"Miriam, I would like to introduce you to Lucia Reid, my soon to be wife."
Noises, murmurs, and disappointed sighs filled the hall. Why do I feel that they are not for the right reason?
"Lucia Reid?"
The handsome King or should I say, the second male lead voice was truly gentle, it was like the book described it. I was amazed. My eyes sparkled and traveled to this gentle King waiting for the famous charming smile that could make hundreds fall in love. Come on, show it, show it. Suddenly, I felt a gloomy shadow behind me.
Shadow? My shadow? I hadn't created any shadow right now. Is there anyone cursed too?
"Lucia!"
"What?!"
His jealous eyes were directed at me. Is he mad again? But he is the second male lead, and he is married to the Queen, his sister. It is like I am seeing a celebrity from a book, how could you be jealous? And even with that charming smile, I would not dare touch him. He is not my type. He seems a bit flakey?
"Grand Duke of Docrem."
The voice of a young woman interrupted my thoughts and our talking eyes. Excellent! Good distraction, who is it?
A blond woman with a marvelous white dress approached us, however, the shining light from her golden hair was hard for my eyes. Hubby, please shield me.
"Princess Airia, shall I introduce you to my brother, the Duke Lyon of Docrem?"
Why is the Queen overly enthusiastic with this woman? Does she want her to be my hubby's wife? Never!
"Duke Lyon, I am Princess Airia, the only daughter of the King of Outan, it is a pleasure to finally meet you."
I am going to vomit. Why should she say that she is the only daughter? Does she want siblings? Is she lonely? Poor thing, I can fix that, what about you go to your country with some of my punches to make your company.
"…"
I felt his gaze on me, he caressed my cheek and whispered in my ear.
"Darling, don't you remember this woman?"
"Huh?"
"You carved her silhouette in the wood, don't you remember?"
Oh! Now that is something.
"Princess Airia, long time no see you."
I smiled brightly and my voice came out as sweet as I could. I felt several eyes from the crowd admiring me and gasping in surprise. I had such a wonderful voice.
"Miss, I have never met you before."
"Oh! But we met not long ago. How can you forget? You left me an everlasting impression."
She was inspecting me from bottom to top while narrowing her cute bright eyes. Yep, that was the feeling I was hoping for. The murderous gaze and the bad intentions, ready to attack me.
"Miss, you should be mistaken, I don't casually walk around random places. I came to this Kingdom as an honored guest at this party. And I believe an announcement will be made shortly."
She was glancing coquettishly at the man beside me. Her cheeks were slightly red, and she looked like a shy maiden in love. How disgusting.
"Princess Airia, it is true that we met, it was at the Thorne Shop back in the south of the country, in a little town on Greenfort. I believe you left an everlasting impression on my shop." Hehe, very deep impression, it will be there for many years in the future and become a spot for the tourist. It will be called 'The Impression of a Princess'.
The little woman's face turned pale and red at the same time, wow now her face is gloomy and dark. I bet she is remembering me.
"You!"
"Oh my! Princess, now you remember me?"
She turned to look at the Queen and made a little bow, quite unrespectful to step so near to the throne. Come on guards, send her to the dungeons!
"Your Majesty. Please, I demand justice. This woman right here is a bandit and a bully. I saw with my own eyes how she used her power to step on the people of your country."
The little princess is demanding justice. What a joke. The only one I stepped on was her body and the only one I had ever bullied is my man, constantly and at night, and I've never seen him complaining.
"Oh my! Is that true Princess Airia?"
"Yes, of course, Your Majesty, this woman beat me and my people when trying to stop them. She was with a whole bunch of bandits too."
Does she not remember this man? Sigh… his face must be truly unremarkable, well that is better for me, fewer worries. I can't simply cover him with a veil or his helmet every day.
"Princess Airia…"
The voice of this man brought the attention of everyone in the room. His gloomy face was something to see.
However, the little princess jumped excitedly without reading the atmosphere.
Wait, now I feel a piercing gaze in my back. I was waiting for it and is not from this little Princess. Who is the one glaring at me like that? And… there is something else, something evil and terrifying, it's giving me the chills. This kind of feels like my shadow but darker and ancient. Who is doing that? What is it?
"… I believe you just call my knights and me a bunch of bandits?" The voice of my darling woke me up from my daze.
"Huh?"
"I must really have a forgettable face as you don't remember me."
"This…"
"Oh Brother! Have you met Princess Airia before?"
The Queen is making funny faces and the King is hiding his chuckles with his hand. Why is that? Did they know?
"Little Brother in law, you must really have a nonremarkable face. Look, the Princess doesn't remember you."
Sighs… I knew I was worrying for nothing. Even the King thinks so.
"Princess Airia, he was beside me when we met at the shop. Don't you remember? Your knights should remember, shall we call them?"
Now, this is marvelous. Her face is again pale.
"That…"
"So, tell me brother, is it true what Princess Airia said?"
"I don't quite remember being a bully to the people of our Kingdom. But I did see a crazy woman beating my fiancée's employees for a piece of cake. I've never seen such behavior in a woman."
"…" Cough… of course, such savagery is not worthy of a proud and elegant lady.
His cold words sent shivers to the young women in the hall.
"Princess Airia, what is the meaning of this? Didn't you demand justice? How could a noble girl with a high standing position in your country behave this way? You even lied to me."
"Your Majesty… I… I didn't…"
K.O.
"Your Highness…"
That voice… that voice filled with sweetness… I felt my eyes going red. I felt it, the villainess inside me wanted to go out and destroy the owner of that voice. Then suck all her blood and left her with an empty body.
"Your Highness… long time no see. How have you been?"
"Brother… do you remember Princess Rebecca?" The Queen looked awkward. Does she know too? Is she supporting them?
"Your Majesty, his highness may not remember me that well. After all, we parted ways a long time ago."
She made a loud but visible sigh. What is she implying?
"How have you been Your Highness? I had long wished to visit you and your knights, they may remember me. How are they?"
So, they are a bunch of traitors too. Is he not going to reply to his old flame? This man seems uncomfortable. What? Am I gripping his hand too hard? Is he in pain? It's not like I am daring him to answer, but he better thinks about the consequences.
'Lucia…'
What? What was that? Who is calling? It is the same feeling as before. A shadow, an evil shadow. Who is it? That sounded like a whisper, but like an evil lure. It keeps distracting me. Stop!
'Lucia… come to me.'
Oh! shut up! You, creepy voice. Who are you?
I was trying to focus on the voice. Where are you? Let me see you and give you a welcome to my life punch in the face.
"Miss Reid, long time no see."
Now she is greeting me. Those eyes are sending shivers to my skin. I've met several eye daggers in my life, but those eyes are quite different. Is it because of the heroine halo?
"I am sorry for the last time we met. It was truly unfortunate. I've never thought that such a thing would happen, please don't blame the Duke, after all, it was an accident… he was trying to protect me."
My eyes will turn red if she continues and I don't want to eat Princess for dinner, it is too sweet for my taste. I may want the King dish over there but my hubby would kill me and maybe commit treason murdering another King.
"Oh! I am sorry for my impudence. Greetings your highness Princess Rebecca. I suddenly was stunned by your beautiful looks. So much different from a year ago, that I couldn't stop thinking that it must surely have hurt…"
"Miss Reid, what are you talking about? Why my looks should hurt? What are you implying?"
"Oh! It is nothing but I heard that some face changing potions are really painful."
Little giggles filled the hall. What? It was not meant to be funny. But why are the Queen and King also laughing?
Sighs…
The man beside me was giggling too. Does he know that he can't giggle? He could attract someone with his beautiful dimples. I should make him stop.
"Miss Reid, I've never drunk such a potion…"
"Are you sure? I can see that you grew more beautiful. I am totally complimenting you. Maybe the workout with your knights had finally given results. We should all follow your example."
The laughter was more intense, but then several mockery comments followed.
"Miss Reid, what are you implying?!"
"It is just that I am truly proud of the Princess of Crotia. Nothing much your highness."
Look at that. I learned from her words. Now I feel like I've eaten the sweetest candy of them all, but not princess, ew.