Chapter Fifteen: Fiery Eyes
Estelle
The moment the huge doors opened in front of me, a whole new magical place appeared in front of my eyes. Nobles who are dressed fabulously like I also do right now, long rectangular tables lining up on the sides with different kinds of food on top, royal guards that are stationed on every corner, and of course the amazing interior that is made with glossy, white marble. A sight that I never dreamt of seeing.
Nobles do sure have it good!
"Estelle, are you ready?" Adela whispered from behind. I bite the lower part of my lip and nod while I am still fixed in the view below me.
I saw Adela nod at a man wearing formal clothing. If I am not mistaken, he's a herald.
"Your Royal Highness, Princess Sina Waessatra of the West, has arrived!" he shouted and that was my cue to step in the light and walk towards the stairs.
While walking every step, I made sure that my smile would not even fade the slightest. That's the number one rule that Sina taught me.
I gripped my left hand to my dress, that is luckily could not be seen by the crowd, to hide how nervous I was but since Sina is known as someone who radiates a comforting energy then I should act like one.
I noticed that the nobles gave their respect to me, Princess Sina to be exact, by bowing down their heads and raising them seconds after.
My heart is racing so fast that I think that I'm going to faint any moment from now. All eyes are on me right now and on the dress that I am wearing.
In this society, Princess Sina taught me that a lady's dress defines her status that's why the moment I stepped out and walked to the stairs, I should carry it with pride.
I took a deep breath. I will really carry it with pride!
The dress that I am wearing right now is made of ivory silk that has a color that matches my golden hair. It has some lace that adds accent to the dress along with some detailed embroidery.
My favorite part of this gown that makes it more regal and elegant is the stones that are attached to it because those are not just stones. I confirmed to the Princess that those are real diamonds! Diamonds!
Gosh, I'm picking the small one at my back later.
Surely they won't notice that a stone is missing right? I'll disguise it as my back being itchy and scratch that diamond away!
Aside from those, another thought would string along my mind.
'Think of this as your 18th birthday celebration' — This is the sentence that I keep repeating in my mind and somehow it works.
However I felt that my façade suddenly broke when I saw a man with platinum blonde hair waiting for me at the end of the stairs. He's still bowing his head so I can't see his face but I almost stop walking because his stature is somewhat familiar to me.
Azval?
Before my smile would completely fade away, I collected myself and continued walking down the stairs until I reached the offered hand of the man in front of me. I felt like everything went in slow motion when he decided to already raise his head.
When both of our eyes met, I somehow felt relieved though unsettled.
This man in front of me now has fiery red eyes, just like a ruby, instead of a calm blue sea that I kind of expect in a brief moment.
"Not everyone with platinum blonde hair is him, dummy," I whispered to myself while both of us were already walking to our seats while he was guiding me.
"Is there a problem?" His deep voice asked me. I looked at him and smiled like how Sina taught me. A smile that is as alluring as an angel.
"N-No, Your Highness. Let's enjoy the banquet, shall we?" I said and laughed subtly while avoiding his gaze. Not until then that the King and Queen were called that the both of us sat on the chairs behind us.
"Your Majesty King Leonel II and Queen Rebecca."
If Sophie would see how I act now, she would throw a party. I am so demure which is so unlikely of me.
After the introductions were finished the banquet became noisier again with the chatters of the nobles. Since nobody surrounded us, just like Princess Sina would like me to expect after the introductions, I took the time to observe the people around me.
Starting with the man who escorted me here which I think is Prince Lorcan. Princess Sina's fiancee. She said that of all the people in the banquet that I should be wary of in my disguise is this one. He may look like he doesn't care but he's very keen and observant.
It is best that when the officials would start talking to him, I would take it as an opportunity to talk with the noble ladies, and thankfully, Princess Sina is known as someone who would just sit and listen so I didn't need to talk and try to fit in. In any case, they should be the ones gaining my approval.
On the right lower side of the main table for the King and Queen, four ladies are seated. They are the concubines as Princess Sina has taught me though I only managed to know their names since we're running out of time and it's not like I would be talking to them that much. Additionally, Princess Sina focused on teaching me how to dance since there's a huge possibility that I will be in the ballroom.
After doing so, I got to know one thing for sure. Not because Princess Sina is ME in this world, it also means that we have the same qualities and are good at it.
Princess Sina can dance and I can't.
That's also another reason why I don't Physical Education seriously, which I should definitely have!
The fourth concubine, Lady Isabella, is here and I can also see her son. Lady Martha, the third concubine, with her 2 girls. Lady Beatrice is the second concubine with her twins. A girl and a boy!
Wow, Princess Sina didn't tell me about this.
The twins looked really alike with each other just with different genders. I won't be able to tell which one is who if the twin boy would have his hair grown.
Lastly, the first concubine, Lady Irina, his son would have the chance to steal the throne from Prince Lorcan as he's just only three years younger than his brother.
I looked at Prince Lorcan's other siblings again.
Yeah, other than Lady Irina's son, the rest of the concubines' children are merely kids.
But speaking of Lady Irina's son...
"It looks like he's late or he doesn't have any plans to attend again," Prince Lorcan said to me as he was also looking at a vacant seat near us.
I just cleared my throat and smiled at him yet later on, he continued speaking, "It seems like the both of you cannot formally meet again, Princess. Even though I have promised to introduce you to everyone. My brother is a bit shy, you see."
That's right. Princess Sina had also told me that she already met everyone formally in this kingdom other than the second prince. She just happened to encounter him in a span of a moment, and he seemed to be in a hurry, that's why she wasn't able to take a good look at how he looked.
Rumors have it that he's the black sheep of the family so it is for the best that he won't attend the banquet.
However, if you need to be on good terms with him, you might need a word from him and get close to him on the times he decides to appear in public. He may be aloof but he comes with a great benefit as he's also the one who commands the royal knights.
Even Adela doesn't know his face since she only appeared in public on the day of her debut in society where the second prince didn't even bother to attend. She would appear sometimes at the banquet but those were the times when the second prince was at the war. When got back, Adela decided to stop mingling with the nobles for a while and work at Cecil's inn.
That's why she was so honored yet at the same time shocked when she heard that she was picked as Princess Sina's personal servant and it was requested by the second prince whose strand of hair she doesn't even see.
"Princess, it is a waste if you would sit until the banquet's over."
Prince Lorcan stood up and offered his right hand to me. I smiled at him and took his hand, just like what Princess Sina had taught me.
Everybody looked at us while we were walking to the center of the hall. My heart started beating so fast and actually, I was hoping for it to be beating in a good way but it's not.
Oh no! Can the Princess switch with me at this moment?
Which I think is not gonna happen because she's surely sleeping soundly in her room right now.
A harp started playing accompanied by other stringed instruments the moment the musicians saw the both of us walking and positioning ourselves. Our dance started with a bow and that's when both of our bodies began to touch each other.
I did not break eye contact with Prince Lorcan as Princess Sina instructed me. I should be staring at him full of passion which luckily, is not a hard thing to do as to what I have thought. That's because Prince Lorcan makes everything comfortable between us by asking mundane questions just to break the silence and compliment me from time to time.
I was just thankful that his questions were the things I could make up to that are only relevant at the moment. Just like,
"Princess, are you perhaps not feeling well?" he asked while guiding me and swaying my body gracefully.
"What are you talking about, Your Highness? I am perfectly well," I answered with a smile as he turned me around.
Once again, he held my hand, and the other was placed on my waist.
"Are you sure? You keep on stepping on my feet."
With that, he once turned me around. I felt my face turned red at that moment.
So the hard thing that I have been kept stepping on since we started dancing is his shoe and not just some diamond from my dress that popped off?
Since I couldn't bow my head down and look at what I was stepping on, I was just saying to myself that some diamonds in my dress had just suddenly been removed. I don't even want to think of the possibility that I am stepping into his shoes.
When our bodies touched again, I looked up at him and gave him my sweetest smile while I closed my eyes.
"I am well but perhaps my lousiness is due to the sprain I experienced earlier. Pardon me, Your Highness. I will do better next time."
I'll really do better next time because the one who will dance with you at that time is already the REAL Princess Sina!
The moment I opened my eyes, I felt a chill run down my spine as our eyes met.
"I wish for your recovery, Princess. I'll gladly call the Royal Physician to pay you a visit if you want."
The dance ended with him kissing the back of my hand.
Later on, he was already surrounded by the nobles while I was also surrounded by some but my mind was still stuck on the last portion of our dance.
What was that? Did he just glare at me?
Impossible. That was just from my imagination because I'm so nervous.
I stayed for a while to greet the nobles and already excused myself. Adela hurriedly went in my direction and handed me a glass of wine.
"You did well," she said and smiled at me. I took a sip of mine and smiled back at her as a thanks.
Did I really though?
I gaze at Prince Lorcan who is still talking to the other nobles. I hope I really did well because something's telling me that I did not.
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