Fated Eclipse: The Illegitimate Princess And Her Alpha Suitors

Chapter 358: The Crowd and the Rose

Lyria’s POV

I was flanked by my guards, their presence a constant reminder of my position.

I had asked them to keep a little distance, however. I was only going to greet people. The commoners were not criminals, after all, and I saw little reason for them to hover so closely that everyone around me felt as though they were being watched.

Besides, the suitor candidates who had won their matches would be among the crowd as well. I was hardly without protection.

The moment we reached the area where the citizens had gathered, however, it did not take long for us to be surrounded.

Nobles who had scarcely spared me a glance before were suddenly eager to make my acquaintance. Their smiles were bright, their manners impeccable, and their words polished to perfection.

They spoke of their estates.

Their families.

Their connections at court.

They praised my gown, my composure, even the manner in which I had conducted myself throughout the competition.

Yet I saw the looks in their eyes.

The dismissiveness.

The condescension.

And, more than anything, the brief flicker of their gazes towards the scar upon my face before they hastily looked elsewhere, as though even acknowledging it would constitute a breach of etiquette.

”Your Highness,” one nobleman said, his voice smooth, ”it is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. I confess, I had heard a number of accounts concerning you, but I had not anticipated you would be quite so...” He paused, evidently searching for a suitable word. ”Composed in such circumstances.”

”T-thank you,” I replied pleasantly.

His smile remained.

His eyes did not.

”I do hope we shall have the pleasure of speaking again at the ball. I have a daughter, you see, quite near your age. I believe the two of you might find one another’s company agreeable.”

I nodded.

I understood the implication perfectly.

He did not wish to know me.

He wished to position himself closer to the royal family through me.

I was merely a convenient bridge.

A stepping stone.

An opportunity dressed in silk and good manners.

But I did not particularly care.

I had no desire to spend the afternoon entertaining nobles who had only just realised I existed. I wanted to reach the people who had treated me as though I belonged among them which I did.

The commoners were not far away.

I could see them just beyond the cluster of nobles, their faces bright with excitement.

Brianna was there, bouncing upon her toes, her braids swinging wildly with every movement. Helen stood beside her, composed as ever, though I could see the faint smile upon her face.

Jacob and Olly were nearby as well.

Their familiar faces were a comfort amid the sea of strangers.

Unfortunately, there was only so much I could do.

The commoners were expected to remain at a certain distance from the nobility. Though they had been permitted to attend and celebrate alongside everyone else, there remained an invisible boundary between them and the aristocrats.

And they could not simply cross it.

I hated that.

I hated the invisible barriers that kept us apart.

I hated the way the nobles pressed closer to me while the commoners were forced to watch from several paces away.

I turned my attention back to the nobleman before me.

I had already forgotten his name.

I knew only that he did not truly wish to speak with me. He was merely performing the appropriate pleasantries because it was advantageous to do so.

I smiled politely, counting my words as I spoke.

”Whatever correspondence you should wish to direct towards me,” I said, ”you may send it through the appropriate channels. I am certain you must have many matters requiring your attention.”

The nobleman’s expression faltered for the briefest moment.

Then he gave a light chuckle.

”Indeed. Should I think of anything further to discuss with Your Highness, I shall be certain to do so.”

I knew what that meant.

He would not.

The moment I turned away, I would cease to be of interest to him.

And that suited me perfectly well.

I gave him a courteous nod before moving towards the next person, all the while making small, deliberate steps in the direction of the commoners.

Then I heard a familiar voice.

”Are you truly intending to abandon all these distinguished gentlemen and ladies for the common folk?”

I turned.

Duke Thorncrest stood behind me, a smile upon his face.

His dark hair was slightly dishevelled from the afternoon’s exertion, and there was a lively glint in his warm brown eyes that suggested he found the entire affair vastly entertaining.

I smiled back.

”I w-will,” I said.

He laughed.

”I admire your priorities, Your Highness.”

His tone was teasing, but there was sincerity beneath it.

”I can make a path for you, if you wish. Besides, I confess I should rather like to speak with them myself. I have never before had an entire section of an arena chanting my name.”

There was such obvious pride in his voice that I could not help smiling.

”Y-you actually f-fought well,” I said before I could stop myself. ”If I a-am being honest, I w-was impressed.”

His chest puffed out almost immediately.

”I assure you, Your Highness, you shall be considerably more impressed with me before this selection is concluded.”

I laughed softly.

His confidence was almost astonishing.

Just then, another nobleman attempted to approach me, his hand already extending as though he intended to draw me into another conversation.

Duke Thorncrest noticed him.

He stepped neatly into the man’s path.

”Forgive me,” he said with effortless courtesy, ”but I was just about to borrow Her Highness for a moment. There is someone she simply must meet.”

The nobleman blinked.

His gaze moved from the duke to me and back again.

Whatever objection he might have had died before it reached his lips.

One did not easily argue with a duke.

I took advantage of the opportunity and slipped past.

It took only a few moments before I finally reached the edge of the commoners’ section.

Then a child ran towards me.

She was small, with brown hair divided into two thick braids and tied with simple dark ribbons.

In her hands, she clutched a rose.

The stem was bent, and several of its petals had been bruised.