🔊 TTS Settings
[CHAPTER 110]
The steps of the Master of the Magic Tower came to a sudden stop.
The nobles, who had been chatting, turned politely toward the direction of the Emperor’s entrance and bowed.
The Emperor glanced around the hall and nodded, then looked at Count Ascard, Master of the Magic Tower.
The count gracefully raised his arm and bent at the waist.
Satisfied, the Emperor nodded and passed in front of him.
However, the Empress walking beside him stopped in front of me.
“Princess Wentworth.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Come this way. Before the ball, you must first receive the greetings of the envoys.”
“Yes?”
Not understanding, I asked again, and the Empress slightly scolded Crown Prince Vincent, who was approaching.
“Crown Prince, you must not leave the future Crown Princess alone. Bring her along.”
“Yes.”
Vincent immediately came to me and gently placed his arm around my shoulder.
At the same time, once again, the Master of the Magic Tower’s gaze was blocked.
It seems intentional.
“Amelia, sorry.”
“It’s alright.”
I looked up at him worryingly as I followed him.
“But may I sit over there and receive the envoys’ greetings? I still…”
I’m not really the Crown Princess yet, after all.
“It’s fine. The Empress herself invited you, and the Emperor did not object.”
“…I see.”
I nodded silently and obediently followed Vincent.
There was no other proper place to go anyway.
Walking with royalty, receiving the astonished glances of Aiden and Sarah Holt felt quite satisfying.
The Empress and Prince Noel were also present; the Empress glanced at me briefly with a slight frown but said nothing.
I was escorted by Vincent up onto the platform.
From the highest position in the grand Lumiere Hall, looking down, a strange sense of superiority mixed with unfamiliarity filled me.
The Emperor and Empress sat in the center, and the Empress and Prince Noel took slightly lower seats next to the Emperor.
Next to the Empress, Vincent and I sat side by side.
I removed my hand from Vincent’s arm as we sat, my palm moist with sweat.
Seeing this, Vincent whispered softly.
“You seem quite nervous this time.”
“It’s my first time sitting in such a place.”
“Just smile. That’s all you need to do.”
Of course, as royalty or a noble, wearing a composed smile is an essential etiquette.
Seeing Vincent’s picturesque smile, I lifted the corners of my mouth in response.
The envoys’ procession was longer and more diverse than expected.
They came forward one by one to pay respect to the Arthur Empire and the Fitzruey Imperial Family.
The current envoy was from the Kingdom of Carnella.
A middle-aged man in a red cloak knelt on one knee, raising his arms and bowing deeply.
“I greet His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress. I am Leon Hart of the Carnella Royal Palace. I offer my deepest respects for the prosperity and peace of the Imperial Family.”
“Welcome. Carnella has long been a close ally of our Arthur Empire. I heard the king was unwell at one time; is he feeling better now?”
“Yes, he has fully recovered and is in very good health now.”
“That’s good to hear. Please enjoy the Harvest Festival to the fullest.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you deeply for your consideration.”
Leon Hart then briefly bowed toward the Crown Prince.
As I stood to greet him, Vincent lightly pressed my arm to prevent me from rising.
“How is the Crown Prince, and the lady beside him…?”
“She is the future Crown Princess.”
“Amelia Wentworth.”
Leon Hart blinked a few times at my introduction.
It was likely his first time meeting Amelia Wentworth in person, though he seemed confused if I was the same person he knew.
He quickly hid his embarrassment and spoke politely.
“I see. I was surprised, thinking you might have already been married. You are the future Crown Princess. Princess Wentworth, it is an honor to meet you.”
“Yes, please invite me properly. I will step aside for now and return shortly.”
After Leon Hart stepped aside, the next envoy arrived, a handsome man with black hair.
Though not as striking as Vincent, his appearance lifted my spirits slightly.
“Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor, Your Majesty the Empress. I am Prince Farminio of the Lucania Empire. I have only heard rumors, but the Arthur Empire’s Harvest Festival is as splendid as in my own country.”
The Lucania Empire was as strong as the Arthur Empire. Centuries ago, they had fought fierce wars, but now they maintained peace treaties and kept each other in check.
Prince Farminio’s attitude was somewhat arrogant.
The Emperor received him calmly.
“The Lucania Empire has sent us a distinguished guest. Convey my gratitude to the Emperor.”
Prince Farminio nodded to the Emperor, then greeted the Empress, and finally looked at Vincent and me.
Vincent sighed silently and rose from his seat; I followed suit.
They seemed to rise out of respect as fellow royalty of the same empire.
“Crown Prince Vincent, it’s been a while.”
“Thank you for attending.”
They shook hands lightly.
Seeing the black-haired and blond-haired handsome men facing each other was quite pleasing.
I found myself smiling unintentionally, only to feel their gazes suddenly fall on me.
I shut my mouth tightly and rolled my eyes discreetly.
Prince Farminio spoke to me.
“If I had known such a beauty existed in the Arthur Empire, I would have visited sooner. Even the countless lights of Lumiere Hall pale before the radiance of the princess.”
I barely managed to close my mouth in shock.
Prince Farminio continued his bold words without hesitation and extended his hand to me.
He placed his hand over mine and kissed the back of it.
It was more than once, so I startled and withdrew my hand.
“Th-thank you. Have a pleasant time.”
“Please grant me the honor of dancing with you later, Princess.”
I responded with a coy smile.
After he stepped aside and sat, I could feel the intense gaze of Crown Prince Vincent.
“Why… why is that?”
Looking back flustered, he adjusted his gloved hand near his mouth.
“Just… you look quite pleased.”
“Well… I don’t know how to respond to such a tremendous compliment, but I don’t dislike it. There’s no reason to dislike a compliment, is there?”
“Farminio is a scoundrel. Especially regarding his affairs with women.”
For Vincent, that was unusually direct.
I let out a small smile.
“What does it matter? I’m not going to marry Prince Farminio.”
“Oh? Then who do you intend to marry?”
“Well…”
I stopped myself from answering.
As the future Crown Princess, it would naturally be the Crown Prince, but I could not predict the future.
Besides, I did not fully know Vincent’s intentions yet.
“Amelia, why did you stop speaking?”
“Ah, the next person is arriving.”
I deflected Vincent’s question and focused on the next envoy.
A calm woman in a white dress, adorned with a deep purple gemstone necklace, approached.
“Princess Anna Elpis of the Belmore Kingdom.”
She lifted her dress slightly, bowed in sequence to the Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager, and then approached the Crown Prince.
The princess glanced at me once and gave a subtle smile.
“So you are the one my fiancé chose instead of me. I have heard of Princess Wentworth, but it is my first time seeing her in person.”
I gave Vincent a questioning look, wondering what that meant.
Vincent ignored me and said to Anna.
“I’ve heard you’ve already found a suitable match.”
The princess of Elpis replied with a slightly proud expression.
“Indeed. Our wedding will be soon, and it would be an honor if His Highness the Crown Prince attended.”
“I will attend if time permits.”
Princess Elpis lifted her dress slightly, bowed, and departed gracefully.
I poked Vincent’s side lightly with my elbow.
