THE ENEMY'S BRIDE

THE PRINCESSES BANQUET

The night before Heliana's departure, the palace was brighter than usual.

The king had ordered a grand banquet in her honor. Not out of affection.

But necessity.

Failing to do so would damage his reputation and stir unrest among the people.

After all, Heliana was the one who proposed the alliance with Viremont-offering herself in marriage to the Crown Prince for the sake of Valerith.

To the public, she was a symbol of sacrifice.

A princess choosing her kingdom over herself.

Preparations for her journey had already been completed.

By dawn, she would leave. Beyond Valerith and beyond everything she had ever known.

The two kingdoms-Valerith and Viremont-were separated by a barrier.

Not just physical, but technological.

Encrypted and sealed.

It could only be brought down when both kingdoms gave permission.

And tomorrow...

It would open.

Heliana stood before the grand entrance of the banquet hall.

She was dressed in a long red gown that flowed effortlessly to the floor, the fabric rich and smooth, catching the light with every slight movement.

The color deepened the glow of her skin, making it appear almost luminous.

Her shoulders were bare, elegant, her posture straight and confident.

Her beauty was not soft. It was striking.

The kind that demanded attention without asking for it.

Her eyes, sharp and calm, carried a quiet authority.

Her lips held the faintest hint of a smile.

Her long dark hair fell freely down her back, swaying gently with the night breeze.

In her hand, she held a red folding fan, partially covering her face as she stepped forward.

The moment she entered-

Everything paused.

Conversations slowed. Music softened.

Eyes turned.

Then-

The hall erupted.

"Princess Heliana!"

"We love you!"

"Long live the princess!"

Cheers filled the air, louder and louder, echoing across the hall.

Even the commoners present raised their voices, their admiration clear and unfiltered.

Flashes lit up around her.

Reporters and media personnel crowded at a distance, capturing every moment.

Within minutes, images of her began circulating across Valerith's network.

Her name climbed rapidly-again.

Trending, discussed and praised.

The people adored her.

Heliana moved gracefully through the crowd, acknowledging them with a slight nod, her expression composed.

The banquet continued.

Laughter. Music. Conversations.

Until-

"I see you're enjoying yourself."

The voice came from behind her.

Uninvited and unwanted.

Heliana didn't need to turn to know who it was.

But she did anyway.

Duke Cassian Vortigern.

Tall, well-dressed. Handsome in a way that was almost irritating.

But beneath that-

An unpleasant presence.

Narcissistic. Arrogant. Unstable.

Heliana's eyes narrowed slightly.

"I am," she replied, her lips curling into a faint, dangerous smile.

Cassian raised a brow, studying her.

There was something off about the way he looked at her.

Too interested and amused.

"I'm glad," he said slowly.

Heliana took a glass of red wine from a passing servant and drank it in one smooth motion.

She didn't break eye contact.

Then he spoke again.

"I'll be joining you tomorrow."

That made her pause.

"...What?"

Her voice was calm. But there was an edge to it.

Cassian's smile widened.

"I'll be traveling to Viremont with you," he said. "As a representative of Valerith."

For a second, Heliana said nothing.

Then-

"What?" she repeated, this time sharper.

Her grip on the glass tightened slightly.

Cassian stepped closer.

Just enough.

"It was decided by the council," he continued. "Surely you didn't think they would send you alone?"

Heliana stared at him.

Processing and calculating.

Out of everyone....

They chose him?

Her eyes darkened slightly.

"That's a mistake," she said quietly.

Cassian leaned in just a little, his voice lowering.

"Or maybe..." he said, his eyes glinting faintly, "they sent exactly who they wanted."

There it was. That look again. Not serious. Not entirely sane.

Heliana held his gaze.

Unmoved.

"You're not needed," she said.

He smiled.

"I disagree."

A brief silence passed between them.

Tense and unpleasant.

Then Heliana straightened, her expression returning to calm.

"Do whatever you want," she said coldly. "Just don't get in my way."

Cassian chuckled softly.

"Oh, Princess..."

His eyes lingered on her a moment longer.

"That's the interesting part."

Heliana's fingers tightened slowly around the glass in her hand.

At first, it wasn't noticeable.

Then-

A faint c***k appeared.

Her lips curved, but there was no warmth in it.

What rested on her face now was not a smile.

It was something sharper.Something dangerous.

She stepped closer to him, her heels making soft sounds against the polished floor.

Then, without breaking eye contact, she began to circle him.

Slowly and deliberately.

Like a predator sizing up its target.

"Be careful," she said quietly.

Another c***k spread across the surface of the glass.

Thin. Jagged. Visible now.

"Don't do anything stupid..."

Her voice dropped lower, meant for him alone.

"...unless you want me to deal with you myself."

Her grip tightened further.

The cracks deepened.

Spreading like veins across the glass.

Then-

It shattered.

Not all at once.

But in a controlled collapse, as though it had been held together by sheer force until that very moment.

Fragments slipped from her hand and fell to the floor with a sharp, echoing sound.

For a split second-

Everything around them stilled.

Then the noise began.

"Princess!"

"Are you hurt?"

A few nobles and servants rushed toward her, alarmed by the sudden break.

Heliana didn't even glance at them.

Her gaze remained on him. Calm and unmoved.

"I'm fine," she said smoothly. "Just a mistake."

Her voice carried easily convincing.

The concern faded as quickly as it came.

Servants moved in to clean the broken pieces.

The music resumed and the banquet continued. As if nothing had happened.

Heliana turned to leave.

But just as she passed him-

She leaned in slightly. Close enough for only him to hear.

A soft breath brushed against his ear.

"Know your place... parasite."

The word was quiet, but deliberate.

Then she pulled away and walked off without another glance.

Behind her, he stood still.

For a moment, his face didn't change.

Then slowly-

It darkened. Not from embarrassment alone.

But from something deeper. Anger

His jaw tightened slightly as his eyes followed her retreating figure.

She had no right. They were not so different.

Not in status.

Not in standing.

Yet she looked down on him.

Dismissed him.

Spoke to him like he was nothing.

That-

More than anything-

Irritated him.

His fingers curled slightly at his side.

Her pride.

Her arrogance.

Her refusal to acknowledge him-

It struck directly at his ego.

And he did not like that.

Not one bit.