Chương 24: Xyra Eldarion
As soon as I stepped into the banquet hall, a wave of discomfort washed over me. The room was nothing short of breathtaking, but in the worst possible way.
The marble floors were polished to such perfection that they gleamed like mirrors, reflecting every glimmer of the chandeliers hanging above.
Those chandeliers crystal and ornate twinkled like stars in a sky I suddenly felt too small to be a part of.
The walls, lined with gold, felt oppressive rather than luxurious, as if their purpose was to emphasize just how out of place I was here.
I stood there, frozen for a moment, while the guests dressed in silks and jewels that could probably pay for an entire village milled around in their elegant, carefree manner.
Conversations floated through the air, light laughter and the clink of glasses mingling with the soft strains of music coming from a quartet stationed in the corner. I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of every eye that glanced my way.
I could tell that many of the noble children had never seen me before, and their curious stares only added to my anxiety.
I tugged at the edges of my gown, feeling the fabric pinch at my waist where it was a little too tight.
Despite how much I'd sweated and struggled during the training with Elira, I still felt uncomfortable in this dress, like I was being squeezed into a role that didn't fit. But tonight wasn't about comfort. It was about survival.
"Don't fidget," I whispered to myself, taking a deep breath and attempting to stand taller. I tried to remind myself that no one knew me here.
To them, I was just another noble daughter, someone who blended into the background. If I kept quiet and stayed out of the way, I could get through this night without much notice.
But fate, it seemed, had other plans.
The king stood near the head of the room, a tall figure draped in royal blue robes with golden embroidery. His presence commanded attention, and the guests gradually quieted as they turned their focus toward him.
His voice, deep and regal, echoed through the hall as he raised his goblet. "Ladies and gentlemen," he began, "allow me to present to you my son, Prince Caden."
The crowd parted slightly, and the prince stepped forward, his posture proud but not arrogant. He was tall, with broad shoulders and dark hair that curled slightly at the nape of his neck.
His chiseled features and strong jawline gave him a commanding presence, though his warm brown eyes softened the impression. Dressed in a suit of black and gold, he radiated the effortless confidence of someone who knew exactly where they belonged.
I felt a knot tighten in my stomach as I glanced at him. The prince was everything this world celebrated grace, beauty, power. Standing there in my tight gown, feeling as though the room itself was squeezing me, I suddenly felt even larger, clumsier.
As the prince exchanged a few words with his father, I tried to busy myself with studying the other guests. Anything to distract me from my own nerves. But then, a voice pierced through the chatter, sharp and dripping with condescension.
"Aren't you a little too... large for a banquet like this?"
I turned, already dreading what I would see. There, among a group of noble children, stood a particularly obnoxious boy.
He was short and stocky, his curly brown hair a mess atop his head, and his lips curled into a smug grin that made me want to wipe it off his face. His eyes gleamed with cruel amusement, waiting for my reaction.
I clenched my fists, willing myself to stay calm. I couldn't cause a scene here, not in front of everyone. But the sting of his words made my blood boil.
"Ignore him, ignore him," I whispered under my breath, turning slightly away from him. But he wasn't done.
"It's just... isn't it a little odd?" he continued, his voice loud enough to catch the attention of others around us. "A girl like you at a royal banquet? I mean, they do have certain... standards, don't they?"
My jaw tightened. I wanted to hit that smug little bastard. I could feel my body trembling with the effort it took to hold back my anger.
He wasn't worth it. He was just a spoiled brat, and I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me react. But gods, did I want to.
Before I could come up with a scathing reply or, more likely, walk away the king's voice cut through the room once more.
"Your attention, please," he called, raising his hand for silence. "We are honored to announce the arrival of my daughter."
A murmur swept through the crowd. I could feel the shift in energy as everyone turned toward the grand doors at the far end of the room. My heart raced as the doors swung open with a creak, revealing the entrance of the princess.
She stepped into the hall, and I swear the entire room seemed to still. Princess Calista was a vision of intimidating beauty.
She moved with the kind of grace that could only come from years of training, every step deliberate and fluid, as if she were floating rather than walking.
Her long, platinum blonde hair cascaded down her back in waves, shimmering like spun silver under the light of the chandeliers.
Her icy blue eyes scanned the room, sharp and intelligent, missing nothing as they passed over the crowd. And then there were her lips full, perfectly shaped, and painted the deepest shade of red, like a slash of fire against her porcelain skin.
My heart stopped. My entire body froze.
I knew that face.
I stared in disbelief as the realization hit me, the shock so intense that it felt like a physical blow. My lips moved before I could stop myself, barely more than a whisper. "It's her..."
The princess.... Princess Xyra Eldarion wasn't just any royal. She was the villainous princess from Crimson Destiny, the romance game I'd been obsessed with in my old life.
The very same princess I'd admired from the moment I first played the game, whose ruthless, cunning personality had captivated me. The one I had joined fan clubs for, the one I had daydreamed about meeting if only she were real.
And now, here she was. Real. Alive. Standing right in front of me.
My head spun, my mind racing with disbelief. This couldn't be happening. How was she here? How was this possible? And gods, she was even more stunning in person than I could have ever imagined.
My heart pounded in my chest, both from awe and anxiety. What was I supposed to do? What could I say? I felt like I was going to faint, torn between wanting to run up to her and confess my undying admiration... and wanting to hide behind the nearest pillar.
Because the truth was, in the game, I'd always dreamed that if Xyra were real, I'd marry her.
I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the moment crashing down on me. I had no idea what was going to happen next, but one thing was certain: my life had just become a whole lot more complicated.
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