Chapter 39: Your Highness!
The golden-red-haired royal Griffin was flanked by a grand procession of ten carriages and a hundred knights, accompanied by the luxurious carriage adorned with a crimson and gilded crest—a roaring lion king in flames.
Everything symbolized the nobility of the visitor.
In an instant, everyone forgot the squabble between the two young rascals, welcoming the royal member with awe, anticipation, and respect.
The carriage door slowly opened, revealing a delicate black silk foot adorned with deep red high heels, lightly touching the ground. Following that, the girl’s slightly curvaceous, elegant legs appeared. Finally, vibrant red hair cascaded like flames, revealing her exquisite beauty, comparable to the kingdom’s treasures.
A frenzied atmosphere spread amongst the crowd.
Naturally, a duke’s banquet would invite royal members.
But no one expected the guest to be the youngest princess of the royal family, the ruby of the Lionheart Kingdom, Charlotte Reinhardt!
It’s known that Charlotte rarely makes appearances at lordly banquets!
Even rarer was the sight of her in an elegant gown.
In the martial Lionheart Kingdom, women could indeed wear military uniforms to such gatherings. But the military attire implies a subtle meaning: they don’t seek to connect with men at the banquet, intent only on minimal socializing. A man inviting a woman in uniform to dance would be seen as disrespectful.
But today, Charlotte had shed that ever-present military uniform!
As the girl gracefully moved, her knee-length wine-red dress spread like fine grape wine, showcasing her beautiful curves wrapped in black over-the-knee stockings. The gown featured a strapless design, emphasizing her budding figure, with her bare shoulders shining under the lights.
Her somewhat youthful face now carried an air of regal pride; stepping in, she surveyed her surroundings like a monarch inspecting her subjects.
The stern pride and superiority of the girl made the other young nobles feel inadequate, instinctively shrinking back and bowing their heads, yet unable to resist sneaking glances at the princess, whose beauty was more radiant than the lights under the starlit night.
Whispers fluttered like the wind, unable to hide the crowd’s fervor for the princess.
Simply put, none of the young generation in the Lionheart Kingdom was without a crush on the princess.
“It’s Her Highness!”
“She wore a gown today; could it be she intends to dance with someone?”
“Oh my, just being able to dance with her would be worth dying for!”
“Then why don’t you go?”
“Are you crazy? Last time she dismissed me in less than three minutes!”
Dreams aside, most were still daunted by Charlotte’s aura and didn’t dare make a move.
“Your Excellency, you are as beautiful as the rumors say; I am from the Cartel family…”
“I know who you are. The banquet hasn’t officially started; I still need to visit Duke Raymond, so could you please step aside?”
A few bold souls attempted to invite the princess but were met with her indifferent rejections, brushed off with cold words.
Despite the stunning princess being right there, they couldn’t hold her ruby-like gaze even for a moment, leaving many males feeling quite downcast.
Yet, Charlotte wasn’t completely indifferent to everyone.
Her eyes drifted over the outer servants, beyond clusters of noble peers, and finally landed on a specific spot right in front of the manor.
Her graceful brows arched slightly, her steps lightened, and Charlotte couldn’t help but break into a faint smile.
Who caught the princess’s attention?
Was he the fortunate one for whom she dressed so splendidly?
Curiosity rising, everyone followed Charlotte’s gaze and suddenly realized she was looking at the very two young rascals from earlier!
Rayan froze for a moment, and then joy surged through him!
She’s looking at me!
Sure enough, that rejection the other day was just her royal modesty and arrogance, maybe even a small test! In reality, she has feelings for me!
Haha, how adorable; this must be what they call tsundere, right?
In an instant, all the shame and humiliation Rayan felt from Roy vanished.
What if he pretended to be a noble gentleman?
But someone as perceptive as the princess could immediately see the vast difference between them.
Rayan shot Roy a scornful glance, smoothed his coat, and, bathing in the astonished, curious, and disbelieving looks of the crowd, puffed out his chest and strode toward the blazing princess.
“Oh! My dear Charlotte, you look absolutely stunning today…”
Rayan naturally extended his hand towards Charlotte.
But Charlotte naturally brushed past him without the slightest pause.
Rayan felt awkward for a moment but didn’t get angry and chased after her, “Charlotte? Are you shy? You don’t need to avoid me.”
Charlotte sighed and finally turned back, casting him a glance filled with impatience and disdain.
“Rayan Raymond, when did I allow you to call me by my name?”
“Haha, if you don’t want to call me that, it’s fine; I know you’re shy. Didn’t I come here just to accompany you?” Rayan stepped in front of Charlotte again, bending slightly, extending his hand, and respectfully performing a gentleman’s gesture.
“Could you stop with your self-serving assumptions? When did I say I came to see you?”
Charlotte impatiently shot one last remark, swirled like fragrant wind, her skirt flowing, and once again glided past Rayan.
Continuously being rejected in front of everyone, with the barely concealed laughter surrounding him, Rayan’s face flushed red, but he was more puzzled by Charlotte’s earlier words.
Not here to see me? Then what was that gaze earlier…?!
Rayan finally snapped back to reality and abruptly turned around.
The gathered nobles could no longer hold back their gasps of surprise.
The red-haired princess finally paused.
And the guy who made her stop was none other than the other rascal Rayan had been squabbling with—Roy Ainbrad!
“Her Highness came to see that Ironblood brat!”
“Ah, I’ve been dumped!”
“Why does that worthless rascal get close to her?!”
“Well, honestly, he’s still a bit better than Rayan Raymond.”
“Um… to be fair, that’s true.”
“And I heard Her Highness and Roy had a lovely chat at the previous matchmaking event, seems those rumors were true!”
Actually, considering the process of elimination, this outcome wasn’t that surprising.
Leaving aside the annoying Rayan, the highest status here belonged to Roy, the marquis’s son.
But when this scene happened right in front of them, it still left people awed by how surreal reality felt.
Excitedly, people began discussing Roy’s incredible transformation and gossiping about his relationship with Charlotte.
As for the pale-faced Rayan Raymond, frozen in place, alone and disheveled by the wind, no one cared anymore.
