The Forgotten Princess’S Rebellion Chapter 12

[Royal Ball – Grand Hall]

[The chandeliers shimmered like captured stardust, bathing the ballroom in a golden glow. The air was thick with the scent of roses and expensive wine, and the hum of polite conversation filled the space between soft musical notes.]

Seraphina Valenhardt (princess/fl)

*Seraphina stood at the edge of the ballroom, her fingers brushing against the cool stem of a wine glass. Her gaze swept over the sea of dancers, her mind trapped in a storm of thoughts*

Seraphina Valenhardt (princess/fl)

This was it

Seraphina Valenhardt (princess/fl)

The moment the novel was supposed to begin

Seraphina Valenhardt (princess/fl)

This royal banquet was where Elias Ravenspire, the elusive Duke who never danced, would unexpectedly extend his hand to Lady Evelynn Rosenhall. The moment that would spark the silent war of affections, shifting the gazes of powerful men toward her

Seraphina Valenhardt (princess/fl)

Seraphina was supposed to be nothing more than a forgotten shadow in the background

Seraphina Valenhardt (princess/fl)

But then—

---

[The crowd fell into hushed murmurs as a figure stepped forward.]

Seraphina Valenhardt (princess/fl)

*Seraphina’s breath hitched.*

[Elias Ravenspire—the very man who should have been walking toward Evelynn—was heading toward her.]

[Every step he took was deliberate, his deep red eyes locked onto her. The murmurs grew louder, but Seraphina barely heard them over the pounding in her chest.]

Elias Ravenspire (grand Duke/ml 2)

(extending his gloved hand, his voice smooth and unreadable) Would you grant me this dance, Princess?

[For a second, the world tilted.]

Seraphina Valenhardt (princess/fl)

This wasn't right this wasn’t how the story was supposed to unfold (thought)

Seraphina Valenhardt (princess/fl)

(hesitantly placed her hand over his)

---

[At the Banquet Table – Evelynn]

Evelynn Rosenhall (og fl)

*Evelynn's poised smile barely wavered, but her grip on her glass tightened just slightly*

Evelynn Rosenhall (og fl)

This was… unexpected

Evelynn Rosenhall (og fl)

The Duke never danced. And if he did, surely—surely—it should have been with her

Evelynn Rosenhall (og fl)

This forgotten princess why is she getting everyone's attention *fist clenched*

Evelynn Rosenhall (og fl)

*Evelynn glanced around discreetly, catching the silent reactions of those watching*

Evelynn Rosenhall (og fl)

*The Crown Prince. The Knight. Even the Sorcerer hidden in the shadows*

Evelynn Rosenhall (og fl)

They all looked… different

---

[At the Balcony – Cassius]

Cassius Valenhardt (crown prince/ml 1)

*Cassius leaned back in his chair, golden eyes hooded as he watched the ballroom below. He held a glass of wine, but he hadn’t taken a sip in a while*

Cassius Valenhardt (crown prince/ml 1)

*The sight of Elias leading his step-sister onto the dance floor stirred something sharp and unpleasant in his chest*

Cassius Valenhardt (crown prince/ml 1)

*It wasn't rage. It wasn't even jealousy—*

Cassius Valenhardt (crown prince/ml 1)

*It was irritation*

Cassius Shadow Guard

(kneeling beside him, cautious) Your Highness?

Cassius Valenhardt (crown prince/ml 1)

(low, thoughtful) Strange

Cassius Shadow Guard

What is?

Cassius Valenhardt (crown prince/ml 1)

*Cassius finally took a sip, the crimson liquid swirling against the light*

Cassius Valenhardt (crown prince/ml 1)

(smirking slightly) That I suddenly feel like breaking something

---

[At the Ballroom Entrance – Kieran]

Kieran Valtor (knight/ ml4)

*Kieran Valtor’s jaw clenched as he watched Elias’s hand rest at Seraphina’s waist. The sight of her, dressed in silver and green, moving so effortlessly in the Duke’s arms, twisted something inside him*

Kieran Valtor (knight/ ml4)

(muttering under his breath) What the hell is he playing at?

Kieran Valtor (knight/ ml4)

*the way Elias held her, the way she fit against him—it was an image Kieran hadn’t expected to affect him so much*

---

[At the Shadows – Lucien]

Lucien D’Arcy (sorcerer/ml 3)

*Lucien D’Arcy watched from the dimly lit edges of the ballroom, his glowing blue eyes unreadable. A smirk played at his lips, but his fingers drummed idly against his glass, betraying his thoughts*

Lucien D’Arcy (sorcerer/ml 3)

(softly, to himself) My, my… this is getting interesting

Lucien D’Arcy (sorcerer/ml 3)

*But deep inside, something like irritation curled in his chest*

---

[On the Dance Floor]

Elias Ravenspire (grand Duke/ml 2)

*Elias led effortlessly, his grip firm but careful, his steps practiced yet unhurried*

Seraphina Valenhardt (princess/fl)

(low, barely a whisper) You weren’t supposed to ask me

Elias Ravenspire (grand Duke/ml 2)

(tilting his head, amused) Oh? And who was I supposed to ask?

Seraphina Valenhardt (princess/fl)

(meeting his gaze, voice steady) Lady Evelynn

Elias Ravenspire (grand Duke/ml 2)

*Elias chuckled, the sound low and knowing, his fingers pressing just slightly against the small of her back*

Elias Ravenspire (grand Duke/ml 2)

(leaning in, voice just for her) Tell me, Princess… do I look like a man who follows expectations?

Seraphina Valenhardt (princess/fl)

*Her pulse stuttered. She hated how easily he unsettled her*

Seraphina Valenhardt (princess/fl)

(quietly, challenging) And what do you gain from this, Duke?

Elias Ravenspire (grand Duke/ml 2)

(smirking, twirling her smoothly) Perhaps I simply enjoy seeing men realize what they didn’t know they wanted

Seraphina Valenhardt (princess/fl)

*Her stomach twisted—not because of his words, but because of the weight of gazes she could feel on her*

[The story was changing.]

[And she had no idea why.]

---

[At the Banquet Table – Evelynn Again]

Evelynn Rosenhall (og fl)

*Evelynn kept her serene mask in place, smiling when necessary, speaking when expected. But inside, something cold and sharp settled in her chest*

Evelynn Rosenhall (og fl)

Why did this feel like a shift?

Evelynn Rosenhall (og fl)

Why did it feel like something had just been taken from her?

End of the chapter

Author 💬

"The story was never meant to be hers… yet here she was, rewriting it with every step she took—one stolen dance at a time."