Duchess of Ravensdale, Aria Noir, patted her shimmery silk gown again.
Its cheapness made her feel hyperaware of the hostile gazes trailing her back as she strode into the Royal hall, unaccompanied.
The only jewelry Lady Aria could afford was a pair of simple pearl earrings that belonged to her mother; the only really valuable thing she had left.
Inside this hall was a dizzying array of luxury.
Tonight was the crowning ball, a lavish ceremony that lasted just one night, where the king of Eldoria crowned the kingdom's elites for their various achievements and realigned the season's alliances.
"I got this…." She whispered to herself despite knowing this party was filled with nobles who hid their malicious intents and catty comments under false smiles that gleamed.
The Hall was covered in the golden glow of massive chandeliers across the marbled floor that illuminated her shimmery gold dress.
"Oh, look, the pauper Duchess has arrived."
"What is that ugly dress?…." someone whispered, loud enough for Aria to catch it. Malicious titters followed.
She ignored them, but they were right. Aria was a duchess in name only.
Ravensdale House had gone into debt a generation ago over a series of sunken investments: An unexpected drought, sunken ships, a jewelry-obsessed mother and a father with a gambling problem.
Unsurprisingly, their house's reputation quickly fell into ruins.
Although Lady Aria Noir was engaged to Cassius Thorne, the First Eldorian Prince, no nobles curried to gain her favour.
As the duchess Aria swept past the extravagant Lady Elara Voss, duchess of Harlan's house, she was audacious enough to speak out loud.
"The prince didn't care enough about her to send a new dress. I almost feel bad for her standing around like a timid, lost mouse."
Ari hurried on, feeling resentment set in. Unlike her, Lady Elara dripped in jewelry, fanning herself with a bejewelled, intricately crafted fan.
Her companion, Lord Harlan Drake, chuckled low, his over-powdered wig bobbing vigorously.
"Indeed. The beggar's bride, they call her. How did she even afford the carriage here?"
"I reckon she sold the last of their jewels," Baroness Mira Thorne, eager to curry favor.
The group erupted into mocking laughter.
"It is a stain on our glorious kingdom's reputation that someone so undeserving could have it."
"Hush, Darling! It's the Royal promise, you know…"
"I wish we could be done with those archaic rules," Lady Elara whispered back.
Aria tried her best to tune them out; her cheeks flamed, but she kept her gaze on the dancers on stage, hands balled to hide their trembling.
She didn't choose to be engaged to the prince, and they despised her for it.
Aria swept forward, holding up her head high.
She was here tonight for one purpose only.
Scanning the crowd for her fiancé. He was nowhere to be found and late as usual.
Prince Caspian was probably surrounded outside the halls by foreign representatives trying to curry his favour.
Snatching a glass of champagne from a drinks table, she downed the glass.
She watched the band play, behind them, focused on the Royal banners of black and gold and arches bearing the Royal crest of crimson-fire-breathing dragon.
And like that, half an hour passed, the pauper Duchess of House Ravensvale stood at the periphery of the party, eyes hollow.
Time passed, and the orchestra morphed to a dance waltz, and the Royal Herald's voice boomed: "We welcome the small sun of the Kingdom to open the Royal dance with his fiancée! Prince Caspian Thorne and his betrothed, Lady Aria Noir!"
A beam of light illuminated the spiraling stairs, and Aria's heart lurched at the sight of him.
"Finally …." She trailed off. Even the original Aria's memories didn't do his looks justice.
Tall, broad-shouldered, with jet-black hair tousled just enough, with eyes the colour of the deepest grey.
My God….He was so achingly beautiful to look at.
With features as sharp and chiseled as a god's.
Those piercing eyes spotted Lady Aria immediately, and the low murmurs of disapproval filled the room as the prince walked up to her, holding out a gloved hand wordlessly.
She accepted the dance and noted without fail the way his eyes strayed for the briefest moments to Lady Seraphina Voss standing behind Aria, mouth pressed in a thin, hard line.
Lady Seraphina Voss.
Elara's niece.
Seraphina was a stunning beauty; stunning with flawless skin, tall and statuesque with rich blonde hair and blue eyes.
More fragmented memories popped up. The sharp pain of betrayal at catching Caspian kissing her in her presence flashed many times.
She involuntarily stepped away from him, feeling how much the original Aria loved him desperately.
Even as they danced, Caspian's gaze strayed again to linger on Seraphina, which made her stomach twist in anger.
Couldn't he even hide it for a minute?
Prince Caspian wasn't just beloved for his looks; he had a mind that was frighteningly cold and logical.
The music continued as Caspian moved in practiced movements
He'd barely spared her a glance, eyes travelling to an angry Seraphina glaring at both of them.
Her shoulders trembled, and he looked down, feeling his gut roil in annoyance.
Her timid behavior, lowly standing, and the fact that ancient law and his upright father forced him into this union vexed him endlessly.
The music tempo changed, signalling the start of another dance.
"Skipping stones in a lake would be more productive than this tedious act," Caspian muttered as he seized Aria's hand roughly, leading her to the center of the floor.
The nobles parted eyes, holding barely concealed glee.
Aria curtseyed again, keeping her voice steady.
"Bless the small sun of the empire."
Silence.
"It is an honor," she added dryly.
Caspian's jaw twitched in mild surprise at her underreaction.
Normally, Aria would have burst into tears and stormed off and saved him the headache.
"Honor? This is a useless venture, Lady Aria. I am only bound to you by law. What could you even offer me? The loyalty of Ravensdale? Pathetic."
His words cut deep, and whispers grew around them as he spun her away from him in a dance.
"You hear that? The prince can't stand her either," someone snickered.
Another: " Poor prince, wasted on a disgrace. Lady Seraphina is a much better choice. She is more beautiful, with an eligible bloodline."
"Certainly more intelligent than her, too."
Aria missed a step and almost slipped. Caspian took a step back, and she had to catch herself ungracefully, drawing more laughter from the spectators.
Aria recovered, taking his hand like nothing had happened.
She needed to keep her composure if she was to make it through this ball.
"Your frustration with me is understandable, your highness, and I agree–this law is unkind."
Caspian drew an annoyed breath.
"Really, my lady? You seemed eager to keep me by your side. Unkind? You're too dull to even comprehend the scale of damage marrying you would cost. Why not just fade into insignificance like your house?"
His words cut through her heart, emboldening the spectators eager to gain favour with the prince.
"Look at how she hides her trembling!"
Lady Aria recognized the voice of Baroness Mira and her ugly cackle.
"No wonder he prefers Seraphina–she's got the inventiveness to lead as queen, not that wet rag!"
Humiliation clawed at her heart. She wanted to snap back, tell them where to shove their opinions, but she held her tongue, letting the dance drag on in agonizing silence under the gaze of Caspian disapproval.
The music ended, and he released her abruptly, walking away without as much as a backward glance as Aria bowed.
The king ascended the dais, and his voice thundered over the hall.
"Loyal nobles of Eldoria! We are gathered here to honor the years of sacrifice each of you has made to strengthen the pride of Eldoria. We raise a toast–to my son, Caspian and the Lady of Ravensdale, Aria Noir, whose betrothal is granted by ancient decree!"
The crowd raised their wine goblets in unison to cheer.
Seizing this perfect moment, Aria stepped forward, heart pounding.
"Your Majesty! I have something to say!"
The hall fell into stunned silence; no one expected the timid Duchess to draw attention.
King Lucius' gaze narrowed, wondering what she was up to.
"You have my permission to speak."
"What is she doing?" Someone asked.
"The sacred laws which bind the heir of any of the four dukes of Eldoria to the next king are sacred; however, this is with the consent of the Duke's family, which can be revoked even on the wedding day?"
"Where are you going with this, Lady Aria?" Caspian frowned.
"I invoke the right of severance!"
Gasps filled the hall.
Caspian's face twisted in shock.
The hall turned riotous immediately.
"Has she gone mad?"
"Better for us all!"
Seizing the last chance, Aria stepped forward: "House Ravensdale releases Prince Caspian from this obligation. Let there be no impractical fate that joins us together!"
The king held his surprise and waved to the crowd into silence.
She could feel her heart hammering.
After a long pause, he nodded slowly.
"You have the right to serve it. Ordinarily, you would be regarded as a stranger to the crown for that, but given your…circumstances.…so be it."