Episode 3

The empress looked at her son showing pity for his fate.

"Now I want to know if you are willing to see her suffer all that just because you 'love' her? Are you that selfish? Let her go, your destiny is very different from hers, you will be unhappy and you will make her unhappy, now, accept your destiny and stop being childish, if you want to stop being the crown prince remember that outside these walls and without that title you are no one, you don't know how to work like a commoner, you will subject her to a life of sacrifice and deprivation even more so when she is the one who has to support her home, now withdraw, come back when you are willing to give up your title and be a commoner for her, in the meantime, you will marry Magenta Duncan, and that's it — said the woman while Renan is speechless, the cruel reality of his fate has left him shocked, he can't find a way to have Alessa without hurting her and without him losing his title, it is something he doesn't want to give up, he is the crown prince and the future emperor.

*_*

Two months later, the debutante ball had arrived, Alessa had not heard from the prince since that day, she was distraught, there was a pain in her heart, something told her that trouble was coming, and it was not just a premonition, Alessa kept a big secret, something she had hidden all her life, a letter her mother had left her told what was going on, this made Alessa know that her life would not be normal unless she kept the secret.

Alessa was surprised to see that her father had brought her a beautiful dress, she really appreciated it, anyway, it was her debut, so she didn't take it as anything too strange.

The whole family went to the imperial palace, Magenta looked at Alessa mockingly, however, she didn't care, her older sister always bothered her, but Alessa loved her, she understood that her sister is loyal to her mother, who was jealous of Alessa's mother and that's why she justified her.

When they arrived, several young nobles looked with interest at the beautiful Alessa, Magenta was outraged, Alessa's beauty was remarkable, more than remarkable, the ladies of society were annoyed to see their sons, looking excitedly at the beautiful girl, but being the daughter of a concubine, she was undesirable to them, except as a concubine of their sons, but to bring such a beautiful young woman into their home was a double-edged sword for themselves, their husbands might desire their son's woman.

The Duchess was annoyed, when Magenta debuted she had several suitors, but Alessa had attracted the attention of suitors of higher rank, sons of archdukes from other empires, they looked at her with great interest.

When the event began, the debutantes were announced, everyone applauded, but when Alessa Duncan was announced, the applause was louder and more enthusiastic, however, a tall figure dressed in black watched from a corner, watching the situation impassively, the silver mask with black covering any emotion he might have.

The emperors entered and everyone greeted them, the crown prince accompanied them along with his brothers and sisters, who were the children of the emperor's concubines.

Renan, at 18, should already have a fiancee, he had been delayed, however, seeing Alessa so beautiful standing there, his heart was about to break knowing what would happen, however, Alessa's heart was racing, seeing Renan standing there so elegant and handsome reassured her, her heart leaped at the expectation that he would propose to her.

"Welcome everyone, it is an honor for us to hold this debutante ball, and even more so because today the crown prince will announce his engagement and we hope it will be at a good time," said the emperor with false joy, he knows he is condemning his son to a life of grief and pain, of loneliness and fury, however, he had not fought for that love, like him, he loved his beloved Rosa madly, but he could not take care of her, he could not do anything for her, he could not even prevent her from being murdered, even though she was so different and special, unique in the world, his beloved son that he had with his beloved had to be taken away so that he would not die at the hands of his enemies, he is hated by the fruit of the love with his beloved, his son repudiates and abhors him.

Renan took courage and stepped forward, he had to do his duty, what he considered to be for the good of the empire, he had not made the slightest effort for her, but he justified himself with that.

"I have made the decision to take as my fiancee a young lady of society for her virtues, she will be a worthy representative of our empire, so I invite you to join me in..."

"Lady Magenta Duncan, eldest daughter of Duke Duncan, who will be the empress and mother of the empire," he said, averting his eyes from Alessa's surprised gaze.

The beautiful girl was stunned, hoping she had not heard correctly, but when she saw Magenta approaching Renan with a dazzling smile, she almost fainted from the shock, she realized that they had made a fool of her, now she understood Magenta's mocking look, the duchess's perverse smile, only she had believed all this, a crown prince in love with the daughter of a concubine, a useless and useless daughter.