Crystalia entered the main engagement hall with six maids, forming a protective circle around her. Clad in a beautiful short white gown, her alluring white lace panties and plump buttocks were provocatively revealed.
"Is that the former Princess? She looks stunning."
"Hey, watch your mouth! Haven't you heard about the Prince's obsession with her? Unless you want to lose your eyes or have your family suffer, keep such comments to yourself."
As some people finally laid eyes on the former Princess Crystalia for the first time, they couldn't help but admire her beauty, while others shook their heads in sympathy for her fate.
Everyone understood that once this engagement was complete, regardless of what happened afterwards, the Crystalforge Clan would forever be a vassal under the Gemheart Clan, unable to regain their previous position of power.
Meanwhile, Elara couldn't help but fixate on the former Princess Crystalia, who gracefully approached their table. She had promised Selene to liberate her daughter and lead her out of the Prismerian Kingdom.
However, little did she anticipate her son's obsessive attachment to the young lady before her.
His obsession doubled the number of guards surrounding her and ensured constant surveillance of her every move. Coupled with her husband's covert watchful eyes, escaping with the former Princess or obtaining the Crystalforge Clan artefacts Selene had mentioned seemed nearly impossible.
Nonetheless, Elara found comfort in identifying the Crystalforge warriors who had obtained the unknown power instrumental in defeating the bloodthirsty god that had plagued them for centuries.
The only concern lingering in Elara's mind was the revelation that they had ventured to the upper region of the mountain to confront White Flame.
As for their success or failure, she would have to witness the outcome firsthand. She cared little about defying Selene's agreement and explored the possibility of rescuing the Princess after her engagement. In the event of failure, she contemplated taking as many Crystalforge Clan artefacts as possible and escaping alone.
After all, she wasn't willing to gamble her life and would attribute any misfortune to the former Princess's ill luck.
Elara couldn't suppress a sigh as she contemplated the situation. Perhaps her inclination to attempt against the odds stemmed from her own streak of bad luck. She turned her gaze toward her son and his father, reflecting on when he developed such a character.
If only she had known earlier, she might have intervened to prevent it from progressing, especially before he ended up like his father, who exhibited an eccentric side when he suddenly became the ruler of the entire kingdom.
Nevertheless, she pushed these thoughts aside, focusing on resting for now and reserving her energy for the impending plan.
If nothing worked, she would make her way out of here, leaving behind everything without a backward glance, as her own life took precedence over everything else.
Unaware of when she had arrived, Crystalia found herself standing before the current royal family.
Zephyrion swiftly extended his hand, seizing hers firmly, and whispered, "You are mine now."
Crystalia snapped out of her daze, feeling the pressure of Zephyrion's grasp and hearing his possessive words. She shivered slightly, biting her lip in response as she averted her gaze downward.
Observing her reaction, Zephyrion maintained a confident smile and proudly puffed out his chest.
"Bring the engagement gem," King Garnet's voice echoed loudly.
The Master of Ceremonies, who had deliberately concealed his presence in the corner, swiftly emerged, holding a perfectly placed ebony gem at the centre of a pillow. His professional smile adorned his face as he presented the gem, reminiscent of Prismerian traditions where partners allowed each other's blood to touch their gems, symbolizing a lifelong commitment.
However, since such intimate actions couldn't be displayed in public, the engaged couple would each drop their blood on the gem for ceremonial purposes, signifying their engagement.
Even though it was only a ceremonial act, the public perceived it as the partners exchanging blood on their gems, and the ritual was treated with utmost seriousness due to the cultural significance attached to it.
In an instant, the Master of Ceremonies stood before Prince Zephyrion and Former Princess Crystalia, extending his hands to present the ebony gem to them.
"Proceed," King Garnet granted, allowing them to formalize their engagement.
Zephyrion nodded in agreement, extending his hands towards a maid who appeared to be carrying the ceremonial dagger. With a broad smile, he waited for the dagger to be handed over to him. However, within mere seconds, shock widened Zephyrion's eyes.
The maid rushed towards him, tightly clutching the dagger in her grasp.
The unfolding scene happened swiftly, sending shockwaves through everyone in the main engagement hall.
Even Crystalia, who was standing the closest to him, couldn't help but widen her eyes in surprise, with a sense of foreboding rising within her heart.
While the maid's sudden attack initially took Zephyrion aback, it didn't mean he was defenceless.
As the Gemheart clan's young heir, he stood among the geniuses of the Prismerian kingdom, and his reaction was far more robust than an ordinary Prismerion.
In the split seconds before the dagger reached his neck, the apparent target, Zephyrion, swiftly tilted to the side, using his formidable Gemheart physique to block the attack.
Shred!
The dagger immediately tore through Zephyrion's clothing, piercing his skin and embedding itself at the side of his neckbone.
"AAHH!!" Zephyrion yelled in pain. Despite his formidable physique, the attack still inflicted considerable pain on him.
Witnessing that she had missed her mark, the maid attempted to retract her dagger, but a powerful force slammed into her gut before she could do so.
"Urgh!" Her breath escaped sharply as her body was propelled backwards, coming to a stop only when she collided with one of the nearby tables.
Boom!
The table flipped over, leaving a deep imprint where the maid's body was embedded.
Regaining his senses, King Garnet screamed at the top of his lungs, "Arrest her!" His command echoed through the hall.
Within seconds, several guards surrounded the unknown assailant.
