Chapter One

NOTE: The chapters are still unedited, expect lots of typographical and grammatical error ahead. English is not my first language. :>

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Celetía

That's the name of the ring I'm wearing right now.

A ring with a little ruby stone fashioned in the shape of a rose. It's name was after the kingdom's first queen. This is the ring that I once heard in class, the royal engagement ring that has been passed down through the centuries.

I heard a collective gasp from the audience. His decision has taken them all by surprise. No one expected the Crown Prince to choose me, a Viscount's daughter, as his future bride.

I immediately looked at my father's reaction, even him couldn't believe it.

I returned my gaze to the man standing in front of me. His face hasn't changed. After he placed the ring on my hand, there was still no sign of emotion.

"Ladies and gentlemen, His Highness the Crown Prince has chosen Lady Yvonne Senara Clyborne! Let us raise a glass to the Crown Princess's success!" The event's host lifted his glass of wine, and the others followed.

I don't know how to feel or react. Everything is just too fast and I'm not used to this kind of attention.

In the end, I chose to smile, but it came out shyly due to the uneasiness I felt when everyone's eyes were on me.

Everyone cheered. The King's face looked satisfied. They all seemed to be happy except for one person.

His irritation and hatred are visible in his eyes. He even gave me a disgusted look for a few seconds... or I mistaken it for his snobby expression.

His Highness the Crown Prince, Desmond Aurelius Elphiales. The first and only son of King Harold Aurelius Elphiales. The boy, who possessed a golden hair and a blue eyes, features that only the royal family has.

He's three years older than me but his physique is already masculine.

But despite his attractive appearance, he rarely shows his emotions. This is the first time I met him, but it looks like he doesn't like me right away... but why?

Why'd he still choose me?

Among the beautiful faces of noble ladies around my age, why did he choose the plain daughter of the house Clyborne?

I know we are still part of noble families, but when compared to other higher families, we are nothing against them, whether from riches or influence.

I'm not dragging my family down. I'm just stating the facts. Viscount is the second to the lowest noble in the peerage and if I were the Prince--no, any man when they are in the position of the Prince, they will chose the Duke's daughter right away, as is customary.

But why...

"Congratulations, Your Highness," another wife of a Duke greeted me. Looking on her emblem that was attached on her blue dress, a head of a snake biting a sword, there's no doubt. A lady from the house Lennon.

"Duchess Vivienne Lennon," I whispered her name unconsciously.

I saw her lips parted for a second, but she immediately covered it by a smile. Maybe she didn't expect that a plain girl from a Viscount house has a knowledge in the high society.

Maybe I should thank my father for making me memorize their names even though I'm not really interested.

She lowered her head a little bit. "It's a great honor that Her Highness the Princess knows me."

No need. I was forced to memorize your names anyway.

She talks and asks me some questions about myself. A lot of women from different families join our conversation.

While speaking with them, I noticed my father conversing with the Dukes, Counts and Marquesses not far away. They were even accompanied by the King.

He looks so shy talking with other higher nobles. I'm sure he's still reeling from what happened. We were only here to pay our respects since we were invited. We never expected or plan this.

The House of Clyborne is frequently seen in the background. We never set out to be the center of attention; instead, we preferred to be just around the corner and unnoticed.

"Where is the Crown Prince? Why isn't he with the Crown Princess?" Countess Elena suddenly asked.

I didn't turn around to look for him instead I just used my eyes, but I did not see any signs of the Crown Prince.

I could feel the mood shift as soon as I returned my sight to them. Their sinister smiles were visible to me.

Their real colors are starting to show up...

I already expected this. In the nobility, everyone is a competitor. A predators waiting to drag their preys down.

This is one of the reasons why Clyborne, for generations, chose to be silent and not making a move that could lead them to join the game, but unfortunately, I broke the old tradition of Clybornes.

I'm now the center of attention. The perfect and worthy prey to finish. Especially since I am simply a Viscount's child.

"I saw him earlier," Duchess Lennon broke the silence when no one answered.

Rather, they are all waiting for me to answer. It looks like they think that the Crown Prince abandoned me, that I was just chosen out of luck... which I think is true.

"He looks like he's not feeling well. Maybe he rest early," Duchess Lennon added. The ladies just smile, but I know them better.

Their eyes seem dissatisfied, as if they have squandered the opportunity to humiliate me.

I look at the Duchess Lennon. I have a guess that she already figured it out what the other ladies are trying to do.

I gave her a smile and she bowed her head a little bit.

Several other important persons greeted me during the night. The King congratulates me as well. When the event was over, I was drained. I also didn't see a single shadow of the Prince entire night.

Maybe he really is sick or... doesn't really care. I think it's the latter.

The next day, news of the Princess' selection spread quickly, and it became even more raucous because the Princess was a Vicount's daughter. This is the first time, everyone is making a huge deal out of it.

In choosing a Princess, it should be part of the peerage, except for the Baron.

From Duke to Viscount and for generations it was always from the family of Dukes. I know the issue does not end here, I have the feeling that many are not in favor of the Prince's decision and they will try to oppose it.

I stopped thinking when suddenly there was a knock on my door. I adjusted my seat before I spoke.

"Come in," I said. I was expecting my teacher to enter because I've been waiting for her, but as the door opened, my father's face greeted me.

"Good morning," he said right away.

"Good morning, Father. I'm still waiting for Mrs. Fontella."

"She won't come."

"What?" I'm surprised because she didn't notify me or send me a note, and she's rarely away unless she's ill.

"You don't have classes today," I didn't speak, waiting for my father's explanation.

"Yvonne, you've been summoned to the palace. A lunch with the Crown Prince is planned. Please behave yourself there. I know that you are still shock of what happened last night but we have no choice but to accept it," he continued.

Of course, rejecting it implies that we are being discourteous and oppose the royal family's decision. Rumors will circulate, tarnishing our family's reputation.

"Yes, father."

A few minutes before ten o'clock the carriage arrived from the palace.

The maids quickly help me out. They made me wear one of my most expensive dress, which I had not worn in a long time. It was blue with a large ribbon on the chest. It has a matching hat that has a flowery design.

They put make-up to my face and a pair of earrings on my ears.

"You are truly beautiful, Lady Senara!" a maid exclaimed as they finished dressing me up, smiling and admiring at my reflection in the mirror.

"Thank you."

I stared at my face. I don't look like a twelve-year-old girl. I look much older. I just smiled even though I'm not used to seeing my face like this.

After I was fixed up, I went straight to my father's office to say my goodbyes. He escorted me to my carriage. He grabbed my hand as soon as I sat down inside.

"Relax," he said, but looking his anxious face...

"You should tell yourself that," I said and chuckled. He had a worried expression on his face.

"Don't worry, I'll be good there and get home safely," I added, as if to reassure him.

"Please take care of yourself."

"I promise."

Soon the carriage was up and running. I waved my hands to my father, giving him a warm smile to lessen his overthinking.

When I arrived at the palace, a butler and some helpers immediately approached me to give me a formal greeting.

"His Highness, the Crown Prince is already waiting in the dining hall," the Butler immediately led me the way.

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