"How cliché."
He muttered to himself as he looked at the scene unfolding before him.
"This engagement," the man with golden blond hair and bright blue eyes began, "is hereby annulled."
He usually wore a charismatic smile, but now, there was no warmth on his face. Only cold disgust, directed at the woman standing before him.
"I see," despite the way he looked at her, her voice remained perfectly calm, "may I inquire as to the justification, Your Highness?"
Rather than being calm, it was more accurate to say that her pride didn't allow her to show any reaction, especially in front of this many nobles and commoners.
It was the yearly royal ball, one which nobles and commoners from everywhere across Avera would attend. It was a night that was supposed to be full of celebration.
Yet tonight was different.
Tonight, all eyes in the grand ballroom were fixed upon the two figures standing at its center, Prince Lucian and the so-called Ice Princess, Lady Renelle Ardent.
"Should I stop it?" the man who had whispered earlier murmured again, tilting his head slightly before shaking it with a faint smile, "no… let's let the scenario play out. Maybe she'll finally wake up."
Although no one noticed it, he could clearly see that beneath Lady Renelle's calm demeanor was suppressed hurt and anger.
And it infuriated him.
Even so, he forced himself to remain still.
She needed this.
If he interfered too soon, she would continue clinging to that foolish infatuation with the prince, and that simply would not do.
After all…
He would rather not have to kill the kingdom's only male heir to the throne.
Lucian, unaware of the man's thoughts, clenched his fist in anger as he continued looking at Renelle.
"Your conduct," he declared, his voice ringing through the hushed ballroom, "has repeatedly brought disgrace upon the royal family."
Renelle's icy blue eyes glanced briefly behind the prince where a girl with chestnut brown hair and amber eyes stood hidden.
She flinched a bit as she her eyes locked with Renelle's and the prince subtly moved to the side, putting himself between the two.
"So this," Renelle said softly, "concerns Lady Noelle?"
A wave of murmurs rose in the ballroom, after all, this drama started with the prince asking Lady Noelle for a dance instead of his fiancée.
"Your harassment of Lady Noelle has gone too far," the prince answered, "false accusations, humiliation and even social exclusion, your actions are unfitting for one who was to become queen."
"Lady Noelle," Renelle turned to Noelle, addressing her directly, her voice carrying clearly despite its gentleness, "have I ever spoken to you in private?"
Noelle was a bit startled at being addressed, but she still shook her head.
"N–No…"
"Have I issued threats? Or demanded your withdrawal from any event?"
"No," she whispered.
The prince stepped forward, cutting in before more could be said.
"You need not intimidate her further!"
A faint crease appeared between Renelle's brows.
"Intimidate?" she repeated quietly, "I simply —"
"Your reputation speaks for itself," again, he cut her off, "who among the nobility does not know of your coldness? Your jealousy? Your contempt toward those of lesser standing?"
Ah, so that's the narrative they were going with.
And it seemed to be working, according to the murmurs of the crowd, especially given the reputation that Renelle had built up in her obsession with the Prince.
"Lucian I —" Noelle seemed to want to say something but hesitated.
"It's fine," the prince turned to her with a gentle smile on his face, "I'm here, so you don't need to be scared of her anymore."
Renelle let out a self mocking chuckle as she witnessed the look Lucian was giving to Noelle, not once had he looked at her the same.
"Very well," She spoke up again, her voice a lot colder now, "if Your Highness wishes to annul our engagement on such grounds, then I shall not contest it."
With that, she turned around, unwilling to go through anymore humiliation.
"Sister?" Noelle suddenly reached out, grabbed Renelle's without thinking and that....did not end well.
Renelle suddenly forced her hand out of Noelle's grasp.
The motion was far stronger than she had intended.
Noelle, unprepared for the sudden rejection, lost her balance.
"Ah—!"
Before she could fall completely, Lucian caught her by the waist, pulling her securely against him.
Renelle froze.
For a brief moment, genuine surprise could be seen on her face, she had not meant to push her, she had merely wanted distance.
But the sight before the crowd told a different story.
Lucian's expression darkened instantly.
"How dare you!" he snapped, anger was evident on his face as he helped Noelle stand upright. "Even now, you resort to violence?"
"I did no such—"
"Enough!"
"You humiliate her publicly and now you lay hands on her?" His eyes burned with righteous anger. "Have you truly fallen so low, Renelle?"
"You will apologize. Now."
Renelle slowly turned back toward him, regaining her previous icy demeanor.
"I will not apologize," she said quietly, "for something I did not do."
That was the final straw and the prince's restraint finally snapped.
The crowd gasped as Lucian raised his hand and swung it towards Renelle.
But just before his palm could reach her, a heavy pressure fell in the room, causing everyone to freeze.
The entire room was suddenly covered in shadows and no one, not even high ranking knights dared let out a breath, as their instincts warned that they lose their lives if they did.
They felt as if they were preys standing being looked at by a predator.
"Forgive my discourtesy," a voice suddenly spoke up and the lights returned.... Or rather, the ballroom being covered in shadows was only an illusion created by their fear.
The crowd focused on the three again, only to notice there was a fourth person between the Prince and Lady Renelle.
He had a neatly combed raven black hair, transparent round glasses and a formal black suit.
His gloved hand was effortlessly holding onto the prince's wrist.
"But as Lady Ardent's assigned retainer," he started, with a polite smile on his face, "I cannot permit physical discipline without formal adjudication by her family."
Lucian stared at him, trembling a bit, but it wasn't from anger, it was from something far less dignified.
Fear.
The suffocating pressure that had swallowed the ballroom only seconds earlier had vanished as if it had never existed.
At least, for everyone else, but Lucian still felt the danger from the man before him.
"And who," the prince said forcing himself to calm down, "do you believe you are?"
The man released the prince's wrist and stepped back calmly, bowing a bit deeper.
"I am The Lady's Butler."