Chapter 203 - Adoration and Envy

Beatrice was smiling, but she was far from feeling content. She had argued with her mother earlier in the day.

“Beatrice, your first dance must be with Marquis Hessen’s eldest son. Their intelligence and military are essential to our plans. Do you understand?”

It had been a few days since Beatrice had seen her mother. The princess had not expected grandiose words. She simply wanted congratulations for coming of age. Nevertheless, her mother who she had not seen for a long time was asking her to dance with a random man.

‘What am I to my mother? Does she even care for me?’ Beatrice recalled how her mother’s attitude had been recently; it seemed that ascending the throne had been the only thing on the woman’s mind. Doubtful about how she had led her life until now, the princess fell into despair.

‘At this point, I don’t know… why I have to continue this.’

Contrary to her depressed mood, Jubelian seemed to be enjoying a lively conversation with her friends. The lady stared with envy at the simple life her friend was living.

Realizing her daughter was staring blankly at the ballroom, the empress looked into Beatrice’s eyes. “My dear Beatrice, all your guests are dancing. It would be considered discourteous for you—the main lady of this banquet—to stand still as you are doing now.”

The words blatantly displayed her mother’s wishes, and Beatrice stared at the woman in anger. She was forcing the dance with the heir of Marquis Hessen to commence. Beatrice turned her crimson eyes to Jubelian—she was not doing anything special, yet so many people had their attention on her. The lady was like the moon in the sky.

‘I’m never going to follow my mother’s wishes. I will do what I want to do,’ the princess decided on such rebellious thoughts.

Contrary to her pledge, she meekly nodded. “Yes, Mother. I have always wanted to dance with someone in this gorgeous hall. I will need a chaperone to help me, so could you summon my maid?”

The empress smiled once Beatrice got up from her seat. ‘Now that’s a good daughter. Go win his heart so you may lay a good foundation for your younger brother who will become the emperor.’ The woman, however, soon had no choice but to harden her face.

“Wait,” she ordered. She couldn’t understand why Maximillian, the crown prince, had stood up as well. The damn rascal was now walking toward Beatrice who was standing still. He then reached his hand out to her.

“I’m your partner. Did you plan on leaving me behind?” His friendly voice left the empress, the emperor, and Beatrice thoroughly shocked and revolted.

‘Why the hell is he doing this?’ Confused, Beatrice was about to reject Max when a voice interrupted.

“Yes, Max is right. There are important guests here, and it would be wonderful for him to introduce you to some of these people.”

Beatrice gritted her teeth at those words. She knew why her father was saying such things—he was trying to tie her up with Lagon’s king. Beatrice turned to her mother for help, but she nodded indifferently. It seemed that she was, for some reason, agreeing with the schemes. “Go ahead, my Bea,” she said.

Beatrice felt her blood boil when she realized things weren’t going her way. As if he had read her mind, Max spoke softly, “Your hand, milady.”

Chills traveled down her spine in response to the abominable voice. She stared at her stepbrother’s face covered with a mask.

‘Is all of this a trick of his?’ Now that she thought about it, Maximillian was someone who would be able to pull such a thing off and more. ‘He might be leading me to that foreign king.’

In any case, it was impossible to refuse his escort at this moment. Her face crumpled, Beatrice held Max’s hand at last. She berated herself for asking her damned stepbrother to be her partner in the first place.