Chapter 1
"Anything you have to say to me, Lady Margaret? After you bullied Miss Peyton for so long with your friends?"
The blonde man spoke. Recognized as the crown prince of Fellton, holding a commoner in his grasp. Both were matching, wearing green attires. Clear for everyone, including his fiancé, Margaret, to see in the banquet hall. Nobles stood still, occupying each corner of the room while this conversation began.
His hair was medium length, framing his cheekbones and chiseled face. The wavy length drawing focus to his green eyes that held a level of confidence a royal was accustomed with, for all to see when they passed by or existed in a room with one.
The King and Queen were absent, preferably in their palace, trying to take their time to rest. The event happened during the late evening, having no choice but to leave it in the arms of their son, while they rested before the day starts afresh but the paperwork never did.
And the paperwork will be raised from the public stunt attempted by their son in the process. Leonard continued to stand straight, eyes looking towards his fiancé. His face had righteous anger expressed but his mind lacked any of it.
'Go on, Margaret. Answer, so I can end this and be with Kate.' He thought. Green eyes that didn't falter, resting his arms across his chest, while Katherine wrapped her arms around him, searching for comfort.
One she needed from this tense scene, as she hadn't expected Leonard to do so in front of everyone. Maybe he really did love her and wanted to give her the happy life she always wanted.
'A kind and handsome prince, that will fight for me.'
Her shy smile was hidden by his shoulder, remembering they were still in front of his current betrothed. Making her smile die out, when noticing how she said nothing. Katherine was starting to feel bad, especially since Margaret must have loved him for them to be declared fiancée at an early age to him.
Finding no enjoyment in any of this, but she didn't look away. Looking up to see the chandelier attached to the ceiling. The reflection of everyone hitting her at once, resorting to looking forward and asking for forgiveness later.
'I am sorry, Miss.'
She sighed to herself, because it was better than both fighting when she caused the split between the crown prince and the duke's daughter.
Margaret didn't respond immediately, watching this scene of her traitorous fiancé and a commoner who didn't know her place. The naivety to walk towards an engaged man and the stupidity on the man, who couldn't even be loyal was almost laughable. Her auburn brown hair reached her waist, leaving it loose as she felt they didn't deserve her putting in any effort.
She wore a gold dress to match her medium brown skin, something she had been isolated for, while many had pale, fair or light skin. She was a lot darker than the other nobles present but excellent for her. Only her eyes were like theirs, soft blue eyes that matched the neutral undertones of her skin. No jewelry was adorned either, as she went for a simple look at this event.
She liked nobody here. Adjusting her legs, since she had to remove the paper against her left leg that was starting to slip down.
Only the décor, candles that illuminated the banquet hall by floating in non-flammable lanterns. There was no smoke to be released, as the lanterns had been enchanted to absorb it, while everywhere glowed in colors of white, cream and grey for everyone to see clearly.
Tables of food and refreshments arranged around the room in a pentagon manner, for easy movement and access to all. The painted walls of blue, black and purple, representing the clear sky outside of the palace from this mess. Eventually she looked away to stare at her fiancé while he stood tall and mighty on stairs that separated him from everyone, apart from Katherine.
"Yes. I do."
She raised her head up, showing a look of faux dread. The upward curve of Leonard's lip, when he thought he won almost made her chuckle. But he was way too pale for her to be interested in fighting for and since Katherine hadn't left his side. She didn't mind dragging them both down.
"Are you ready for your punishment?"
"No."
Leonard paused, turning his head to the side. The pale skinned man frowned, wondering what she just said. Katherine seemed to be sharing the same expression, while the crowd exchanged confused glances. Nobody said anything after that.
"No?"
"Yes. Or are you simply too busy being a tree stump in your own part?" Margaret smiled sweetly, the insult layered in poetic flow. Knowing he would only get it in a few hours afterwards.
She called the crown prince self-destructive without making it clear. Regardless, she stood up straight and moved the edges of her dress up high. Making everyone pause, looking at the sight in shock.
"What is this indecency?! You have no shame."
Leonard announced, but he didn't look away. Making her internally smile in the process.
"If this is indecent, why haven't you looked away like the others?" She retorted. Since she only wanted to adjust her inner garments and the paper, when the dress flowed down to her feet again. And the paper was tucked in her sleeves accordingly.
'You shameless harlot.' He thought, when realizing her trick but he said no more. Reluctantly accepting that as her response. He would send some of his men to teach her some class after this was over, when he threw her to the dungeon.
The ladies fainted in disbelief but were ignored by her.
"As for me bullying her? Yes. But did I hit you?" Her eyes were directed to the brunette hidden by the prince. Staying behind him like this was a perfect fairy tale where she just hid behind a powerful man, and everything would be over.
How cute.
"No, you didn't, Lady Margaret."
Katherine spoke softly. Her innocence wasn't feigned, that much was clear.
'I didn't say such. I just told everyone what Leo wanted me to say, so we can be together and Lady Margaret isn't forced to depart from someone she cared for.' The brown-haired woman thought, still hiding behind Leonard.
She didn't want to cause a scene, but she didn't lie either.
"And do you know what that means?" Margaret picked up her glass of wine from an attendant, twirling the red liquid in the glass. Watching the flow of the water until a mini like whirlpool was made.
"Bullying? Yes. It means when someone is being unfriendly to you." Leonard smiled, letting Katherine continue speaking.
"In other words? Are you saying everyone here is mean to you? Considering you a commoner is expecting a duke's daughter and every noble to lower ourselves for you?"
Margaret asked with a calm smile. But no noble showed her level of restraint, when every eye in the room was focused on the prince and the commoner from the excuse and blasphemy of this conversation.