Rumors spread in the banquet hall that the Grand Duke had arrived. But he was nowhere to be seen. That wasn't the point. The point was that he had shown up at all. He rarely attended events.
"I heard he's marrying some noble lady. There was a decree. The emperor had no choice, or he'd lose face. After all, the duke's a war hero," a woman said.
The older ladies agreed that such a young woman would be so lucky to become a duchess of that vast Varyn territory, a little kingdom in its own right.
"I've heard it's his childhood sweetheart. He didn't say the name though," another replied.
They didn't speak of it loudly, but they thought it was the lady from the Kissell family. Varyns and Kissells were close. And just last week, the duke was seen with her at a silk shop.
Hailed as a top beauty and the Finance Minister's eldest daughter who grew up with the duke, she was Lady Vanery Kissell. And she was here tonight.
...
THE PRINCESS sat silently at one of the front tables and heard every whisper from the table behind her. She was too angry to turn around, but couldn't do much. 'Besides, Derrik would only use it as another chance to make himself look more favorable to Father. If only this were in the palace.'
"Another young master is staring at you, Your Highness. These men never stop dreaming," Liona said lightly, sitting beside the princess.
Charys, however, ignored the comment. As the princess—and the only child of the empress—she always commanded attention. Obviously, men and women alike wanted her. 'Just one man is playing hard to get', she thought.
"Bring Lady Kissell here," Liona said to her handmaid. Her voice was soft, but the other ladies at their table fell silent. They watched as Vanery approached and curtsied.
"We don't like it when people spread lies, Lady Kissell. You are tainting the important names by associating yourself with it," Liona said, frowning.
Vanery looked at the princess, but the latter said nothing, just sipping her cup quietly, not looking at anyone.
"What do you mean?" Vanery said.
"Surely, you know what it is."
"You mean the rumors? Lady Iliana, you can't surely believe that. People will always believe what they want to believe—"
"Lady Kissell." Liona cut her off. "Your father is the Finance Minister. A very trusted man in the palace. My point isn't whether the rumor is true or not. It's that you have ignored it and let it spread. It's been days since this started. You know that."
Vanery gave a small smile.
"I cannot control rumors, Lady Iliana. But this is all exaggerated. And how could I ever compare to His Grace? I would never dare presume such a thing."
'She's clearly gloating,' Liona thought.
"Leave this party now," Liona said, her voice low now. "Or the treasury office will face a severe blow."
Liona's threat made Vanery stop.
As the Prime Minister's daughter, Liona's words wouldn't be taken lightly, especially since she was greatly favored in the Iliana family.
But as Vanery opened her lips, a few gazes turned toward the aisle. The banquet hall immediately fell into a heavy, almost solemn silence. The princess, sipping absently, turned and saw a familiar, handsome figure.
Tall.
Sharp jaw.
That dark eyes.
It was the Grand Duke, at last.
...
VANERY KISSELL shed tears, turning away abruptly. This gesture easily got attention due to the brief silence caused by the duke's presence.
"L—lady Kissell, what happened to you?" Young Master Fenrir Oshen asked, one of Vanery's loyal admirers. He was a son of the influential Oshen family, the family of the late first empress.
"I must leave this place, Young Master. Sorry for causing trouble," Vanery said with a sad smile, glancing at the grand duke sipping his wine at a near distance.
"Trouble?"
"I don't like these rumors..." Her voice trailed off. "Please don't mind me."
Dorian titled his head casually, listening to the spectacle at the periphery of his gaze. Then he finally looked at one woman, as if he had recognized her intimately. l
"Vanery."
Eyes widened at his words, calling Lady Kissell by her first name. So they were really close, after all? Some witnesses thought.
"Come here," Dorian added, his voice lazy, almost gentle.
*