Fated Eclipse: The Illegitimate Princess And Her Alpha Suitors

Chapter 333: The King’s Address

Lyria’s POV

”T-then m-make it c-clearer,” I said to Lucian. ”I-if y-you w-want m-me t-to u-understand, t-then s-say i-it p-plainly.”

He regarded me for a long moment, his expression unreadable.

”I have,” he said simply. ”And as I said, perhaps you simply do not wish to know what I am speaking of. Perhaps you do not see how I bare myself to you.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but he continued.

”Or perhaps,” he added, his voice softer now, ”you truly do not understand. Which I am beginning to realise may very well be the case.”

I did not know what to say to that.

We continued dancing, the music carrying us gracefully across the ballroom floor.

After a moment, Lucian spoke again.

”It seems every time we are together, we must have a disagreement,” he observed. ”One that leaves me overthinking for days afterwards.”

I blinked at the sudden change in topic.

It was as though we had not been arguing only moments before.

But I chose to answer him, deciding instead to think upon everything he had said at another time. Perhaps when I was alone, I could untangle his words and understand their true meaning.

”I-it i-is r-rather y-your f-fault,” I said. ”I-it h-happens m-most o-of t-the t-time.”

He raised an eyebrow.

”My fault?”

I nodded.

”Y-you a-are n-not a-always a-agreeable.”

He considered this for a moment.

”Would you prefer I be someone who simply agrees with everything you say?” he asked. ”Someone who never questions you?”

I paused, giving his question proper thought.

Then, slowly, I shook my head.

”N-no,” I admitted. ”I m-must a-admit I r-rather l-like t-that y-you a-are n-not s-so a-agreeable.”

He looked at me with curious interest.

”Oh?”

I nodded, feeling warmth creep into my cheeks.

”Y-you m-make m-me q-question t-things,” I explained. ”T-things I t-thought I a-already k-knew. T-things I h-had n-never e-even c-considered b-before.”

A slow smile spread across his face.

”I must confess,” he said, ”I quite like that compliment.”

My cheeks grew warmer still.

We danced in comfortable silence for a few moments.

Then Lucian spoke once more.

”I neglected to tell you something earlier,” he said. ”With everything that transpired, it quite slipped my mind.”

I looked at him curiously.

”T-tell m-me w-what?”

His smile softened.

”You look rather astonishing this evening, Your Highness.”

The compliment caught me entirely unprepared.

I blinked, heat rushing to my face.

”I—”

”Truly,” he continued. ”The gown suits you perfectly, and the manner in which the light catches your hair...”

”Y-you d-do n-not l-look s-so b-bad y-yourself,” I interrupted, my voice betraying my embarrassment.

He chuckled.

”I had to ensure I looked presentable for you,” he said. ”Had I appeared improperly dressed, I should have done your beauty a great disservice merely by standing beside you.”

I laughed softly, shaking my head.

”I d-doubt t-that,” I replied. ”I-if a-anything, i-it w-would b-be t-the o-other w-way a-around.”

He opened his mouth to answer.

Before he could, however, the music came to an end.

The final notes drifted through the ballroom before fading into silence.

Lucian released me gently.

Then he bowed with perfect courtesy.

”Thank you for granting me this dance, Your Highness.”

I returned his bow with a proper curtsy.

”T-thank y-you, Y-Your G-Grace.”

Before either of us could speak again, a footman’s voice rang clearly across the ballroom.

”Your attention, if you please! His Majesty the King requests the attention of all present!”

The effect was immediate.

Every head turned towards the raised dais where the royal family sat.

Lucian’s hand lightly touched my elbow.

”Come,” he said quietly. ”We must take our places.”

He escorted me to my appointed position below the dais, where Jacinta was already being accompanied by Duke Thorncrest.

She looked radiant beneath the glow of the chandeliers, her smile bright as she took her place.

Duke Thorncrest bowed over her hand with impeccable manners before excusing himself and making his way towards the other suitor candidates gathered nearby.

Lucian inclined his head towards me once more.

”Until later, Your Highness.”

Then he too departed, leaving me standing beside Jacinta.

I watched him go, my thoughts still lingering upon everything he had said.

And then...

The King rose from his seat.

Silence spread throughout the grand ballroom like a tide, washing over every noble present until not a single whisper remained.

His Majesty stood tall upon the dais, his bearing commanding and regal, his gaze sweeping across the assembled guests.

”Welcome,” he began, his deep voice carrying effortlessly throughout the hall, ”to the second official Elimination Ball.”

A murmur rippled briefly through the crowd before quickly subsiding.

”We began this Selection with fourteen noble candidates,” the King continued. ”Tonight, we stand at thirteen. By the close of this evening, another shall depart, leaving but twelve.”

He paused, allowing the significance of his words to settle over the gathering.

”This Selection,” he continued, ”is not merely the search for a husband. It is the search for one worthy to stand beside the Moon of our Empire. One worthy to share the burdens of the throne and help guide this kingdom into a new age.”

His gaze travelled across the gathered suitors, resting upon each of them in turn.

”For generations,” he said, ”the prophecy has been interpreted by the High Priestess to foretell that the Moon shall arise from within the royal family.”

His voice carried quiet conviction.

”A princess, one destined to usher our people into a golden age.”

As he spoke those words, his eyes settled warmly upon Jacinta.

The pride upon his face was unmistakable.

Then, only for the briefest instant, his gaze shifted towards me.

It lingered no longer than a heartbeat.

Then it moved away again.

”The Selection is one our entire Empire has long awaited,” the King declared. ”Not merely because it shall determine the future consort of the Moon, but because of the prophecy itself.”

”The powers the Moon of the Empire is foretold to possess. The prosperity she shall bring. And the greatness that shall be bestowed upon our people.”

He raised one hand, gesturing towards the gathered candidates.

”I have every confidence that, before this Selection reaches its conclusion, the one most worthy to stand beside the Moon shall be known to us all.”