Chapter 9

Feeling shocked, Julia stared at Celine's ring uncontrollably.

This ring is exactly similar to Ady's...and come to think of it!

*gasp*

The ring Ady wears on her left hand's index finger actually fits on her ring-finger...so...does that mean-

*whisper-whisper*

"Hey, it's Princess Celine Marald! That 'Royal Omega' who's all over the social media!"

"Yeah! You're right, and also! It is said that the Marald and Embiran families are in really good terms"

"Oh! I've heard 'bout it"

"Also, y'know what! Her elder sis is that famous fashion designer, Cecile Marald!"

"For real?"

"Yes, yes"

Cecile Marald! She's my role model for being a fashion designer and in the contest I'd be participatin next month...she's the main judge!

A slight smile appeared on Julia's face, but it soon disappeared, when her brain suddenly, recalled something.

Now that I remember, once in an interview Cecile did say that she had a younger sis, but...

Glancing at Adele and Celine embracing each other, Julia's eyes drooped down, with a tightening feeling in her heart.

I didn't expect her sis would turn out to be Ady's fiancé...

*mutter-mutter*

"Aww! They look so good together, right?"

"Well, of course they'd, they're both royals, duh!"

"Yeah, you're right, a match made in heaven!"

"Kyaa! It'd be awesome if they both get married, such an adorable couple!"

*ring-ring*

The bell rang and everyone standing at the hallway, went off to their classrooms. As soon as everyone left, pressing onto chest, along with a clenched fist, Julia ran away to her department.

Seeing that, without thinking twice, Adele immediately released themselves from their embrace and was about to go after Julia, but Celine held onto her wrist and pinned her forecfully against a wall.

"Ouch!".Adele mumbled. In the hallway, there was not a single person around them, they were all alone.

Glancing throughout, Celine slowly lifted her feet upwards by holding on Adele's broad, solid shoulders, then reached out to her ear and whispered softly with wearing a pretentious, pleasant smile on her face."Where're you goin Delie? Our department is laws and history, not designing, isn't it?"

"Um...Yes but...somethin is wrong! Let me go and check out Julia".Adele spoke with a rush in her words.

At that moment, Celine's eyes were dazed of seeing, an unexpected expression on Adele's face. An immensely concerned face which anyone could make only when they are worried about their truly loved person, was the expression that Adele had made in front of Celine, while she watched Julia running away. It was for the very first time, that Celine had seen such a look on her face.

Suddenly, Celine drooped down her head to hide that creepy, sly smirk on her face, which appeared out of unbearable jealousy towards Julia.

Ha! I didn't know Delie was able to make such expressions, I thought she was acromantic or somethin...interesting, huh?

Rushing her hand towards her head, without any caution, Celine grabbed onto Adele's hair by pulling down closer to her face, and next what happened was unforeseen.

Celine slightly moved off the collar of Adele's dark, satin shirt, from above her neck, using mouth, and nibbled hardly by leaving a deep red mark on her bright, fair skin. Being startled, Adele pushed her away furiously and uttered out loud.

"What are you doing Princess Celine? Are you out of your-"

"Shush...it's Lin".She said with a calm voice.

"What?!".Adele asked by uncomfortably adjusting her collar.

"I mean, cut out the formalities and just call me Lin, I'd prefer you callin me like that".Celine grinned.

"Urgh fine, now Lin why did do like that? Are you out of your mind?"

"Why? I'm your financé and well after our marriage we'd be doin such things often, wouldn't we?".She asked with a whole straight face.

"Um...Hm..."Adele hesitantly hummed with a disagreed expression.

Huh? Why's she makin such a face? Argh...

Pressing her lips, Celine stomped towards Adele with aggressive legs and spoke softly with pinching below her chin.

"Delie, you see this ring on my finger, hm? now, show me your-".Pausing her words, Celine gasped internally, as her eyes viewed the index finger of Adele's left hand.

Sh-she's wearin our promise ring on her forefinger?!

"Aha, Delie what's this? You should wear it on your ring-finger huh?".Celine fondly took Adele's left hand over her palm, then, by slighltly raising her ring-finger, with an immense delicacy, she put on the ring.

"Now...".She elevated her left hand closer to Adele's face and continued.

"Do you remember, what did we vow while exchanging these rings on our fingers?"

Lacking the interest to reply, Adele turned away her head.

"Sigh...if you have forgotten then, I'll repeat it for you".Lightly leaning over Adele's chest, Celine carried on with her paused words, in a soft and delicate voice.

"We vowed that...we'll belong to-"

"I remember the vow, no need to repeat it for me, Lin".Adele said with a straight face.

"Oh! Okay then?"

What's wrong with Delie? Why is she acting like this? Is it because, that I marked on her neck without her permission?

*sigh*

I must apologize

Celine gently took Adele's hands over her small, silken palms and snuggled it on her cheeks like an adorable baby.

"I'm really sorry Delie for doing that earlier on your neck".She said in a quavering voice.

Adele slowly peeked downwards and saw, that she was looking at her, with a genuine feeling of love, reflecting clearly inside those radiant, amber eyes. But, as for Adele, she only saw it as Celine normally looking at her. Those flames of intense passionate love, burning inside that gaze of hers, were invisible for Adele.

"It's fine, but don't repeat this again".She responded softly. Hearing that, Celine nodded hurriedly, feeling immense ecstasy.

*ring-ring*

After the second bell rang, both of them strode towards their department of laws and history, with Celine wrapping her hands, around Adele's arm in a doting manner.

Now...I'll have to talk to our parents 'bout making our engagement public, as soon as possible! I can't let Delie go to someone else, she's mine!

( THREE YEARS BEFORE )

It was second of november, Adele's fifteenth birthday. As usual, Eleanor went off to her company, even without greeting her one and only daughter, on her very special day.

But, as she woke up and went downstairs for having breakfast, all the maids, especially Marie wished her birthday, warm-heartedly. At that moment, her beautiful long-curved eyes were filled with tears of delight. Happily, she then completed her breakfast and went upstairs to her study room for her daily private tutoring.

In those days, Adele was homeschooled in their mansion. Her mother had assigned, top-level tutors from all over France for tutoring her, till age of eighteen.

As soon as her classes for that day ended, she went downstairs to feel confused of finding not a single trace of anyone in the mansion.

Where're all the maids gone? It's not even time for them to go home?

*step-step*

Huh? Who's that?

Fright whirled down through her spine as fast as a lightning. As more as the footsteps of that person came closer from behind, her heart was reacting as it was literally going to explode. Her whole body was trembling in terror, she was unable to even move a finger of hers.

The Adele who was standing there like a cold ice statue, screaming internally, unable to utter a single from her mouth, finally, was now feeling relieved when that person behind her finally spoke.

"Your Highness, are you okay?"

Phew, it was Marie, I was scared for nothing! Good grief

"Um...Aha I'm all fine Marie, why did you ask so?".She asked with fidgeting her hands awkwardly.

"Oh it's just, you were shivering, so I thought you might be sick"

"No, no I'm all fine, but Marie...".Adele ran her eyes all over the mansion, then continued."Where did all the maids go?"

"They all went to their houses"

"But...it isn't the time for them to go yet? What's the matter?".Adele tilted her head as she asked.

"Oh, it's because, the Queen ordered us all for all half day work today"

"I...is that so?"

"Yes, your highness".Marie responded by lowering her head.

Huh? But why? Is it 'cause that she wanted to spent personal time with me 'cause it's my birthday today?.Adele's lips faintly lifted up with happiness.

"Your highness, it is time for me to go home now, bonne journèe!"

"You too Marie".She uttered delicately.

After she left, Adele plopped over a sofa in their massive living room, viewing her father, Gabriel Embiran's grand picture framed at the centre of the room. Neither having any expressions nor having any emotions she viewed that picture.

*tring-tring*

Hm? Who'd it be?

Stretching the cord, Adele picked up the handset of telephone, then placed it over her ear and spoke in a well-bred manner.

"Hello, this is the princess of Embiran Family, Adele Embiran speaking"

[ Oh, sorry for being late, happy birthday princess! ]

"Queen Mother?".Her eyes got bigger.

[ Yes princess, it's your mother, Eleanor ]

Without uttering a single word, Adele tightly grasped onto the handset, for controlling her overwhelmed emotions, as her mother wished her birthday for the very time, after fourteen years of her father's death. Her beautiful blue orbs were glistening with fulfillment.

[ Princess Adele? ]

"Ah yes, Queen Mother!".She responded in a rush.

[ Well, in an hour, I'll return to the mansion along with some guests, so you please go and wear the gown I have kept in my bedroom for you ]

"Yes Queen Mother"

[ And also, in just a few minutes, Louisa will arrive there for getting you all ready, okay? So, now I am hanging up, let's see each other when I return to mansion ]

*beep*

Guests? So is she planning on a surprise party for me?

After there call ended, soon Louisa Claise, a top-professional make up artist, arrived in their mansion. It was her, who always made Eleanor to get ready for any royal events. In short, she was a well-proficient make-up artist who was known for her perfect makeover skills.

Not longer enough, Adele was all dressed up fabulously. Her dark blue and white abstracted long, lengthy, gown and her pretty brown hair which was tied into an elegant french braid, at last, but not the least, the tiara placed on her head which was welded with the four most precious stones on it, made Adele to look divinely beautiful like a goddess. She then slowly paced down the stairs along with Louisa, helping her with carrying the gown.

"I'm taking my leave now, your highness".Louisa bent down her head.

"But, I didn't give your payment, wait I'll be right bac-"

"No worries, your highness! Her majesty already payed me in advance, so shall I?"

She payed in advance?

"You can go now".She said by gesturing Louisa to leave. After she was gone, Adele sat on the sofa in their living room, awaiting for her mother to return.

An hour went by, and Eleanor arrived at the mansion, along with those guests which she mentioned about before.

Knowing about their arrival, Adele sprang up from the sofa and rushed to their vast entrance. As she stood their to welcome the guests, suddenly, her heart felt a thump, when she viewed them.

Marald family? They're our guests?

From the very old times, the two great royal families, the Embiran and Marald, had a close-knit fond relation with each other. It was a never ending relation which was continued by their ancestors and is still continuing until today, in this modern world.

Ordering their guards, Delbert and Raelyn, the king and queen of Marald family, brought inside all those many luxurious presents bought for Adele and gifted them to her with wishing an affectionate birthday. Bowing her head down, Adele thanked them in a respectful accent.

The last time Marald family came to our mansion,when I was only five, it's been a decade since I met them

"Happy fifteenth birthday Delie!".A cheerful, tender voice echoed in the thin air from the entrance.

Squinting her eyes, Adele saw a beautiful young girl of the same age as hers, wearing a thick, long crimson gown, which was standing out on her light, pale skin. From a very distance, Adele recognized that she was an omega, her pheromones had the mild and delicate fragrance of lavenders.

Those thick curly, black hair which held on her tiara welded with crystal-blue diamonds, slightly bounced, as she walked and those lovely amber eyes which were focused on Adele only, were the most salient features of hers that made her look unique from any other normal omegas.

"Princess Celine? Is that you?".Adele uttered out exitedly.

"Yes Delie, it's me".She smiled widely.

"By god, I barely recognized you! You have grown up to be so gorgeous"

As Adele complimented her, in an instant, feeling shy, Celine's face turned all red.

"Oh, th-thank you".She bashfully lowered her head.

Regaining courage, Celine again lifted her head and felt flutters in her stomach as she saw Adele's gracious smile towards her.

Ah! Delie's beauty is just so...unreal, it's kinda fascinatin to see that, she already gives out the aura of a queen at her this age

*clap-clap*

"Sorry for interrupting dears, but now we can't be more late, shall we bring it over Queen Embiran?"

"Of course, bring it over King Marald and please make yourselves comfortable in here".Eleanor said by gesturing towards the living room.

"Oh! Surely!"

Following Eleanor, they all went to the room and sat down on each single sofas, while making Celine and Adele to sit together on a huge, silver armed, davenport.

Delbert then gestured one of his guards to bring over something from their limousine parked outside.

A while later, the guard returned with a small, red box kept over a gold platter stoned with pearls all over and approached Delbert.

He took the box in his hands and opened it. A pair of rings which was patterned with the symbols of Embiran and Marald families, along with a ruby on it, were in that box. He slowly sprang up from the sofa and went towards the davenport, then gave each of those rings to Adele and Celine, with a blissful shimmer gleaming all over his face.

"Now you both exchange those rings on the ring-finger of your left hand".Eleanor uttered cheerfully.

On one hand, Celine put on the ring on her finger with utter happiness, but on the other hand, Adele made her wear the ring reluctantly, with a sickening feeling tightening her chest.

Wait! Isn't this just like...

*applause*

"Congratulations on your engagement both of you!".The trio wished them together.

( To be continued )