The Hero's wish

Jerome's triumphant return was celebrated by the king with a huge ball, where he handed out awards to the heroic soldiers.

Ariana didn't want to meet the prince, but the appearance was mandatory.

'There's still a year left until Jürgen and Jerome meet, but if everyone is required to show up… Jürgen also needs to attend the event, right?'

The family was dressed in the colors of the symbol of the Vanderberg family. Indigo blue and silver. Ariana's sleeveless dress was indigo blue, adorned with silver embroidery, embroidered with the family emblem of arms on her chest. A tulle cloak made of silver thread adorned the dress and an indigo blue ribbon around her neck. Her hair was held in a loose bun, omitting a stray strand of hair from her ears. She looked like a fairy who could enchant anyone.

She waited nervously for the carriage to roll to the entrance of the palace. Entering the door, she was greeted by familiar faces. In the last two yearss he has received many invitations to tea parties ,and balls… she has been popular among aristocrats. That is why she never understood that, how did she not met the protagonists… as if they did not even exist in this world, until the beginning of the story inside the book.

As with any ball, handsome men asked her to the dancefloor in turn. After a while, she didn't even count the partners, she just stepped on to the music with a fancy smile, and during the band's break she went out to the terrace to breathe a little.

'Hypocritical assholes! In such cases, they don't even let me live… but when it comes to marriage, they run away! Even though, I'm a great cook and I am also a fucking goddess in bed… '

She was angryly pouting alone.

"I would be a good wife!"

She remarked angrily.

"I'm sure of that, Miss."

She turned after hearing the familiar voice.

"Prince Charming! Are you back safe and sound? "

"Yes Miss. The tassel brought good luck. "

The man replied from the shadow of the pillar of the terrace.

"I'm very happy about it!"

Ariana smiled.

"If I may say so, you are a really grown to be a beautiful woman."

"Oh thank you."

She blushed.

"I hope no one has hurt your beautiful face. It would be a real pity of it. "

"I don't have a cut."

Then the man stepped forward, and the moonlight shone on his fancy attire.

'Oh how many honors… I see a very nice rank he managed to fight during the war.'

Ariana grazed her eyes on the colorful uniform adorned with a cloak, sword, and gold buttons.

"That way, it will no longer be a problem to marry into a good family! What a pity that there has barely been left maidens from higher ranked families. "

She was sorry.

"There's one more."

Then Ariana looked him first in the eye.

The boy he met years ago was nowhere to be found. A breathtakingly fine man stood in front of her… turquoise blue eyes and long black hair….

'Stop! WHAT? Turquoise eyes… long black hair? '

Then the horn sounded and the arrival of the Crown Prince was announced.

'Please… don't go in…'

She prayed to herself, but the man went into the room… straight to the throne and knelt before the king.

The picture slowly came together. Of course, she never found Jerome… since he was there all the way in front of her nose… she just didn't even assume that he was the prince… since she was looking for a man with long hair all along, but the young prince had short hair.

"I'm so stupid!"

She joined her parents in the room.

'Let's look at the bright side of the story! That's great! Jerome owes me… since I saved his life, so I certainly don't die by his hands. We're almost friendship already… and he knows I don't want to be queen… so he won't cross me! '

Her fate turned quite positively. She was almost smiling and applauding when…

"Jerome Philipp Borovic, I, as the King of the Kingdom of Predin, reward you with your wishes for your heroic deeds of war. Tell me, what do you want, son? "

"You Majesty, I wish to ask for the hand of Ariana Tia Vanderberg."

As this sentence left the prince's mouth, Ariana felt the world around her collapsed. She tried so hard to change her fate… she almost succeeded… but now it's all over. The prince's request comes with immediate fulfillment, her parents can't do anything anymore… For a moment she felt like drowing in cold water… then everything slowly darkened, finally she lost consciousness.