Chapter 193 - You're At My Mercy
Weeks went by and a formal baby shower was thrown for Adeline to celebrate the pregnancy. There, she planned on formally announcing she was pregnant with twins, as a way of replacing the gender reveal, for she decided it'd be best if she left it as a surprise.
The ballroom was decorated with a traditional soft pink and sky blue, balloons filling the ceiling and archways, flowers aplenty, and ribbons spiraling from one end of the high ceiling to the other. There was an abundance of food served, with preparations taking a week in advance, and games aplenty.
Aristocrats of all sorts of backgrounds were invited. In particular, the wealthiest of the wealthy, and the people with high influence around the world.
Everyone came prepared with gifts, leading to a mountain sitting in the room, all of which would be opened at Adeline's discretion.
"Welcome!" Adeline greeted everyone that entered through the double doors with a bright, cheery smile.
Adeline vaguely remembered how to hold a proper banquet, having been taught the lessons when she was a Princess in Kastrem.
Elias stood directly beside her, offering his occasional smile and nod, but only to people he thought actually mattered. He rested an arm upon her hip, looking every guest in the eye to memorize their faces and names, though he already knew everyone invited.
"Addy!" Lydia gushed, instantly coming forward, ignoring the strange looks that followed her. Majority of the people here also knew her, for she had dealt business with them in some form or shape.
"You look so pretty, I love your gown," Lydia added on, taking a good look at her dear friend.
Adeline wore a white satin gown that didn't hide her heavily growing belly, but the dress bellowed out, giving her a flattering bodyline. The dress was off-shouldered, and showed off her long, slender neck, endowed with a diamond and sapphire necklace who's price she was oblivious too, but everyone's eyes bulged at the sight of it.
"Look who's talking," Adeline lightly laughed, referring to how stunning Lydia looked in her elegant pink gown, that bluntly showed what gender she was hoping for.
Lydia grinned. "Just you wait," she said, raising her hands to give a sharp clap.
Adeline's brows tugged together. Her eyes widened when she saw three carts pushed together to form a mini-mountain of presents. There were pink and blue boxes, neatly wrapped flowers, things wrapped in odd shapes and sizes, and balloons.
Lydia smirked, knowing she had brought the most amount of presents. Anything for her future godchildren!
"Tada!" Lydia exclaimed, gesturing to the presents.
Lydia gestured for her bodyguards to roll in the carts before they were escorted outside. Every present in here had been scanned prior to entry, and there were hidden guards at every corner. Bodyguards and secretaries weren't allowed entry into the room, unless it was to help with a present.
"Oh, they're so lovely! You're too kind Liddy," Adeline said with a smile.
Her eyes landed on Asher, who was amongst the group of bodyguards, but he didn't even look her way. Relief flooded her, especially when she saw he was staring at one of the female bodyguards, a slight smile on his face. It seemed he truly had no recollection of her.
Elias's abilities the night of Lydia's banquet must've been extremely effective.
"Only the best of the best for my best friend!" Lydia said with a gloating smile. She could see the widening eyes of people as the trollies were rolled towards the mountain.
"Oh, and don't worry, my parents are coming soon, but they're running a bit late after meeting the Yangs in the hallways," Lydia remarked. She made direct eye contact with Elias who shot her a warning glare.
"Secretaries aren't allowed," Elias suddenly said, his attention landing upon a man in a grey suit standing beside Lydia.
"Ah, but he's my plus one," Lydia responded, linking her arms with William who sharply looked at her, astonished by her words.
Adeline could already picture the drama. She wanted to grab popcorn, sit back, and watch the show. But she didn't dare comment.
"That's allowed then," she mused, glancing up at Elias who's gaze briefly landed on Weston.
Elias's brows tugged together. As a good friend, he debated the idea of kicking William out in the most embarrassing manner possible. Especially with Weston's haunting gaze. If looks could kill, everyone would be dead by now.
"Oh brother," Easton gasped when the champagne glass cracked from Weston's grip.
Weston had an aloof expression on his face as if nothing was bothering him, but his eyes showed a terrible storm was coming. He forced an eerily calm smile and turned to his brother, shoving the broken glass into his older brother's hands.
"Get me another glass," Weston instructed.
"What? No! I'm not your servant," Easton gasped. "The audacity you have!"
"Stop being a comedic relief and get me another glass," Weston said with a tight-lipped smile, sending his brother a scathing glower.
Easton pouted. He was going to say something, but then saw who was standing near the large and grand champagne tower that filled the room with a hint of sweetness. Minerva Stone, one of The Council members. Immediately, like a puppy wagging his tail, he took Weston's glass and rushed in that direction.
Weston immediately began to make his way towards Lydia, his eyes glued on the prize. But he briefly looked towards the arm candy she had and narrowed it onto the hand she rested upon him. This little vixen. He was going to make sure she paid for teasing him like this.
- - - - -
"James," Adeline remarked, blinking in surprise at the sight of her Uncle. She didn't think he'd make it all the way from Kastrem just for a baby shower. But there he stood, with a bundle of gifts in his arm.
"Don't look so surprised, my little niece, I received an invitation," James remarked, holding up an invitation in between two fingers. He ignored the frigid stare of the King, who clearly didn't like the nickname used for Adeline.
"Besides, I am not going to miss the celebration of my grand-niece's soon-to-be birth in this world," James added on.
"We didn't say it'd be a girl," Adeline coldly said, still unable to find it in herself to forgive him. Only time could heal the wound in her heart. In her eyes, he was still a usurper who took the throne from a little girl, no matter his excuses and reasons.
"I hope it is," James said. "And I also hope she looks exactly like you, and not your hideous husband."
Adeline glowered at him, finding his jokes bland. The entire world would like to beg to differ from James's opinion of Elias. But Elias didn't seem to care. Instead, he stood there with a devious smile, most likely planning which poison to use on James' food today.
"You know," James remarked, ignoring the fact that there was a line behind him.
Adeline nudged Elias to greet the other people. This seemed like the beginning of a private conversation, one she'd like to keep unheard.
"This way," Adeline curtly said, the two walking a bit away from the entrance. Once she was certain they were out of earshot, she turned to him and waited for him to speak.
"Oh there's no need to keep it a secret, people would know if they just read the Kastrem Daily Press," James told her with a shrug.
Adeline couldn't help but feel irked by his easy-going tone. He was always like this, even when she was a child. He'd ruffle the top of her hair and laugh when she swatted at his hand. The fond memories of the past only worsened her thoughts of him. He had treated her so well, only to steal her throne.
Call her petty, but she didn't want to forgive him.
"Kastrem is upset by our unfair deal, you know," James said. "Specifically from their Princess."
"You said it yourself that Kastrem has forgotten their Princess," Adeline muttered. "Besides, Kastrem is flourishing as always. I heard there was a large oil reserve recently discovered."
James curtly smiled, his eyes flashing. Who the hell told her that?
"If I were you, I'd keep Kastrem happy in my stead," Adeline said. She knew Kastrem was a land of abundant resources. She recalled a memory of her father showing her a map of Kastrem, where he pointed out the caves, the pond, the forests, and everything else that belonged to them.
"Because who knows?" Adeline remarked. "Maybe one day, Wraith will claim the oil reserve as ours. Oh, and don't try keeping the location a secret, Uncle. I know Kastrem like the back of my hand, especially it's terrain."
"Ah, I don't doubt you, my little niece. Your father loved you too much and showed you all of the secrets, didn't he?" James remarked.
There was a specific map that only the Crown Princes of Kastrem could ever possess or look at. It was a top-secret map of every single resource point in the country. The map was kept hidden from the world, and no one knew of its location, except the late Kaline.
James was never able to locate it, and he wouldn't be surprised if Kaline burned it prior to taking his own life. James knew the only one who possessed the information on that map was Adeline.
"You're at my mercy, Uncle," Adeline softly said, with a warm smile. "So in my stead, rule Kastrem well."
James laughed and stared at her in disbelief. Ah, here he was thinking she was as kind and foolish as Addison, but instead, she was the replica of Kaline. Both his brother and niece were a wolf disguised as a sheep.
"You can rest assured your robbed throne will not go to waste," James mused.
"And of course, I will protect Kastrem from foreign attacks," Adeline lightly commented, knowing the only problem that Kastrem should worry about is her and Wraith.
It was a subtle threat, one that James heeded with a smile. It seemed his little niece was no longer little anymore. He didn't know whether or not he should be proud, worried, or humored.
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