The Royal Palace was bustling with joy and chatters with the Crown Prince Birthday Banquet.

When King Langton III took the center stage and get the attention of the nobles who attended the party. ​​

*clink~ *clink~ *clink~

The sound of the golden fork touching the slim champagne glass.

And the nobles took a turn to looked at the King Langton III position and held their murmurs at the sudden call of their King.

"My people... I give my thanks that you had the time to attend the Crown Prince's birthday banquet even with your busy schedules."

King Langton III, flattered first the nobles and stare in one direction...

While the King was busy eyeing the girl, the aristocracy just nodded and promptly listen to the next words of their King.

"I am also here to announce the engagement of the Crown Prince Edickart of the Kingdom of Livingstone and the only lady of the Dukedom of Emsworth -- Lady Evelyn Callie von Emsworth!"

"Huh?"

The person who was called was shocked at hearing her name from King Langton III, mouth.

Everyone was shocked. The nobles turn their heads to the direction of Evelyn's way.

Suddenly, the gleeful atmosphere was turned into whisper chatters of the nobles who likes to gossip.

***

I was standing at the corner of the large hall that glistened with decorative baroque architecture and expensive chandeliers that were placed at the center of the high ceiling of the dance hall.

The place was bustling with the music of the orchestra and the -clinks of the champagne glass of the nobles making a toast to one another when King Langton III spoke and called my name.

"Huh?"

I was shocked!

Did I hear it wrong?

But everyone is looking at my way?

"Lady Evelyn..."

Suddenly, the Crown Prince was standing in front of me, giving his hand to make me placed mine on top of his.

***

Before the Prince Banquet...

Evelyn was sipping her tea with a graceful manner that everyone would think how much Evelyn has changed in her demeanor.

She was in deep thought, thinking about her past... It's been a year since she regains her past life memories.

~

After the things that happened since I recalled my memory. I did a lot of things to change how my destiny will fall upon me.

The circumstances pushed me to endure a lot of agonies, and my depression as the young Evelyn.

I made a lot of blunder as the young miss of the Emsworth household, I change for the better, I really did!

Becoming brave to request and get a tutor from the cold Duke... Getting myself in trouble to the Shield Forest, and meeting Gab, a beastkin that transforms into a wolf... Which become my personal attendant and knight later on.

Learning swordsmanship, magic manipulation, and getting teach from the professor about the minority subjects to be advanced even for a bit when I go to the St. Prisch Academy.

I really did my best to adjust to this fantasy world!

Hmm...

In terms of my family, I distance myself from them. The two hate me to the core, although recently, interaction with the Duke was more frequent now than when I was young, and he personally teaches me sometimes about politics, sportsmanship, wind magic, and leadership which I don't get why?

We also spend some time going to the garden and drink tea that how should I say this?

He looks at me with warm eyes and sometimes I also catch him smiling at me, that I don't understand the reason why?!

I still doubt sometimes why he would do that. I mean he has Allan... He's only son and successor to the Dukedom.

I don't want to blindly trust the people that hated you throughout the years... I have made that mistake once and foolishly done that in my previous life... And what did that to me?

I was abandoned, betrayed, and killed!

I have trust issues, I KNOW.

But who wouldn't be if you are in my shoes?

Sigh~

Anyways, after the Duke got home from the vassal inspection. The Duke granted my request of canceling the engagement to the Crown Prince.

He immediately makes an appointment and we both go to the palace to talk to the Crown Prince and the King.

It was settled after a long discussion that they would cancel it after the Crown Prince finds another prospective candidate to become his fiancee.

I agreed.

The Duke wasn't happy about the final conclusion but because the Crown Prince and the King gave their word, I tried to put my faith into them.

After long, a letter came from the Royal Palace stating that I and the Crown Prince has finally settled the cancellation of the engagement.

So, I was happy that one death flag was again taken out of the picture.

Then an invitation came from the King. It's contents were about the birthday banquet of the Crown Prince that will be held in a few days...

It was mandatory to be precise.

I had no choice but to attend as my brother, Allan is in the Academy.

It was a dormitory, so, they can only go out for a few times during an emergency situation, holidays, or when you're the Crown Prince.

You can pretty much go whenever if you got a back up from the King of the Kingdom of Livingstone.

When Allan went into the St. Prisch Academy, my life was easier than before. Less suffocating.

But also because I am the only Lady of the Emsworth, I had a responsibility as a noble.

***

Today is the day of the birthday banquet of the Crown Prince. He's a fifteen-year-old like my brother Allan.

I prepared myself with the fatigue that I will experience from Sheila, who will dress me for the party.

After sitting in front of the vanity from morning to the late afternoon, I was released from the nonstop makeover.

I saw myself wearing a pale blue dress, the dress fitted around my upper body and slowly flow through the bottom like a spring breeze, there's a little diamonds at the waist going to the top, and the see-through sleeves with intricate design.

Paired with light makeup that accentuates the natural beauty. Then my hair was tied into a braided lock and decorated with a flower at the center.

I was astonished. I still can't believe that the young Evelyn that I was a year ago cannot be seen.

Puberty really hits hard.

My body started to gain muscle because of the training and there are curves in the right places. In no time, I was a full ledge woman because of my genes.

Thanks to God for that!

The Duke and I went into the Royal Palace to attend the banquet. We're just here to show face and planned to go home after a while.

The knight coughs and tried hard to not look at the eyes of the Military General and the Duke of the prestigious family of Emsworth -- Duke Keene Adalfurus Von Emsworth.

The young knight glanced at the side and saw a Lady that was so beautiful you would ask if she was a walking doll.

I looked at the knight and smile at them. The young knight blushed, it was so awkward at the same time funny that I didn't mind what happened.

*Ahem!

"The Duke Keene Adalfurus von Emsworth and Lady Evelyn Callie von Emsworth are entering!"

The knight announced and we enter the large ballroom hall.

The nobles went quiet but I didn't mind. It was really a sight to see the Duke and the daughter come into the party.

Don't get me wrong. The Duke and I are still not closed to each other. More like we keep it civil.

I just don't want to form a family relationship. Seriously.

So, back to the story.

After entering, I decided to separate myself from the Duke and go on my own way.

I went into the farthest part of the ballroom to hide my presence.

I don't like social gatherings. To be precise... I don't like faking my personality just to associate myself with these prideful nobles.

It was getting late in the night. I was still observing from my spot.

Familiarizing my first attendance to this kind of party, and trying to see if I can recall important characters that I can befriend.

Of course, the main characters are out of the question. I will only befriend the side characters.

When Evelyn was thinking about finding allies the King of Levingstone took the stage and announced an engagement that stunned Evelyn.

***

Back to the present...

Evelyn held the Crown Prince's hand. She can't disobey the orders of the King and escort of the Crown Prince with the presence of the nobility.

But Evelyn was starting to panic while walking to the stage.

She turns her head to find her father, and she saw the Duke, glaring at the King.

It made Evelyn's back shiver. It would be a disaster if the Duke step in when everyone is looking. So, Evelyn meets the eye of the Duke, trying to reassure that everything is under control.

Then she mouths silently to the Duke.

"Do not step in!"

But deep inside Evelyn was in chaos.

She was confused.

The engagement has long been canceled!!!!

The Duke made sure of that! And she personally is there when it happened!

So what is this?!!!

Evelyn was internally screaming. It was supposed to change!

~~~~~~

A/N:

Hello guys! ... you can now help Evelyn and this yours truly author by sending gifts to this novel 📦 and voting for power stones! Yehey 🥳

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