ROYAL HIGHNESS

34. settlement

Tonight, Ovie was invited to an extravagant engagement party hosted by one of the city's most prominent diamond merchants. The invitation was exclusive, a gathering of the elite, and her presence was expected. Rudr had declined to accompany her. His focus was on Sumbul, who was still recovering, and he couldn’t leave her alone for the evening. Though Ovie understood his concern, she still felt a pang of disappointment. She wasn’t used to attending events like this without Rudr by her side, but tonight, she would have to attend the party on her own.

She dressed with care, slipping into a sleek black bodycon dress with thin straps that hugged her curves. The dress was elegant yet daring, perfect for the night ahead. As she looked at her reflection, her beauty undeniable, she reminded herself that she could handle this. She was Ovie, a name that now commanded respect and attention in every room she walked into.

As she arrived at the venue, the entrance was already a flurry of activity. Cameras flashed, the media waiting eagerly to capture the evening’s highlights. When Ovie stepped out of her car, there was an immediate buzz, a shift in the energy of the crowd. Whispers followed her every step, eyes widened in admiration, and the cameras turned their full attention to her. She was used to this—the attention, the admiration—but tonight, there was something different about it.

She held her head high, flashing a perfect smile for the cameras as she walked inside. The grandeur of the venue was overwhelming, with chandeliers casting a golden glow across the opulent hall, the sound of soft music mingling with laughter and conversation. Everywhere she turned, people seemed eager to greet her, to bask in her presence for even a moment. The wealthy guests, in their designer gowns and tailored suits, approached her with admiration, each one congratulating her on her latest successes, expressing how delighted they were to meet her in person.

Ovie moved through the crowd with practiced grace, exchanging pleasantries, shaking hands, and posing for pictures with those bold enough to ask. She was used to the spotlight, accustomed to the attention, and in many ways, she relished it. Tonight, she was the center of it all, and yet, beneath the surface, something felt off.

As she made her way deeper into the party, that strange feeling of unease settled in her chest, tightening like a knot. It wasn’t the usual discomfort that came with the attention or the weight of maintaining her public persona. No, this was something else—a sense of foreboding, like the air was thick with something unexpected, something that hadn’t yet revealed itself. She tried to shake it off, telling herself it was just her nerves. She was here to enjoy the night, to congratulate the couple, and perhaps forget, even for a moment, the turmoil in her heart.

Pushing the feeling aside, Ovie approached the happy couple, offering her congratulations with a warm smile. They were delighted to have her there, and she handed them a carefully chosen gift, something thoughtful and luxurious. As she posed for a picture with the couple, her smile radiant under the lights, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of that unease return, heavier this time. Her eyes scanned the room filled with laughing, mingling guests, but still that sensation persisted. It was like an itch at the back of her mind, a whisper telling her that something was about to happen, something she couldn’t quite place. She turned away from the couple, making her way toward the bar, hoping a drink might help her relax.

Ovie’s heart skipped a beat as her gaze locked onto the one person she both longed to see and dreaded encountering—Amyardh. He sat in the corner of the lavish hall, surrounded by an aura of quiet dominance, like a king observing his court. He hadn’t changed in the two years that had passed since their last encounter. If anything, time had only added to his allure. His sharp features, his intense eyes, and the way he carried himself with effortless grace—all of it was the same, if not more captivating.