The Abandoned Princess: Promises Arc

Chapter 40

𝕾𝖔𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖔 𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖓 𝖙𝖔: 𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖊 𝕾𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖞 𝖇𝖞 𝕿𝖆𝖞𝖑𝖔𝖗 𝕾𝖜𝖎𝖋𝖙

***

Then the thing that I dreaded the most suddenly came to light.

"Are you prepared?" the voice that was once like a fire to me became gentle like a calm water. He offered his hands, and I took it without any doubts.

The spotlight that was in the middle of Velm hall came to us and nobles started cheering while the messenger announced our engagement.

Not later at that second, Caliere pulled me closer to him, and his hand was already on my waist. I gasped as I looked at him but he maintained a plastered smile on his face while looking at the nobles cheering at us.

The emperor even guided us to his seat and introduced us to society as crown prince and crown princess. From my peripheral view, I could see Henry going to the balcony. While Claudius was at his table with the rest of my friends and family, he seemed to take his wine seriously so that he couldn't look at me.

I looked at the red carpeted floor and my vision started to blur. I felt this warmth, a gentle warmth that I hoped for my previous life to have but now, it just doesn't feel right to be here.

I felt as if I was in the wrong place with the wrong person and all I ever wanted was to be happy, to be fine, and to protect the ones I cared about. But every time I got to decide for the betterment of the future, it all led back to him, to the young man beside me.

He touched my chin and looked at me in the eyes. I could see how his emotionless eyes wavered for a second before he touched the edges of my soul.

"You don't have to cry, in front of others, you only have to cry on my shoulders from now on," I couldn't think of anything with the words he said.

I don't know what he meant by that.

The moment I was about to ask him, he immediately knelt while offering his hands. All the people stopped what they were doing and focused their attention on me and Caliere.

"My fiancé, can I have your first dance?" I nodded with a smile but I just had to go through this since all eyes were on us

"Yes, you may, Your Highness," then he began to pull me towards the center of the Velm hall as the song became slower, it became more melodic to my ears and my chest felt this hard thumping sound.

Shaking my head, I focused my dance with him like we usually do, but upon dancing for the longest time, he leaned in closer to whisper some words to my ears.

"You look gorgeous as always," he paused but I could feel the hotness of his breath cascading to my ears.

I couldn't help but sigh. The dress I'm currently wearing was Caliere's gift to me for dinner. That's why he took his time waiting for me despite knowing that I would arrive late.

Besides that, his look at Henry and Claudius felt dangerous at that time. I shouldn't have guessed something that I should never since I meant nothing to Caliere and that will never change how much he changed his attitude to me.

In the end, he would still abandon me.

"But Vestia, you can call me Caliere now. If you don't, then I guess I have no choice but to keep the rumors swirling around," he said while we continued to dance.

I gasped as I looked at him.

"Rumors?" I asked him immediately

He never responded immediately as he only chuckled while spinning me for that moment and catching me while I almost fell to the ground. It's all part of our dance but his eyes seemed to be different now than ever.