Chapter 44
Lucian could not take it anymore. All evening, he had watched Aurora laugh with other nobles.
Watched her smile.
Watched her speak confidently.
Watched her completely ignore him.
It felt wrong. For years, Aurora's eyes had always searched for him first. Tonight, it was as though he did not exist.
He crossed the ballroom before he could stop himself, "Lady Aurora."
Aurora turned gracefully. For a brief, moment, her eyes met his.
Then her expression became perfectly polite, "Good evening, Your Highness Crown Prince Lucian."
She curtsied. The ballroom seemed to fall silent. Nearby nobles immediately stopped talking.
Everyone was watching...Waiting.
Gossip spread faster than wildfire in noble society. And tonight's entertainment had just presented itself.
Lucian extended his hand.
"Lady Aurora, I would like to dance with my fiancée " His voice was calm, but loud enough for every nobleman surrounding her to hear.
A warning.
A claim.
A reminder.
Aurora immediately understood. Several young nobles stepped back. She wanted to refuse. Unfortunately, doing so would create a scandal. And she had enough problems already.
With a polite smile, she placed her hand in his, "Of course, Your Highness."
Lucian led her onto the dance floor.
Across the room, Bella's smile remained perfectly sweet. Only the way her fingers tightened around her fan revealed her true feelings. Jealousy burned beneath the surface.
As the music began, Lucian placed one hand lightly against Aurora's waist.
The touch startled him.
She felt smaller than he remembered.
More delicate.
His fingers closed around her hand.
Then he noticed something unexpected. Tiny calluses.
Not the hands of a noble lady. The hands of someone who worked.
Who sewed.
Who practiced with a sword.
Who spent hours writing reports.
Who had changed.
"You've been avoiding me."
Aurora kept her eyes fixed beyond his shoulder, "I have not been avoiding you."
"You haven't looked at me once tonight."
A small smile appeared on her lips, "I'm watching my steps."
Lucian frowned, "What?"
Aurora finally looked at him, "I once trusted you to catch me when I stumbled."
Her voice remained calm.
Soft.
Almost gentle.
Somehow that made it worse.
"I learned not to make that mistake twice."
The memory hit Lucian instantly.
A banquet years ago. Aurora tripping.
Him stepping aside because Bella had called his name.
The embarrassment on Aurora's face.
The humiliation.
The hurt.
For the first time, he wondered how many moments like that she remembered.
"You look beautiful tonight," he said quietly.
"Thank you."
Nothing more.
No blush.
No excitement.
No joy.
Just politeness.
Lucian hated it. He preferred when she nagged for his attention.
At least then she felt something.
"Are you still determined to break the engagement?"
"Yes" , Her answer came instantly.
No hesitation...No doubt...No hope.
Just certainty.
Something twisted painfully inside his chest.
"When will I get the chance to meet the man who stole you from me?"
Aurora laughed softly. There was no happiness in the sound.
"He didn't steal me from you."
Her eyes met his.
"You abandoned me for another woman.", The words struck harder than any sword.
Lucian opened his mouth, then closed it.
Because for once...He had no defence. "I didn't understand you."
She smiled sadly, tears glistening in her eyes.
" You never tried to. He did. He loved me. He chose me every single day without hesitation, without conditions, without expecting anything in return. He gave me a lifetime of happiness. How could I ever let go of a love like that? He is the heartbeat I still carry within me"
The music ended......The dancers slowed.
Aurora stepped away immediately. As though relieved to escape.
"Thank you for the dance, Your Highness."
She curtsied. Then walked away. Leaving Lucian standing alone.
For the first time in years.
He understood what being left behind felt like.
Across the room, Bella watched everything. Every glance. Every word. Every second. And she didn't like what she saw. Not one bit.
Lucian's eyes followed Aurora.
Again...And again......And again.
Bella felt panic creep into her chest. No, this wasn't supposed to happen.
Aurora was supposed to cling to him. Beg for him. Embarrass herself. Instead, she had become the most talked-about woman in the ballroom.
Bella's smile sharpened.
If Aurora would not humiliate herself...
Then Bella would help.
Moments later, Bella approached Aurora near the refreshments table.
Her smile was sweet enough to rot teeth.
"Lady Aurora."
Aurora turned, "Lady Bella."
Bella linked her hands together innocently.
"We haven't spoken in ages. How have you been?"
"Busy."
"I heard you've been managing the duchy."
"I have."
"How admirable." , Bella's smile widened, "So brave."
The compliment sounded genuine. It wasn't.
Aurora recognized the tone immediately.
Bella had used it countless times in her previous life.
The sweet voice. The innocent smile. The hidden knife.
Aurora almost felt nostalgic...Almost.
As they walked, Bella carefully positioned herself.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Then Aurora noticed it. The slight movement. The shift in Bella's foot and the exact same trick.
The exact same place and the exact same expression. Just like before.
Aurora nearly laughed. Some people never changed.
At the last second, she gracefully stepped aside.
Bella's foot met empty air. Her body lurched forward.
And because she had already committed to the movement—
Crash!.......Bella slammed directly into a passing servant carrying wine.
Several glasses flew into the air. Red wine splashed everywhere.
A noblewoman screamed, a nobleman nearly dropped his drink.
And Bella landed on the floor. The entire ballroom froze.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Bella stared upward in horror.
Aurora blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then looked genuinely confused, "My goodness."
Bella's face immediately filled with tears.
Not real tears.... Very convincing tears.
"I tried to stop you, Lady Aurora.", Her voice trembled.
Bella said sadly, "You pushed me."
Several nobles gasped.
Aurora starred. The audacity was almost impressive.
"I... what?"
Bella dabbed at her eyes, "I was only trying to help, how cruel could you be."
Aurora looked around helplessly. "I moved because I saw the waiter coming."
She paused...Then added honestly, "I never saw your hand."
The statement sounded so sincere that several nobles immediately looked uncertain.
Bella's expression nearly cracked.
Aurora wasn't supposed to defend herself properly. She was supposed to become angry.
Raise her voice.
Create a scene.
Instead, she looked confused, and Bella looked ridiculous.
Before either could speak again, Lucian appeared.
The tension in the room became suffocating.
Everyone waited.
Which side would he choose?
Bella looked at him hopefully.
Aurora simply looked tired.
Lucian's gaze moved between them.
Then he spoke calmly, "Lady Bella's concern was admirable."
Bella smiled. Relieved.
Then Lucian continued.
"Lady Aurora's reaction was understandable, she never pushed you."
Bella's smile froze.
"There is no reason for this unfortunate accident to spoil the evening."
Perfectly reasonable. Perfectly polite. Perfectly neutral.
Yet somehow...Bella felt abandoned.
Aurora felt rescued.
And Lucian felt trapped.
The ballroom slowly returned to life. Conversation resumed, music restarted, but the atmosphere had changed.
Bella smiled.
Aurora smiled.
Lucian remained expressionless.
Yet beneath those smiles lingered jealousy.
Resentment......Regret.
And something far more dangerous.
Because for the first time, Bella found herself afraid.
Not of Aurora's temper.
Not of Aurora's status.
But of the way Lucian looked at her.
As though he was slowly realizing exactly what he had lost.
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