Note:

This chapter is still dedicated to Kelly Goodwin. Thank you so much for the castles! ^^

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Mars and Ellena exchanged pleasantries before the king got to his table. Ellena tried to touch Harlow's head to ruffle her hair, but before she could touch the baby, Mars's hand blocked hers.

"Harlow is quite fussy lately," Mars said apologetically. "She doesn't like to be touched."

"Oh... is that so?" Ellena looked at Harlow with a disappointed expression. "I am sorry to hear that. Harlow is such a beautiful girl. Hello, Harlow sweetheart. How are you?"

Harlow looked away and yawned, showing clear disinterest in this lady in the blue dress. Ellena bit her lip, trying to suppress her anger. She faked a smile and turned to Mars. "What time does she usually sleep? Maybe it's past her bedtime?"

"It's okay. She can sleep anywhere," Mars replied. "She is not sleepy yet. I want to bring her here so I can introduce my daughter to the public."

"Oh... that's good." Ellena nodded with a smile. "I am sure many people are very curious to know what Harlow looks like. It's about time you show her to the public."

"Yeah." Mars nodded. "By the way, have you seen Edgar or Gewen?"

"No, not yet. I saw their families though. The Chaucers and the Athibauds are right over there," Ellena replied. "I can ask them about Edgar's and Gewen's whereabouts."

"There is no need for that," Mars quickly stopped Ellena. "I am sure they will be here shortly."

"Very well."

"Okay, then," Mars said, pointing at his table, next to the Greenans. "I have to sit now. I am glad you came. Let's talk later." 

"Yes, definitely," Ellena replied. She watched until Mars got to his table and sat before she returned to her family's table.

Many women who attended the ball looked at Ellena with slight contempt that they hid well. The way she carried herself around the ballroom, and acted like she was the host, made many noblewomen sick to their stomachs.

"Just because she is friends with His Majesty, and there is no queen, yet, she thinks she could act like the lady of the house? Disgusting..." complained one woman who pretended to that she wanted to vomit.

"Sshh.. watch your words! Her aunt is looking this way..." her friend reminded her. "You don't want to mess with the Prestons."

"So what?" The first woman raised an eyebrow. "She is just a poor girl from the countryside that the Prestons took in with them. She is not really a noblewoman like all of us. In terms of status, she is not from our level. She is a fake."

"You are new in the capital, so you don't really know who she is," another woman chuckled. "She is not Lady Preston's niece. Rumor has it, she is actually Duke Preston's illegitimate daughter. So, even though she is a bastard, she really has blueblood in her. Don't you know that Duke Preston is related to the old king's family?"

"Still... she is a bastard. She shouldn't be prancing around with her nose lifted so high, like a peacock... acting as if she owns this palace."

"Well... maybe she knows something that we don't," said the second woman. "What if the king has really chosen her to become his wife, and tonight's ball is just their way of announcing their engagement? If that's true, then, you will have nothing to say and we will have to  pretend to suck up to her."

"Sigh... I hate that woman," the first woman rolled her eyes. "I hope our king will find a much better wife than her. I can accept anyone... but her."

"Our standard is too high already since the late queen was perfect," her friend replied with a sad voice. "Queen Elara is the best queen ever. She was beautiful, kind, sweet, and always treated everyone with kindness. I wish we will have someone like her as our queen now."

"Oh, don't make me cry... I am not interested in the royal family, but when she died, I actually cried."

"Ah.. such a shame, our beautiful queen had to meet her untimely death in the hands of a wicked killer."

"Well, the killer is already punished. Unfortunately, there was no public execution because she escaped by scheming the guards. But at least, she is dead now."

"Do you know what was the motive? I mean.. our late queen was such a kind woman. I can't imagine anyone would hate her to do such a heinous crime."

"My uncle is a minister and even he didn't quite know the details," one woman chirped. "The royal family keeps a tight lip about the whole situation. So.. we can only guess. So many rumors flying around though."

"I heard some rumors, but they are so hard to believe."

"Yeah, I did too. One rumor has it that the killer is actually the woman who gave birth to the little princess."

"No way! Really? I heard many rumors too, but that's not one of them. How did you know that?"

"Through the grapevine...." the first woman chuckled. "But no, really... Some people talked. The guards and some maids, but nobody can verify their stories because they were immediately fired after the royal butler found out they talked."

"That is some serious and juicy gossip..."

The women's eyes bulged and they secretly stole a glance at their young king who was seated at the table of honor with his baby on his lap, looking bored and annoyed. Sitting next to him was the old king, looking solemn and quiet.

"Our poor king... He deserves to get a good woman. Not some snake, like that Ellena Greystorm, or the woman who killed his mother."

The women all sighed in unison, feeling sorry for their king. 

"Hey... look who just came!" 

Suddenly one of the women whispered excitedly. Her friends turned their heads toward the entrance and they immediately swooned.

"Oh, oh... look, it's Lord Edgar Chaucer, and Lord Gewen Athibaud..."

"They just made this night perfect."

"Now, I can die happy."

"Mary, you're too much." 

"But, it's true. Now that I have seen the three most eligible bachelors of this kingdom, I can die happy."

They all pretended to sip their wine, while their eyes hungrily followed Edgar and Gewen's steps as they walked toward the king's table.

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