After the publicity of my betrothal, the atmosphere in the ballroom significantly changed.
Everyone kept staring at me while I stood with Fabian, the Crown Prince. Their gazes were heavy, calculating. I realized that all of the guests in this ballroom were direct vassals of the Royal Family—Counts, Viscounts, Marquises. That was why there were no other Dukes or Duchesses in this ballroom. I was in the lion's den.
But right now, I had to stay focused on the Main Character of the book.
Tonight, she would reveal herself.
According to the plot, she would try to get closer to Milo. Right now, Milo was staying beside Lady Octavi, guarding the perimeter near Fabian and me.
We were enjoying the treats and drinks of the party, though the tension was palpable. Sometimes Fabian asked me to call him by name, not with honorifics.
"Aurelia," Fabian said, leaning closer. "May you cut the honorific for me?"
"Again, Your Royal Highness," I replied, swirling my drink. "You still keep asking me that."
"Because it is for us," he insisted with a charming smile. "You can just call me by my own name to make this relationship better."
"Well, to make this relationship better, you need to look to your own past, Royal Highness."
"What past are you talking about?" he frowned, his patience thinning.
"May we just enjoy the party? I am not talking about this matter here."
I turned to walk away, intending to get another treat from the other side of the table.
He immediately stepped in front of me, blocking my path. "No! You need to tell me about this past!"
I tried to sidestep him. Yet, when I passed him, he suddenly grabbed my left hand.
I stopped. "May Your Royal Highness release my hand?" I said coolly, trying to pull my hand away.
"I apologize, but I can't let go just yet," he replied, his grip firm. "I want to know the root; why don't you want to call me by my own name?"
"Well, it is not that I don't want to call you by your name; it is just that I prefer using a more formal title when addressing someone of your stature," I explained, forcing a polite smile to diffuse the tension. "Besides, it adds an air of respect and honor to our conversations... So may you release your hand before we make a scene?"
"Don't play with me, Aurelia," he hissed. "That is not the reason for you to keep using honorifics toward me... Just tell me the truth!!"
His grip became stronger. I felt a pinch of pain. I tried to pull and push to break his hold, but it didn't work.
Lady Octavi saw what was happening. She stepped forward immediately.
"May Your Royal Highness release My Lady's hand?" Octavi asked, her voice calm but steel-hard.
Still, Fabian didn't lose his grip on me. He glared at Octavi.
Again, Octavi stepped closer. "You need to release My Lady's hand, Your Royal Highness."
Fabian's face contorted with anger. He refused to let go. The tension in the room grew palpable; heads were turning. I could sense Octavi's hand inching toward her side, her concern for my well-being overriding protocol.
I sighed loudly.
"FINE!! IF YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS WANTS TO KNOW THE REASON, RELEASE MY HAND AND I WILL TELL YOU!!"
I shouted it. I was furious about his behavior.
The room fell silent. Everyone froze. Octavi looked at me with a mix of surprise and worry, silently pleading for me to calm down.
Fabian finally released his grip, looking stunned.
"Great," I said, rubbing my wrist. "Now... We have made a scene at this party. Thanks to you, Your Royal Highness."
I looked around. Everyone's eyes were on us. I could feel the weight of judgment.
Lady Octavi quickly intervened, stepping between us. "Let us find a more private space to talk, away from prying eyes."
"Fine with me," Fabian muttered, adjusting his cuff. He waved to Milo. "Milo, lead us to a place more private!"
Milo nodded sharply and led us out of the ballroom and into a quieter hallway.
I breathed a sigh of relief as the heavy doors closed behind us, blocking the scrutiny of the crowd.
In the hallway, Lady Octavi and Milo stood at a respectful distance, giving Fabian and me space.
"Now," Fabian crossed his arms. "You may explain the reason why you keep resisting calling me by my own name."
"First, I want to ask you... Is Your Royal Highness aware of the rumor about you?"
"What is this rumor you are talking about?"
I hesitated for a moment. Finally, I decided to speak my mind.
"There have been whispers and news across the Kingdom about your relationship with Lady Anna for the entire seven years," I said, watching his face closely. "All the courtiers and the people think you, Your Royal Highness, are betrothed with Lady Anna. Not me."
Fabian's eyes widened in genuine surprise. A flicker of unease crossed his face.
"So," I pressed, "is Your Royal Highness aware of this rumor?"
Fabian's expression shifted, his brows furrowing. He began pacing back and forth in front of me. After a moment of silence, he sighed heavily.
"I had suspected that there were rumors circulating, but I did not realize they had reached such a level of certainty," he admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. "It seems that the courtiers and the people have taken our close friendship and mistaken it for something more. This misunderstanding could potentially complicate matters for both of us."
"It doesn't complicate matters for me," I said flatly. "As we know from the beginning, our betrothal is merely an agreement between our parents... and has no bearing on our personal feelings toward each oth—"
Out of the blue, he leaned toward me. His face got dangerously close to mine.
I froze. I could feel his warm breath on my cheek.
"But what if our personal feelings have changed?" he whispered, his eyes intense. "What if this misunderstanding has made us realize that there is something more between us?"
The intensity in his gaze made my heart skip a beat.
I pushed his chest to get him away from my face.
"Back off," I said breathlessly.
I realized he had changed. He was not the awkward boy from seven years ago. I didn't know if this change was genuine or if he was just playing with me. There must be something that happened to make him change like this... Or there was something happening between him and Lady Anna that drove this new behavior.
"Well," I said, regaining my composure. "If Your Royal Highness's feelings toward me have changed, you need to regain my trust in you."
"Is there anything I can do for that?"
"I want you to sincerely apologize to me."
"Apologize?" He blinked.
"Yes. For these entire seven years, Your Royal Highness has never visited me... While I was lying down on the bed sick, you spent your time with others."
Actually, this was a chance for me. To attract all the Paragons to me. Instead of looking for them, I would make a move so big they would have to look for me. It was a high risk, but necessary.
I continued, "To prove your sincerity toward me, I want Your Royal Highness to write this apology and have it be seen by the public on the notice boards across the Kingdom."
Fabian's expression changed from surprise to hesitation. He opened his mouth to object.
"You know this public apology will be bad for the Royal Family," he argued. "It will be seen like the Royal Family kneeling to the Aurelius Family... Is there any other way to prove my sincerity?"
His concern was valid. He worried that a public apology would create an image of subservience, damaging the Royals' standing.
"I am afraid there is no other way, Your Royal Highness," I said firmly. "If you really want to prove your sincerity, a public apology is the only option."
I turned away. "If there is nothing more you want to say to me, it is better we go back to the ballroom."
Fabian stood there, silent. The weight of the decision hung in the air. A public apology would demonstrate sincerity, yes, but it would also show weakness. And it would show the dominance of the Aurelius family.
Finally, he sighed.
"Fine... I will make an apology and announce it on boards across the Kingdom."
I turned back to him, surprised he actually agreed.
"You have my gratitude, and I will keep my word, Your Royal Highness. Now, shall we go back to the party??"
This time, I offered him my hand to hold.
He looked at it for a second, then grabbed it. We walked hand-in-hand back to the ballroom.
As the night progressed, the atmosphere in the ballroom grew more enchanting, but my nerves were on edge. The soft melodies of the orchestra filled the air, heightening the anticipation.
I kept watching Milo.
If the book was right, the Main Character would approach him tonight. She would try to use him as an intermediary to get close to Fabian.
I scanned the room constantly.
But as time passed and the party reached its end...
There was not a single lady or woman who tried to get close to Fabian, or to Milo.
Why?
Was it because I had anticipated it? Did the Main Character know I was waiting for her?
Or was the Main Character one of the nobles in the ballroom who had already introduced themselves and greeted Fabian earlier?
In the end, the party concluded.
I didn't have a single clue about the Main Character of the book—her appearance, or even her name.
But at least I had made Fabian, the Crown Prince, agree to write a public apology. That act alone would shake the Kingdom.