"The most beautiful lady?"
The courtesan asked in a puzzled tone. "We have the finest courtesans here, M'lord. Spend a night with them, and you will cherish it forever. Why don't you come inside?"
A devilish look flickered in his eyes as he chuckled softly, suddenly closing the distance between them. Gently holding her chin, he pulled her closer to his body and hovered over her.
Next to his tall and bulky silhouette, her slender frame appeared almost fragile. Looking intensely at her beautifully adorned face, he asked, "Is there anyone who can match the beauty of my Aralia—the most beautiful lady of Zahava?"
The courtesan gasped in utter surprise. "Princess Aralia?"
"Yes. Bring her to me, and I will pay you anything you desire."
The courtesan was puzzled by his abrupt change in mood. Though she found him vaguely unsettling, she maintained her professional, sweet smile.
"Princess Aralia's charm is unm atchable, M'lord. She is of royal blood. Please do not disrespect her by comparing her to us."
He threw back his head and let out a great peal of laughter, replying mockingly, "What a pity! It seems I have no luck tonight either."
Sighing loudly, he trudged into the Beauty Palace, mumbling, "No worries! I will have her in my arms… very soon. For now, just bring me the finest wine."
Another deep voice instantly agreed from behind, "Of course, after all, she is destined to be with you, Prince Cyrus."
The speaker, a young man with hard, glacial-grey eyes, stepped forward. His shoulder-length chocolate-brown hair was adorned with numerous piercings, each decorated with expensive earrings.
Prince Cyrus greeted him with a warm hug before leading him to a private chamber, specially reserved for them, "I was waiting for you, Buddy. You took a long time to arrive."
Chuckling softly, he answered in his deep and low voice, "Sneaking out of the palace is not easy, Prince Cyrus." While following him, he added after a brief sigh, "Especially after the attack on Princess. His Majesty has increased the palace security."
Prince Cyrus' handsome face turned dark instantly as he answered briefly in a grave tone, "My messenger bought some information about that attack. You have to do a job for me, My Friend."
While running his fingers through his chocolate-brown hair, Prince's companion answered promptly, "Whom should I kill this time? Or, do you need some confidential report from our royal court?"
—---
(Azure Palace of Zahava)
(Princess Aralia's POV)
"Viola, can you tighten my corset a little more?" I requested, adjusting my gown as I admired my reflection in the grand mirror before me. No matter how often I looked at Princess Aralia's divine beauty, I could never tear my gaze away.
Dressed in a golden gown embroidered with delicate gold threads, I looked absolutely perfect. A ruby-studded necklace adorned my neck, complementing my platinum hair, which was styled into a neat half-bun, secured with a matching ruby hairpin. I was, without a doubt, breathtaking. It was understandable why she had so many admirers.
A sudden knock at the door interrupted my moment of admiration.
"Your Highness, His Majesty is waiting for you in the assembly hall," a guard's voice echoed from the other side of the door.
"Alright, I'll be there in a minute," I answered hastily, slipping into my elegant heels. The royal life of Princess Aralia was undeniably hectic and filled with risks, yet I started to look forward to the grand parties and social gatherings—the lavish feasts, the glittering jewels, and, of course, the many handsome faces surrounding me.
If not for my royal title, I would have shamelessly simped for the dashing knights and charming princes with their divine features. This was the fairy-tale life I had always dreamed of as a history lover and an avid reader, and now, I was living it.
As we stepped out of the Azure Palace, Viola spoke in a worried tone. "Your Highness, should I accompany you to the Assembly Hall? I heard the entire Council of Ministers will be present today."
Smiling warmly at her, I replied confidently, "No, I'll be fine on my own. Do me a favor and find out Sir Killan's whereabouts."
Viola looked slightly puzzled but bowed obediently before we parted ways.
The Assembly Hall was a little distance from my palace. I rarely visited it, but I had heard that Princess Aralia used to frequent the hall to handle political matters. She was the finest diplomat in Zahave, and King Orville relied heavily on her decisions—she had single-handedly resolved countless complicated disputes.
But I wasn't sure about my own capabilities.
'Am I really as good as her? Not a chance. I barely know anything about royal politics.'
Sighing, I mumbled to myself, 'I just hope everything goes smoothly and I don't mess up my role there.'
The grandeur of the Assembly Hall was beyond description. The moment I stepped in, all the guards bowed respectfully, opening the door for me and announcing my arrival. The vast hall was filled with the Ministers and Nobles of the Zahava Kingdom. Tables were set before their prestigious and royal seats, laden with mouthwatering dishes and exotic drinks.
Taking a deep, nervous breath, I stepped forward and bowed deeply to King Orville, who sat in the middle of the hall, draped in rich velvet garments and adorned with golden jewelry. All the members, except for the Royals, instantly stood and bowed to show their respect to me.
The king's long platinum hair hung loosely over his shoulders, and his sapphire eyes were as cruel and unreadable as Dior's. They were mirror images of each other. Dior sat next to Queen Elina, leaving the seat beside him empty—for me.
Bowing, I wished, "Long live Your Majesty, King Orville, and Queen Elina. May the sun never set on Zahava Kingdom."
"Princess Aralia, you certainly took your time coming here. Do you truly believe you are worthy of ours?" Queen Elina taunted, her sharp gaze scanning me from head to toe. The hawk-like intensity in her eyes was difficult to endure.
With a bright smile, I replied apologetically, "Forgive me, My Queen. My body is still weak from the constant attacks. It took a great deal of effort to prepare myself for this meeting today."
Queen Elina's flawlessly polished face wrinkled slightly in annoyance, her eyes glinting as she glared at me. However, before she could speak, King Orville interfered.
"Stand and take your seat, Princess Aralia," he commanded. "We are well aware of your condition, and I am ashamed of our royal security. However, your presence was needed today. I hope my summons did not cause you pain."
"Not at all, Your Majesty. It is an honor to be in your presence. Summon me whenever you need me," I replied warmly, rising to my feet and meeting his gaze.
As an orphan, I had never known a parent's love. Yet, watching other children with their affectionate families had made me long for it at times. But between King Orville and me, there was no warmth—only distance, as if we belonged to entirely separate worlds. In my six months as Princess Aralia, I had met him only two or three times, and each time, he had been the same—cold and unreadable.
With a curt nod, he gestured to his Chief Minister to begin the meeting. As I took my seat beside Dior, the Chief Minister cleared his throat and proclaimed in his gruff voice, unfolding the scroll in his hands.
"The majority of the council has demanded another competition before the royal heir is crowned, while some members support Princess Aralia as the rightful heir. What is your command, Your Majesty?"
'Another tournament? But no historian ever mentioned a second one. Is history suddenly changing? But why?