I really don't know what's going on with Alexis' mind. In my past life, he will notice me if he's just bored and then ignores me after. After Ivellina's appearance, I began to be more desperate for his attention but I always lose if my opponent is Ivellina.
My thoughts are still running in my mind while we are walking silently towards the Royal hall wherein the royal family and the royal duchy will dine. I can sense that he's secretly glancing at me so I walk faster. But this guy doesn't have a common sense and still follow my pace.
My heart is throbbing in every step. It's suffocating me, thinking that we're getting closer to the Royal hall. Not long ago, a knight opens a big door and it's the entrance to the hall.
"Prince Alexis and Lady Adelaide has arrived!" announced the knight.
All eyes were focused on our direction. Some expresses congratulations and some glared at me. I can see many of my relatives hates me.
The brother and sister of my father and my counsins were also invited in the dinner. And so the relatives of the royal family.
I saw my mom waving her hands and smiling so I smile back to her. I was about to sit beside her but Alexis attendant show me my seat.
Wahhh, I just want to be with my mom! (T^T)
Alexis offer me a seat and because I have no choice, I sit there beside my father.
Why my father?! Gosh, Alexis I will kill you!
When I sat down on my chair, the one in my front is actually Alexis and the two on his side are my cousins Neron and Arthur, they are training with the Alexis in swordsmanship. I frequently see them because I'm always tailing Alexis back then.
The two were glaring at me and it's really suffocating. I really don't know why people like them hated me so much when I have little to none interaction with them. Why is it always that I'm the mean girl, or some crazy villainess?
The one that we ought to trust are the one who will drown us. There's no such thing as 'family' for me. They made me feel that my whole existence is insignificant.
"That brat won't come?" I hear the Emperor said to the butler.
'That brat'? Is he pertaining to the second prince Achlys(A-klis)? The rumoured unfavoured son of the emperor? Many said that when he was born, he's the emperor most favored because of his intelligence and skills. But her mother was sentenced to death because she poison the first prince's mother that the emperor loves so much. And then, he became unfavoured, rumours spread in the entire empire that the prince is a bad omen because of the color of his hair.
Her mother was a princess from a far away kingdom that is believed to be a miserable kingdom filled with killers and thieves. In this world, your race will be identified by the color of your hair, the darker your hair, many people will curse you. That's why the second prince named 'Achlys' means darkness. And I accidentally heard from the maids gossips while I was in the palace that he never go outside his room after his mother died.
He must've been hurt just like me, losing everything that he had. In my past life, Achlys stood up in many ways and he spread his name across the nations and had an alias of "The Dark Reaper". He was killed in the battle because the Emperor brought him to a hopeless war and three months after that, I was executed.
"All of the members of the families are complete, we shall proceed," said the Emperor
Ancrest and Lascena family were complete now so all of us stood up and offer the Emperor a bow.
"May Valeria blesses the emperor of Laczero empire!" we said in chorus.
"You're all permitted to seat and I request to quit the formalities between us. After all, me and Duke Austin were good friends since childhood and our families support each other in many generations." said the Emperor
"It's been a while since we last dine together for a decade." father stated
Shocks! Everytime he speaks either I get startled or got goosebumps.
"Help yourselves, eat all the foods you want to eat," replied the Emperor.
Some maids serve us the foods and I decided to just eat a little amount if food here. Though the dinner is so lavish and a like a feast, I must maintain my posture while eating because of the damn glare of my relatives in every move I make. Even though father sits next to me, they dare to look at me with those eyes.
My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by his Majesty's voice.
"Laczero empire really progressing well after and before we're married, Austin, Ravyn and Hildert. " Emperor said
Ravyn is my uncle who is a former General of the Imperial army and was the father Neron while Hildert is also my uncle and was a chancellor, he was the father of Arthur.
"Yeah." uncle Ravyn replied
"The wars are really the turning point of our lives, but I'm missing it," said the duke.
That duke is smiling, he must be very close to the emperor and was very happy to accompany them. But when we were in the mansion, he doesn't show himself to me that much and I never seen him smiling in front of me and mom. I'm kinda jealous.. he loves his friends more than his family.
I released a bitter smile in my lips and it seems that Alexis saw me so I quickly changed it to an emotionless expression. The emperor noticed that Alexis was looking at me so he began to speak.
"I can't wait to see the next generation to progress. Alexis will be a great ruler someday and he will need a queen by his side," after the emperor said that, he glanced in my direction.
My heart begun to race and I become nervous in a sudden. Father's reaction is weird too.
"What do you mean, Axel?" The duke asked.
"I think our little boy is matched with your little Adel so I'm thinking that we should get them engaged"
A big thump blows my mind and it became chaotic.
It's happening again! They will engage me to the prince but when Ivellina comes, they broke our engagement just to engaged Ivellina to Alexis.
"That's... I'm not sure if Adelaide can possibly be a great queen to Alexis. Her attitude is unladylike and was always causing trouble for the prince." said the duke.
That's right... He doesn't want me to be engaged to him because he has something in mind...
"Adel is still a kid, she will sure become matured in no time. I mean, there's no one can marry my son besides the daughter of Lascena family." the emperor replied.
My father suddenly become quiet and I know why.
"Say, little Adel.."
The emperor look at my direction.
"You have a crush in my prince Alexis, right? I'm sure to promise you that I will help you win my Alexis's heart so do you agree with the engagement? Alexis?"
"I agree," Alexis spoked out of the blue.
My father glanced at me, and I can feel the pressure of my father pressing me to the ground.
"I'm afraid I cannot accept it." I said and they all got surprised.
"A-Adel, don't take the words of your father. He's really a meanie"
"You're acting like a child again, our dear Emperor," my father uttered.
"Shut up, Austin I wasn't talking to you!"
"Tsk"
The angry reaction by the emperor suddenly subsided when he looked at me and smiled. I took a deep breath and then spoke.
"Father is right, I'm not deserving to be the queen."
Once again, the dining us filled with gasps out of shock.
"Why did you say so?" The emperor asked.
"Because there's no reason for me to become a queen. Alexis will grow up as a great man with many accomplishments and he deserves more than me. If we're engaged early, soon he will find a perfect match for him. A better and much deserving than me, maybe a princess or if there's a miracle, maybe..."
I can sense their happiness because I disagree so I'm giving you a surprise.
"... we have another daughter in Lascena hahaha!"
As soon as I said that, my father and the Lascena's were shocked.
"Hahaha! How is that possible!" the emperor laughed.
"I was just joking," I said.
It seems that the emperor did not know that my good father had a misstress. Because of that, father remained silent.
"You seem to have a point but Adel, if it's possible and when you already come of your age and you're still both single, I suggest you to get married, okay. I doted on you Adel!" The emperor said with a smile.
I smiled and look at him.
"Yes, your Majesty," I replied.
The emperor is really kind. What happened to his son, why is he a sort of a devil?
I looked at Alexis direction and he was lowering his head. Is he mad or something?
"Not your Majesty, call me uncle"
"Yes, uncle!" I responded with a smile.
I may call the emperor uncle but I can't even call my own father 'father'.
After that, they continue chatting and eating until the dinner is over and we need to head back to the mansion.