"Is it wrong to cherish her when her husband fails to appreciate the treasure he holds within his grasp?"
⋆ Claude De Alger Obelia x Navier Ellie Trovi
➳ 𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
And so, the day of the grand banquet finally arrived, and Sovieshu found himself ensnared by the troubling revelations he had recently encountered. 'Did he not assure me that Navier had rejected him?' His hand tightened around the edge of the table, his teeth grinding together in barely-contained fury. 'How could this be...?'
A profound sense of betrayal enveloped him, his expression growing increasingly somber as the stress within him intensified. This brooding was momentarily interrupted by the sweet, melodious voice of his fiancée. "Your Majesty! How do I look?"
He narrowed his eyes in displeasure, unwilling to indulge her at that moment. "You look fine," he muttered tersely, averting his gaze as his thoughts remained preoccupied with the unsettling news of Navier's engagement to Claude.
'Was I deceived merely to secure my allegiance in the war?'
At that moment, the grand doors swung open, drawing Sovieshu out of his turbulent thoughts. There she was—Navier—entering the ballroom alongside Claude and Athanasia. They radiated elegance and authority, with Claude positioned beside Navier in the center and Athanasia standing joyfully by her father's side.
The mere sight of them only served to heighten Sovieshu's sense of fury and betrayal. 'How could Navier do this to me? After I sought her assistance and fought willingly in the war, how could this be?!'
Rashta observed his mounting anger, her own expression reflecting anxiety and displeasure. 'Is he jealous? I thought he cherished me more than her!'
'The masquerade ball is vibrant,' Navier mused silently, her gaze drifting toward Kosair and his family, who acknowledged her with approving nods. They were clearly gratified by her presence.
Athanasia ran off with Felix to keep her company, while Claude's eyes roved across the room, eventually resting on Sovieshu. He held Sovieshu's gaze momentarily before turning his gentle smile towards Navier. "Do you plan to talk with the nobles?"
Claude's gentle tone captured Navier's attention, and she responded with a soft smile. "Yes, Claude. And you?"
His smile remained, his eyes briefly flicking back to the irate emperor. "I shall do the same. Perhaps afterward, we might share a dance."
Navier followed his gaze, her eyes briefly locking with the emperor's, whose breath hitched at the fleeting eye contact. Her gaze then shifted to Rashta, who clung to the emperor's arm, looking equally incensed.
'They seem quite displeased,' she noted, her composure unwavering as she nodded to her fiancé. 'The news must have indeed caused quite a stir...'
Before they could fully comprehend the unfolding events, Sovieshu was already striding towards them, his demeanor clearly indicating his refusal to accept the situation. "Lady Navier, and Emperor Claude," he muttered under his breath, "what is the meaning of this?"
