The accidental princess

The gala

The palace was busy with preparations for the upcoming royal dinner, a dinner meant to introduce Cassandra Chase to the upper society in the kingdom.

Every corridor was alive with shining lights and servants carrying polished silver trays, florists arranging roses flown in from Italy, and chefs barking orders in the royal kitchen. The anticipation was electric and suffocating.

For Cassandra, it felt like she was preparing for her own trial.

“Just remember,” Lady Irene said as attendants tightened the corset of Cassandra’s gown,

“you must not speak unless addressed, you must not eat until the Queen has lifted her fork, and you must smile at all times, A gracious smile Not a smirk, Not a grin, just a simple soft smile”.

Cassandra bit down a groan as the corset squeezed her ribs.

“It would definitely be a whole lot trying to keep my lungs working and also trying to smile at the same time.” Cassandra said as the maids continued to scutch her with the corset.

Irene shot her Cassandra a sharp look, sharp enough to cut steel.

“Your insolence will be your undoing.”. she just didn't know why this common princess keeps defiling her words

After all the dragging from trying to tie the corset Cassandra finally turned to see herself on the mirror and she was shocked. she barely recognized herself not just her face even her waist line.

It wasn't that she didn't like it but she just thought her organs would probably stop working before the end of the day, if it stops she definitely wouldn't be surprised.

The gown was a masterpiece of emerald silk, embroidered with golden threads that caught the light like fire.

Her hair was twisted into an elegant updo, a tiara of delicate pearls resting on her head. She looked less like the clumsy girl from the press conference and more like… well, someone who might pass for royalty.

Anyways she is royalty now, right.

All in all her reflection geniuely scared her as much as it Amazed her.

.................

The banquet hall glittered like a jewel box not just from the decorations but with the compliment of the well dressed and elegant men and women talking and smiling in there finest wears.

At the far end of the hall, Queen Helena sat firmly like a throne carved into human form, regid and unreadable. Beside her, Prince saviour looked as calm and unyielding as well.

As Cassandra worked into the hall, every head inside the hall turned in unity.

After a few sec of silence the hall suddenly erupt with whispers rippling like waves.

She’s the commoner?

Pretty, but unrefined.

This is the girl who dared to talk back to reporters?

As they all whispered Cassandra kept her chin high, forcing her steps to remain steady as she walked gracefully to Saviour’s side.

“You’re late,” He murmured without looking at her.

“Not my fault,” Cassandra whispered back.

“plus It took me a while to figure out how to breathe in this punishment of a dress.”

As she talked she still maintained her calm looking towards the people with a smile still on her face so she didn't see the smile that flash cross his face as he looked at her talking.

.............

The dinner began with polite conversation, the kind where nobles complimented each other while secretly competing with each other.

Cassandra stayed quiet, doing her best not to break any rules. She lifted her glass only when the Queen did, dabbed her lips carefully with her napkin, and remembered not to gulp down water despite her dry throat.

But silence still wouldn't save her from the eyes of the palace hawks as they had already decided to eat her flesh.

About halfway through, Duchess Lucy, a tall, hawk-eyed lady notorious for her sharp tongue leaned forward.

“So,” lucy said loudly,

“this is the young lady chosen to stand beside our future king the crown prince.” All eyes turned to Cassandra.

“Yes, Your Grace,” Cassandra said softly.

“Tell me, Lady Chase, what is your lineage? Which noble house do you come from?”. Lucy asked with obvious mockery on her face

Cassandra was speechless at first but it lasted only for a few seconds, it wasn't surprising that she would be attacked by someone from the upper class.

"I am Cassandra Chase , a lowly commoner. Your grace“. she admitted with no shame in her voice.

Murmurs swept through the hall, Some nobles raised brows, Others smirked as lucy’s eyes gleamed triumphantly.

“A commoner???? Hnnnnn I see”. Lucy savore the word as if it were sour.

“How fascinating. And tell us, my dearest princess, what do your parents do? Surely they must hold some dignified profession.”

"I don't know your definition of dignify would aline with my but my dad and mom runs a bakery together, personally I think this is a dignified occupation". Cassandra answered

Just before Lucy could say anything else a Lady muttered softly but loudly enough for everyone to hear.

"A baker’s daughter at the royal table?". Cassandra’s frowned But before she could reply, lucy’s voice cut in again.

“Am sure you know that running a bakery doesn't mean you have what it takes to assist a ruler, right?".

Cassandra couldn't understand what exactly Lucy was after. With this way she was behaving she was snatching her husband from her but before she could say anything Saviour spoke up.

“Am sure once in your life's the bread from her parents bakery had saved you from starvation,” he said coolly, his gaze fixed on Lucy .

“Without Food, our armies wouldn't have the strength to go to the battlefield, and we all know what it means when our armies and now in the battlefield when needed”. he said looking all around the hall as if looking for anyone who disagrees to his words.

With saviour's words the hall suddenly went silent.

Meanwhile Lucy was caught off guard. Not in a thousand years had she thought that saviour would defend the princess.

Saviour’s eyes, cold and piercing, swept across the nobles.

“If you laugh at the work of the people, you laugh at Cordelia itself And I will not tolerate treason at my table.”

The air grew thick, Several nobles lowered their gazes. Lucy’s cheeks flushed crimson as she quickly murmured,

“Forgive me, Your Highness. I meant no disrespect.” Lucy said with her head down

“See that you don’t,” saviour said, his voice final.

For the rest of the dinner, no one dared to mock Cassandra again.

............

Later that night, Cassandra found herself outside on the palace balcony, the cool breeze soothing her burning cheeks.

She still couldn’t believe what was happening. And at the party today saviour had defended her again. Not just with words, but with authority that silenced an entire room.

When she heard footsteps behind her, she knew it was him.

“You didn’t have to do that you know,” Cassandra said smiling.

“Defending me like that in front of everyone.”

“I did what I should do,” saviour replied simply.

" I don't think it was necessary".

"It is , you are my wife. I should be looking out for you". He said as he leaned against the balcony rail, the moonlight tracing his sharp profile.

“ If I don't speak up in times like that they would see it as a go ahead order to bully you continuously.”

“but am already putting up a front.”

" Yeah, I saw it and am happy with the fact that you are standing up for yourself but you also need a Pilar and that's where I come in". He said locking eyes with her.

Her chest tightened She wanted to thank him, to tell him how much his words meant but his expression was so guarded, his walls so high, that she couldn’t find the courage.

"You are not ask bad as I thought you would be". She said grinning

Smiling softly saviour pushed away from the railing as he walked away .

“Get some rest,” he said midway.

“Tomorrow wouldn't be any better.” with that he finally walked out of sight

.......

Obviously But not everyone was pleased by the evening’s events.

From the shadows of the corridor, Someone watched the balcony scene with a sly smile.

“Well, well,” they murmured to themselves.

“The ice prince seems to be melting.”

They green eyes gleamed with mischief and something darker.

“This is going to be so much fun.”