doesn't like you, I suppose?"
Yohana chuckled, acknowledging his perception. "You see right through it. But I can manage. Don't worry."
He nodded in understanding. "Yes, yes. This isn't your first-time getting hate. Now that I think about it, why are you always being hated by queens?" he recalled past instances where another queen had also shown animosity toward her.
"I will always regret that," Yohana expressed, a hint of sadness in her voice.
Yes, Queen Emma wasn't the first queen that had a personal vendetta against her. The former queen, Charlotte, Runa's mother, also hated her.
It was precisely because of the former queen's hatred that Yohana had to part ways with her beloved brother, and the memories of that painful experience still weighed on her heart.
***
Yohana's childhood was filled with happiness, blessed with loving parents and a doting brother, Fabian. They shared an inseparable bond, making Yohana cherish their closeness.
However, there was one thing that troubled her—her silver hair, so different from Fabian's dark locks. She longed to resemble him, even starting to speak like him.
Her mother, though of exceptional beauty, was an orphan from a noble family in another kingdom, leaving Yohana disconnected from her mother's side of the family.
Instead, Aunt Jana, her father's sister filled the role of a beloved relative, visiting often and adding a playful spark to Yohana's boring life. Aunt Jana encouraged Yohana to have some harmless fun, like climbing trees or sneaking extra cake, much to Fabian's disapproval.
"Aunt Jana, that was dangerous! What if Yohana hurts herself?" Fabian would scold, finding out about their playful escapades.
"Brother, please do not tell mother and father about this," Yohana would plead, tears welling up in her big eyes.
Fabian would stroke her hair and kiss the crown of her head, comforting her, "No, I wouldn't, but promise me you'll never do that again, alright? If you keep playing dangerously like that, I won't be able to concentrate in my classes."
"But you are smart, brother," Yohana was confused. To her young mind, there was nothing Fabian couldn't do. She worshipped him more than she worshipped the Saints.
It was true that Fabian was smart. He was smarter than the average boy his age, and he was the smartest among his peers.
Fabian was undeniably smart, standing out among his peers as the brightest boy of his age. Once when their mother fell sick, Yohana cried, and it was Fabian was there to comfort her until she fell asleep. Afterwards, he visited their mother, speaking with the doctor to learn about her condition.
The absence of her brother woke Yohana up. Curiosity piqued in young Yohana, and she followed Fabian's trail, observing him intently as he conversed with the family doctor.
In her eyes, Fabian shone brightly, and from that moment, she relentlessly inquired if he had considered becoming a doctor himself.
"Why do you want me to be a doctor?" Fabian would inquire.
Yohana's response was earnest and full of admiration, "Because you sparkled when you were talking with the doctor. So I think you will be marvelous if you're a doctor yourself."
Smiling, Fabian gently disagreed, "Is that so? Why don't you become one instead of me? I'm not interested in being a doctor, Yohana. I want to be a businessman, expanding what our father has worked on."
Those words resonated deeply with Yohana. The idea wrapped itself around her young mind. When their father returned home, she couldn't wait to share her newfound aspiration with him.
With excitement, Yohana expressed her desire to become a doctor, inspired by Fabian's recommendation. Her father chuckled affectionately, picking her up and kissing her cheek. He listened to her earnest pleas, promising to find the right tutor for her new endeavor.
"Alright, darling. You should be the first female doctor in Reichwein Kingdom, then," he said warmly. "I'll see if we can find the perfect tutor to help you achieve your dreams."
Yohana's newfound aspiration to become a doctor spread like wildfire throughout the mansion. She excitedly shared her dreams with anyone who would listen, and the servants and maids responded to her relentless talk with gentleness and patience.
That was the one point that Yohana's father got stuck on for the rest of his life. He wondered if he had made the right decision in allowing Yohana to pursue medicine. He questioned if things would have taken a different turn had he not given in to her wish.