"Isn't that the deposed crown prince of Ipera? What is he doing here?"
"Deposed or not, he is quite the looker. Look at that chiseled countenance of his."
"I can see why his people hailed him as the womanizer of this era. The man has quite the baggage."
"I heard he owned a harem in Ipera."
"Oh! I heard the same thing! Hoho!"
These busy bodies are everywhere. I wasn't planning on making a show of my appearance, but his highness insisted that I did yet he's nowhere to be found. In fact, I don't see anyone I'm familiar with here.
"Your highness, prince Jonathin! Over here!" waved not one but four familiar faces in the distance.
"Why are you all standing in a corner?"
"Well, no one seems to be willing to strike up a conversation with us, so we're just waiting for the festivities to be over to retire." Uwol chuckled nervously.
"His highness had to excuse himself to tend to his special guest." Explained Uler as he fretfully gulped his wine.
"Women sure are scary." Inserted Ulyx with a frightened expression on his face.
"I wouldn't say scary, perse, but definitely thrilling which is exactly my type."
"Ulrick, my brother…you need to kill that habit of yours! We aren't in Lithiar anymore."
"Aaahh! Uler, my dear quadruplet brother. This is why you are still single." Ulrick said with a smirk as he grasped his brother's shoulder.
"You need to loosen up a little. Relax! Hm?"
It's nice to see them enjoying the festivities, given that they aren't used to such extravagance. They look a lot less tense now compared to that time we were invited to dine with the king of Lithiar.
+++++
"Are you feeling alright, princess?" asked one maid.
"Yes." I replied after a long pause.
I merely wanted to get a rise out of her, but things escalated out of control. How could she act so brazenly in front of all these nobles? This dress is now ruined, and I can't even blame her since I'm the one who deliberately blabbered such nonsense just to see her reaction. I never thought she'd do something like that while Nathan was watching.
~Earlier
"Greetings to the esteemed guest of the crown."
They suddenly crowded around me while bombarding me with questions concerning my relationship with Nathan. From what I could gather, the crown prince seems to be the most sought-after bachelor in Alkaraz. Even the women who were accompanied by their fiancé were scouring the banquet hall, searching for him.
"Did his highness bring you from Lithiar, my lady?"
Not once throughout our conversation did anyone inquire about my name and origin. All I could hear was his highness this and his highness that. I thought my ears would start bleeding until…
"You must not be so great of a guest if his highness left you here all alone like this."
…Florette Kartier suddenly inserted herself into the conversation. Her sudden appearance startled the ladies as they quickly drew their fans and covered their mouths while mumbling indistinctly among themselves. The friendly mood quickly turned awkward as the tension thickened between me and the killjoy who was scowling at me. With her fan folded in her hand, she encroached on me and stared me up and down with a discourteous scoff.
"Who are you? And what is your relationship with my intended?" she blurted firmly.
Although they didn't whisper it loud enough for all to hear. I overheard some guests chattering about the dissolution of their pending betrothal earlier. Of course, this could be just a baseless rumor, but…what better way to tease her than to stir the pot a little?
"My name is Charlotte. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lady." I curtsied gracefully.
"Which family do you hail from, Charlotte?"
"I do not feel inclined to disclose such important information to someone I just met, my lady. As you are well aware, an introduction goes both ways, otherwise this little chatter of ours is no less than just an interrogation."
I extended this remark to everyone who rudely approached me earlier without so much as offering an introduction. Though they were hiding behind their fans, their flustered expressions were glaringly obvious.
"Florette Isabel Kartier. I am the eldest daughter of one of the most prominent houses in Alkaraz. Now answer my question. What is your relationship with my fiancé?" she railed while irritably folding her arms across her chest.
"There seems to be a misunderstanding, Lady Florette. The man I am currently infatuated with is a fine bachelor who's free to become anyone's love interest. That being said, I plan on making him mine and mine alone in the near future, so I suggest you get in line, my dear."
~Present Time
I don't know what came over me. Why did I blabber such nonsense so nonchalantly? The ladies were so startled at my words they started scoffing loudly like a flock of flustered chickens.
"Pardon the interruption, your highness, you have a guest." announced a maid with a knock.
A guest? At such a late hour? I am in my nightgown, for goodness' sake. Why would someone come all the way to my bedroom for an audience? It's strange…
"Who might this guest be?" I asked apprehensively.
Could it be lady Florette again?
"Countess Dupree, your highness."
At the mention of her name, I quickly rose from my seat and started fidgeting frantically. I know how sensitive a couturier can get when it comes to their work, which means she's likely here to reprimand me for ruining her masterpiece. What should I do? Madam Dupree seems like the type who'd gobble me up and spit me out without batting an eye.
"Princess? Is everything alright in there?" questioned the maid.
Well, I suppose I've no choice but to endure her scorn. It's the least I could do after instigating such an unpleasant situation.
"You may let her in." I cleared my throat as I took a deep breath and composed myself.
Madam Dupree entered the room in haste with a group of maids trailing behind her like baby ducks following their mother. They were moving about with such speed that it was difficult for me to grasp what was happening around me until a familiar voice spoke from behind the door.
"Yes, she is all set, your highness." replied the madam with a bow.
It wasn't until Nathan entered the room that I realized I was wearing a gown that matches his outfit. He stared at me for a while before extending his arm to me. What was that all about? My heart feels as though it's about to explode.
"Shall we?" he asked calmly.
"Yes, your highness."
+++++
The only noise around us is our footsteps and the muffled sound of the violin playing in the distance. I thought of striking up a conversation with him to subdue those loud thumps inside my chest, but I couldn't come up with anything.
"I apologize for leaving you alone earlier. Were you hurt at all?"
His gaze shifted to me as a forced smile formed on his face. He had asked me the same question multiple times before when he escorted me to my bedroom earlier. However, he was not displaying his emotions as plainly as now. Is it because it's just us two here?
"I am alright, your highness. A little wine spill isn't nearly enough to hurt me. Rest assured I am a lot stronger than you think. Besides, I ruffled her feathers first, so I'd say the sweet bath was well-deserved."
"I'll deal with her properly by the end of the celebration." He frowned as a murderous scowl settled on his face.
"There is no need to do anything on my account, your highness. I won't be causing you any more trouble in the future." I sighed.
However, many times I've thought about it, I keep drawing the same conclusion. I want nothing more than to make Loraine pay for her sins, but using Nathan to achieve that would make me no different from her. Going against Loraine is as dangerous as fighting a war where bloodshed is inevitable. That's why I can't drag anyone else into such a precarious situation.
"Nathan?" I called as I halted in my steps.
"Hm? What's the matter, princess?"
"I…"
I thought I had mustered up enough courage to tell him confidently, but even now my heart is wavering. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Why can't I say it? Come on, Charlotte. Say it! You must tell him! Sort out your conflicted thoughts and speak.
"I've decided to…"