Walking confidently with a puffed chest, Francheska happily beamed brightly to the crowd to be rewarded with applause.

Standing on top of the stairs and seeing the beautiful ornaments as the lights bounced around the hall illuminating the evening with gold. Although Francheska had seen the crown prince’s debut theme decorations, for her this was something special.

In her past life birthdays were special and they only happened once a year, every birthday celebration was cold and its meaning had been lost for ‘her’-- despite her status back then, she could not fully enjoy her celebration. She had to maintain her weight, all she could do was feast with her eyes and starve just like the rest of her days.

Tonight before her eyes, the hall was everything she wanted. When she was handed the responsibility of her debut, she promised herself to go all out– they are rich after all, and with her new status spending so much for her is just normal. All those busy days, her aching wrists, being glued to the papers handed, and rehearsals were worth it.

‘If the people of the empire will go against me, at least I will enjoy it.’

With the music of her choice playing, Francheska took her time walking down in slow motion that time slowed just for her, making sure that the people in the hall were watching her– her dress, make-up, hairstyle, mannerisms, and her whole being.

Reaching the floor, Francheska stood still for the crowd to see. The band then stopped the music for Francheska to speak.

“Welcome dear guests, an occasion like this is celebrated once a year, so I will not make any long speeches and let tonight's experience do its magic!” Francheska gleefully announced that the crowd rejoiced, as the band then resumed to play.

Francheska then started entertaining the special guests that the duke and duchess told her who’s top priority. These were just easy for Francheska, her main priority was William and where he might be in the hall. Although the majority of Francheska’s prediction was correct, she spotted someone familiar. Not sure if it's just their family’s beauty feature being passed down through generations but that person looks like from the house Galkien.

‘I wanna tell them that they are not invited but it would only spoil the venue…’ Francheska could only turn a blind eye and continued greeting the guests.

There sure were a lot of people to entertain, so Francheska decided for a meal break to recharge her energy, her ankles, and especially her drying throat.

“Your Highness, another joyous occasion we meet again.” A familiar voice spoke to her, that made her pause her utensils on the side of her plate.

“You finally show yourself, Lord William.” Francheska with a happy tone said.

Grabbing a chair next to her, William accompanies Francheska to her dinner. A servant then asks William what services he would need, to which he responds with whatever Francheska chooses.

“I received your letter, Your Highness, my apologies for not reaching out first.” his voice was sincere, as he took the glass of water to drink.

“Lord William, the plan… I am still open to that idea,” Francheska told her truth, that it would be best to be upfront about it since she would have no time to explain– she only has one night after all, and tomorrow she would be shunned.

Francheska was closely looking at Williams' expression to decipher his truth. She already knows that the majority of the nobles are witnesses to everything that will happen, the question was if he was willing to step up for her with the business in mind– for publicity… her access to the people of the empire.

Locking William's red eyes, she was sure that he was conflicted– that deep down he knew it would boost their reputation, and they would be the greatest pair, but– Francheska had her new title. A title that changed both of their houses' plans.

Closing his eyes and exhaling, William took another sip and started cutting the meat on the plate that the servant served him. Francheska and William continued eating their meal on the table.

“I will ponder on that thought,” William said out of the blue when he noticed Francheska halting her actions beside him.

Drinking her glass, Francheska tried to suppress her widening smile and giggle building on her throat. Although William said he needed time, it was better than being declined.

Finishing her meal and washing down with water, Francheska wiped her mouth with a clean napkin. Standing up from her chair, she politely leaves her table to proceed enjoying her night.

A nobleman asks for her hand for a dance and she happily obliges. Francheska was just lost in her happiness, dancing the routines that she knew, talking to new people to know their latest hobbies, great places to visit, who makes great tea parties, and complimenting her on the minute details they had observed from their experience of the venue.

Today was a new experience for Francheska, she felt truly reborn. To be herself and talk about the things she likes just because she can, unlike her past life and being cooped up in their mansion.

“You outdone yourself, crown princess.”

Francheska knew that irritating voice, it was none other than the crown prince himself talking from her back. Slowly turning to face his highness, Francheska gave him a warm smile. The crown prince then gave her a curtsy and took her hovering hand for him to kiss the back.

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“Shall we dance, Your Highness?” asked her, not letting go of her hand.

‘Why must you ask me… when I have no choice but to say yes because it's you.’ Francheska wanted to tell him that and decline– still, does she even have that choice?

“Certainly Your Highness.” Francheska felt his grip tighten and made their way to the dance floor.

The two of them danced on the floor just like they did, reminding the people of that night.

Francheska can stay professional when it comes to dancing, but it is not the same anymore. She was certainly looking at the crown prince’s eyes, this time it was devoid of life– no passion. They were looking at each other with their distance, yet Francheska could tell who he was looking at.

The crown prince swirled Francheska, and at that moment it was enough for her to confirm who it was– standing there with the crowd, Josephine Lou Pinterio– the female lead watching them.

The crown prince caught Francheska’s hand in place, but they did not last long to finish the music. His Highness could only halt their movements until he was satisfied and left Francheska on the floor alone.

‘Shit… I should not be feeling this way…’ Convincing herself.

Was it jealousy? Certainly not, Francheska sure of it– but her brain reminded Francheska of her fate.

‘Let's just move on… let the main characters have their moment, and I will mind my own business by enjoying my birthday.’

Francheska caught her faltering smile, as she walked off the floor and started greeting some of the nobles. She needs to keep her momentum… if she stops now everyone in the room will know– her weakness will be shown. Her mom and dad will know and punish her– her siblings will shame her.

Walking to a servant, Francheska asks for a glass of water which they swiftly give her. With the glass in hand, she walked her way to a balcony for her to catch some air. Gulping the glass down her throat, she savored the smoothness of the water. Putting the glass down on the ledge, Francheska put her hand on the ledge to support her weight of the realization that everything was crashing down on her.

Looking up, the night sky was clear and the moon shone brightly. It was beautiful, everything was, from the weather, down to the planned occasion. She’s happy, satisfied with everyone's hard work– but just as the night goes deeper everything will be stolen from her. She wanted to beg the moon to have mercy on her, or whatever the gods had in store for her. Why must she be the one to suffer just for the sake of someone’s happiness–

The doors of the balcony burst open, which startled the debutante of her wits. A hand was on her shoulder that made her face who it was– it was the duchess herself. Her other hand was raised high enough and met Francheska’s cheek, she was slapped… it stung but it was not hard enough to leave a mark on her.

“What are you doing here?! Go back in there this instant and entertain his highness– keep his company, do not shame our family!” the duchess angrily shouted at her, Francheska weakly nodded of affirmation to her grace’s words, which cued the duchess to leave.

The shine on Francheska’s eyes was gone, and so too was herself– she was back again to where she was.

Francheska was like a corpse in Liam’s eyes that she did not even detect his presence when he offered his handkerchief– he saw the tears trying to escape from Francheska’s eyes but was surprised that they did not fall. He was ignored and just saw her figure towards the crowd and resumed her joyous demeanor as if nothing happened.

He wanted to help her but all he could do was watch over her from a distance.

All the guests were amazed by how the crown princess was able to keep up her cheerfulness throughout the night, Francheska proved to herself why she held the title. They doubted her of course, questioned and gossiped about her because they never knew who she was– except for her background. Being a Hartpinjer was a huge advantage, they created the most formidable knights in the empire– more reasons for the emperor to solidify the alliance.

Seeing the debutant up close was a peace of mind that cleared the rumors of who she was after the incident. They were all looking forward to the crown princess tomorrow, and welcoming her to every party in the future.

Francheska took another break, walking to the table where the sweets were displayed. She tries to look decent to others to fool them and keep the liveliness of the night. She wanted to have an alone time but the duchess and duke had their eyes on her the whole time. From time to time she would just observe the crown prince from a distance and share a look with him, just like what the duchess's words were– “keep his company…”

In this society, Francheska learned a lot from her etiquette teachers. Men and women are separated, they must act appropriately in public space. Never cause a scene, do not ever break the law. This was the law… the natural law of men and women being separated. Never talk with them– more specifically ‘alone’ in a place, or stay with them longer unless both of them are officially together.

Everyone in the empire knows of their status… and that was Francheska’s problem, the crown prince did not try to talk to her after the dance! Right now, Francheska was staring at his highness who was gazing over the female lead Josephine across the room.

Plans were forming inside Francheska’s mind that she should make the first move, but the ‘law’ just kept shutting her down, she was powerless…

Grabbing a glass displayed on the table, she gulped it down in one glass. Wiping her mouth, she turned her attention back to his highness, and to her surprise– he was already gone.

A crowd was starting to form surrounding the dance floor, and Francheska felt her heart drop.

‘Is it already time?’ Francheska asked herself, as she went to the crowd and see if she was right… and she was.

His Highness was there on the floor with the female lead as his partner. They look pretty from Francheska’s distance. The flowing dress danced with her figure, and his highness smiling widely– enjoying her company.

The scene was like a movie, it was cinematic.

Francheska was so immersed in the moment that the nobleman asking for her dance was patiently calling out her name for permission. When she noticed, she apologized and accepted the dance. Francheska was focusing on her enjoyment of her performance, and she was accepting multiple dance partners, even with her aching feet she forgot its pain.

The beautiful music playing loudly inside the hallway was slowly getting overlapped by murmurs of the crowd, and Francheska could not help but look at the spectators around the room. Despite the dance floor being full of dancing partners including her, the sole debutant of the occasion was overshadowed by none other than the lead female and male characters– who had been dancing for more than the songs Francheska had chosen.

The hallway was brightly lit, but why was it that it was just ‘them’ under the lights?

Francheska could only continue dancing but the eyes were already not on hers– all of them were looking at them!

There was just no way that the two of them would dance the night away on her debut all for themselves, stealing everything from her. Another dance was offered and accepted on the spot, dancing her very best to take everything back… She danced from one partner to another, even paired with well-known nobles from the empire. She begged her guests to have their gaze on her– only her, but as she took a glimpse of her partner and the crowd, the eyes of high society were not on her, like she did not exist. Francheska’s memories and worries emerge. She hated being alone and lonely, she was back again in those days when she did not matter.

Francheska already knows her place– a villainess who she was with time and time made efforts but got shut down again and again. Even straying away from the spotlight she longed for, the recognition and love she deserves!

‘This is humiliation, I am being shamed!’ Angrily thought to herself.

Although she already knew that this scene would happen, it hurt– as if she died once again inside.

‘He promised… the crown prince made his promise to have the last dance together– please…STOP!’ Francheska wanted to shout her inner voice out.

All she could do was watch and hope for them and time to stop for Francheska to take a breath.

Stepping out from the dance floor, the soles of Francheska’s feet were aching from dancing, she ran out of breath, panting to regain her stamina– fighting the aching pain she was having.

The two main characters looked lovely but it was killing her entire reputation, and her title of being the crown princess.

Time never waits or stops for anyone, the party goes on till it strikes for the night to end. Francheska was left defeated, she never stood a chance. She never got that last dance. The crown prince broke his promise…