Chapter 1: The Entrance

Lady Meredith could only sigh as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She hated the sparkling accessories on her neck and the fancy dress she wore just to look perfect and to match a man.

For her, it would be good to be left alone. She didn't need anyone. However, reality hit her hard with each passing day. She needed to be wed just to gain the power that she wanted. She needed a man to prove her value to his father. She needed a man to have the authority she wanted.

"The Crown Prince is waiting for you, Lady Meredith." The maid bowed her head and stepped backward to make way for the lady.

Meredith rolled her eyes before she finally walked out of the chamber. She smiled sweetly when she approached the Crown Prince who was waiting for her.

A man who couldn't be introduced without her.

The two nodded at each other before the man finally signaled their entrance.

"Glory to the El Famia Empire! I present to you the heir to the throne, His Highness Damian El Famia, and the only daughter of the house of Von Trapp, Lady Meredith Von Trapp!"

A loud cheer and clap erupted in the place when the wide door opened and Damian, the Crown Prince, entered with his fiance Lady Meredith. People stared happily at the two. Some gossip and some were happy with the sight of the two. However, some ladies envied Meredith but no one could deny the fact that she had the beauty and aura that matched the future Emperor of the El Famia Empire.

Lady Meredith wore a flowy violet dress with a touch of gold that matched the Crown Prince's suit. The two both wore robes. They walked towards the emperor who was in his seat.

"Your Majesty," the couple greeted.

The Emperor nodded in recognition toward the two. He grinned while watching the two in front of him. He was proud to have his son engaged to the lady who screams power and beauty at such a young age.

Lady Meredith turned to the Crown Prince. "Enjoy the night, Your Highness." She curtsied before she gracefully turned around and made her way to the corner of the room.

Tonight was a birthday banquet for the Crown Prince. However, for Lady Meredith, it was just another waste of time. She could spend it reading a book or studying but here she was trying to socialize with other people and act as if she was in love with Prince Damian.

While in the corner, she met the eyes of her fiance who was also looking her way. A frown formed on her face when the Prince suddenly smirked before he looked away.

"What was that?" Meredith thought. "That smirk felt like bad news." She shivered before she shook the thoughts away. Luckily, a group of ladies approached her and helped her forget the smirk of her fiance that bothered her. Lady Meredith forced herself to smile at the ladies who were trying to win her favor because she was engaged to the Crown Prince.

It might seem like the two were in love but that was far from reality. Damian and Meredith have been engaged since they were young. However, the two rarely meet each other, especially when the young Meredith is too focused on her studies and that she wanted to be alone most of the time. Their engagement was after all an agreement between the Imperial family and the Von Trapp family.

The Von Trapp family contributed a lot to the Empire and everyone agreed that the only daughter of the house Von Trapp was more suitable for the future Emperor of El Famia.

The two engaged people accepted their fate.

For Damian, it was part of his responsibility, while for Meredith it was an opportunity. That's why the two were both strangers to each other. They don't often see each other even before and don't want to spend time getting to know each other.

"I've heard about the daughter from the house of Solomon," one of the ladies whispered. "After being hidden since birth, she would finally appear today! She'll be coming here for the banquet!"

"That daughter who was rumored to be ugly? I've heard from my family that the reason she was locked in their manor was that the Solomon family was embarrassed."

The gossip between the two ladies caught Lady Meredith's attention. She turned her attention to the two ladies who noticed Meredith's gaze and acted as if they were not gossiping just a few moments ago. Instead, they both grinned at her.

Meredith smiled sweetly at them. "I've heard about the daughter of Marquess Solomon." Her gaze became sharp as she turned to the other lady. "Rumored to be ugly? I've heard from my father, the Duke, that the Marquess was just protective of her daughter. She was after all the only daughter and the only child in the house of Marquess Solomon. Besides, we will see her in a few. So, let's not gossip about her, shall we?"

The ladies surrounding Meredith gave an awkward smile with a slight nod. They shifted the topic to the news of the two engaged couples at the banquet and how they had been seen together for the past few days.

Meredith wanted to scoff if only she was alone. She and Damian were together physically but in their own bubbles. Their family wanted to show off the two before the banquet, so they arranged for the two. Meredith and the Crown Prince went out on a walk inside the Imperial Palace.

They just spent their mornings in the garden area but after lunch, she spent her time studying inside the Crown Prince's study room with Damian beside her. But the young man was also busy and had his own world.

She was about to speak when the entrance opened and everyone became silent as their eyes were focused on the person who entered.

Everyone was in awe, including Meredith when the lady who suddenly appeared smiled and curtsied. She looks angelic with her long brown hair, and skin as white as fresh milk.

"That must be Lady Beatrice Solomon," muttered the lady beside Meredith.

As Meredith stared even more, she followed the gaze of the Lady in front of them. At the end of the room, the Crown Prince stood there, looking straight at the lady who had just entered the room. Something in the way they gazed at each other gave Meredith an unnerving feeling.

She never thought that the moment the daughter in the house of Marquess Solomon made her debut and made her existence known to everyone at the banquet-everything would change.