Grand Ball Part 2
2018 Words
Catarina’s face hardened. It was because she thought of her engagement announcement from her past life.
“The Kingdom of Ildoa’s duchess, Buckingham’s duchess, and the princess of Spana Kingdom are among the nominees, but aren’t you the best candidate?”
“No. Not at all.”
She firmly shook her head. There was no way she was going to repeat her old life.
“I see.”
Sophia didn’t ask anymore. She just sighed.
“I don’t know who it’ll be, but I’m quite jealous.”
It was a voice drenched with sadness. She loved the Crown Prince. But there was a deep c***k between her and the Crown Prince. It was a deeper abyss than Romeo and Juliet.
“I said things I didn’t need to. Well, I hope you get some rest.”
“Alright. Have a good time.”
Sophia stepped back, and Catarina closed her eyes and leaned against a column.
She was glad to meet her again, but she was dizzy from the conversation. ‘Let’s rest a bit. I want to go home soon.’
Thankfully, it was a corner that no one could see. She just wanted it to end. But there was something she didn’t know. It wasn’t a place that no one could see. No, actually, there were a lot of people glancing at her.
...
Catarina was especially beautiful today. She looked pale because she was sick, but it added to her petite charm. There were plenty of noble ladies, but she was the most beautiful flower of all of them.
A lot of the gentlemen at the ball felt their heart beat faster seeing her. But there was a reason why they didn’t approach her.
The announcement of the Crown Prince’s fiancee! They thought she might be the person to receive the spotlight. There were plenty of candidates, but she was the best fit.
Meanwhile, There was a man looking at her with an unpleasant expression. It was the Crown Prince Eins von Granzreich. ‘What are they looking at?’
To be correct, he didn’t like the men looking at her. They were supposed to be enjoying a ball, what the heck were they doing? ‘I don’t like it.’
He also didn’t like her either. ‘Since she’s dressed like that. The guys are all looking at her.’ It was obvious that a ball was a place to come dressed up, but he still didn’t like it.
“Is something the problem, Your Highness?”
He shook his head at Nathan’s question.
“It’s nothing.”
“Is there someone making you uncomfortable? Let me know. I’ll figure it out.”
It’s your sister. Eins couldn’t even say that, so his lips twitched.
“Nathan.”
“Yes?”
“Your sister. Is she sick?”
His skill was better than most Knights. He could see she was pale from where she was standing. She was always white, but she was even whiter. And it was weird that she was staying in one place without moving.
” l don’t know.”
As expected of Baron Nathan, he didn’t know anything about his little sister. Looking at his clueless friend, he sighed. ‘Should I go to her?’ But the distance between them was too far. They were on opposite sides of the ballroom.
Aside from the distance, he couldn’t move because of the people surrounding him. ‘So why is she there? I don’t like it.’
Another reason was added to why he didn’t like her. But it was then.
“…!”
Something happened to make his eyebrows furrowed.
A handsome man approached Catarina to ask for a dance!
And that man was?!
Eins’s eyes hardened in recognition.
***
“Lady as beautiful as jewels. Will you do me the honor of dancing with you?”
Catarina didn’t understand him. Her head hurt, and it had been a while since she was requested a dance.
“Lady?”
“Ah…are you talking to me?”
“Yes, I am.”
Catarina blinked. He was a handsome man who would be stared at on the streets. He had a soft aura, and his hazel brown hair was naturally curly. But he was different from the Granzreich Empire style. ‘A Francoine?’
The language he spoke was Granzreuch, but the tongue-rolling Francoine. Francoine was used commonly in society amongst the nobles, so she could easily understand him.
“Who are you?”
“My name is Nicholas, and my soul has been captured by your beauty. I’m attending at this birthday banquet as an envoy from the Francoine Republic
“…!”
Hearing his name, her face hardened.
“Sir Nicholas?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
He smiled. But Catarina couldn’t return it after meeting this unexpected person. ‘Goodness, this is Nicholas?!’ She knew this man. There was no way she couldn’t. ‘Now that I look at him, he looks exactly like the drawing. It’s not just the same name. This is clearly Nicholas!’ She subconsciously muttered to herself.
“Scorpion…of the Desert?”
“…!”
The man’s face hardened and softened again.
“It’s not a name that a precious lady like you should say. Please just call me Henry..”
Scorpion of the Desert, Henry Nicholas! He was the only son of President Edward Nicholas, the highest-ranked person in the West!
‘This is the person trying to cut off the Tauric Expedition forces using the Moncell Kingdom.’ If it wasn’t for her advice, the Tauric Expedition forces would’ve been destroyed.
‘But why is Henry Nicholas here at this ball? The Republic and Empire weren’t close enough to send emissaries.’ She mixed her knowledge from her past memory to come to a conclusion. ‘Perhaps…! Is it because of that?!’ She was shocked beyond belief. She hoped her conclusion was wrong. But if it wasn’t for that, Nicholas wouldn’t come to Granzreich himself.
“Why…a dance with me?”
“Isn’t it the honor of all men to dance with a beautiful lady? And I have wanted to meet you for a long time.”
“Meet you?”
Henry Nicholas smiled. Only his lips smiled.
“Yes. I was wondering who the person who stopped my plans was. I never imagined it would be a beautiful lady like you.”
“…!”
Catarina’s face hardened. ‘He knew I guessed the movements of the Moncell Kingdom?’ She looked into his eyes. His gaze was sunken. Like a snake that was looking at his prey. Henry Nicholas smoothly held out his hand.
“Beautiful lady. Would you do the honor of dancing with me?”
“…”
Catarina hesitated. To be honest, she didn’t want to dance. She wasn’t feeling that well, and it was Nicholas from the Republic! Wasn’t he technically her second brother’s enemy in her past life?
But rejecting his offer was rude. It was okay to reject most people, but he was basically the prince of the Republic. He was the son of the 30-year ruling president and was probably going to be the next. ‘Haaa, if only someone stopped him.’ She ended up holding his hand. But, it was then, when her gloved hand touched Nicholas’s. A cold voice approached them.
“Stop.”
“…!”
“That’s enough.”
Dark black hair, and gold eyes that had supernatural powers. The beautiful but cold-looking Crown Prince was looking at them. Catarina curtsied. ‘Why is the Crown Prince here?’
“Catarina Eisenberg greets the Crown Prince”
Unlike her, Nicholas spoke casually to him.
“This is the first time I’ve seen you since the Black Continent two years ago. It’s been a while, Your Highness, no, should I call you by the honorary title we used for you back then? The Empty King.
But the Crown Prince didn’t even look at him. Eins still looked at their hands.
“Let go.”
“Do you not understand me? Let go of that hand.”
His voice was colder than normal.
“…!”
Henry’s face stiffened. And he set up a smile again.
“Why should I? Can you not ask beautiful ladies to dance in Granzreich?”
“She doesn’t like it.”
“Pardon?”
“Are you blind? Can’t you see she doesn’t like it?”
“…!”
And Henry’s expression disappeared from his face. He looked at Catarina. She made an awkward expression while receiving his look. ‘Just what happened?’ She didn’t want to dance with him. And she even hoped people would stop him. But why was the Crown Prince here so suddenly?
And he even looked extremely uncomfortable. She could tell exactly what he was thinking since he was once her husband. He looked cold as always, but that was actually a very unpleasant look. But why? Why was he feeling that way?
“I understand. I made a mistake.”
Henry grinned. Then he shrugged his shoulders and kneeled towards Catarina.
“Beautiful lady, I’ll step back now. If we meet again, can I ask for another dance?”
“A…yes.”
“I’ll wait for the day until we can meet again. I’m desperately waiting, so it’ll probably come true.”
He said farewell to her in the Francoine way. And the two were left alone in the corner.
“…”
“…”
Catarina awkwardly looked at him.
“Uh…thank you, Your Highness.”
“What are you thankful about?”
Catarina wondered for a moment. What was she thankful about? Asking people to dance even if you didn’t like them as normal. Actually, the Crown Prince was weird for stopping it. But she was still grateful. Because she really didn’t want to dance with him. She replied honestly.
“I didn’t want to dance with him.”
“You don’t have to be thankful.”
He turned his head and spoke.
“I just stepped up because I didn’t like him. It wasn’t to help you.”
“I see. But I’m still thankful.”
She somewhat understood why he had stepped up. 2 years ago, the Black Continent had started a war with the Empire and the Republic. The Crown Prince and Henry fought to kill each other, so they probably still had leftover feelings. Enough to feel hate when they saw each other.
‘No, but was he always someone who moved because of personal feelings? I never saw him express his feelings publicly. Was that how much he hated Louise?’ But she couldn’t continue her thoughts. The Crown Prince said unexpected words next.
“Lady Catarina.”
“Yes?”
“If it’s alright, will you dance with me?”
“…Pardon?”
Catarina raised her head in surprise. His indifferent gold eyes were observing her. ‘Did he just ask me to dance? That Crown Prince?’ He asked her again.
“Lady Catarina, would you dance with me?”
- Writer
