“It is a pleasure to meet you like this,” the Emperor said.
“The honor is mine,” Helia replied.
The Emperor smiled with satisfaction. The Empress, too, seemed relieved by Helia’s unexpectedly polite demeanor. Though the rumors about her still lingered in their minds, at least for the moment, she didn’t come across as the arrogant and conceited royal those rumors suggested. There was no need to assert authority over someone who understood her place. With a benevolent smile, the Empress spoke to her again.
“The Crown Prince has been eagerly awaiting you.”
“Your Majesty, you’re making me blush,“ Cedric interjected, stepping in to diffuse his mother’s words. The Empress’s expression turned to one of mild surprise. Despite having given birth to him, she often felt distant from Cedric. He had lived his entire life as if he were born solely to be Emperor, a paragon of royal discipline. Yet, here he was, blushing like an ordinary young man.
“That is also an honor for me,“ Helia said firmly, drawing a clear line with her measured words. The Empress quickly realized her son might have a difficult road ahead with this one. Still, if it was necessary, so be it. Pretending not to notice anything, she turned to the Emperor and suggested, “On such a joyous occasion, we mustn’t remain idle, Your Majesty.“
“You are right, Empress. Let us ensure our guests enjoy the banquet prepared in their honor.”
The Emperor’s words acknowledged that the grand reception was held entirely for Helia. Accepting the compliment, Helia offered a light bow.
Understanding the implicit command in his parents’ words, Cedric gave a brief nod and led Helia away. Once they had returned from the imperial couple, he extended his hand and bowed slightly.
“May I have the honor of this dance with you?”
As expected, it was the natural progression of events. Helia lightly placed her fingertips on Cedric’s outstretched hand.
“With pleasure.”
Cedric held her hand firmly but gently as they reached the hall’s center. The strength in his grip wasn’t overbearing, but it conveyed a clear message: he had no intention of letting go. Helia smirked inwardly.
The Crown Prince was genuinely determined to give his all. Even if it was a facade, his effort didn’t feel unpleasant. In fact, it was her first time receiving such kindness. The unfamiliarity left her uncertain, unable to tell whether she disliked it or not.
As the music flowed seamlessly, so did their dance. Cedric’s bold yet attentive leading style revealed much about his character.
When their eyes met, his crimson gaze carried a warmth she had never expected. The light within his eyes flickered gently, expressing unmistakable goodwill toward her. He seemed to have stripped away all pretense, approaching her with sincerity. Helia couldn’t understand why this man was so earnest. She didn’t believe—couldn’t think—his claim of wanting her heart.
“This is the second time, isn’t it?“ Cedric murmured softly.
Helia tilted her head indifferently and replied, “Is it?”
“I regret not being able to fully meet you the first time.”
“I don’t recall what you’re referring to.”
As Cedric reminisced about their first meeting, Helia feigned ignorance. Her attitude might have come across as cold, but Cedric continued speaking without any sign of offense.
“Then let’s consider this as the first. After all, this is our first dance as our complete selves.”
Helia couldn’t grasp the meaning of his words. To her, his remarks were as intangible as clouds in the sky, stars in the night, or the rustling of leaves in the wind—fleeting and without substance.
Is this how people from the Empire speak so romantically?
She couldn’t understand why anyone would assign so much significance to a simple dance, but she could accept it if it was merely a cultural difference. Helia decided to leave it at that.
Then she felt it: a persistent gaze following her every move. It had been there for a while now. Without alerting Cedric or the onlooker, she subtly shifted her eyes to identify the source. When her gaze met an unexpected figure, she froze.
The Emperor?
For some reason, the Emperor was watching her intently. His gaze wasn’t unpleasant but carried a peculiar depth. If she had to describe it, it seemed he was bewildered, as though he couldn’t trust his eyes. What was even stranger was the vague familiarity in his look…
“Princess?”
“Yes?“
Cedric’s voice brought her back to the present. She turned to him and realized what had caught her attention earlier.
Ah, that gaze. It was the same. Cedric, with eyes like the Emperor’s, was looking down at her. Of course, his gaze held a different emotion, something warmer than the Emperor’s.
Seeing both father and son unable to look away from her filled Helia with a peculiar curiosity. The underlying goodwill in their gazes only deepened the mystery. She had no idea what made them both so favorably inclined toward her.
Helia stared at Cedric. His gaze, while the same color as the Emperor’s, was slightly deeper. It was easy to foresee that the Crown Prince would tread an even more resolute path than his father.
“Why are you staring at me like that?“ Cedric asked, noticing her steady gaze. Helia turned her head pointedly, her tone icy, and replied, “It’s nothing.“
“Am I so handsome that you can’t look away? If so, feel free to keep looking.“
“How shameless of you.“
“It runs in the family, after all.”
Helia unknowingly let out a small laugh. Cedric beamed brightly at her. Though there was a hint of mockery in her laughter, it was the first time she had smiled at him. Somehow, it made his heart flutter slightly. He was surprised to find himself feeling this way.
The waltz that had filled the banquet hall finally came to an end. As if she had been waiting for it, Helia distanced herself from Cedric. There was no trace of regret in their parting. Cedric watched her walk away before being swept up by the crowd seeking the crown prince’s attention.
The atmosphere of the banquet grew more lively. Several nobles from the Empire approached Helia to introduce themselves. Others glanced at her from a distance, unable to muster the courage to approach.
Helia was accustomed to being the subject of attention. But this attention was of a different nature. Most of the Empire’s nobles looked at her with curiosity. Among them were a few who cast doubtful glances, wondering why the crown prince had proposed to a princess from a lesser-known kingdom with such a tarnished reputation. However, for the most part, the gazes were favorable, born from their trust in the crown prince. Helia understood that this favor wasn’t directed at her. Even so, she found the attention burdensome.
She would have preferred to be met with hostility, but malice could be returned in kind. But she didn’t know how to react to these curious and kind gazes. She had never been the recipient of such warmth before, and this type of attention was unfamiliar and left her feeling drained.
When the intensity of the gazes began to wane, Helia made her way to the terrace. She considered heading to the lounge but decided against it since it wouldn’t offer complete privacy. Instead, she sought out an empty terrace. Drawing the curtains to signal that it was occupied, she stepped outside.
The cool air on the terrace helped soothe her frazzled nerves. Soft moonlight bathed the earth below. Helia stood at the edge of the railing, gazing quietly at the garden. The meticulously maintained garden, so different from the ones in Bailey, exuded an exotic charm. Helia savored the unfamiliarity in silence. Was this what it felt like to be on the other side of the world? The freedom from being unbound made her feel insignificant like she was nothing at all.
Just then, the sound of the terrace door opening reached her ears. Helia instinctively turned around quickly.
“Ruben?”
It was a situation eerily similar to one from the past. Naturally—or regrettably—Helia thought of Ruben. Once again, he had intruded upon her thoughts.
It won’t be you. Yet, I still think of you. Like flowers blooming in spring, I inevitably think of you as if I’ve gone mad.
“Princess.”
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outofthehue
I think she’s weird. when asked if she wanted to live she said yes. and lette’s father also asked her to. but then she’s suddenly gave up life by waiting the revolutionary group to act and would behead her later? this is contradiction in itself. she’s done everything just to survive only to resign herself when it’s her cousin who reigned? i wanted to rate this novel high but her character starts to feel annoying. when a crown prince, who she deemed as kind, wanted her which was a way out of death, she acted like she didn’t want it. did she really want to die?