Chapter 9 - Dances

No woman on this continent wore dresses with striking colors for their debutante. Consequently, their partners donned dull colors to complement them. It was an unspoken rule. Yet, the prince appeared in a jacket of vivid hue. Though everyone understood the implication, no one dared to voice it aloud. Nearly everyone in the room had ties to the duke's family.

Cladis and Ella descended the stairs to a room filled with astonishment. Both pretended as though nothing were amiss as they made their way to the center of the hall. The music began for the first dance. Despite the circumstances, a dance was necessary for propriety's sake. As Cladis and Ella approached, the crowd parted to make way for them. They stood facing each other with a composed demeanor, exchanging greetings and grasping each other's hands with precision.

"You've blossomed into a fine young woman. I can now understand why his majesty speaks so highly of you."

Thanks to Ella's diligent efforts, Cladis's scheme was thoroughly thwarted. His plan failed because he underestimated Ella's determination to become the epitome of a lady. The carefree fiancée he once knew was no more.

Cladis smiled wryly, reminded of his misguided scheme.

Despite his bitter smile and the slight sarcasm in his compliment, Ella continued to smile. Luciella would not be defeated here. Guided by her three years of training, she adeptly led the bewildered Ranhee through the charade, helping her come to terms with her new reality.

Following his lead, Ella took a step, twirled, and returned to his side.

"I did my utmost to ensure your satisfaction."

"I must apologize, but this does not bring me any joy."

He immediately regretted his words.

In his confusion, he had blurted out the first thoughts that crossed his mind, but there was no taking them back now. Cladis frowned slightly, struggling to maintain his composure in this tense situation. All he wanted was to conclude this dance and leave. He couldn't help but resent Ella's composed demeanor.

If only she lacked this level of maturity, perhaps his plan could have succeeded.

Ella's forced smile began to grate on him. Cladis found it impossible to return the smile.

Ranhee interpreted Cladis's words and actions through the lens of her own past experiences. It seemed evident to her that Cladis didn't harbor any affection for Ella; instead, it appeared as though he harbored animosity toward her.

Confusion washed over Ella once again.

But why? When did things sour between us?

The only change Ranhee had made since assuming the identity of Luciella was convincing Estinu the Magician to work for her family. Did Estinu have some sort of connection to the prince? Ranhee tried to recall events from the novel but couldn't link Estinu to the prince. Estinu, a minor character in the novel, had caused a minor disturbance in the duke's family, but other than that, he wasn't significant to the story.

Then what could it be?

One thing was certain: Cladis was displeased with her.

"I can certainly see that," Ella retorted coldly.

Observing Ella's reaction, Cladis became lost in his own thoughts. A question he had been wanting to ask her surfaced in his mind.

Come on, ask her now. Perhaps I can ask about her true intentions.

Cladis sensed disappointment and anger in Ella's stern expression, and it seemed that now was the opportune moment to broach the subject. "Do you still wish to be engaged to me?"

"What if I don't?" Ella whispered, causing a flicker of hope to briefly illuminate Cladis's expression.

Almost letting out an angry laugh, Ella was consumed by fury at his reaction. She couldn't believe it. All this time, she had sacrificed her time and enjoyment for the sake of this cursed prince. She could have relished delicious foods instead of enduring her strict diet regimen.

The sensation of nausea overwhelmed her.

She longed to return this feeling of disgust to Cladis.

"But naturally, we were commanded by his majesty to be engaged, were we not?" Ella whispered in the sweetest tone she could muster.

Once again, Cladis frowned, eliciting a sense of satisfaction from Ella. She couldn't contain her joy and chuckled softly. Onlookers, observing from a distance, felt relieved to witness the apparent friendliness between the two. None of the nobles in the capital desired anyone other than Ella to be the future crown princess.

The only conceivable alternative was Aileena, from Duke Drolin's family, and the mere thought of her ascending to the role of crown princess was a nightmare.

The Duffspe Empire had a history of empresses wielding significant political influence, and the memory of past empresses' impact on the country lingered. No one wished for history to repeat itself. While rumors circulated about the possibility of another lady from a different family being chosen, to many, the distinction between Aileena and the rumored candidate seemed negligible. As the saying goes, 'one devil knows another.'

It was common knowledge that Aileena was acquainted with the rumored lady. If either Aileena or the rumored lady were selected, it would inevitably forge ties between their families and the royal family. The Constance and Tutchisen families, close to the emperor's family, were vehemently opposed to such a scenario. Thus, Ella emerged as the most suitable candidate.

Cladis maintained his stern countenance despite their hopes. Without Ella's feigned smile, rumors would have circulated throughout the empire that the crown prince had decided to annul the engagement. The enraged duke or his sons would have undoubtedly been the first to propagate such claims.

Meanwhile, Ella contemplated discarding her fake smile, anticipating that something intriguing would unfold if she did so. She was particularly curious about whom the emperor would support if the engagement were to be terminated. According to the novel, the emperor had chosen Cladis as his successor because of Ella.

While Cladis was undoubtedly exceptional, his brothers possessed similar qualities. If Ella were to be engaged to one of Cladis's brothers, there was a possibility that he would ascend to the role of crown prince instead. Alternatively, the brothers might vie against each other to win Ella's affections. There was also the chance that the emperor would expedite matters, skipping the engagement entirely and compelling them to marry straightaway.

Although both scenarios intrigued her, she desired neither to come to pass. Any outcome would ultimately affect her, which she wished to avoid. At present, all she yearned for was for Cladis to cease his tantrum and fall in love with her. She harbored dreams of a happily ever after, reluctant to endure suffering in the future.

Ella was well aware of how Cladis was supposed to fall for Luciella in the original tale. According to the narrative, Cladis was meant to be captivated by her beauty at her debutante and subsequently enchanted by her charisma. However, none of that had materialized. She wished fervently for the day to conclude swiftly.

Fine, do as you please. You can't escape Luciella anyway. It's only a matter of time until you fall for me. Just give me one week. I'll make you regret this.

If only Cladis had succumbed to love tonight. Ella didn't care that Cladis remained obstinate; she was confident she would ultimately prevail. With her brightest smile, she faced Cladis, who immediately recoiled with a stern expression.

That's enough for today, you scoundrel. Hmph!

With a light step, Ella departed without a trace of regret, heading toward her concerned parents.

"Are you alright?" inquired the duke, who had been awaiting Ella.

His gaze lingered on Cladis, who had not accompanied his daughter to him but instead made a beeline for the balcony after the dance. Though the duke endeavored to conceal his irritation in the presence of others, his normally warm gaze held a hint of coldness as it settled on his daughter's fiancé.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" replied Ella.

The duke regarded her with concern, yet swiftly discerned that Ella spoke the truth, causing his demeanor to soften back into that of a caring father. He offered her a reassuring smile.

"I understand. There seems to be no cause for concern."

His words rang true.

If there were any issues, they could be swiftly rectified by removing the source. The Constance family wielded such power. Additionally, the duke recognized his daughter's astuteness, immediately comprehending her implications. He felt a swell of pride for his daughter's level-headedness even amidst emotional turmoil and smiled.

"Remember, if you need anything, I'm here to help in any way I can."

"I will, father."

With that, their conversation concluded, and they made their way to the center of the hall. The second song for Ella commenced, signaling the start of the traditional father-daughter dance.

Unlike the first dance with Cladis, the crowd erupted in cheers and bestowed their blessings upon Ella and her father.

Subsequently, Ella danced with Evan, Ethan, and finally with the Captain of the knights, Peyden Constance. Despite also dancing with her relatives and close acquaintances, numerous others sought to dance with her. Ella found herself exhausted after five dances, feeling as though the world was spinning around her.

In need of respite, Ella politely declined further dance offers and retreated to the balcony. Along the way, she spotted Smila engaged in conversation with her family, whom she hadn't seen in some time. When Smila noticed Ella, she began to approach, but Ella waved her off, preferring that Smila spend time with her family uninterrupted. She didn't wish to intrude on Countess Tolin's long-awaited reunion with her daughter.

Smila expressed her gratitude to Ella before returning to her family. The countess welcomed her daughter once more, enveloping her in a warm embrace and bestowing upon her a tender smile. Witnessing such affection within a noble family, where it was often deemed rare, warmed Ella's heart.

For the first time since the commencement of her debut party, a smile graced Ella's lips. She began to whistle, attempting to lift her spirits, as she made her way toward the vacant balcony.

However, her cheerful demeanor quickly dissipated upon noticing Cladis exiting the balcony, accompanied by a girl.

Cladis?

Ella couldn't believe her eyes and instinctively began to follow them. Her smile faded, and she came to a halt as she observed Cladis's demeanor, starkly different from when he had been with her. He exhibited kindness and wore a smile, directed at another woman.

Cladis. That Cladis is smiling at another woman?

Ella soon recognized the girl. Though it was their first encounter, she knew of a girl with short, curly pink hair and eyes reminiscent of Cladis. However, she struggled to recall her name. Hoping to jog her memory, Ella attempted to recollect details from the novel.

"Her name's Clara D. con Mellin, my lady."

That's right!

She was the daughter of Count Mellin and the best friend of Duke Drolin's daughter. Clara, the pink enthusiast, known for her naivety and foolishness! Ella was taken aback by the unexpected reply to her internal question, spoken by a deep, pleasant voice from behind.

Turning around, she found herself face-to-face with the owner of the voice, who greeted her with a smile reminiscent of an intimate lover's.