Hey y'all, I know that it has been a while but I am currently preparing for my exam and school is a lot for me. I was also very sick, so...
Anyway, here's today's chapter . I hope you will like it !
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-Why lie? I'm not going to be a hypocrite and say the opposite of what I think, like some others do.- Cristiano Ronaldo
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The ballroom was alive with music, laughter, and the swish of silk dresses as noblewomen surrounded me, their mothers hovering nearby with hopeful glances. But before we could even enter the ballroom he seemed to have sensed the changes in my demeanor and despite the tension between us, palpable, he still questioned me.
"What are you doing?" Hassan's voice was sharp, his expression dark.
I scoffed, folding my arms. "What do you mean?"
"You know exactly what I mean," he snapped. "You entertain their expectations like a trained dog, smiling, bowing, leading them in dances as if any of this matters to you."
I felt my own temper rising. "And what would you have me do, Hassan? Ignore them all? Embarrass the court? Myself?"
His jaw tightened. "You act as if you have no choice."
"And you act as if you have any say in what I do," I shot back.
For a moment, he simply stared at me, eyes burning with something unreadable. Then, without another word, he turned on his heel and strode away. The moment we entered, he walked away without hesitation, leaving me stranded in the sea of eager ladies.
"Hassan—" I called, but he didn't even turn his head.
A sharp sting of irritation flickered inside me, but before I could follow him, a young lady with a charming smile and fluttering eyelashes captured my attention. There was no escaping it—I couldn't reject her without causing a scene.
"My lady, will you accord me this dance?" I took the tip of her fingers in my hand and she put her fan in front of her face to cover the flaming red that seemed to be rushing on her chick.
"With pleasure your highness."
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He was dancing with another woman. I had expected his usual distance, but this—this was deliberate. His hand rested on her waist, his expression unreadable, yet his movements were smooth, practiced. He wasn't just dancing. He was making a statement.
A hollow feeling settled in my chest, and I knew I couldn't stay. Approaching my parents, I offered a small smile. "I'll take the car home. It's been a long night."
My father's eyes lingered on me, sensing something was amiss. "Are you sure, son?"
"Yes," I murmured, embracing him briefly before making my way out of the grand hall, walking as fast as I could.
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And then, everything stopped.
The music died mid-note, conversations faltered, and a heavy silence descended upon the ballroom.
At the top of the grand staircase, the King Regent and his wife stood from their thrones, their presence alone enough to command the room. Step by step, they descended, the weight of expectation pressing down on the gathered nobles. Every pair of eyes followed their slow, deliberate steps toward the center of the hall.
I was still standing among the eager young ladies, and felt my stomach tightened. I could already sense something was about to happen—something I wouldn't like.
"My esteemed guests," the king regent's voice rang out, strong and unwavering, with a mocking undertone.
"It is with great joy that we announce the arrival of a most distinguished visitor, a princess of noble blood from our allied kingdom."
A murmur spread across the room. The air grew heavy with anticipation, eyes darting toward Alexander, who stood frozen in place. The guest exchanged uneasy glances, already guessing what this meant.
"Their Majesties wouldn't bring a princess here for no reason," one of them muttered under his breath.
"They want him married," another whispered, the frustration evident in his voice.
I clenched my jaw, my mind was racing. I barely had time to process the turn of events when the herald stepped forward to make the official announcement.