Chapter 2

Arabella arrived to the palace grounds. She felt the familar scene of the selection run through her head. The scenes of her walking towards the crown prince.

'That was the old me. I do not have a care in the world for that ruthless man anymore.'

"Come now, Iliana. We are going to see the Emperor."

"What?! My lady we should stay in the courtyard with the other ladies."

"Don't worry, I want to see the Emperor to wish him longivity."

Iliana paused then thought of why her mistress would say that.

"Oh, to up your chances of being Crown Princess?!"

Iliana's eyes glistened as she was fond of her mistress way of thinking.

"S-Sure."

Arabella said with a fake smile as she walked over to the Emperor's personal office.

'If I'm mistaken, the Emperor should be in his office looking at the selection of names and at this time he should be making his way over to the courtyard at this time, if only I cross paths with him.'

Arabella made her way to the path of the office and walked around the corner to spot the Emperor but one wrinkle in her plan the Duke was at his side. She had to think fast but what she heard next made her plan come back into motion.

"The villages of the North are starving, cold and the Duke of the North failed to provide for his people. The Duke of the far East hasn't managed a way for the people to adapt to the mountains and the far east is always full of rainforest creatures...If only there is a way to avoid more of our people losing fate in the royal family..." The Emperor spoke as he confined in the Duke.

"Uncle, may the people of the North learn to hunt to make it necessary to learn to avoid growing crops for it's always cold but the land run free of meat. The issue with the far east is the weather conditions and the rain forest creatures..."

Arabella stepped forward catching the attention of the Duke and Emperor.

"May the people of the Far East build villages with walls and gates to block out the elements and creatures." Arabella stated as she walked forward and curtsy. "I'm sorry, your majesty I couldn't help evasdrop."

The Emperor scanned the young girl and instantly he smiled.

"Young lady, what is your name and family?"

"I am Arabella Violette De Pointe, of the Count De Pointe family."

"Such a lovely name and girl. You are clever for your age."

"I have read of people in ancient times having walls and gates in the early days of civilization from the elements. For creatures they built taller walls and have pushed the creatures back with nightly gaurds. Though our kingdom is open and have no threats. The people of the far east have creatures that are far too dangerous especially at night." Arabella eagerly talked a little about her reads.

"This girl is too eager about politics and problems, your majesty. It's abnormal for a girl besides the Empress and consorts to know of situations such as these." The Duke raised an eyebrow at Arabella.

Arabella smiled as she waited for a response. The emperor stayed silent and laughed.

"Haha! Finn this girl is wonderful. A young girl as clever as her is worthy of being Crown princess!"

Arabella's heart stopped as she heard those words. She can help from behind the scenes but she rather not be a Crown Princess. If she can trade places with Eliza for her to have her place and suffer. Eliza was a schemer and the person who made her fall from grace along with Leonard.

"Oh, no your majesty I can't take this position! I will rather stay humble!"

"Such a waste, the De Pointe household has a brilliant young woman."

The Duke sighed and realized the Arabella was instantly uncomfortable with this sudden decision.

"You know, your majesty you don't have any daughters yet. The De Pointe family is of distant royalty of lineage. Even if Arabella doesn't marry Leonard you can give her the title of Adopted Princess."

"You are right, Finn. Let's give her the title of Princess of Wisedom, Arabella De Pointe. I will not give you the Ruiz name but you will have the title of princess."

"Thank you, your majesty. I will not take the title for granted." Arabella curtseys and held her virtue as she was excited for her new title.

"Arabella grab my arm, I am your gaurdian in the palace and during events. I will talk to the count after the ceremony to ensure you are trained to be wiser. You are like your father in wisedom and your mother held true virtue." Arabella held on to the Emperor's arm as she walked with him to the courtyard as they chatted about solutions.

The courtyard was lively of young ladies as they chatted away the Crown Prince was bored but a young lady with light brown shoulder length hair and blue eyes have caught the Crown Prince attention. The Crown Prince sat up and turned to his personal assistant.

"Hey, who's that girl over there?"

"Lady Eliza, she hailed from the Kilian family."

"Kilian...the family that produce saintess." The crown prince thought about it and looked around. "I'll keep her as a second choice."

As the Crown Prince look bored again he waited for his father's arrival. The crown prince was impatient he have seen all the girls except for the family of birthing talented beautiful woman. The De Pointe family.

"Annoucing the entrance of his Majesty the Emperor! Duke Ruiz! And the newly appointed Princess Arabella!"

"What?!" Everyone was in disbelief. As they watched the beautiful young woman accompany the Emperor.

"Yes, this young lady will be my newly adopted daughter. The young lady will be apart of the sucession line. But don't worry, she will not partake in the Crown Princess competition."

The Emperor calmed the crowd down as he turned to his seat.

"Father! I was waiting for Arabella, she is the most beautiful girl in the kingdom! Are you sure I can't have her as the crown princess?!"

The crown prince plead as he basked in Arabella's beauty. Arabella stood gracefully next to the Emperor's throne as he signaled for her to sit.

"Unfortunately son, she refused and wanted to be a princess of wisedom. A young woman who values wisedom over beauty is much of use."

"But father-!"

"No buts!"

Arabella smiled as she is served a spot of tea as the ceremony commenced. The crown prince glared at her with hatred for her decision.

'This is only the begining.'

Iliana turned over to the crown prince as she noticed his eyes were burning with hatred.

'The crown prince must be displeased with how the young miss became a princess.'

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