Today Lily comes to this party with only one mission given by her beloved parents, it's to save the Prince from the evil girl whom her mother was talking about, a villainous young Miss of the Belial family who forced the prince to marry her.
She doesn't know why, but it was her role that been told to her by her parents ever since she was a toddler.
As the Prince's savior, she is destined to be the Empress of the Azure Empire.
And the biggest obstacle is the daughter of that highest-ranking noble Belial family.
'We will take care of that arrogant family, you just have to focus on the Crown Prince'
That was what her father said all the time, though she doesn't have any idea how will the lowest rank noble getting rid of the highest one, but she believes her parents unconditionally.
"I won't disappoint you, Mother"
Lily said before bowed a curtsy to her mother and the other ladies before excuses herself.
"It was sheer luck to have such a good daughter"
Said the wife of the traitor pretending to be humble in front of the noblewomen after Lily left them.
"Then give me that sheer luck of yours"
A lady jokingly added then continue their talks.
"Speaking of which, Mrs. Goldway. you and your husband used to be active in society before the sudden seclusion, but lately, you seem to be back"
Mrs. Goldway flinched hearing the abrupt question. 4 years ago, her husband tried to assassinate the daughter of the Belial family but ended up with failure.
Moreover, there was an uproar due to the disappearance of the assassin and no actual news about the body had been found since then, even a special squad sent by the temple couldn't find a single clue about that assassin slave who used to be called Phantom, hence, the temple got angry by her husband's reckless plan and asked them to lay low from society in the time being.
"Ah, that... A few years ago, my husband hired a very talented young man, his brilliant ideas in business helped us expand our trading routes to the Western continents, we need to temporarily withdraw from society to establish our expansion"
Mrs. Goldway reasoning, it's not entirely a lie since the Goldway company indeed expanding its wings to the west that makes their hands full, ever since the appointment of that talented young man as the new manager of the company, their business runs smoothly and even become more wealthy.
"Look at her so-called sheer luck that makes other people feeling envious"
One of the ladies throwing a playful sarcastic remark making the heroine's mother flattered, but then suddenly the noise of the crowd disappeared, without any command all the gaze of the guests gathered at the entrance.
There's someone at the gate with a pleasing aura.
They can feel it, the holy atmosphere that reminds them of the warmth of a mother.
Tap!
Tap!
Tap!
The footsteps rang through the hall like a sweet lullaby.
As if waiting for the stupefied announcer to announce the name of the guests, they keep staring at the newly arrived guests.
2 elder nobles in their fifties stepped into the hall, the familiar faces appear as Marquess and Marchioness Béchamour, the in-laws to the Emperor and the maternal grandparents of the Crown Prince.
Despite being only a mid-class noble, they are well respected by others as the parents of the late beloved Empress.
But that's not the reason why they got all of the attention tonight, it was because of the one who walks behind them.
"Announcing Marquess and Marchioness Béchamour, a-along with Lagertha Grizel Von Belial from the house of Belial"
The stupefied announcer finally gained his senses back, though stuttering, he did his job quite well compared to the Knights stationed at the gate who are still in awe of the Angel-like little girl.
The little girl named Lagertha Grizel Von Belial walks with her kindest smile, the light at the hall makes her silver-white hair swept in radiant light, flowery fragrance spread as she strode across the red carpet bewitching her surrounding, long white dress laced with golden unique patterns on every edge symbolizes elegance and purity covered with a thin piece of silk that fluttered by the breeze gives a vibe of a goddess descends from the heaven.
The hall is quiet down as the people enchanted by the sudden appearance of a saint-like little girl, they couldn't even voice out their dumbfounded minds then the voice of the announcer echoed through the palace hall once again.
"Announcing the arrival of His Majesty the Emperor of the Azure empire and His Highness the Crown Prince"
Hearing it, all of the guests including Grizel bow down in the presence of the Imperial family.
The Emperor followed by the Crown Prince walked into the hall with dignity, but something about the prince is gaining attention more than usual, his clothes, it has the same color and has the exact unique patterns like the dress of the Belial's young lady.
"What's the meaning of this?"
"Is that rumors perhaps true?"
"That rumors about His Highness and Miss Belial are a perfect match and were said to be in a good relationship?"
"Yes, that's sound unbelievable before I witnessed this kind of sight with my very own eyes"
"Then how about the bad rumors?"
"How could I possibly know?"
The nobles started to murmur in confusion at the sudden facts, but several pairs of eyes have the most confused expressions, they seem could not hide their shock as their mind is in complete mess right now.
'What is wrong? This is not the plan'
As if saying that, they are glaring at each other demand an explanation, but no one is aware of the abrupt unexpected situation as they shake their heads frowning.
And among the gathering of the young nobles, a little girl clenched her fist with visible anger on her face glaring towards the silver-haired obstacle.
Emperor Drake arrived in front of his throne then raises his hand to silence the chattering nobles.
"We shall begin the party"
He said opening the party before sitting on his comfy throne, originally, as customary, the Emperor and the Empress dance before anyone else, but that kind of tradition was neglected since the Empress passed away, and to maintain neutrality, Rex has not chosen his first dance among noble girls yet.
But tonight is different, he has a soon-to-be-announced fiancee.
Tap!
Tap!
Tap!
His footsteps echoed through the silent hall, it obvious that Crown Prince is heading towards the most beautiful silver-haired girl.
"May I have the honor of being the first dance of yours, Milady"
Rex bows down in a gentlemanly manner stretching his hand asking for Grizel's, he looks like the charming prince of every young girl's dream.
"The pleasure is mine"
Grizel accepted his dance invitation with a smile as she went to the center of the hall escorted by Prince Rex, people might think of them as a married couple with their gorgeous paired-look, white warped in gold patterns.
Enchanted by the heavenly painting-like sight, most of the guests are only standing on the edge of the dance floor staring at both the Prince and Miss Belilal who dance while chatting happily.
Though almost everyone who witnessed it misunderstood the reason behind their happiness since they couldn't hear a single word.
"Did you see their faces?"
Grizel mockingly whispered to the prince while dancing, she is referring to the face of the traitors when they just realized their plan is ruined.
"Haha, yeah, it was hilarious that I have to try harder to contain my expression"
"It was satisfying to see those traitors in confusion but it's only the beginning of their misery"
"I'm looking forward to your next plan, My Princess"
"Who do you think we should get rid of first?"
"How about the wealthy Baron? We can take over his rich whilst doing it"
Rex said as if offering a good idea, both of these devils keep talking about disastrous things with excitement when other people thought they are flirting at each other in enjoyment until they parted at the end of their dance.
As an etiquette, Rex and Grizel should dance with others as well, especially for the Crown Prince who needs to dance at least with one representative of each faction to prevent any thoughts of favoritism, but looking at the bunch of boys swarmed his Grizel, Rex couldn't maintain his gentleman manner as he keeps glaring towards his fiancee's direction couldn't focus on the lady he is dancing with.
Though Rex's behavior towards his dance partners could be deemed as rude, the Emperor only let out a chuckle looking at his impatient son who looks like wanted to officially announce his engagement with Grizel right now and chase away any possible pestering suitors.
'Good, it should be the last one'
Rex said inwardly then slightly flinched when he sees his last dance partner from the neutral faction, if Grizel didn't exist, she should become the limelight of the party with her exceptional beauty.
Liliana Goldway.
Rex looked around to find Grizel, but he lost the track of her and couldn't find her anywhere as he didn't feel her presence anymore.
"Your Highness?"
The beautiful girl in front of him called, bringing Rex back to his sense.
"Ah, yes. May I have the honor to dance with you, Milady"
Rex asked half-heartedly as he bows down stretching his hand asking for this young lady's acceptance.
"Gladly, your Highness"
Both of them dance beautifully gaining attention from their surroundings once again, even though she is nothing compared to Grizel, Lily is still adored by many.
Rex is not an exception, he couldn't help but look at her as well, there is something that makes him attracted to her.
'She is lovely...'
He said inwardly admitting the reason why this girl was loved by lots of people.
With no one realized, someone on the corner of the hall is observing the supposed-to-be Male Lead and Heroine in silence using her Rouge class skill to hide her presence and blend in with the crowd.
There's something she wants to confirm before deciding her plan for the Heroine
Grizel had found the real reason for the downfall of the Belial family, the hidden truth that wasn't mentioned in the novel, the fact that the Belial family were framed by the traitors.
And the fact that the Prince is aware of this matter means in the novel he let the Villainess and her family being falsely accused.
In the novel, after the execution, the ownership of the Belial's territory was chosen through the votes of the nobles, it was a set up voting since the traitors already prepared their people to act as the new lord of the Belial's prosperous land, their plan was smooth because the imperial family has no right to take over the land and forceful act will arise the dispute between the imperial family and nobles.
Grizel had been observing Rex ever since their first meeting and concludes that he is just like her...
A calculating rapacious.
Moreover, he has an extremely good head on his shoulder. That's why, Grizel sure that Rex won't let others frame up his fiancee while he is gaining nothing.
'Rex won't do that kind of fruitless schemes'
The usual Rex might marry Grizel and get rid of her once she produces an heir to him to inherit the whole of Belial's rich land lawfully then afterward marry the Heroine.
But the Rex in the novel is strange, as if being swayed, he took that foolish decision just because of a trivial emotion called love.
Because he thought of Grizel as the thorn of his love.
But that's not all, there's something that stranger than Rex's behavior...,
It's the Heroine.
Nobles are the creatures in endless hunger for power and wealth, even if the Goldway Family is rich, it's still nothing compared to the higher-class aristocrats especially the Belial family, the only land that was granted the title of Archduchy, second only to the Imperial family.
Instead of sucking up the lowly rich Baron, shouldn't those greedy nobles try to flatter Grizel, the only daughter of the Belial family who is more superior in terms of status, wealth, and power compared to the Goldway family?
Grizel recalled when Lucy said that Heroine was also cherished by the servants of the Goldway mansion.
'Isn't she gaining too much love?'
From the shadow, Grizel glanced at the Prince and Lily who are dancing happily like they are in love. Rex's half-hearted behavior changed, he looks at Lily with a genuine smile and warm eyes, the face he made every time Rex around Grizel.
As described in the novel, Rex and Lily fall in love with each other when they dance at this engagement party where their fate is entwined.
'Hoo~ so that's how the love story of the Male Lead and the Heroine begin'
Grizel said inwardly as her eyes gleaming in gold, her tip of lip curled up showing an evil smirk.
"I got you"
To be continued...
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Author's Corner:
No.
I'm not purposely updating this heartbreaking chapter on Valentine's Day to ruin this goddamn pinkish moods.
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Hehe.
MWAHAHHHAHAHAHA!!!