Chapter 127 Turning Point in the Grand Hall
The commotion in the main hall had yet to subside. General Claus had caused a stir by escorting Ilse out of the party. The nobles were still quietly discussing the sudden engagement. However, in a corner of the room, far from the main spotlight, the atmosphere was quite different.
Gisella laughed freely, her shoulders shaking as she covered her mouth with her hand.
She was amused by her friend's misfortune, who had quite literally been 'kidnapped' by the general.
Beside her, Julian stood tall like a church pillar.
The military officer's large hand was wrapped around Gisella's waist, pulling her closer without the slightest hesitation.
There was no distance between them, no awkwardness.
Gisella's face flushed; she looked truly happy that night.
While Gisella playfully nudged Julian's arm and whispered to him, a man in the attire of the Crown Prince approached them with hesitant steps.
Prince Didier.
His face looked rather pale, his blond hair slightly disheveled from cold sweat. It was their first meeting in a long time. Didier had broken off their engagement and chosen Lysandra.
Didier stopped a few steps in front of them, his eyes fixed on Gisella.
Gisella turned to face him. Her smile remained, but her gaze became indifferent. There was no longer any hopeful light or pleading expression as in the past when she had chased after the prince. Now, Gisella regarded Didier calmly, as if his presence meant nothing more than a passing breeze.
"Your Highness, Crown Prince," Gisella greeted casually, her voice carrying clearly above the noise of the hall. "Good evening. And congratulations on your engagement to Lady Lysandra. May you both always be happy."
The congratulations cut deep. It was not the sweetness of her words, but the genuine, unburdened tone that showed she no longer cared.
Didier stood frozen in place, his throat tight, unable to speak for several moments.
He looked Gisella up and down, and honestly, Didier felt as though he had just received a hard slap.
Gisella had changed a lot. She was completely different from the girl he used to take for granted.
Back then, Gisella always obeyed Didier's wishes, dressed extravagantly just to catch his attention, and was easy to predict.
Now, she stood tall in a simple yet elegant evening gown, laughing freely, her eyes bright and alive. Radiant. Free.
Gisella looked even more beautiful, in a way Didier had never noticed during their years together.
Didier instinctively swallowed, glancing briefly at Julian, who was watching him intently and warily, with the look of a man ready to protect his beloved's happiness. Julian said nothing, but his arm tightened around Gisella's waist, a clear sign of possessiveness.
Didier's mind was in turmoil. He began to compare.
On one side, he remembered Lysandra, his current fiancée.
The ambitious young woman stood alone at the far end of the room, her face pale as she bit her lip, embarrassed after being neglected and not becoming the star of the party.
Lysandra always demanded perfection and now easily lost control whenever her plans failed.
In front of him stood Gisella, his former fiancée, whom he had left for Lysandra, now looking much happier, glowing beside Viscount Vance.
Didier felt a burning pain in his chest. It was suffocating.
Regret? Too late.
Didier felt a heavy weight pressing on his heart. Everything he had ignored- Gisella's genuine affection, her laughter, and her unconditional loyalty—was now someone else's. He had no right to reclaim it.
"Thank you, Gisella," Didier finally whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion. "I... I'm happy to see you..."
"Thank you for your wishes as well, Your Highness," Gisella replied with a polite but cold smile. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I'd like to accompany my partner for another dance. He's been waiting, after all."
Without waiting for Didier's response, Gisella turned away. She took Julian's arm firmly and left the Crown Prince standing alone in the middle of the crowded hall, like someone who had lost everything.