"Subpar"

Freya didn't hear the rest of whatever was happening afterwards because when she heard him say he was going to pick from the list, she had a sneaky suspicion that she wasn't going to miss this draft.

She glanced around looking for a way out. Maybe if she slipped away now, nobody would notice, right? Well, wrong.

That's because even if crown prince Roan wasn't going to mention her, as the devil's spawn, young Miss Martin wouldn't let this opportunity to embarrass her slip by. When Freya got up Isabella happened to catch a glimpse of it.

"Miss Wright... oh I am sorry I forgot you are just a servant. How can you leave now when things are about to get very interesting," she said and the entire banquet slowly descended into silence with only the soft music playing in the background.

Freya clenched her jaw tightly wishing she could strangle little Miss Martin over there. Her gaze unknowingly met crown prince Roan's and her heart sank to the pit of her stomach. She suddenly felt like something was strangling her neck making it really hard to breathe. Her throat bobbed subconsciously as she averted her gaze.

Crown prince Raon suddenly found something interesting to play with. He thought she would keep staring at him like when they first met but this time she averted her gaze. His lips quirked into a sly grin his eyes like that of a wolf on the prowl.

He turned to the list of names before picking one at random. The girl who had been named trembled in fright as she gazed up at the crown prince. Her expression said it all. Why did it have to be her?

Hearing the name, Queen Rhea clenched her jaw while glancing at her maidservant. Matron Dour looked at her as well and felt like things weren't looking good.

The girl was petite with a face as pretty as a ripe peach under the beautiful morning sun. She was a natural beauty with a timid appearance.

She walked out onto the centre of the hall and bowed before the royal family. King Kian rubbed his chin while admiring her looks.

"No need to feel pressured. You can perform anything. We are all celebrating here," he said with haughty laughter.

He might have said that but Roan's face was saying the opposite. Like his father always said, he had no sympathy for the fairer sex.

She raised her head her cheeks stained bloody from embarrassment. She took the ribbon from her hair and though her movements were shaky at first, her performance was mesmerising. Her body swayed with the flowing ribbon as she danced along to the instruments that were following her pace.

Isabella who had suggested this little contest in the first place wasn't happy. She clenched her fist inside her sleeve while watching this fox spirit seduce the crown prince.

She glanced at Roan and saw that he was watching intently like he was genuinely interested in her which angered her even more. That is to say, this bashful girl wasn't her target before but she most definitely was going to be now.

Queen Rhea was pleased with her performance and seeing Roan watching her she felt like things were falling into place.

After she was done and the music died down, King Kian pat his son's shoulder and asked, "What did you think."

Roan sneered and said, "Subpar."

The girl, "..."

Everyone, "..."

Her mood dampened further hearing this. She knew he was rumoured to be cold-hearted but she didn't think he would be this direct. She bowed again before dejectedly walking away. People thought that this was the rudest thing he would do tonight but Roan wasn't done. He glanced at Isabella and gestured for her to step up.

Isabella, "..."

This was an unexpected turn of events. Isabella's cheeks grew hot. She didn't expect things to turn out like this but she had been practising for this very moment from the day she lay her eyes on Roan.

She couldn't wait to show everyone here that there was no one deserving to be the crown princess of Odasal. There was no one in this banquet deserving of Roan apart from herself.

She got up and as she bowed before his majesty her maidservant brought over the infamous silver irenic, a harp said to calm the most violent of beasts with its soothing sound.

Only a few could play it and even fewer could master it. Isabella was one of them. She had been looking forward to this day.

She sat down her movements elegant and enchanting. She relaxed her arms and shoulders with her head straight her posture easy, upright and elegant.

The tips of her fingers touched the column strings and melodious sound transmitted. As expected the sound was calming to the mind, body and soul. In that moment she was everything one would expect of a future queen. She was able to show all the girls what they were going up against. They could only sympathise with whoever was coming after her.

The entire banquet hall was filled with applause for Isabella. When she stepped down she at least expected some praise from Roan but he didn't say anything.

He just turned his glance in Freya's direction and set his cup down before pointing at her and beckoning her over. Freya closed her eyes feeling a little defeated. It seemed this crown prince wanted to be unalived sooner than scheduled. She calmed her tense nerves and got up.

"Interesting choice," said King Kian leaning back into his seat. There was something oddly familiar about this girl but he couldn't exactly tell what.

Freya bowed perfunctoryly and turned to let the servant boy know what she wanted. Kian the second sat up straight when she appeared and his eyes visibly brightened which was incredibly hard to miss.

This meant Roan noticed. He shot his brother a warning glance but it was as if the young man hadn't seen him at all. It was as though he was bound by an unbreakable spell.

Isabella couldn't help but snort. What talent could a poor maidservant from an unimpressive family have? Talent in doing laundry or was it in cleaning?

The servant boy's eyes widened a little when he heard what Freya said. He glanced at the crown prince seeming a little uncertain.

Roan waved his hand saying, "Give her whatever she wants."

King Kian was also curious to know what sort of request this young woman made that had this youth uncertain.

Two minutes later three shivering servants entered the banquet hall. On top of their heads were bright red apples. The entire hall gasped but Roan finally showed genuine interest.