While Selena basked in the soft glow of whispered admiration and the warmth of new friendships, she remained unaware of the sharp gaze observing her from the shadows.
Hidden behind a column at the far end of the ballroom, Raven Rukwick — heir to the Grand Duke’s family — stood silently, a glass of untouched wine in his hand. His dark, keen eyes never left Selena’s figure.
There was something different about her tonight.
Not the usual arrogance, not the coldness he had once heard whispered about.
No — she was graceful, composed, kind.
A glimmer of something flickered in Raven’s eyes — a trace of admiration, quickly masked by a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Interesting," he thought.
But fate had its own threads woven tightly.
When Raven’s gaze shifted across the room, his attention was swiftly caught by another figure — Lady Miya, standing radiant under the chandelier’s golden glow.
Blonde hair like sunlight, blue eyes as pure as a spring morning, and an elegance so effortless it seemed almost divine.
The world seemed to narrow for him at that moment.
And across the ballroom, Miya noticed Raven too.
Her eyes lingered longer than propriety allowed, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink.
It was as if the gears of destiny clicked into place — once again.
Just as the story foretold, love at first sight bloomed between them.
---
A sudden hush swept through the crowd like a wave.
All conversation ceased as the grand double doors opened at the far end of the hall.
Escorted by a procession of royal knights, the Emperor entered — regal, commanding, his presence filling the room like thunderclouds rolling across the sky.
Everyone immediately dropped into deep bows and curtsies, a sea of heads lowered in reverence.
The Emperor’s voice, calm and rich with authority, carried across the ballroom.
"Rise."
The nobles obeyed, lifting their heads to meet the gaze of their sovereign.
The Emperor stood tall upon the dais, his piercing eyes surveying the glittering crowd until they settled upon two figures.
"Selena Valkrian," he called, his voice resonant. "Raven Rukwick."
The crowd shifted, parting like a tide as Selena and Raven stepped forward — each composed, each prepared for whatever awaited.
Selena kept her expression neutral, despite the thundering of her heart.
Raven, too, wore a mask of stoic calm — though a glint of amusement danced briefly in his eyes as he caught Selena's presence beside him.
The Emperor raised a hand for silence, though none dared to utter a word.
"The true purpose of tonight’s ball," he began, "is not merely to celebrate the blessings of our Empire... but to announce a bond between two of its most distinguished houses."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle in the expectant air.
"Thus, I hereby decree the engagement of Lady Selena Valkrian, daughter of Duke Ezekiel Valkrian, to Lord Raven Rukwick, heir to the Grand Duke’s family."
The room erupted into thunderous applause.
Cheers, congratulations, and excited whispers filled the grand ballroom as noblemen and women clapped, their faces alight with excitement.
Selena smiled politely and bowed her head slightly — her mind, however, raced furiously behind her composed mask.
"The engagement is official now..." she thought, "but the marriage decree isn’t signed yet. There’s still time — my plan must move faster."
Beside her, Raven offered a slight bow as well, his expression unreadable — yet his mind, too, was filled with swirling thoughts.
Not just about the engagement.
But about the girl who now stood beside him, so poised, so changed.
And in the crowd, Miya’s blue eyes shimmered — fixed not on Selena, but solely on Raven.
Thus, as fate’s web tightened, Selena smiled serenely.
The real game had only just begun
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Comments
yeqi_378
Wow, this book had me hooked from the very beginning!
2025-04-30
1