When evening came, the entire Royal Palace of Abetha was bustling with guests attending the coming-of-age ball of the Third Princess of Abetha and current Queen of Megaris, Seren Ivanov. 

Esteemed guests, ranging from high-ranking officials to local nobles to envoys from other kingdoms, idly mingled within the luxuriously decorated grand hall, enjoying drinks and socializing while awaiting the arrival of the star of the ball. 

At this moment, the King and Queen of Megaris were yet to leave the princess’s tower. 

Drayce entered his wife’s chamber, clad in a dignified attire of black and gold with a fur-lined cloak over his broad shoulders. Seeing the handsome king silently admire the young woman in front of the dresser mirror, the servants hurried to make sure her attire was perfect before excusing themselves. 

“Are you ready, my Queen?” he asked, standing a few steps away behind her. 

Seren looked at him through the mirror before turning around, the floor-length skirt of her peach-colored long sleeve gown flowing gracefully along with her movement. 

With her shoulder exposed, the fitted bodice flared out at the natural waistline to form a full skirt. Her long hair was partially braided, dusted with diamonds and delicate accessories in the shape of small golden suns, the sun being the symbol of the Ivanov Royal Family. The golden tiara on her head was a commissioned masterpiece especially crafted for this once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

Simply by standing, Seren gave off an aura of sweet elegance, her usual sophisticated look enhanced by the soft touch and dreamy tone of her attire.

“You are beautiful, my Queen,” he said as he walked towards his wife. “Your beauty takes my breath away.”

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“Of course, however you look, my wife is always the most beautiful in my eyes,” he replied and offered her his hand like a gentleman. “Shall we?”

She nodded and the two left to go towards the carriage prepared to fetch them. With each step, she could not help but let out a shaky breath. It was the first time the royal family threw a social gathering for her. It was not a last-minute arrangement like her wedding, but one where the Ilven Royal Family put painstaking care in order to make her shine. 

In the past, the Third Princess had always been a social pariah, an outcast in the background. On those rare events where her attendance was mandatory, she had to face all those people who did nothing but curse her. However, everything changed now she was a queen. Even the carriage and the knights escorting them was the finest the royal family could offer. 

The door of the grand hall opened, and the herald announced the entrance of the King and the Queen of Megaris.

“Her Majesty Seren Ilven-Ivanov, Queen of Megaris and the Third Princess of Abetha, has arrived! King Drayce Ivanov of Megaris has arrived!”

As the birthday celebrant and the star of the ball, Seren’s name was announced first, followed by her husband.

The crowd could not help but appreciate the sight of the beautiful couple descending down the grand staircase, the handsome young red-eyed king escorting the veiled purple-eyed queen whose figure and movements exuded feminine grace. People lowered their heads, the ladies curtsying, to show their respect.

The pair stopped  towards where the Royal Family of Abetha were waiting for them at a raised pedestal at the bottom of the staircase. Seren stared at King Armen, Queen Niobe and Prince Cian. The three of them were clad in luxurious attires in deep, vivid blue, which was the color representing Ilven Royalty. A picturesque family. A family she never belonged to.

Though they did nothing wrong, standing next to them, Seren felt faint bitterness in her heart.

As the father of the celebrant and the one with the highest status within the hall, Armen announced the start of the royal ball and toasted the guests, speaking briefly about how joyful an occasion it was that his youngest daughter had now come of age. The royal orchestra then began playing music in the background.

“Happy eighteenth birthday, Seren,” King Armen said afterwards, smiling proudly at his daughter.

“You have my thanks… King Armen.” 

It was the first time she hesitated to call him a king. Though she wanted to deny it, Seren was beginning to understand that perhaps…that perhaps she had been misunderstanding Armen’s love all along. That few days’ trip in the underground cave was an eye-opening experience for her. It was the longest time she had spent with the King of Abetha. She had observed his attitude all along, and she remembered how that witch, Sierra, had spoken for him as well. 

She did not want to accept it, but she was starting to have a soft side for her father.

“I hope you enjoy tonight’s ball, Queen Seren,” Niobe wished her well. The middle-aged woman surprisingly did not sound insincere.

Seren politely replied, “Thank you, Queen Niobe. This party you hosted is wonderful.”

Cian smiled at her pleasantly, even theatrically bowing to her. “Happy coming of age, Your Majesty Queen Seren.”

Seren raised a brow hearing it. “Thank you, Prince Cian, but I prefer that tonight, you treat me as your dear sister and not a foreign guest.”

“As you wish.” The smile on his face widened as he reached out to kiss the back of her hand. “You look beautiful, Seren.”

“Thank you, brother.”

Cian gestured for them to proceed to the open space in the middle of the ball. “Go, go, you two. No one can dance until the star of the ball dances first.”

As soon as new music started playing, Drayce led Seren in the center of the dance floor. 

  All the eyes in the grand hall were on the handsome man moving elegantly, leading his wife to glide gracefully along with the pleasant orchestra music. Everyone was holding their breaths up until the end, as the beautiful pair finished their dance with a delightful bow.

Afterwards, other couples came forward as well. Cian took this chance to dance with his sister. While dancing, he noticed Seren was looking in a particular direction again and again. He thought she was looking at her husband, but to his surprise, she was glancing at King Armen and Queen Niobe, who were also dancing at this moment.

Her thoughts were written on her face.