The hall buzzed around me, but I just kind of… froze. Standing at the bottom of the stairs like an idiot while everyone smiled and whispered.
Okay… any second now, some friendly noble girl is gonna walk up and say "hi, let's go eat cake." Right? …Right?
Nope. Nothing.
The crowd kept their polite distance, eyes flicking over me like I was some museum piece.
Before my face could morph into pure "socially abandoned," Duchess swooped in, looping her arm through mine with the elegance of a queen. Duke followed on my other side, chest puffed out like he'd just won a war.
"My lord, my lady," Duchess began, her voice dripping honey, "you must see how our Eri has bloomed into the very picture of grace. Is she not the jewel of the evening?"
Her words practically sparkled.
The poor noble couple she stopped had no choice but to beam back and gush, "Why, Lady Meredia, you look divine and truly radiant."
I smiled because apparently that's what I was supposed to do. My cheeks already hurt.
Then Duchess dragged me to the next pair of nobles, her excitement bubbling out, "Her gown was crafted by only the finest seamstress in Valkathra, and does it not catch the light like fire itself? Truly, my daughter is blessed."
Duke chimed in with his deep voice, "She takes after her mother."
The noblewomen nodded, their husbands bowed, and I just stood there like a shiny new doll on display.
Yep. That's me. Lady Magenta Showpiece, now available in the "please admire but do not touch" collection.
Every time I thought we were done, Duchess's eyes would sparkle and she'd drag me to yet another cluster of nobles. My smile was permanently plastered on, my neck already sore from nodding.
Meanwhile, she was glowing like a woman who had just scored first place in a bragging contest.
"Yes, yes… she has learnt those steps too. When a young man asks her for dance, you'll witness it."
I pressed my lips together, barely holding back an eye roll. Duchess had just turned my beginner-level stumble-through into some legendary performance. Next she'll say I invented dancing itself.
Duke had already vanished to the other side of the hall, chest-deep in political talk with men twice his age.
I tried searching for Esther or Kirill, but nope. They had Houdini'd out of the scene. Lucky bastards.
Meanwhile, I was trapped. My cheeks hurt from smiling, my hand was aching from Duchess's death grip, and honestly, I just wanted to inhale a snack before collapsing.
"Uh… mother, can I go take rest, please? The gown is really heavy."
Her frown cut through me like a blade. "Are you well, my girl?"
"Yes," I nodded quickly, "I just… want to sit somewhere."
Finally, mercifully, she let go of my hand. "Very well."
I plastered on a polite smile for her and the other noble ladies, then slipped away as fast as heels and gown would allow.
My prize? A chair tucked in the corner right beside the long food table. I plopped down, sighing in relief.
"Wow… so much food," I muttered under my breath, eyeing the spread. "I wish I could suck it all up like Kirill."
My eyes landed on a… thing. A cupcake-looking lump with some shiny purple jelly oozing out of it and red gem-like blobs sprinkled on top.
I leaned forward, squinting. Okay… is this a snack or a magical artifact waiting to curse me?
I grabbed the weird cupcake thing, curiosity screaming louder than my brain telling me to be careful. Who cared if I went to some noble version of hell after eating this? Not me.
I poked the purple jelly that was slowly oozing out and, surprisingly, it smelled… good. Really good.
I leaned in, ready to shove the entire thing into my mouth in one glorious bite, when suddenly—bam!
A few young ladies had appeared out of nowhere and planted themselves right in front of me, blocking my snack like it was the crown jewels.
I stared at them, completely blank for a second. Who were they? Meredia's so-called friends? I didn't remember a single one of them from her memories.
Meredia… never had friends. She hated interacting outside, acted like she was better than everyone, and had, honestly, some serious personal hygiene issues. Touching people? No thanks.
And now these girls had the audacity to mock me rigght in the middle of the room.
"You know, for someone who's supposed to be a debutante, your eating style is… fascinating," one sneered, flicking her hair.
"Like a pig! And all these men are watching…" another chimed in.
"Oh yes, I can see why anyone would want to dance with this pig," a third added, smirking like she'd just delivered the verdict of the century.
Excuse me? Who would want to dance with some rats anyway?
I didn't even want to entertain them. I focused on my cupcake like it was a lifeline. But nope! they weren't done.
"Really, do you even know how to eat properly?" one hissed.
I tilted my head, cake halfway to my mouth, and said, "Oh, I'm sorry. Did you mistake me for someone who actually cares about your opinion?"
The one in black nearly choked on her sip of juice. "W-what did you just—?"
I smirked, taking a small bite of the cupcake. "Yeah, keep talking. I love seeing you flustered. It's… adorable."
"You… you can't—"
"Oh, I can. And I will." I shot back, keeping my gaze calm as they sputtered.
Finally, I stood up, cupcake in hand like a trophy, and gave them a polite nod. "Excuse me, ladies. I have more important things to do… like not listening to you."
.I stood up, cupcake in hand, and finally took a big bite. The sweet, juicy jelly melted on my tongue.
Heaven…
I scanned the crowd for Duke—the only person who could protect me from all this mocking and bragging. Five minutes later, I spotted him talking to a group of men. I walked over.
"Father?" I asked.
He turned, eyes lighting up. "Eri! You aren't with your mother. Why?"
I smiled. "I wanted to be with my father."
I swear, I thought he was about to get all emotional again, but he coughed, straightened, and composed himself. "Very well. Let me introduce you to these gentlemen."
He introduced me, and most of the older men immediately got absorbed in discussing royal council politics, taxes, and farming.
Except for one pompous fellow. Nose sharp enough to cut glass, chest puffed out like he was inhaling half the world's oxygen, and eyes glued to me.
I looked away. Old… please don't tell me he has a crush.
He sipped his wine, still staring. Duke must have noticed, because he stepped slightly in front of me.
"Lord Arfen, is something bothering you?" Duke asked politely but firmly. "You keep staring at my daughter."
The man blushed furiously, stammering. "No… I… I—" Then he cleared his throat, trying to sound dignified. "I was merely observing her… given her… cowardly attempt to end her life."
Duke's face stiffened instantly, jaw tight.
The man waved at the others, "Look at her now… behaving as if she had never insulted her family months ago. And Duke is here giving such cowardly guidance to his children."
Duke's voice rose. "Lord Arfen, you do not—"
I stepped forward, letting my boredom fuel my audacity. "I see. My actions were cowardly. But… weren't yours more cowardly, even as a man?"
The man blinked. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"Just now," I continued, crossing my arms, "you were bragging about leaving the twelve-year-old crown prince to fight ten monsters alone. What kind of cowardice is that?"
Because boredom doesn't erase awareness, and I'd been listening the whole time. He'd turned an escape into a heroic tale.
All the other men chuckled, and Lord Arfen turned bright red, flustered beyond repair.
Yes, that's right. Eat my words, sir.
Duke patted my back with that proud, "you're my girl" look, but he still gave me that gentle nudge.
"Eri, go sit," he said. "Indulging with these men… it only ruins our mood."
"I… I want to stay," I mumbled, sulking just a little.
He smiled softly, shaking his head. "No, really. Go. Enjoy yourself somewhere quieter."
I huffed but obeyed, trailing back to my little corner.
"Eri?"
I looked up. "Esther! Where have you been?"
He scratched the back of his head, looking guilty. "Fell asleep in the kitchen. Just woke up."
Ah… that explained the nest on top of his head. I stifled a laugh.
"You look like a bird built a home on your head," I teased.
"Shut up," he grumbled, ruffling his messy hair. "And you… you survived those ladies? The ones glaring at from distance?"
I rolled my eyes. "Oh, they don't just glare, they mock too. And that pompous old man staring at me like I was some… some curiosity."
Esther burst out laughing. "Hah! I should've been there to see that!"
I couldn't help but laugh too, the tension from the ballroom melting a little.
"So… I'm guessing you didn't enjoy the debutante much?" he asked, still chuckling.
"Enjoy? Are you kidding? I survived," I said, smirking. "And you… you finally woke up. I was starting to think you'd been swallowed by monsters or something."
"Ha! Very funny," he muttered, grinning.
"By the way… where's Kirill?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
Esther rolled his eyes. "He's… busy. Not really busy, but, you know… intentionally keeping himself busy."
"Huh? Why?" I frowned. Why would anyone want to keep themselves busy? Shouldn't he be… devouring the food like a normal person?
Esther chuckled. "So mother doesn't find him and start pestering him about the Crown Prince."
Ah… of course. The Crown Prince. Cue the royal panic.
And just like the universe loves bad timing, Kirill walked right past us, completely ignoring our existence, heading straight toward Duke.
"See? He's ignoring us," Esther muttered, a little pout in his voice.
I snickered… but the smile died the second I noticed Duke's face. His usual calm composure was gone now replaced by panicked, nearly-white-from-stress serious. And Kirill? He looked like he'd just wrestled a dozen demons, gesturing wildly as if explaining a war plan.
Uh… something bad is happening.
I opened my mouth, "Did something—"
But then, suddenly, the hall seemed to swallow every sound, every murmur, leaving only my own heartbeat hammering in my ears. What the hell is happening?
And then the golden horns blared, sharp and commanding, cutting through the silence like a blade. Every head whipped around. Whispers froze mid-air, yyes widened. Someone… was entering.
The announcer's voice cut through, booming with unnerving precision:
"Let all present rise and witness the arrival of His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Kairan Alistair Ashbourne of Valkathra… and the High Lunarch, His Younger Brother, Prince Ancillin Emrys Ashbourne!"
Even Esther went ghostly pale, frozen mid-step, his mouth slightly open, as if the room itself had just sucked the breath out of him.
I blinked, heart racing.. So this is him… the infamous Crown Prince.