"Maybe some other time dear," said Gretta after a long pause, and Adeline's smile died down, but revived again as she lowered her head and started eating again.
"Okay," she murmured, knowing she would get some other time to talk to Gretta.
This whole time, Sylvan ate quietly beside her, not raising his head even for a second. Adeline kept sneaking glances at him, wondering what was going through his head that he was so quiet. It was as if he was in his own small world, oblivious to anything happening around him and to Adeline, that gave off the feeling of a lonely man.
Throughout the dinner, Adeline got to learn the names and small details about almost everyone on the table. She interacted with them and they were all glad that she was so easy to talk to.
"You got yourself a great daughter-in-law, King Roderick," commented one man seated near Solanine, and most of them nodded in agreement. Adeline had already charmed them.
"I know. Sylvan is a lucky man," Roderick replied with a smile on his face, tapping Sylvan on the shoulder, but the latter's face remained passive and they couldn't tell whether he was happy or not with the compliment.
Adeline just smiled, happy that there was no mishap and she didn't encounter any problems on her first public appearance as the Crown Prince's wife. But now she was already feeling tired and was ready to go to bed. She had already had her fill and her corseted dress was starting to feel a little uncomfortable.
When everyone was done eating, the guests returned to the ballroom to hang around a little longer, while the servants cleared the table.
Gretta was the first one to excuse herself, saying her old bones would crack if she stood for a minute longer and the King offered to walk her out. Sylvan was next, not bothering to give an explanation, which he didn't have to but was common courtesy, and just excused himself.
Adeline watched as he disappeared into one of the doors and waited to see if Solanine would follow, but even after some time, Solanine was still in the room talking with an older man introduced as Duke Walter.
The crowd lessened by the minute, and feeling like her work was done, Adeline walked to a dark corner in the room where anyone would barely notice her presence and took a chair to relax her aching body. From where she was seated, she could observe everything going on inside the room.
She leaned her head back on the chair, but just as she was about to close her eyes, she heard Katherine's familiar voice and she turned around to her left, where the familiar back of the woman was turned to her.
"Very sorry for ruining your dress. I should have watched where I was going," one man in a black coat apologised but Katherine just clicked her tongue, trying to wipe the stain on her dress.
"Ah, Katherine," another man appeared from behind the first one and smiled mischievously. "Looking as beautiful as always. Looks like you had a small… accident, mind if I help you?" He offered politely, his lips twisted in a dirty smirk which affirmed Adeline's thoughts. It wasn't an accident at all!
Adeline waited to see how Katherine would react and she failed to notice someone approaching and sitting beside her.
"No thank you, Lord Casper," Katherine declined coldly, and she tried walking around the two men but Lord Casper stopped her, the mischievous grin never dropping from his face.
"What's the hurry?"
"I see the royal dog is tired of serving its master," a woman suddenly chimed in out of nowhere and Adeline's eyes widened at the rude remarks. Who was the dog here?
Katherine remained unfazed, her lips tugging at the woman's remark and she straightened her back. "Lady Casper. I'm sure that anyone who has eyes can tell which one is the dog," she uttered calmly and Adeline's jaw fell slack, het eyes widening even more.
Lady Casper's face contorted in rising fury and her gaze hardened. "Better know your place Katherine. Just because the King favours you does not mean you can go around insulting people," she warned, flailing her finger at Katherine's face.
"Seems like you're interested with the royal family's matters. If you have a problem with the way I'm treated… feel free to discuss it with the King." She offered with a disdainful smile and the woman's face turned uglier, but Katherine didn't stop there. Her gaze shifted to Lord Casper and she sneered. "As for this harlot you call a husband," her eyes returned to Lady Casper, "Better keep him in check. You might not want to know how dogs are thrown out of a party." And with that, she whirled around with the most savage look, flipping her black hair in their faces and sauntered out of the room.
Adeline was shocked speechless and her mouth remained open, until someone clapped beside her and her head jolted the side, to find a young woman around her age clapping her hands as quietly as possible, her eyes shining and a wide smile on her face.
"Well done, Katherine!" She praised, her voice conveying her sense of pride on how Katherine had handled the matter.
"Did you see that? Hah! That foolish woman walking around insulting people when her husband is the one who can't keep it in his pants. She deserved it!" She turned to Adeline with excitement and Adeline's smile widened.
The said woman still stood in the same place, huffing and puffing at her husband who looked annoyed with her interruption.
"Oh, I'm Jasmine. I'd rather not tell you my last name because I don't like it. What's your name?" The young woman asked, stretching her hand which Adeline shook with a pleasant smile.
"Adeline."
"Sorry for interrupting your moment. I just couldn't resist catching some drama in here when I already missed the main event," Jasmine complained, a scowl on her face which Adeline found funny.
Jasmine had brown hair like herself, a pale complexion and black eyes that shone like that of a child when she was talking with excitement. Her smile was bright, reminding Adeline of a character she read who led a carefree life and cherished her freedom.
"It's alright. I was just trying to hide here when that happened."
"Tell me, did you see the princess. I heard she's so beautiful. But she must be, right? There's no way a handsome man like Sylvan would marry an ugly woman." Jasmine talked nonstop, which Adeline found refreshing and laughed along as she complained of how tired she was of her in laws who never let her breath.
Adeline wasn't surprised that she didn't know she was the princess because if she had, she was sure their encounter would be much different.
Jasmine suddenly stopped talking and Adeline followed her line of sight where she saw Katherine walking towards them.
"Hm? Why is she coming here?" Jasmine wondered out loud, a frown settling on her face.
Katherine stopped right in front of them, acknowledged Jasmine with a slight nod and looked back at Adeline.
"I will go send off the guests but you can go ahead and get some rest. I've asked Judy to help you and she's already waiting in your room," she informed, her words plain and her eyes cold. Adeline could tell that she was still angry about the little incident earlier. She had already changed her evening dress and was now wearing a simple black dress that fit her perfectly.
After delivering the information to Adeline, she left and the guests soon started to leave, one by one.
It took a moment for Jasmine to realise what was happening and her eyes widened dramatically, her mouth falling open.
"Y–you're the princess?" She asked with a horrified expression and Adeline almost laughed.
"Oh my God," Jasmine cried, scurrying to her feet and bowing her head deeply. "Please forgive me for everything I said earlier. I really didn't know it was you. I should have watched my mouth," she pleaded and Adeline tapped her shoulder with a light chuckle.
"It's fine. I enjoyed your company and I won't say a thing to anyone," she comforted but Jasmine was still not convinced and looked at her skeptically.
"It was nice meeting you, Jasmine. Have a good night." She stood up and started walking towards the door, leaving Jasmine cursing her mouth for uttering nonsense without knowing first the identity of the person.
—
When Adeline walked back to her room in the royal wing, she found Judy waiting at the door as told by Katherine, and the girl greeted her with her head lowered.
Adeline nodded in response, but before she could push the door open, she caught sight of two people walking from the opposite direction and she stopped, her eyebrows knitting together.
This woman again?
Solanine was walking leisurely with Sylvan by her side, talking while Sylvan listened with a calm expression.
He was the first one to notice Adeline as they neared where she stood and he glanced at her for a brief second, before shifting his eyes to the front and Adeline scoffed.