You can't find me

Chapter 50

Third Person POV

The royal ballroom was a dazzling display of opulence, with crystal chandeliers casting shimmering light on the gathered nobility. Servants moved gracefully among the crowd of finely dressed guests, offering delicate appetizers and drinks as laughter and chatter filled the air. The tension was there though, as everyone knew this evening wasn't just about celebrating the kingdom's successes; there was something bigger at play. 

Aurora stood near the edge of the grand hall, her back slightly hunched as she surveyed the room. She had worn a floral pink ballgown and her hair powder had done a poor job in covering her dark red hair. It was as if her own body was finally giving up on hiding who she was. The mark of her mothers symbol on her chest was sending jolts to her body and no amount of magic could hide it in her low neckline dress so she had draped a pale sheer scarf over herself. 

Her heart raced, her thoughts still tangled in the aftermath of the three-day ultimatum Alexander had given her. She'd kept her distance, kept her head low. She had to keep looking for answers, especially about her brother, and that meant making sure she stayed unnoticed for now. But the weight of Alexander's gaze, sharp as a blade, was constantly in the back of her mind.

Tonight, however, was different. The air was charged, everyone on edge in anticipation of whatever Alexander was about to reveal. She could feel the whispers drifting through the crowd, but she did her best to ignore them.

Then, as if on cue, Alexander stood at the front of the ballroom, his gaze sweeping over the guests. The room fell into a near-perfect silence.

"Ahem," he began, his voice carrying effortlessly through the grand hall, every word measured and deliberate. "If I could have your attention, please."

The murmur of conversation died out entirely, all eyes on him. Aurora felt an unfamiliar sense of unease coil in her stomach. She glanced over at her friends. Raelyn, Coralie, and Lavender, who had all been quiet tonight. Their faces were expectant, as if they, too, were waiting for some sort of revelation.

"Tonight, I have an announcement," Alexander continued, his tone confident, almost taunting. "As you all know, the future of this kingdom depends on our alliances and who we choose to unite with in marriage. It is with great pleasure that I stand before you to announce the engagement of myself, Crown Prince of this kingdom, to none other than..."

His words hung in the air, and for a moment, the world seemed to pause.

"Ariyah Everson."

The name hit the room like a thunderclap. No one had been prepared for it. The very air seemed to freeze.

Ariyah.

The name was met with confused silence. Eyes darted around, trying to piece together what they'd just heard. Not a single person in the crowd had expected those words to follow. There was no collective recognition. No one knew of an "Ariyah Everson," at least not the way Alexander had presented her. There were whispers, nervous glances exchanged among the nobles—questions were already forming.

"Who the hell is she?" someone whispered near the back of the room.

"Everson? That family was..." another voice trailed off, clearly confused.

Aurora's blood ran cold. Ariyah—no one knew her as that. They knew her as Aurora. 

But there was something else in the air tonight—a gnawing tension that grew with every passing second. Why the hell would Alexander announce this?

The crowd erupted into murmurs, and for a second, it seemed like the entire room was filled with confusion and disbelief. The noble families, so used to controlling their destinies through carefully plotted marriages, were not pleased. Some looked furious, others confused, and a few were downright scandalized. To them, the idea that anyone other than the "best" daughters of high-ranking families could marry into the royal bloodline was a slap in the face.

Charlotte, the daughter of an influential general, stumbled backward in shock. Her face went ashen, and then she crumpled, fainting to the ground in a heap, her extravagant dress flowing out around her in a pool of silk. She had always imagined herself as Alexander's bride. She had grown up in the royal court, positioning herself for this very moment, and now, just like that, everything was shattered.

One of her attendants rushed to her side, and the room fell into chaos as whispers broke into loud voices. The nobles, furious and offended, began questioning the validity of the engagement. A few old families exchanged quick glances, their faces twisted in disbelief.

Ariyah—no, Aurora—stood frozen, unsure of what to do. Her heart pounded in her chest as the attention shifted fully to her. The name "Everson" had set the room ablaze, and it was only a matter of time before they realized the truth.

She tried to make herself small, her mind racing as she thought of a way to escape. But Alexander's eyes never left her. He stood taller, a predator cornering his prey.

"Allow me to clarify further," he said, his voice cutting through the murmur of confusion like a blade. "I am pleased to announce that my fiancée, Ariyah Everson, is, in fact, the daughter of Athelyna Ann Everson."

The room went silent. The temperature seemed to drop several degrees, and a stunned hush filled the space.

Athelyna Ann Everson. The woman who had once been a powerful and beloved force in this kingdom, a person so important that her disappearance had sent shockwaves through the entire kingdom. People spoke of her power, her wisdom, and her tragic vanishing from the world—believed dead, kidnapped, or erased entirely.

The idea that her daughter—someone standing before them as if this was the most normal thing in the world—was now going to marry the crown prince? It was beyond comprehension.

Ariyah—Aurora—felt her world spinning out of control. She could see her friends, Raelyn and Coralie, staring at her, their faces wide with shock. Raelyn looked almost horrified, while Coralie's face was a study of confusion and disbelief.

But it was the fear in Ry's eyes that hit her the hardest. Ry had always been brave, defiant, and bold, never one to let anything faze her. But now, Ry was staring at her, her hands clenched at her sides, her lips pressed tight as if she couldn't believe what was happening. Even Ry was scared for her.

Aurora barely had time to process the weight of the situation before the guards were already moving. They stepped toward her with quiet efficiency, their cold hands grasping her arms. She froze.

"No," she tried to say, but her voice caught in her throat, weak and full of panic. "Please... I—"

Before she could protest further, Alexander's voice rang out again, louder and more insistent. "She is to join me here, in front of all of you."

The guards didn't hesitate. They pulled her toward the stage, their grip firm and unyielding. Aurora's heart hammered in her chest as she was dragged forward, her legs unsteady beneath her. She could feel every pair of eyes in the room on her, their judgment heavy, their curiosity invasive. There was no escape, no way out of this moment.

By the time she reached the front of the ballroom, Alexander was already waiting, his back straight, his expression cold and imperious. There was no room for her to retreat now. She was trapped.

Her gaze flicked over the crowd, her face flushed with shame. Every noble family in the room was watching her like she was some kind of spectacle. The name Everson had changed everything. She was now exposed.

Her mother's shadow loomed over her in that very moment, and the room, the kingdom, now knew her secret.

But the most terrifying part? She couldn't escape Alexander's grasp.

And there, in the midst of all the shock and chaos, she realized the cold truth:

She had lost her freedom to everything.