Showcase their talents

The sound of festive music and cheerful laughter could be heard outside the banquet hall showing how much the people inside were enjoying themselves.

Crown Prince Roan appeared in front of the guards guarding the door and when they saw him they wanted to open the door and announce his arrival. He raised his forefinger and placed it on his lips with a menacing glare that made the guards weak at the knees.

They swallowed their saliva and stepped aside. The man behind the crown prince opened the door with a bang causing the cheer-filled room to fall silent.

The man stepped aside and Roan walked in exuding wild charm from top to bottom. Each step he took caused a tremor in the young women's hearts. They bashfully gazed at him as he walked down the aisle.

"Ah, finally the guest of honour has made it. Didn't I tell you that he would come," said King Kian as he raised his hands as though inviting him over like a loving father.

Roan felt a sense of disgust rising from his throat as he saw his pathetic act. He walked over to the main seat and half knelt before his father as he should for the king but in his heart he was tearing his father to pieces.

"Ahahaha what a filial son," he said and beckoned him over to sit next to him.

Queen Rhea glanced at her husband seeming displeased. If Roan sat next to the king then what would happen to her son? The king gave her a look that seemed to say 'Bear with it darling' while maintaining his fake smile. Roan patted Kian the second's shoulder telling him to get up and the kid showed a displeased expression but he didn't dare disobey.

His older brother scared him more than he cared to admit. He got up with his gaze transfixed on the corner of the banquet hall but the person sitting there didn't even look at him. She had her head lowered like what she was looking at was more interesting than what was happening here.

"Carry on carry on," said King Kian and the music began but no one dared raise their voices for fear that they might anger this volatile prince.

"I knew you would make it," whispered King Kian with a smug look on his face like he had won. His son had no love for him ever since he got cured and even went as far as disobeying him in front of the court of governors and royal advisors.

He only had one thing he could hold over his son's head and make him run over like he should and that was Queen Nova. He could only use her so much thus this time he decided to throw this banquet just to get his son to come and see him.

Ever since Roan came back to the palace he had not visited him once and there were already whispers going on among the nobles of how bad the father and son relationship was becoming.

For his own agenda, he planned this banquet and as expected his son showed up. Roan didn't bother giving him a response. He took off his mask and revealed a handsome visage that made it difficult for one to extricate themselves.

His angular cheeks were dashing and a single glance from him could have one in a trance making them do his bidding. His gaze drifted downwards towards the group of women.

He wasn't looking at one person in particular but his gaze seemed to stop in a specific corner.

Freya felt her spine tingle like she was being stared at by a beast so she raised her head and met crown prince Roan's gaze. Her breath stagnated as her scalp grew cold.

She wanted to look away but she found herself unable to look away like his enchanting eyes were holding her soul ransom. Her eyes drifted downwards from Roan's sword-like eyebrows that seem to converge at his temples. Her gaze passed through the deep heterochromatic eyes to the bridge of his nose and finally landed on his slightly pursed lips half blocked by the goblet of wine in his hand.

It was at this moment a group of maidservants passed by with trays of food blocking her view breaking the spell.

Isabella was itching for Roan's attention so she spoke up, "Your majesty, how about some of these ladies showcase their talents? Maybe they might impress you and can earn immunity for the next selection round."

Hearing this King Kian laughed sonorously before praising her ability to think on her feet.

It was a great idea but the only reason she suggested it was to embarrass the other girls especially the one from the Wright family. Being asked to perform without preparation was bound to be a daunting task especially when they weren't good at anything.

Queen Rhea didn't like Isabella's impulsiveness and wished she had discussed it with her first but what other choice did she have but to agree? She just had to make sure that the people selected weren't her own to prevent any embarrassment and annoy Roan.

The immunity thing was tempting but if Roan hated them then this would affect her plan. She was backing Isabella in this but her family background made her hard to control.

If she ever had a fallout with royal advisor Martin then she would be at a disadvantage.

It was, for this reason, she much preferred Roan picked the other girls she prepared as they would be much easier to supervise. "Your Majesty, how about we pick three girls as they are so many of them here. We can't be here all night," she said placing her hand over King Kian's.

His Majesty smiled at her reassuringly and said, "Sounds good. How about you pi-."

Roan cut him off saying, "I will choose. Bring me the list of names."

Queen Rhea, '...'

She tightened her grasp on her husband's hand expressing her dissatisfaction thus King Kian said, "Uh Roan-"

Roan cut him off again and said, "Is it your future wife that is being chosen or mine? You had your turn to pick a wife already so why should you involve yourself in my business?"

His voice wasn't loud but the people in front heard it clearly. King Kian was speechless.

Roan smiled slightly but that smile made a chill crawl up King Kian's spine. "Oh, that's right. You did it twice," he said as the matron brought over the list of names.