Affected

The dining hall's atmosphere had cooled down significantly, all thanks to one person, Elle. Alexander had shifted all his attention towards her totally ignoring the queen and the others who stared at him coldly. There was this particular knight who stood beside Princess Roselyn. The prince's words seemed to anger him to the core and he now stared daggers at him. He wondered what was so superior with him that the princess wanted so badly to marry him. Countless princes from other kingdoms had extended their hands in marriage but she had politely declined just to be with this cruel prince who didn't even spare her a glance. The main aim of holding this banquet was for the crown prince to welcome the princess and know each other in preparation for their marriage. But looking at the scene right now, Alexander was having a banquet with his family.

The fact that Alexander did not recognize their presence angered this knight to the core. And to make the matters worse, he was now conversing with his little sister as if they were the only people in the hall. The queen was also unhappy with the indifferent attitude Alexander was currently displaying.

"Forgive me your highness for not officially introducing you," the queen said sounding apologetic. "This is my son, crown prince Alexander. I believe that you had met Elle before." Princess Roselyn sent a smile to the queen's way before her gaze landed on the prince. Alexander just stared back at her coldly. But she was determined to not be wavered by his mere look. He would be her future husband and she need not fear him.

"Elle," the queen called softly. The little girl turned her gaze towards her mother anticipating what she wanted to say. "Go to your room and study. Your teacher will be waiting." The little girl nodded before turning to her big brother.

"Don't forget to come and visit me once you are free," requested she.

"Of course I will," Alexander said scurrying her hair. "I will always be there for you whenever you call me." The girl nodded, her face growling in determination. "Now go and do what your mother has said." She nodded once again and left the room running. A maid trailed behind her before she yelled, "be careful princess. You might trip and hurt yourself."

Alexander watched as his sister disappeared before he turned around the table glaring at everyone. His smile had faded and now an emotionless face was all that was left of him. It was as if he had never smiled in the first place. "Where were we?" He asked, looking at his mother arrogantly.

The entire hall fell silent at his question. He had asked it as if he never knew they were here in the first place. Just how arrogant was this guy? The people around could not help but chuckle in amusement, especially those from Valoria. This angered Roselyn to the core. But beside her someone was burning and boiling in anger. His hatred for Alexander intensified and he felt like he would kill him that instant. Were it not for the fact that he was a prince, he would have killed him the moment he set his pair of eyes on him.

Roselyn could feel the anger leaking from the person that stood beside her. It even turned the air around her cold, and she could not help but give him a 'calm down' stare. Alexander sensed the anger leaking from the knight and glanced at his direction. The two locked their eyes and killing intent could be seen on their faces. 'Maybe I should kill him first' Alexander thought.

"Princess Roselyn will be staying here for the next few months as they get to know each other with her future husband." The queen said lifting the tension that was lurking in the air. However, this served no good to Alexander. He knew that his mother favored this woman so much. But this time she had crossed the line. Was she trying to force her onto him. He had made it clear that he would marry who he wanted and when he wanted. But her mother was now defying his wish, or rather his order.

"We will now leave the two of you here to know each other better," queen Victoria said and started on her way out. Everyone followed suit leaving the two of them only in the vast hall. Alexander couldn't comprehend what was going on in his mother's mind. Earlier on, they had both agreed that the decision to choose the crown princess and the later queen would be solely in his hands. But looking at the situation right now, it was clear that she had taken back her words.

The room grew eerily silent as no one dared to make a move. For Alexander, this was a pure waste of his time. He had some personal matters to attend to. Princess Roselyn understood the prince's cold nature better than anyone else. The duo had grown up together when their parents were close and used to visit each other often. However, Alexander would always be a lone wolf no matter how hard he tried to be friends with him. It seems his coldness had followed him all the days of his life.

"How is your father?" She finally managed to speak breaking the eerie silence. "I heard that his condition is worsening with every passing day." Alexander looked at the woman seated in front of him indifferently. Did she think that she would get the title of the crown princess with her sweet words? If she thought so, then she was definitely wrong. He could not give her a chance.

Alexander's cold gaze seemed to affect Roselyn and she shivered slightly under his stare. "You definitely know the answer to that question. If not, you can go check on him yourself. Now, if you may excuse me, I have matters to attend to." After saying that, he rose from his seat and headed for the door. He didn't even spare her another glance.

Alexander opened the door to the dining room and was met with a scene he had not anticipated for. A dozen of palace maids stood there with their ears trained on the wall of the dining hall. They were startled by the sound of the opening door and lowered their heads in embarrassment when they saw that it was the prince. They would receive a heavy punishment for eavesdropping on the prince's conversation with Roselyn. Alexander stared at them coldly as he scanned the group. They would definitely pay for this.

However, a certain face behind the line piqued his interest and her face looked familiar. He took some steps forward to confirm that it was exactly her. If it was her, what was she doing here? Was she keeping tabs on him? Alexander smiled knowingly. Of course she had fallen for him. Given by his looks and position as a prince, any woman would definitely fall for him. And she would be no exception.

"Isadora," he called her name softly. The maid lifted her face slowly and their eyes met. Alexander's heart hammered inside his chest and his body felt foreign to him. She had already affected him!