As He Held Her in His Arms

After some time of recuperating her feelings, Lady Amara, the late Emperor Darya, finally had the opportunity to go to an Imperial banquet. It was the birthday banquet of the current Empress. Silla did her best to make her stand out and insisted on assisting her during the ball.

When the time to leave came, Count Sebastian came to pick her up in her room as they went out the manor together. While in the carriage, the ride was silent at first until Count Sebastian spoke.

“Does the Crown Prince treat you well?” Count Sebastian had been curious about this. He can see that her daughter has changed since that incident. He is also worried that something is going on but he has no idea.

Amara was silenced as she thought of whether lying or telling the truth to Count Sebastian. She then found herself showing a small smile to not make him too concerned.

“We are well and we understand each other, father.” She replied, choosing to stay neutral without telling both the exact truth and a made up lie. 

Count Sebastian’s brows furrowed and later, he had a gentle look on his face. “You fell out of love, didn't you?” He knows his daughter better than anyone else.

She did not speak. So Lady Amara did love the Crown Prince? After accidentally finding out about Lady Amara’s personal diary, there she found out that the Crown Prince was cheating on his fiancée. Lady Amara met the Crown Prince’s mistress a few times and had bullied her. Lady Amara was a kind lady and is very passionate about being honest with her feelings. At first, she had no feelings with the Crown Prince but she eventually fell in love after meeting him a few times. There was also an incident where she witnessed the Crown Prince help a poor child, making her fall in love even more. 

The way Lady Amara described the Crown Prince in her diary, Darya can say that she had really fallen in love with the physical appearance of the Crown Prince without any other investigations. She looked at him literally and complimented him and respected him with his position. It was purely a simple attraction for a young woman to have fallen in love for the first time.

“I failed to have reserved the amorous sentiment in my heart, father.” Lady Amara answered, feeling sad that she does not know whether the real Amara liked what she replied. She had no idea if Amara still likes the Crown Prince.

How would the Count react if he finds out that his only daughter has actually died after she learned that her fiancée was cheating on her?

She looked down upon the Count’s silence after hearing her reply. Count Sebastian might not be the best father but at least he cared for his daughter and did not leave her alone when she was sick before her death. Until then, she heard a small laugh from Count Sebastian.

“That’s good to hear from you, my daughter.”

Amara raised her head upon hearing the Count’s unexpected reaction. She watched the relief on the Count’s face as she also felt relieved to see that the Count was happy to hear her reply.

“Honestly, I have not liked the idea of you engaging with the Crown Prince. If it was not because you look at him with such admiration, I would have chosen to get punished rather than forcing my only daughter to accept an ‘ignorant’ man. I am sorry for the term.” The Count laughed with his last sentence.

And as the former Emperor, how could she have not noticed the presence and sincere feelings of the Count during her time? Count Sebastian, and as far as she can remember, he was the silent one among the nobles. He has a calm personality and is only speaking if he speaks relevance. Now she knows why Count Sebastian rarely attended ceremonies. It was because… Lady Amara, his only daughter and only family, is always sick.

With his eyes looking at her with love and care, Count Sebastian tapped Amara’s head. “You have no need of concern, Amara. If I get an opportunity to have a personal conversation with his majesty, I will open up about this matter and ask him to reconsider your engagement with the Crown Prince.”

That moment, Amara strangely felt safe as she felt the feeling of having a family by her side. It’s nostalgic. She felt comfortable and is missing that moment in her life when her grandfather was still alive. If only, she could bring back the time…

“Count Alejandro Sebastian, Jr. and Lady Amara Sebastian have arrived!” The informant’s voice echoed all over the banquet hall as the attendees turned their heads towards the upcoming visitors.

While gently holding her hand, Count Sebastian guided his daughter to the staircase as they were approached by some noblemen and noble ladies. Count Sebastian told her to enjoy the banquet before coming to his fellow noblemen.

“My lady, it has been a while since I saw you. I am glad you are doing well.” A lady with curly hair approached her. She had noble ladies behind her who greeted her as well. Looking at them, they seemed to be friends with Lady Amara.

This time, she showed a small smile to stay in her character. “I am also glad to have seen you again, my lady. We should have tea again.”

“Oh yes, thank you very much! I am looking forward to it.”

Lady Amara had a talk with the ladies as they also ate snacks while waiting for the real event. The ladies asked about why she was not with the Crown Prince but she just made a reason and changed the subject without suspicion. So then while exchanging words, they were stopped upon hearing the informant’s announcement.

“Crown Prince Lorenzo Marshall De Garrett and Lady Tanzania Amorio have arrived.”

Everyone stood up to greet the Crown Prince including her. In fact, she was silenced with the fact that the Crown Prince, her fiancée, actually just ridiculed her by bringing another woman on a banquet when she was present. 

After greeting the Crown Prince, the people’s eyes would turn to her and then to Lady Tanzania, a woman with a slim curve on her waist. Her hair is wavy and red. She was wearing a luxurious red dress that shaped her curvy and slim body along with her bulky breast. It was definitely a man’s best scenery. In a malevolent man’s view, this woman will be a perfect banquet partner to show off.

As the fiancée of the Crown Prince, she started walking to him while the ladies cheered her up because they were thinking that she was hurt by the sight of her fiancée being with another woman at a banquet. 

As for Amara, she was wearing a simple pink dress with flowers woven to it. She had light makeup but it emphasized the simplicity of her beauty. It was her first time to tie up her hair, making the Crown Prince not recognize her for a few seconds. By how she walks, elegance was possessing her appearance and by how she looked at the Crown Prince, it was pure formality without any affectionate feelings.

“I greet his highness Crown Prince Lorenzo. May the light be with you,” she lowered her head out of respect before raising her chin up to look at the Crown Prince who just got mesmerized for a second.

“I apologize if I was not able to inform his highness about my arrival as I was confused about my endeavour. In the end, I have chosen to attend her majesty, Empress Kathika’s birthday banquet.”

Upon hearing that, mouths started moving and whispers started being mumbled.

“Oh my, I could not believe that Lady Amara could be this calm upon seeing her fiancée just take another woman to a banquet.”

“Right, if I was her, I would definitely slap that indecent woman for touching my fiancée.”

“What is this? I thought that the Crown Prince was a man with his words…”

The whispers were mostly about the Crown Prince neglecting his responsibility as Amara’s fiancée, making him grit his teeth in insult. He was about to say something to defend himself and ridicule her in front of everyone but then they heard the informant again.

“His Majesty, Emperor Esteban De Garrett and her majesty, Empress Kathika Morata have arrived!”

Everyone was silent as they all turned to face the grand door. Everyone made a way for them. Upon passing each one of them, they finally raised their heads as the Emperor and Empress stood in the front. The Emperor took a glass of wine and raised his hand.

“This is the most awaited day of my beloved wife as it also serves as the only day I would never neglect. I would like to thank all of you for giving us your time to celebrate with us tonight. Enjoy the rest of the party.”

Amara, the Late Emperor Darya, was all silent upon seeing Esteban’s face and his eyes that were her favourite. His face was more cheerful and the wrinkles on his face made her realize that he was actually much older than her. Right, they had a ten years gap when they got married. However, although he is old, his face is still entrancing and it is full of gentleness. 

Her lips curved while she looked at him longingly but it faded upon seeing him hold the Empress’ waist, lovingly and gently. His eyes say it all that he is happy… with someone else.