Duke Alistair placed a warm hand over his daughter's trembling one on the table. "Ashelia," he called softly. He rarely ever called her that. "I know that you are worried for Prince Reagan but you must compose yourself. You love him, do you not?"
Ashelia's throat nearly closed. She despised lying to her father, but at this moment, she had no other choice. "Yes… yes, I do."
The Duke's brows furrowed a little but his frown quickly disappeared. "Then you must be ready to support him."
"Yes, father."
"It seems that an important announcement has slipped my mind." The Emperor started, once the clinking of his glass had gotten the attention of all the nobles in the room.
He took a parchment from the tray reached out to him by a servant and pried it open. Straightening it between his fingers, he read the contents aloud.
"On this night of celebration, it pleases the Imperial House to announce a union that will strengthen the pillars of our kingdom." Emperor Garius' eyes swept over the hall after reading the first half to take in the nobles' reaction.
The space had already started to become slightly noisy, and he had to clear his throat to bring decorum back into the hall.
The second Prince, Reagan, clutched the armrests of his chair tightly in anticipation as he looked over to where his fiancé-to-be sat, clutching the skirt of her gown nervously.
He almost chuckled at the look on her face. 'You look like you're going to faint at any moment, Shelly.'
The Crown Prince who sat across from him took in his half-brother's expression and scoffed. 'What on earth does father think he's doing?'
"Cedric," the Empress chided softly. "Behave."
Prince Cedric clicked his tongue and turned his head away. "Don't bother me, mother."
Reagan could only frown slightly at the short exchange, before his attention shifted back to the Emperor.
Emperor Garius continued, ignoring what was going on behind him. "Second Prince Reagan von Dalniar is hereby engaged to Lady Ashelia de Orlan of House Orlan."
The hall was dead silent. Hand fans stopped fluttering and people stopped eating and drinking their wine.
They couldn't dare raise an uproar while the Emperor was still on his feet. The person to make the first sound would undoubtedly be punished.
Ashelia swallowed the lump in her throat as her eyes moved to Reagan, now her Fiancé, who sat on his chair without a hint of nervousness on his face.
She frowned. 'Is he really okay?'
The Emperor lowered the parchment back on the tray as if nothing of great importance had been said. "May this union bring honor and stability to the Empire." And with that, he took his seat.
As if on cue, Duke Alistair de Orlan and his daughter both stood up and showed their respects to the Emperor. "We humbly accept your favourable decree, Your Imperial Majesty." The Duke said. "We shall do our best to honour the Empire with this union."
Emperor Garius nodded. "Do well to keep your word." He answered flatly. "Let the celebration carry on."
Like he had just lifted a death sentence, the hall erupted into a wave of murmurs. Ashelia let out a sigh as she took her seat. "Well, here it comes." She mumbled under her breath as she took a sip of her wine.
"My word! How could the Emperor give the daughter of the only Ducal house in the empire to his bastard son? He is not worthy!" One woman spat.
Ashelia's fists clenched under the table. 'Reagan might be an illegitimate child, but he is honorable. A little selfish, but honorable!'
Duke Alistair sighed softly when he saw his daughter's expression. "You might as well go and confront the woman."
His words made Ashelia stiffen. "I'm… I'm truly sorry, father."
The Duke shook his head with a small smile, then a melancholy look graced his features. "What do I do with you? You are just like your mother."
Ashelia bit the inside of her bottom lip. 'Father…'
The Duke suddenly jolted as if something had struck him, startling her. "Oh, please don't let me ruin this wonderful night for you, my dear. You shouldn't mind me."
"...Alright." Ashelia nodded, trying to concentrate on her meal, but the stares directed at her were starting to make her uncomfortable.
"It must have been a forced union, but what is the Emperor trying to accomplish by doing this?" Someone whispered.
"It is almost like he is trying to undermine the Crown Prince's authority by giving the most powerful noble house in the Empire to an illegitimate child!"
Ashelia nearly scoffed as she took a spoonful of her desert. 'How ignorant. You don't even know half of it…'
Meanwhile, on the raised platform where the Imperial family was seated, first Prince Cedric glared at his half-brother from the corner of his eye and clenched his teeth.
He gripped the armrest of his chair so tight his knuckles turned white. 'So father really went through with this bastard's request?' He seethed. 'Did he threaten him or something?'
Just then, a guard in uniform came rushing toward the podium with a panicked look on his face. "Your Majesty, your Majesty!"
Emperor Garius frowned deeply. "Lower your voice." He commanded. "What matter is of such importance that you could not wait till after the celebration to let me know?"
The guard went on his knees before the elevated platform and prostrated so low that his forehead touched the ground. "Forgive this insolent knight for going against your orders, Sire." He begged. "But this matter requires your utmost attention."
The Emperor sighed and rubbed his temple. He had wanted this banquet to continue and end without any conflict whatsoever. But it seemed his wish was far too great to be granted.
"Raise your head and speak." Garius commanded.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." The guard appreciated, but at this moment, the hall had become so quiet it was possible to hear a pin drop.
Ashelia's heart pounded against her chest. 'W–what in the world is going on?'
"We have an intruder in the palace, Your Majesty."
The Emperor instantly got up from his seat. "What?!" He roared. "How incompetent can you and the rest of the knighthood be to let an imbecile run amok in the Imperial palace?!"
The Knight bowed his head. "Please forgive us, Your Majesty! I and the rest of the Knights on duty tried to stop him but he was just too strong. He cut through us like insects but I was lucky enough to escape him to bring this report!"
Emperor Garius' face had already become red with rage. His voice was dangerously calm. "Tell me, who is this intruder?"
The Knight swallowed. "Archduke Azrael von Eldrath of the Dominion of Galimenea has infiltrated the palace, Sire, and he is heading straight for this banquet hall."