The Story of Dhanvanthri

twenty-two

Day of the Debutante Ball

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"Princess! Thank you! Thank you so much, princess!" Felix practically sobbed in relief the moment Athanasia informed him of her new status of who to be her escort to her debutante ball. Dhanvanthri would go as far as to say he was probably blessing her a million times in his mind and praising her to heaven and back.

He turned to Noah who looked beyond amused, "Did father torment him a lot?"

"Oh yes," Noah smiled angelically. Well, the devil was once an angel, so you get the kind of smile he had right now. Dhanvanthri nodded in understanding before walking closer to his little sister, almost amused by how relieved Felix was. It seems that he was tormented a lot, especially since he looked a hundred times less tense than before.

A new voice cut into their conversation, "May the blessings and glory of the Obelian Empire always be with you."

Dhanvanthri turned around and as expected, there in all his self-entitled glory was Duke Roger Alpheus looking as if he wasn't barging in on a conversation, his hand on his chest and body tilted slightly forward in a bowing motion.

"Sir Roger, it's been a while," Athanasia greeted.

Dhanvanthri spared him a dismissive glance.

"You are as beautiful as ever, Princess Athanasia," Duke Alpheus complimented. He turned his eyes on Dhanvanthri and his lips curved higher even further, "And you grow even more and more handsome like His Majesty, Prince Dhanvanthri."

"Thanks," Dhanvanthri voiced out dryly.

"How lucky am I to have arrived earlier than my scheduled audience with His Majesty since I am able to see your highnesses like, it is truly a blessing," Duke Alpheus commented with grace and sophistication befitting of a noble.

Gag me, Dhanvanthri thought in disgust. He roughly knew what Duke Alpheus was here for, what else if it wasn't about the Debutante Ball? It's about the only thing everyone talked about, after all. And seeing the way he was eyeing both of them, he'll probably end up suggesting his children for them to escort and be escorted by.

Lame.

"Your Highnesses' Debutante Ball is coming up soon," Duke Alpheus said, unknowingly falling right into the expectations of Dhanvanthri who grew colder and colder as the Duke continued to speak. "Have you chosen your partners of that day?"

"Not interested," Dhanvanthri replied coldly.

"I do," Athanasia smiled, almost the polar opposite of Dhanvanthri's frosty response. "My father will be escorting me! Big Brother doesn't want to dance so father allowed him to do as he please."

"...I see," Duke Alpheus chuckled to himself, a shaky tone hidden deep inside his words. Dhanvanthri looked at him when the Duke turned his gaze to him, "But Prince Dhanvanthri doesn't have someone to escort, right?"

"I don't feel like it," Dhanvanthri deadpanned.

Duke Alpheus was like a dog, as it seems. He continued to hound on him, "But wouldn't it be better if your highness has someone to escort? A debutante ball only happens once in your lifetime. I can suggest someone, her name is Jene—"

"Not interested."

"Big brother will probably ditch the ball right at the beginning!" Athanasia replied at the same time Dhanvanthri did, her hand wounding around his arms tightly as if she was terrified of something. Dhanvanthri glanced at her before looking back at Duke Alpheus.