Married To The Enemy Kingdom's Illegitimate Prince-Chapter 56 — Royal Banquet (3)

"Your Highness, it has already been a few months since you have been married, any good news?" A middle-aged woman demanded with a smile on her face although her brown gaze was examining Cynthia, trying to find a flaw in any way possible.

"Good news?" Cynthia tilted her head to the side, acting innocent as if she didn’t know they were referring to her being pregnant.

"Oh my! Looking at you, who would think you were this innocent!" Another woman scoffed, unable to control her emotions.

Fools.

That was the only thing Cynthia could think as she looked at these women crowded around her. The night had just started and she was already feeling exhausted just looking at their fake smiles.

Ah, but am I any different than them?

"Y-Your Highness," a faint, high-pitched yet soft voice could be heard from behind.

Cynthia slowly turned to face the short young woman standing behind her, her emerald eyes glimmering like jewels.

"Y-You," the silver-haired young woman stammered, her eyes widened. She wasn’t expecting to meet her. She had completely escaped her mind. In this ruined and cursed royal family, there was actually an angel-like lady who once was part of it; Princess Arisia Von Gyndor, the beloved daughter of King Valerian and Queen Izabella.

"Y-You’re my... uhm," Arisia hesitated, unable to contain her happiness. Her cheeks were painted a slight pink, her embarrassment evident as the noble ladies’s stares were stuck on her. She wasn’t used to such attention– she barely ever attended any banquets. She turned her dark yet slightly light blue hair with her finger nervously.

Letting out a deep sigh, Cynthia placed her hand around the shorter young woman’s hand, smiling at the noble ladies who were confused to look at the stranger lady. They didn’t remember seeing her, although her emerald eyes resembled the emperor’s and her hair...

They gasped, realizing it was the sick princess whose face they could barely remember.

"G-Greetings–" Before they could finish, Cynthia interrupted them.

"If you’ll excuse me. I need to have a discussion with this cute young lady here."

Having said so, Cynthia dragged Arisia towards the terrace which she was too familiar with. Even though it had been over a decade since she saw the Solar Palace’s banquet hall, the vividness of her dreams never let her forget anything. Even if she were blindfolded, with merely a few touches of the walls, she would be able to find her inside the palace.

"Y-Your Highness," Arisia, who wasn’t used to walking at a fast pace, gasped, struggling to breathe.

Arriving at the terrace, Cynthia slammed the door, pulling the curtains. It was common for nobles who had affairs to secretly meet in banquet terraces, and as if to their convenience, there was a door and curtains to hide their adultery.

"Bunch of hypocrites," Cynthia muttered. Nobles pretended to be all pure and innocent yet they were far worse than commoners. They merely knew how to hide their messes in a better way.

"Oh!" She gasped, hearing the loud sounds of breathing coming from behind. "Are you alright, Y-" Cynthia halted. It would be strange if she called Princess Arisia ’Your Highness’, given it was their very first meeting.

"I’m alright. You were... walking a little too fast. I have... short legs you know," Arisia chuckled, scratching the back of her neck gently.

"They sure are siblings," Cynthai thought, a soft chuckle escaping her as she remembered Lucian would also do this whenever he was nervous.

"Why did you bring me here? Do you know me?"

Cynthia’s lips curled into a smile. Even if she didn’t interact a lot with others, it seemed she still had her guard up. However, Cynthia could understand that. She, also, was a princess.

"No. I just needed an excuse to escape those ladies."

"O-oh! O-of course you wouldn’t know me," Arisia stammered. Although she was reassured that the Grand Duchess didn’t recognize her identity, she still felt a twinge of disappointment, especially since almost no one in the hall remembered her—not even her parents if not for the monthly dinner they promised to have, who had overlooked her in the banquet hall.

However, the young lady before her did notice her, even speaking in a low tone amidst the din of the other ladies. This small acknowledgment made Arisia happy, if only for a brief moment. Perhaps her sister-in-law, Princess Cynthia of Eldoria—an enemy kingdom—could be her friend. She longed for a sister, having only two elder brothers, and maybe the gods had granted at least this one wish of hers.

"Then, may I start introducing myself?" Cynthia smiled, lifting her dress slightly. "I am Cynthia De Luminas Von Gywndor, Grand Duchess of Erion. And you?"

"Arisia..." The blue-haired girl pursed her lips before continuing, "Princess Arisia of Selvarys." She clenched her hands together nervously. Even though she didn’t hold a grudge against the Eldorians like the rest of her people, she worried that Princess Cynthia might.

After all, she had been offered marriage to Selvarys for the sake of peace between their countries.

"I’m such a fool. I should have kept my identity a secret. She will hate me too... I would hate everyone from an enemy kingdom if I were her too," Arisia thought, lowering her gaze to the ground.

"Your Royal Highness, I apologize for my rude behaviour," Cynthia said, bowing her head. Arisia gasped, shocked by the sudden greeting.

Despite being a princess, Arisia wasn’t used to people greeting her often; her circle was limited. Only a few close maids and Suyou, her bodyguard, were usually around her. Over the years, she had even forbidden them from greeting her each time they met, as it became boring to watch the same scene unfold repeatedly. She didn’t have the time or patience for such rituals.

"You don’t need to greet me," Arisia chuckled. "W-we are family. Why being so formal," she added with a bright grin, gently lifting the silver-haired young woman’s chin.

Cynthia stared at Arisia, who was smiling so brightly.

A pang of nostalgia struck her as a memory, buried deep in her mind, surfaced. It was a memory that didn’t invade her dreams as often as the nightmares of her hellish life in Selvarys or Eldoria.

"How old are you this year, Your Highness?"

Surprised by the sudden question, Arisia assumed that Cynthia wanted to get to know her better.

"I turned eighteen two months ago."

"Ah! Please don’t think I didn’t invite you to my birthday banquet. We don’t hold any because I can’t attend..." Arisia chuckled. "And how old are you?"

"Twenty..." Cynthia replied, looking down at the young girl before her. She struggled to keep the smile on her face as flashbacks unfolded in her mind.

"Your Highness, are you in there?" a manly voice called, knocking on the door.

Read 𝓁at𝙚st chapters at (f)re𝒆we(b)novel.com Only