The royal palace looked brighter than usual tonight.
Golden chandeliers brightened the massive ballroom beautifully while nobles filled the hall wearing luxurious gowns and elegant suits embroidered with jewels and gold.
Music echoed softly through the air.
Servants moved carefully between guests carrying expensive wine and desserts.
Everything looked beautiful.
Perfect.
But beneath all the laughter and elegance—
The atmosphere felt tense.
Because everyone was waiting for one person.
Princess Sabrina.
And more importantly—
Who she would stand beside tonight.
Whispers quietly spread across the ballroom.
"They said the Princess has changed lately."
"I heard she rejected Marquis Charles publicly."
"No, no, the strangest part is Duke Alexander."
"They've been together constantly recently."
"Impossible..."
"The Princess hated him before."
The nobles continued whispering endlessly.
Then suddenly—
The ballroom doors opened.
Silence instantly spread throughout the hall.
Sabrina entered gracefully wearing a silver gown decorated with sapphire gems that shimmered beautifully underneath the chandelier lights.
Her long silver hair cascading softly behind her back, while her sapphire eyes calmly scanned the room.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Untouchable.
But what shocked everyone wasn't Sabrina herself.
It was the man standing beside her.
Alexander.
Dressed in formal black attire embroidered with silver patterns, his dark hair neatly arranged while those crimson eyes remained calm and unreadable as always.
Cold.
Fearsome.
The kingdom's war hero.
Yet tonight—
He stood beside Sabrina like he belonged there.
Like he always should've.
The entire ballroom froze.
Even the music almost stopped.
Because Princess Sabrina willingly entered the banquet beside Duke Alexander.
Together.
Not Charles.
Alexander immediately noticed the attention surrounding them.
His shoulders stiffened slightly.
Clearly uncomfortable.
Meanwhile—
Sabrina calmly continued walking beside him as though nothing was strange.
As though standing beside him publicly was the most natural thing in the world.
The nobles looked utterly shocked.
And near the center of the ballroom—
Charles's expression slowly darkened.
Beside him, Jennifer quietly stared at Sabrina and Alexander together.
Something inside her chest twisted painfully.
Because this scene—
This never happened before.
Never.
---
"Princess Sabrina has arrived."
The announcement echoed through the ballroom once more.
Sabrina immediately noticed her parents smiling from near the throne platform.
Relieved smiles.
Especially the Queen.
Because for the first time in a long while—
Their daughter genuinely looked happy.
Sabrina softly greeted them before Alexander bowed respectfully beside her.
"Your Majesties."
The King nodded calmly toward him.
Meanwhile—
Several nobles nearby continued staring openly.
Because Alexander looked...
Different tonight.
Not softer.
Never soft.
But calmer somehow whenever Sabrina stood near him.
And Sabrina—
She kept unconsciously moving closer toward him too.
As though she felt safest beside him.
Charles quietly approached them with his usual charming smile.
"Princess."
Sabrina immediately looked toward him.
Polite.
Distant.
"Marquis."
Charles's smile almost cracked slightly.
Formal again.
Always formal now.
His eyes briefly shifted toward Alexander standing beside her.
Then back toward Sabrina.
"You look beautiful tonight."
Before Sabrina could answer—
Alexander quietly stepped slightly closer toward her.
Subtle.
Protective.
Charles noticed immediately.
And irritation flashed across his face briefly.
Meanwhile—
Sabrina noticed too.
And strangely—
That made warmth spread faintly inside her chest.
"Thank you for your compliment, Marquis," she answered calmly.
Cold.
Polite.
Nothing more.
Charles slowly clenched his jaw.
In the past—
Sabrina would've smiled brightly at him by now.
Would've blushed.
Would've ignored Alexander completely.
Now—
Her attention unconsciously stayed on the Duke instead.
Then suddenly—
Music began filling the ballroom once more.
The first dance.
Several noble couples immediately stepped toward the center.
Charles smiled softly before extending his hand toward Sabrina naturally.
"May I have this dance, Princess?"
Silence.
Everyone nearby immediately watched closely.
Because before—
Sabrina would've accepted instantly.
Without hesitation.
But now—
Sabrina slowly stared at Charles's hand.
Then—
Without even realizing it—
Her eyes drifted toward Alexander instead.
Alexander froze slightly after noticing.
Confusion flickered briefly across his face.
As though he genuinely didn't understand why she kept looking at him like that lately.
Sabrina slowly took a breath.
Then calmly stepped backward.
"I'm sorry, Marquis."
Charles visibly froze.
"I already promised this dance to my fiancé."
Silence.
The ballroom became deathly quiet.
Several nobles almost choked.
Fiancé.
She called Alexander her fiancé publicly.
Naturally.
Without hesitation.
Even Alexander looked stunned beside her.
His crimson eyes widened slightly while staring down at Sabrina.
Meanwhile—
Charles's smile completely disappeared for a brief second.
Just one second.
But enough for everyone to notice.
Humiliation.
Public humiliation.
Because Sabrina rejected him openly.
For Alexander.
Then slowly—
Sabrina turned toward Alexander.
And extended her hand toward him gently.
"Will you dance with me, Alexander?"
The entire ballroom froze again.
Because Duke Alexander—
The terrifying war duke—
Didn't dance.
Ever.
Alexander stared at her hand silently.
Then at her face.
Confused.
Caught off guard.
Almost helpless.
"...Princess," he said quietly, "I don't think—"
"Please?"
Silence.
Alexander's heartbeat became uneven.
Because Sabrina was looking at him again with those soft sapphire eyes.
Trusting him.
Wanting him.
And he realized something dangerous at that moment.
He couldn't refuse her.
Not when she looked at him like that.
Slowly—
Alexander placed his hand against hers.
Warm.
Careful.
The moment their hands touched—
Whispers exploded quietly throughout the ballroom.
Meanwhile—
Charles stood frozen near the side while watching them walk toward the center together.
His expression darkened dangerously.
Jennifer quietly watched too.
And suddenly—
Pain exploded inside her head again.
Flash.
Blood.
Sabrina crying inside the dungeon.
Alexander dying.
Charles laughing.
Then—
Another memory surfaced.
Jennifer froze completely.
Because she finally remembered something she missed before.
In the previous life—
Sabrina never once looked at Alexander this way.
Never.
Not even once.
Jennifer's breathing slowly became uneven.
Then her eyes widened.
No way...
No way.
Her gaze slowly lifted toward Sabrina dancing quietly with Alexander beneath the golden lights.
And for the first time—
Jennifer truly understood.
Sabrina remembered too.