As the first day of grand New Year's ceremony banquet unfolded, tradition dictated that the Emperor and Empress make their entrance together.
From a distance, Claude stood, encircled by a group of noblewomen.
It was a peculiar sight to witness these women boldly approaching him, undeterred by his notorious reputation.
Perhaps it was his striking good looks that compelled them to seek his attention.
Meanwhile, Athanasia found herself surrounded by a few nobles as she occupied one of the empty chairs.
The nobles couldn't help but be captivated by her adorable and cute demeanor.
The princess, though not entirely fond of the excessive attention, remained unfazed by it all.
Maintaining his cold facade amidst the surrounding crowd, the Obelian Emperor leaned in to whisper to his red-haired knight, Felix. His commanding voice carried a note of concern.
"Felix, go look after Athanasia."
The knight sweat-dropped, growing increasingly worried.
"Are you sure you'll be alright being alone, your majesty? You have quite a small crowd here..."
"I'm fine. I won't let them go overboard anyway," the emperor's sharp whisper carried an air of authority, meant for Felix's ears alone.
With a swift bow, Felix departed and made his way towards Athanasia's side, ensuring her well-being in his absence.
Meanwhile, Rashta's curious gaze is fixated on the Obelian emperor from a distance. Her interest piqued, she couldn't help but inquire about his identity.
"Who is that?" she questioned, her curiosity evident in her tone.
"You don't know who he is, Lady Rashta? He's the emperor of the Obelian Empire!" exclaimed one of the lady-in-waitings, sharing the revelation.
Silver-haired Rashta's eyes widened in awe. "Wow, really?! He's so handsome!" she expressed with admiration, a faint blush gracing her cheeks.
"I want to talk to him," Rashta declared with determination, only to be interrupted by a lady-in-waiting who held her by the wrist, attempting to dissuade her.
"I suggest you don't do that. You see, His Majesty is very... intimidating and, well, scary," the woman cautioned.
Rashta raised an eyebrow, her innocent smile never wavering. "I'll be fine! I simply want to befriend the emperor," she asserted, freeing her hand from the woman's grasp.
With sparkling eyes and a bright smile, she ventured forth, eager to approach the enigmatic ruler.
A spirited voice broke through the air, ringing with enthusiasm. "Greetings, sir! I am Rashta!"
The sudden outburst enveloped the surroundings in a momentary silence. All eyes turned towards the young girl who dared to address the emperor so boldly.
Claude, with his typical stoic demeanor, arched an eyebrow in disapproval. Her informality did not sit well with him.
Whispers rippled through the crowd of noble ladies, their voices laced with judgment. "Sir? How utterly disrespectful," they murmured to one another, their disapproving gazes fixated on the audacious Rashta.
Unfazed by the palpable tension, Claude met her exuberant greeting with a cold gaze. "What?" he questioned, his voice laced with a hint of iciness.
Undeterred by his frigid response, Rashta's eyes shimmered with unwavering delight as she clarified herself. "My apologies, sir. Allow me to rephrase. My name is Rashta, and it brings me great joy to make your acquaintance!"
Her words hung in the air, a stark contrast to the restrained atmosphere that enveloped the room.
Observing the interaction between Claude and Rashta, Sovieshu and Navier stood at a distance, their eyes locked on the unfolding scene. A shared sense of exasperation crossed their expressions as they both sweat-dropped, fully aware of the consequences that could arise from such audacity.
The emperor, known for his formidable presence and strict demeanor, was not one to be trifled with.
Navier understood the potential ramifications of Rashta's impulsive behavior and couldn't help but let out a small sigh, her hand reaching up to rub her temple in weary resignation.
"Rashta," Sovieshu's voice resonated, reaching the ears of his mistress.
She turned around, her gaze meeting his. Sovieshu's warm smile graced his lips as he approached, extending a hand to her.
"Have you waited long?" His words carried a sense of genuineness as he guided Rashta away from the imposing presence of the stoic Obelian man.
The affectionate gesture did not go unnoticed by those around them, and whispers began to circulate among the onlookers.
Meanwhile, Navier, caught in the currents of conflicting emotions, could feel her heart sink once more.
She averted her gaze, choosing to withdraw from the scene silently, unaware of the piercing blue eyes that followed her move from a distance.
As Navier proceeded to mind her own business, a distinct sound caught her attention. It was the gentle footsteps of a brown-haired woman who happened to walk in front of her.
The empress instinctively halted in her tracks, curiosity piqued by this unexpected interruption.
"Your majesty."
"Ah, duchess Tuania," Navier replied with a warm smile.
The empress recognized the duchess as a long-standing friend.
"I heard you organized this new year's party ceremony as well. It's very beautiful," the noblewoman complimented, making the blonde empress smile in return.
"Oh my," one of the noblewomen who was beside the duchess spoke up.
"Is that prince Heinrey?"
Navier followed the direction of the noblewoman's gaze and saw Prince Heinrey, the heir to the Western Kingdom's throne, mingling with the nobles. His confident demeanor and charismatic presence drew attention and admiration from those around him.
"I heard he's a Casanova, and that he associates with dangerous pirates..."
"Will he choose another romantic interest here? I wonder who he'll have an affair with this time," another lady mused.
"Well, prince Heinrey is single, so it might not just end as an affair."
"Since he's to be the future king of the Western Kingdom, it would be favorable to us if he were to marry a woman from the Eastern Empire."
Alone in that moment, Navier brought the delicate rim of the wine glass to her lips, preparing to take a sip of the exquisite wine.
However, her gaze caught a flicker of movement in the reflection of the glass, drawing her attention.
Her eyes met the gaze of Prince Heinrey, fixed upon her from a distance.
In that instant, Navier's poised composure faltered, and she hesitated, the glass hovering inches from her lips.
In response to Heinrey's wordless gesture, raising his own wine glass in a toast, Navier discreetly set the wine glass down, her fingers tracing the delicate stem with a touch of uncertainty as she chose not to acknowledge the prince's unspoken invitation, instead turning away with a bead of sweat formed at her temple.
♕
A few fleeting minutes had slipped away, the grand hall alive with the grace and rhythm of dancing couples.
Sovieshu, adorned in regal attire, twirled gracefully with his mistress, their steps harmonious and filled with a palpable chemistry.
Navier, her gaze fixed upon the entwined figures on the dance floor, found herself leaning against the wall, a silent observer from afar while the melodic strains of the music swirled around her.
Just as she resigned herself to her solitary position, a voice cut through the air, intruding upon her thoughts.
It was the crown prince, his confident demeanor masking a hidden agenda.
He extended his hand towards Navier, his eyes glimmering with an undeniable allure as he asked her for a dance, yet Navier's heart fluttered with uncertainty, her hesitance evident as she deliberated her response.
After a brief moment of internal struggle, she acquiesced, her hand gently accepting his outstretched palm.
Meanwhile, Claude, the enigmatic Emperor of Obelia, chose to remain on the periphery of the festivities.
His brooding countenance revealed little, concealing a complexity of emotions swirling beneath his calm exterior.
He stood by his daughter's side, a protective presence amidst the swirling sea of revelry.
However, the tranquility surrounding him shattered momentarily when the moment arrived for Navier to take her place in the arms of Sovieshu.
Just as the couple was about to commence their dance, the Eastern emperor halted his steps, his attention diverted to the distressed Rashta whose tears welled in her eyes because the crown prince didn't want to dance with her.
Navier couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment as she watched Sovieshu attend to his mistress instead of her.
In the wake of this unforeseen interruption, a ripple of whispers and gossip swept through the crowd like a gentle breeze, carrying fragments of speculation and judgment.
The observers, their curiosity piqued, indulged in hushed conversations, their voices a symphony of intrigue.
"Oh my, right in front of her majesty..."
"The rumor that he fell head over heels for his mistress must be true."
"It seems that way."
As Navier's expression darkened with disappointment and frustration, she made up her mind to gracefully exit the dance floor and seek solace in the privacy of her chambers. The weight of unfulfilled expectations lingered in her heart as she longed for a moment of respite from the chaos of the evening.
♕
It was during this walk that her steps came to a halt, her ears attuned to the sound of approaching footsteps.
In the dimly lit corridor, she caught sight of Claude, standing before her.
A charged silence enveloped them, as if the weight of unspoken words hung heavy in the air.
With a poised demeanor, Navier mustered her strength and broke the silence, her voice soft and respectful.
"Your majesty..." Her words trailed off momentarily as she dipped into a graceful curtsy, a sign of deference to the man who stood before her with an aura of quiet authority.