But before he could finish his sentence, he’s quickly drowned by another squealing.

“Jenny!” Lady Olivia makes her way to us, Prince Cassius—Al’s second eldest brother and her lover—in tow. “Congratulation! A new member of Paisley. You must be happy!”

“Yes, thank you, though I think it’s a bit overdue.” I chuckle as I return her hug.

“No way, how many years has it been? Raphael must be practically family by now. Hey, have you seen ....” Her chatters fade into background as something Cassius says to Raul distracts me.

“Fancy seeing you here! Hey, sorry about Al. Still on with the silent treatment?”

Raul laughs dotingly. “Nah, he’d cheered up a bit.”

“Real charmer, you!”

The Hamthor ladies find their way to us, followed by Al and some of his brothers and cousins, and finally, Her Royal Highness July, Crown Princess of Magnemt, Duchess of Privi suo jure—their mother. Just like that, it turns into a family reunion.

“Nap, you rascal! I barely scored one from six attempts to win Jenny and all you have to do is make a Heaven profile, type some cheesy pick-up lines, and you get to escort the princess for the night? What the hell? Explain yourself, you sneaky bastard!”

Raul chuckles, returning the duchess’s big hug. “Hello to you too, Aunt July.”

“No hard feeling, darling.” The duchess winks to me behind his back.

“Hello, Jenny. You look beautiful! And not just because you’re wearing Val’s.” Cassius chuckles. “I’m so, so sorry I have to cut my attendance short today. I have a big case tomorrow morning.”

While Valerie built her own clothing line, Cassius landed a job as a lawyer. How envious.

“Of course, don’t let me stop you. Will Olivia be leaving with you? You know you can always stay the night, Liv.”

“Yeah, we can after-party in Jenny’s room!” Alice cheers before turning to me with puppy eyes. “Pretty please, Jenny?”

“Oh, um, of course—”

“I knew ivory is your colour! I mean I know I saw you in fitting room earlier but under ballroom lights, you’re ... majestic.”

“You’re too kind, Val—”

“Jenny. You look stunning.” Prince Dionisius, Dominic’s twin brother, grabs my shoulders in warm, energetic way. He’s the only brother working in Magnemt’s council that still talks casually to me. Prince Cornelius (the eldest, Cassius’ twin brother), Prince Vincentius (the third eldest, Valerie’s twin brother), and Al’s cousins all only speak to me when necessary.

“Dion. I’m flattered—”

“So, darling, in spirit of your sister’s engagement, how far away is Nap—or Al? Are we talking about years? Months??” The duchess gasps. “Weeks???”

“Aunt Jules, no.” Raul whines in the background, can’t even see him with this many Hamthors around.

“Don’t gang up on her, you guys.” Al puts his arm around me protectively, using his privilege as the baby of the family to his advantage and gives me back my personal space. “Stand in line, one at a time!”

“Now you’re asking for it.”

“You cheeky brat!”

“Hold him!”

Welp, they end up ganging up on Al instead.

“Hungry yet?” Raul pulls me to the side for the second time tonight.

“Please don’t leave my side anymore if that’s what you’re asking.”

Oh, cute! He’s blushing.

“I don’t usually eat at events like this.” He starts to open his mouth, but I cut him first. “I’ve already eaten in fitting room, you worrywart.”

He looks at me longingly. “I would hug you right now but I stink.”

I hug him instead, rendering him speechless for words. Silence. I can work with that, as I feel any other thing fades into background.

“To quote Dion, you look stunning.” I can hear him say behind me.

“How original.”

“And beautiful, what Cass said.”

“Mmhm.”

“But, most precisely ... you look radiant.”

I let go of myself and look at him. “Do you find this whole thing overwhelming?”

He shrugs. “Can’t say that I do.”

“Exhausting? Frustrating? Wasting time?”

“Nope.”

Huh? “You said you’re not good with crowd .... I just thought that maybe ....”

My heart stops as he says his next words, “I couldn’t care less, J.”

Slowly but painfully, I nod, plastering my best smile. “Understood.” Not his problem. Of course.

He looks confused, but a slow song breaks into our little bubble, as the ballroom lights begin to dim.

Raul sighs and offers his hand. “Dance with me?”

I take his hand, still in daze. Why did I let it hurt me so much? I’ve only met him two days ago! But this whole time, it’s like an emotional roller coaster, and I’m not even complaining. Oh, Raul, what have you done to me?

Katya appears beside me just before the song dies down, a glass of champagne in her hand. “Princess, it’s time for your speech.”

“Of course.” I reluctantly let go of Raul.

He gives me an encouraging nod. “Go on. I’ll be around.”

I make my way to the dais and clink my glass. The crowd falls into hush-hush.

“Anne always said when you found the one, you’d know. In all the years I grew up looking up to her, finding Raphael is the one I envy her the most. They were a match made in Heaven—literally,” I stop to let the laughter dies down, “And living up to his name, Raphael has been nothing less than an angel, to us and to Anne specially. This engagement has been long overdue, but I guess like all the best things, it takes time.” I raise my glass, as the guests follow suit. On the corner of my eyes, I spot Anne wiping her tears as Raphael pulls her close. “To finding love, as my dear sister and new brother have amazingly done. On behalf of King Isaac, Princess Anne and Sir Raphael, I propose a—”

“You forgot to mention me.” The voice of a teenage boy interrupts my speech, drawing gasps from the crowd.

The security team is closing in, but at that time, I make the stupidest decision of my life as I inquire, “And you are?”

When in fact, I should’ve known. With curly red hair, green eyes, lean figure and pale skin, he sickeningly reminds me of ... “Crown Prince Brandon Paisley of Primavara. Your little cuz, princess.”

I don’t even have time to react before a shout pierces through the ballroom, as the chandelier above me falls in dangerously fast pace.

People run to every direction, my bodyguards’ held back by the utter chaos, and as I run as fast as I can I realize: I couldn’t make it even if I fly.

The first sharp crystals graze my open arms and I brace my heart to give up when a strong hand suddenly grabs my arm and spins me away from the falling chandelier.

Lying on my back, I look up to see Raul’s face above me, his left side drenched in blood. Behind us, the rest of the crystals make a deafening sound as they get in contact with the hard marble floor, raining us with pieces and shards.

“I got you.” As the last pieces stop moving, he exhales in relief before falling unconscious on top of me.