Two days later, the Royal Palace had regained its usual splendor.
Crystal chandeliers illuminated the grand hall, while dozens of nobles conversed among laughter and wine glasses, as if the assassination attempt against the crown prince had never happened.
Lusian entered accompanied by Emily.
Music filled the atmosphere.
Servants moved through the hall carrying silver trays filled with wine and appetizers, while noble families exchanged greetings and carefully rehearsed smiles.
At the far end, upon the main platform, sat King Felipe Erkhan Kesller on his throne. To his right stood Queen Adelina, Crown Prince Andrew alongside his fiancée, Roxi Briggs Byrne, and Princess Elizabeth. To his left were the royal concubine Alessia Ferrussi, Prince Leonardo, and the young Micael.
Lusian barely spared them a glance.
He walked toward the table where the wines were being served, ignoring the looks that had already begun following him.
He had taken only a few steps when the first whispers spread throughout the hall.
He did not need to hear every word.
"...Douglas..."
"...the prince..."
"...he tried to kill him..."
He turned his gaze toward the table covered with bottles of wine.
It was not the first time he had carried the burden of rumors.
But tonight, they felt especially exhausting.
Emily followed a few steps behind him.
She still found it difficult to remain close to him. Every time Lusian stopped or slightly turned his head, she felt a knot tighten in her stomach.
Lusian picked up a glass and then glanced at her.
—You don't have to drink if you don't want to.
Emily hesitated for a few seconds before taking another glass.
—Yes...
She barely touched her lips to the wine.
Lusian did not insist.
He simply watched her in silence.
Emily noticed his gaze on her and immediately lowered her eyes.
She could not understand him.
Sometimes Lusian seemed cold and impossible to read.
Other times, surprisingly considerate.
That contradiction was precisely what unsettled her the most.
The silence between them stretched on.
It was not uncomfortable.
Neither of them simply seemed eager to break it.
Sofia appeared beside them without making a sound.
She pinched Lusian's cheek.
—Don't drink too much.
—I'm only having one glass...
—I know you.
Lusian rubbed his cheek in resignation.
—Yes, mother.
Satisfied, Sofia walked away among the guests.
Emily could not help but smile.
It was the first time she had seen someone treat Lusian that way.
He glanced at her.
—What?
Emily quickly shook her head.
—Nothing.
Lusian placed the glass back on the table and made a small gesture with his hand.
—Come.
Emily hesitated for only a moment before following him.
From a distance, Kara Bourlance was speaking with her father, Duke Keiler. However, her eyes remained fixed on Lusian, filled with a mixture of irritation and determination.
—It isn't fair, father —she said firmly—. The use of magical beasts should be forbidden in a competition like this.
The duke sighed with a resigned smile.
—Calm down, daughter. That family always finds a way to gain an advantage.
Kara frowned while watching Lusian.
—But look at that idiot. He does not even seem to care that he won thanks to the Duchess's help. That does not make him a true fighter.
—Yes, he seems more like a spoiled son protected by his mother than a warrior —the duke replied with a slight laugh—. I bet that if he had to face you in a real battle, he would end up on the ground in no time.
A challenging smile appeared on Kara's face.
It was the same expression she wore before accepting any challenge.
—You will see, father. When we arrive at the academy, I will give him the welcome he truly deserves.
The duke raised an eyebrow, amused, though he could not help but warn her.
—Do not go too far. Remember that Duchess Sofia is extremely protective of Lusian. I still remember the trouble I had when you broke Prince Andrew's arm.
Kara showed not even the slightest hint of regret, although her tone softened slightly.
—Don't worry, father. This time, it will only be a few minor fractures.
The duke burst into laughter while shaking his head.
He knew his daughter too well.
For Kara Bourlance, a welcome was always a polite way of declaring war.
At the other end of the hall, Isabella Armett was struggling to maintain her patience.
Ever since arriving at the banquet, Caleb had not stopped searching for an opportunity to approach her.
No matter how many times she tried to avoid him.
He always found an excuse.
—Miss Isabella.
Caleb's voice made her close her eyes for a moment.
Again.
—Would you grant me this dance?
Before she could answer, another voice interrupted.
—I believe she has heard enough invitations for one night.
Caleb slowly turned around.
Leonardo stood behind him.
The prince was smiling, but his eyes held no friendliness.
—And who are you to decide for her?
—Someone who does not need to keep insisting just to get attention.
Caleb's expression changed.
—Watch your words, prince.
—Why? Does the truth bother you?
An uncomfortable silence began forming around them.
Some nobles pretended not to look.
Others stopped pretending.
The rivalry between them was no secret.
—I suppose a substitute prince has to work harder to make people remember him —Caleb said with a provoking smile.
Leonardo stepped forward.
—And I suppose a son who will inherit nothing needs to constantly remind everyone who his father is.
Caleb's smile disappeared.
For a moment, the tension seemed ready to explode.
Then a voice interrupted.
—Enough.
Elizabeth had arrived beside them.
She did not raise her voice.
She did not need to.
Both young men knew that ignoring a princess in the middle of the hall would be foolish.
Elizabeth looked first at Caleb, then at Leonardo.
—If you want to resolve your differences, do it without turning a royal banquet into a spectacle.
Neither answered.
The princess then gently took Isabella's hand.
—Come with me. I think you need some air.
Isabella did not hesitate.
Getting away from both of them was the best decision she could make.
As they walked toward a quieter area of the hall, Elizabeth sighed.
—They still refuse to leave you alone.
Isabella lowered her gaze.
—I cannot reject them easily.
She paused.
—My family does not have enough influence to oppose them.
Elizabeth understood the situation perfectly.
Among nobles, a refusal was rarely just a refusal.
It was a political statement.
—I understand.
She looked toward the hall.
Several eyes were already watching them.
—If it were not for my father, I would probably have the same problem.
Isabella followed her gaze.
Lorenzo Denisse stood on the other side of the hall, clearly searching for an opportunity to approach Elizabeth.
Elizabeth let out a sigh.
—Some men believe that a title gives them the right to claim anyone they want.
Isabella smiled slightly.
—It seems even a princess has problems with that.
Elizabeth smiled back.
—The difference is that some people are afraid of bothering me.
She looked once more toward Lorenzo.
—And others still have not learned their lesson.
As they walked through the hall, they found Lusian heading toward the resting area.
His expression remained calm, as always.
But Elizabeth noticed something that few people would have been able to perceive.
Ever since she had entered the hall, she had heard the same whispers repeated again and again.
The Douglas attacked the prince.
Lusian was behind everything.
Rumors without proof.
But enough to wear down even someone like him.
Elizabeth observed his face for a few seconds and smiled faintly.
—Lord Lusian. It is a pleasure to see you.
The formality was necessary.
Too many people were watching.
Lusian stopped and gave a slight bow.
The proper amount expected from a noble.
Nothing more.
—Princess Elizabeth. Miss Isabella.
His voice was correct.
Polite.
Too polite.
Elizabeth had to hold back a smile.
She knew that expression.
It was the same one he had used since childhood whenever he tried to pretend that something did not matter to him.
—Are you planning to retire already? —Isabella asked, glancing toward the entrance of the resting area—. Don't tell me your fiancée is not accompanying you.
Elizabeth's eyes widened slightly.
Isabella Armett had always been far too direct.
For a moment, she almost felt sorry for Lusian.
Almost.
Because Isabella had managed to accomplish something very few people could.
She had broken the composure of the young Douglas.
—No.
The answer came out too quickly.
Isabella smiled.
Elizabeth noticed it as well.
Lusian seemed to realize his mistake and looked away.
—I just want to get away from the crowd.
A simple excuse.
But his eyes moved toward Elizabeth for a brief moment before returning to normal.
A small gesture.
Almost impossible to notice.
Except for someone who had known him for so many years.
Elizabeth felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
He had not changed that much.
He was still terrible at pretending when something truly mattered to him.
Then she remembered something.
The reality that neither of them could ignore.
She was a princess.
He was a Douglas.
There were things that even they could not allow themselves to do.
Her smile slowly disappeared.
After all...
There were reasons why the Crown and the Douglas family could walk together.
But never intertwine.
After a few minutes, Emily separated from Lusian and walked toward one of the quieter areas of the hall.
Near a large window overlooking the garden illuminated by torchlight, she found Clarisse Stanley silently watching the outside.
—Clarisse.
The young woman turned around, and a small smile appeared on her face.
—Emily.
—How are you? —Emily asked before looking around—. And my brother?
—He went to get some drinks.
Clarisse glanced toward the center of the hall.
—He said he would be back soon.
Emily nodded, but she did not take her eyes off her.
Something was wrong.
Clarisse had always been a calm person, but there was something different about her that night.
—Did something happen?
The question caused Clarisse's smile to slowly fade.
For a few moments, she remained silent.
—My family wants me to end my engagement with Manuel.
Emily froze.
—What?
Clarisse lowered her gaze toward her glass.
—Ever since you accepted your engagement with Lusian, things have changed.
Emily felt something sink inside her chest.
—Then it's my fault...
—No.
Clarisse's response was immediate.
She raised her eyes firmly.
—Don't say that.
Emily remained silent.
—My family is not angry with you. They simply do not want to get involved in a complicated situation.
She paused.
—The Douglas family has always been difficult for many nobles to deal with.
Emily slightly tightened her fingers.
She knew it was true.
—And what do you intend to do?
Clarisse looked toward the garden for a few seconds.
Then she answered calmly:
—Continue with the engagement.
Emily looked at her in surprise.
—Even if your family opposes it?
Clarisse smiled faintly.
—I am not engaged to my family.
She looked toward the entrance of the hall.
—I am engaged to Manuel.
Her voice was calm, but there was no hesitation.
—If this ever ends, it will be because the two of us decide that it should.
She paused.
—Not because someone else chose for us.
Emily did not answer.
Something about those words stayed with her.
Clarisse was not fighting against an engagement.
She was defending a decision of her own.
At that moment, a familiar voice interrupted their conversation.
—What are you two doing hiding over here?
Manuel appeared accompanied by Alejandro, wearing a relaxed expression and a smile on his face.
—I thought you had abandoned me.
Clarisse shook her head, amused.
—We were just talking.
Manuel smiled, unaware of the tension that had existed moments before.
Emily watched the couple in silence.
On the outside, everything seemed the same.
But now she understood something.
The decisions made by nobles never affected only those at the center of the problem.
A promise could change the fate of many people.
Even those who had never chosen to become part of it.