Chapter 13
1791 Words
CHAPTER 13
“His Highness, Crown Prince Noah Von Alexander Kaylon of Alvania Empire, and his fiancé, Lady Anastasia Monique Tatiana of House Cromello, have arrived!”
All heads turned to the grand entrance as the couple walked in with grace and power. The guests were all stunned at the two beautiful creations that walked into the grand hall. They were surrounded with an aura that would cause anyone to be intimidated and at the same time fall in love with them. With their beautiful faces, confident strides, and elegant postures, they are, no doubt, the most attractive couple in this hall.
“Why are they staring?” Tatiana can’t help but whisper to herself. She is obviously not used to this kind of attention as it just brings back the bad memories of her as Jane.
Noah was able to hear this and amusingly took a glance at Tatiana. He could feel her tremble in his grasp and her hands were starting to sweat.
Is she nervous? How unusual, when she’s known as the social butterfly.
“Don’t be nervous,” Noah whispered back. Tatiana secretly glared and rolled her eyes at him.
“I’m not.” She denied.
She doesn’t want to show Noah any weakness and proceeded to act strong. Noah, on the other hand, thought of this as entertaining.
“Uh-huh. I can feel you trembling, you know.” Noah teased and Tatiana’s cheeks turned red.
“Whatever. It’s just because it’s been a long time since I’ve attended a banquet.” Tatiana reasoned.
Noah just smirked at her, not totally believing it. They then continued to walk until they reached the stage where their seats are.
They both sat down and after a few moments, the arrival of the royal family was announced.
“All hail for His Majesty, Emperor Nigel Alexander Kaylon, Her Majesty, Empress Valerie Rose Seraphina Kaylon, His Highness, Prince Nathaniel Vlad Alexander Kaylon, and Her Highness, Princess Nathalia Rose Stephanie Kaylon!”
All of the guests, Noah and Tatiana included, stood up and bowed their heads down as the royal family entered the hall.
Once they reached the stage, they exchanged their greetings.
“Your Imperial Majesties and Your Highnesses, Prince, and Princess of Alvania Empire, I offer my humble greetings,” Tatiana said and curtsied.
“Ah, Lady Tatiana. It has been a while.” Emperor Nigel replied.
“Yes, how have you been, your majesty?”
“I’m doing good. How about you, my dear? I heard you got sick a year ago.”
Noah turned to Tatiana in shock after hearing that. He didn’t know Tatiana got sick a year ago. That was during the time he was still in the war.
“As you can see, your majesty, I am doing good as well,” Tatiana replied while ignoring Noah’s hot gaze at her.
They exchanged more pleasantries before they all went to their seats. The emperor stayed in front to give his opening speech.
The banquet is to commemorate the victory of the recent war, so all of the knights, Tatiana's brother included, have gathered in front of the stage to receive their honor.
“I’ll talk to you later,” Noah whispered to Tatiana before he stood beside the emperor. The 2nd Prince, Prince Nathaniel followed him as well.
After that, they continued with their speeches and the ceremony. Later on, the Empress stood as well for her speech of thanks to the soldiers. That left the princess and Tatiana in their seats.
Tatiana looked at the princess who’s seating just a chair away from her. She was pouting while looking at the back of the Emperor and the Empress in front.
Tatiana smiled looking at the pouting princess. Then, she leaned closer and called her.
“Princess,” she called. Princess Nathalia turned to look at her. “Do you want to sit with me?” Tatiana offered and patted her lap.
The Princess looked confused at first then she smiled and nodded enthusiastically. She stood up and walked closer to her. Tatiana then carried her to her lap.
“Are you bored, your highness?” Tatiana whispered to her. Princess Nathalia nodded her head and pouted her lips again.
Tatiana chuckled at this. She looked very cute!
Tatiana liked children even as Jane. She thought that they are so cute and innocent, and she loved to play with them every time.
“It’s okay, princess. I can play with you.” Princess Nathalia smiled widely and showed Tatiana the doll that she was holding.
Princess Nathalia is the only princess of the empire and she is currently five years old. In the novel, she died in an assassination together with the Empress and the heroine. It was this crime that Tatiana was blamed for and was not able to escape her death punishment. It was also this crime that made Noah went crazy for losing all the women in his life that he loved at the same time.
“Oh, who is this?” Tatiana asked her in a jolly tone.
“This is Alice, my doll.” Princess Nathalia shyly answered.
Tatiana momentarily paused when she heard that name, but she then smiled to hide her feelings.
“She’s very beautiful, like you, princess.”
“You’re more beautiful, sissy.”
Tatiana once again smiled widely when the princess shyly called her sissy.
“You can call me sissy Tati, princess.”
Princess Nathalia giggled and nodded.
“Okay, sissy Tati. I love your eyes!”
“Oh, but I love yours the most!”
Both of them continued to play with each other. Meanwhile, the guests who were looking at them were giggling as they watch their playful interaction.
From the guests’ perspective, Tatiana and the princess looked very adorable, like a mother and a daughter playing together. They were also not expecting Tatiana to act so playfully with a kid. Tatiana was also widely smiling, something that is rarely seen.
Noah, who noticed that the guests were looking behind them, also turned to look. He then saw his fiancé and sister giggling and playing with a doll. Liked the guests, Noah also thought they looked sweet. And Tatiana, who was openly showing that she's not paying attention to the ceremony, was very charming. He smiled, but immediately went back to his emotionless face when he remembered he’s in a public space.
Noah shook his head at this and went back to look in front. At the back of his mind, however, he wanted to look back and just watch them play so carelessly.
“Once again, thank you for your sacrifice and hard work for the Empire! May the power of Goddess Elise be with you all!”
After that, the ceremony ended and the guests started mingling with each other. The emperor, the empress, and the two princes went back to their seats. Aside from Noah, they were all shocked to see the princess on Tatiana’s lap.
Tatiana was about to put the princess down, but the princess hugged her, refusing to go.
“Princes Thalia, don’t be a trouble to the Lady.” The Empress said softly and looked at Tatiana apologizingly.
“No! I want sissy Tati!”
Tatiana chuckled at the Princess's refusal and looked at the Empress.
“I’m okay, Your Majesty. We can play for a bit more.” She spoke.
The Empress mouthed a thank you and turned to entertain some guests.
“Princess, why don’t you sit on brother’s lap?” Noah, who was beside them, offered.
However, Princess Nathalia only shook her head and refused. Tatiana chuckled again and looked at Noah, saying it’s okay.
Noah sighed and just smiled. He wanted to talk to Tatiana alone, but because of the princess, he couldn't even have Tatiana's attention.
Tatiana and Princess Nathalia continued to play, while Noah watched them.
After a while, it was time for the Empress and the Emperor to leave.
“Princess, we have to go now.” The Empress said.
It took a bit of convincing before Princess Nathalie finally went down from Tatiana’s lap.
“Sissy Tati, come to the palace, okay? I’ll introduce you to my other dolls.” The Princess said while looking up at her.
“Of course, princess,” Tatiana replied and smiled.
“Thank you, Lady Tatiana.” The empress said. Tatiana smiled at her and bowed her head. Then, the empress, the emperor, and the princess left the grand hall.
It was then that Tatiana remembered her purpose in that ball.
Where is she?
Tatiana thought as she stretched her neck to look for someone. She is looking for the heroine of the novel, the one that Crown Prince Noah would fall for.
She is supposed to be at this banquet, and Noah should be meeting her anytime now. He will then ask her for a dance and that’s how their love story will start.
“Who are you looking for?” Tatiana looked at Noah when he asked her.
“Nothing,” she answered and sat back down on her seat.
Noah was not convinced but pushed it aside anyways. He sat beside her again.
“I see that you are good at handling children.” Noah opened. Tatiana glanced at him and shrugged.
“I think they’re adorable,” she said.
“Strange, I never thought you would find children adorable,” Noah said in a teasing voice. It is true though. Tatiana never liked children—at least, that is what Noah knew.
Tatiana didn’t answer that and continued to scan the hall. Why is she not here yet?
A while later, Noah suddenly stood up and went in front of her, blocking her view of the hall. Tatiana was forced to look up to him.
“Would you give me the honor of being your partner for the first dance?” Noah asked and offered his hand.
He said that in a cool manner but deep inside his heart was beating fast, and he was actually feeling nervous.
Tatiana stared at him for a moment, feeling confused.
This is not supposed to happen. He should be asking his heroine and not me. Tatiana thought.
In the novel, Noah refused to dance with Tatiana that he even looked for another girl to ask for a dance. That girl was the heroine. Tatiana felt embarrassed during that time, and it was then that her bullying against the heroine started.
“W-what?” Tatiana stuttered.
She was prepared to be left alone and be humiliated, but she was not expecting him to ask her to dance. That was out of the novel’s plot...unless...
Did the plot change already?
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reyankleyr
- Writer
