"I would like to reveal my proposal to Lady Karenina Verhoven to whom I have… been engaged for the past month," Nicholas said.
All of the scheming dukes and lords who actually planned to propose to their king their beautiful daughters were shocked beyond relief. Viscount Verhoven pretended to look shocked too.
Nicholas inwardly sighed and gazed out to the crowd. "The Kingdom of Riga will be ruled over by both a king and queen in the near future. Tonight will function as both my coronation and engagement celebration."
The king wouldn't reveal it to anyone else, but he didn't want to spend too much resources on a celebration, and neither did he want to spend two times the amount of time socializing at a party.
Nicholas felt like he was spending money on his own funeral. Unless he found a way to successfully break off the engagement without tarnishing his reputation too much, this was like a noose around his neck.
However, nobody really would have figured out his own feelings.
Everyone was all preoccupied with their own reactions to Nicholas's announcement. Queen Marianne was just thrilled by the announcement. Finally.
She beamed happily to have her worries finally be comforted at this coronation ceremony. She could have used more celebrations, but she did not want to push her son.
As long as she could rest easy about her son's future, that was more than enough. Even though she knew that her son was unhappy, Queen Marianne hoped that someday, Nicholas would thank her for the decision that she made for him. Everything that she was doing was for his benefit.
Lady Karenina Verhoven's mouth fell open. Nicholas already swore to his mother when the queen was still sick and on her deathbed, but for him to do it now during his coronation, she still felt like she was dreaming.
This was what dreams were made of.
Karenina felt like she was that little girl again, back when her mother was alive, and read her stories about true love, damsels in distress, and those saved from dragons. She couldn't help but smile even though she understood that it was not Nicholas' personal wish.
Who could blame him though?
Lady Karenina was no one special. She was meek, quiet, and didn't imagine she would ever leave Hautingen. How would a mere daughter of a Viscount ever compare to the son of the royal family?
She did her best to hide it through smiles and appear confident, but she never really felt adequate. It was Viscount Verhoven, her father, who kept pushing her to become close with the queen and the crown prince… the now present king.
The reason why Lady Karenina actually succeeded was because of Queen Marianne's own preferences. Queen Marianne once wanted to have a daughter of her own.
Unfortunately, the queen was never blessed to have another child due to her fragile health. When she discovered that Lady Karenina no longer had a mother, she instantly softened.
In a way, Queen Marianne's secret dream to have a daughter also seemed to be fulfilled as well. All that was left was for a celebration.
***
<One Hour Later>
"Your Majesty, congratulations on your coronation." Lady Karenina smiled and curtsied at Nicholas. The two of them were going to enter the ballroom together and needed to wait for them to be called.
"Ah… thank you." Nicholas glanced at her awkwardly and sighed.
The doors suddenly opened and revealed the event proper. Lords and Ladies all gathered beneath the grand staircase for their entrance. It was the first time that they would go together.
Nicholas always found ways to avoid her, but not this time.
"His Majesty, Nicholas Hannenbergh and Lady Karenina Verhoven join us in their celebration!" one of the royal staff announced their presence.
Both Nicholas and Lady Karenina found themselves needing to be around each other at first because that was expected. Lady Karenina glanced at the banquet table and thought of an idea.
"Would you care to join me for a meal, Your Majesty?" She gave him her best smile. She had spent countless hours getting herself dolled up for this occasion to make him happy. She hoped he would give her compliments for looking so much more beautiful than usual.
However, the king immediately found a reason to move away from his fiancee and engage in conversation with others. He didn't even seem to notice her beautiful dress that had a diamond brooch, given to Karenina by his mother. A family heirloom.
Instead, he looked around and suddenly said, "I think Duke Siegfred needs me for something, Lady Karenina. Will you excuse me for a moment?"
"A-ah, of course, Your Majesty." Karenina watched Nicholas walk away and she sighed inwardly. She swallowed the disappointment in herself. It was too naive to think he'd speak with her. She thought now that he had chosen her to be his wife, he would at least treat her more nicely. She was wrong.
It left Lady Karenina all by herself.
Her father, Viscount Verhoven was already intermingling with other higher-ranked Lord and Ladies and acted as if he was the same and on equal footing as them. Unfortunately, Lady Karenina wasn't all ready to interact with them.
The daughters of dukes, marquesses, and even earls had different reactions. Some accepted the change of circumstances long ago and wanted to become closer with her. Some still looked down on Karenina and thought she didn't deserve her luck and were thinking of ways to bring her down.
At that moment, Karenina didn't really know who she could trust and felt alone in such a festive event.
Fortunately for the young woman, Queen Dowager Marianne herself came up to her. "Lady Karenina!"
"Your Majesty," Lady Karenina's eyes widened as she curtsied. "Must you come here and attend the party? I thought that the royal doctor told you to rest immediately after the coronation."
"How can I simply stay in bed when everyone is here alight with festivities?" Queen Dowager Marriane laughed weakly. "I have come here to actually tell you something. Come with me for a minute."
The queen dowager took the young lady to the balcony, she took her away from the celebration and the prying ears and eyes of nobility and informants. Lady Karenina was just happy to get away.
"How are you feeling, Karenina?" Queen Marianne asked.
"I'm thrilled and honored, Your Majesty. I didn't expect to be surprised with the engagement and party." Lady Karenina smiled but it slipped. "However… your son, His Majesty's heart does not lie with me."
"Indeed. I worry about my son…" Queen Marianne glanced in the balcony and saw that her son was actually at another balcony. Instead of talking with any dukes, her son was with a hooded stranger.
It was the Royal Lycan Hunter head.
Queen Marianne felt a wave of anxiety in her heart. She had managed to keep Nicholas' secret for a long time, even from those dangerous people who could sniff lycans out with expertise.
"Your Majesty?"
Queen Marianne turned back to Lady Karenina and smiled. "However, it does not change anything. Soon, you will be the queen and this will be your home."
Updat𝒆d fr𝑜m fr𝒆ewebnove(l).com