Of course, many were also eyeing the Crown Princes of Abetha and Griven whose looks were also exceptional, but the King of Megaris gave off an unusual mysterious charm that made many women curse the heavens why such a man chose the witch to be his wife when there were many better options for him.
Once again, some ladies were unable to refrain from speaking out of envy, thinking that the witch must have enchanted this Devil King to have tamed him to such an extent. She must have been terribly powerful to even control such a man renowned for his fearsome reputation in the battlefield.
At the end of the song, Cian approached the young couple. “May I have the honor of dancing with the Queen of Megaris?”
Drayce nodded lightly and passed Seren to her brother. Dancing with Cian would help improve her mood.
As Cian and Seren moved along to the next music, Cian commented, “You have become a better dancer than before.”
“Have I?” she asked, feeling flattered with the praise.
He nodded. “Seems like you practice a lot with your husband.”
She giggled. “What are you saying? Not like we dance daily. We are both too busy for that. I am just talented enough to make fewer mistakes with every dance.”
“Well, can’t deny that my sister is a talented person.”
The siblings continued to exchange quips as they danced. Though Seren would look at her father or her sister once in a while, being with Cian eased her disturbed feelings and she tried to not pay attention to it.
Meanwhile, Drayce was standing on the side with Arlan accompanying him, sharing a glass of drinks. “Hmm, this is a miracle. I don’t see you getting jealous now.”
“She needs a distraction,” Drayce said vaguely, and Arlan followed his gaze where King Armen was chatting with his second daughter. Arlan was smart enough to guess what he was implying.
“King Armen cares for his third daughter more than he is letting on,” Arlan commented. “If only she knew.”
“I know but it will take time for the differences between them to be resolved.”
Arlan shrugged before putting down the empty wine glass on a passing attendant’s tray. He then took the chance to observe the other guests and chuckled lightly.
“Eh, as expected, you are still the crowd’s favorite even though you are already married. Don’t be surprised if any of the ladies approach you, pretending to have tripped or something, to get your attention.”
“Only my wife has my attention,” Drayce replied. “In fact, you better be worried about yourself. Can’t you see the noblewomen flocking your mother along with their pretty daughters? I won’t be surprised to hear Queen Julien handing you a new list of potential wives and concubines. Maybe you will be married even before you find your Queen.”
“Queen? She will be resting in her grave the day she becomes my Queen,” Arlan said, and an evil smile graced his lips at the thought of his missing betrothed. “And don’t worry about those bothersome women. I know how to take care of them.”
“Threatening them with something important to them is fine, as long as you don’t kill them. Their families can come handy at times.”
“Do you still have to teach me this stuff? I know more than you how effective it is to make their families withdraw their proposal the moment I grab their weakness. No matter how sneaky they hide their misdeeds, I am able to get my hands on them.”
Just then, a young lady approached Drayce and Arlan. She looked to be of similar age to Seren, maybe a year or two older.
With a shy expression, she curtsied and introduced herself as a daughter of some noble family, her soft voice pleasing to the ears as she attempted to initiate small talk.
Arlan praised her for her courage inside his mind. It must have taken her a long time to gather enough courage to approach them despite breaking etiquette. If she succeeded, she would be awarded for her courage, but the moment the young lady approached them without a governess or an acquaintance to introduce them, she had already earned the ridicule of high society.
He could not help but help her out of pity. “Your Majesty, I think the fair lady is hinting that you invite her to dance. What do you say?”
Drayce didn’t even spare her a glance as he wanted to reject her right away, but then, he saw Seren walking back to their seats. She had finished dancing with her brother.
“Instead of me, why don’t the lady ask for my wife’s permission to dance with me?”
Seren and Cian had just left the dancefloor when she saw one of her cousins talking to Drayce and Arlan. She was near enough to hear what Drayce said, and though she was glad that he didn’t say ‘yes’, she was a little angry that he didn’t reject her cousin right away.
But then, her mood recovered when she realized he had given that right to decide.
“Angela? Why are you alone? Where is Aunt Sonya?” Cian, who was escorting Seren back, asked with a look of disapproval. How could he not guess what this little girl was up to?
pA(nD)A no ve1
“Mother is chatting with her friends. I sneaked away to say ‘hello’ to Brother and Sister.”
She made it sound as if she and Seren were close and affectionate to each other.
Seren deliberately looked around herself, as if to check who her cousin was referring to. “I don’t see any woman around us for you to call a sister.”
“Of course, I am referring to you, Seren.”
Seren gave her a deep stare before turning towards her brother.
“Brother Cian, is it just me or is the young generation of Abetha forgetting royal etiquette these days?”