Are you willing?
The Tullia Charity Ball is a party that the Tullia family has held since the second generation. It was held as a token of gratitude for the prosperity of the mine as well as a substitute for a social party that they could not have in the Tullia region on the border. The charity ball allowed the Tullia family to socialize with the high-class nobles in the Capital City of Mesina.
As the name implies, the party is held for a charity event. The event's centerpiece was an auction that consisted mostly of ruby jewels from the Tullia Mines, with the rest being whatever other nobles' items were. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to small monasteries and orphanages in other border areas.
Yes, the charity party was veiled criticism from the Tullia family to the Royal family.
"I've been doing this for years, but you're still silent? Can't you see that the other border regions need support?" Aeneas snorted in amusement. "That's pretty much what Baron Tullia means, right?"
"Indeed, I have to admit that the kingdom's development is too centralized. The Tullia region is lucky because it has the right mines and leaders, so it can develop well," said Selah. "But the other border areas…."
Other border areas are very crime-prone. Many robbers from the neighboring kingdom were still in the civil war who entered the border area of Balthasar. There are also drought-stricken ones. The situation could have been better that it could threaten the sovereignty of the kingdom as a whole. But that cannot be used as an excuse to let the region be neglected.
"I hope, when you become king later, you can pay attention to the border area, Your Highness," Selah added.
"Don't worry. It's been my priority since the beginning. Especially those close to the troubled neighboring kingdom," said Aeneas. "Ah, we have arrived."
The front yard of the Tullia family's townhouse is crowded and a little claustrophobic. From the start, it was not a big house. It's just that more and more, Baron Tullia gets requests from other nobles who hope to come to her charity ball. Of course, all they really wanted was to suck up to Tullia.
Because of the density, Selah and Aeneas couldn't avoid the stares and whispers of the people. Especially when Aeneas helped her down, Selah could hear people holding their food.
"It seems Blair hasn't arrived yet," said Aeneas, checking his pocket watch.
"Crown Prince Blair is coming?" Selah asked, surprised.
"Of course. He already got an invite. He couldn't possibly come just because his brother came along with his ex-fiancee," answered Aeneas. "Ah, it's your uncle. Let's greet him!"
Why is he pulling me like this, anyway? Selah thought, annoyed. Aeneas would have wanted to show off. The man wanted to show everyone that Selah Dulcia was with him now.
Still, it doesn't have to be this way.
Only a short time after the announcement if Blair resounded. All the invitees saluted in unison, including Selah and Aeneas. Blair immediately walked towards them without hesitation.
The party hall was silent for a moment.
"I saw a necklace I recognized from a distance," Blair said.
His hand moved, about to touch the necklace, but Aeneas prevented it first. Selah and everyone else was shocked by it.
"Is the one real this time?" Blair then asked.
"I took it out of my room myself, Your Highness. The Heart Of The Kingdom that Lady Selah is wearing is authentic. You don't have to touch it yourself to check it," explains Aeneas in a calm, joyful tone.
Blair smiles casually at Aeneas. "I didn't expect you to give it to Lady Dulcia, Aeneas. The jewelry is proof of your father's love for you."
"Yes. I gave it to Lady Selah as a token of my love for her."
This man! shouted Selah in her heart. How could Aeneas say that in front of Blair! It just makes people tense.
"Of course," said Blair. Still smiling, he turned to Selah. "That necklace suits you very well, Lady Dulcia."
"Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness," Selah said sparingly.
"What I mean is, you look so pretty today."
Selah and Blair looked into each other's eyes. Those sapphire blue eyes had never shown Selah such genuine praise before, not even now.
"I'd love to hear from you," Selah replied.
Blair already looks like he wants to say something, but Aeneas steps forward and blocks him. "Shouldn't you first greet the host, Your Highness? I feel bad for him because you greeted us first," interrupted Aeneas.
"Yes, of course." Blair looked between Selah and Aeneas. "I'll excuse you then. Later… we will definitely meet again."
Selah watched Blair leave while hugging herself.
Later, Blair had said. What does it mean? It makes her worry.
"Didn't think Blair would come in that outfit," Aeneas commented when Blair had walked away. "Ah, I hope people don't mistake Blair for your match."
"How dare you joke at a time like that?" Selah grumbled. "Then what were you thinking just now? That's the way you talk, you know."
Aeneas chuckled. "It's normal, really. The necklace is proof of my love for you," he said. Selah looked at him in disgust. "Okay, okay. I'm giving it to you to get that impression only. Let me look seriously at you."
"But you don't have to be so blunt either, do you?"
"Why? You're shy, huh?"
"Please don't laugh."
The main event begins soon. At that time, many auction items came from outside Tullia. There are paintings to carvings. Unexpectedly, Aeneas showed interest in today's auction items. Well, Selah didn't expect that Aeneas would bid on some of the auction items.
He even managed to get hold of one item, Selah thought as she applauded Aeneas' selling of the peridot ring.
On the one hand, Blair is more silent. It must have been strange for the man to show up alone at a party. Noticing earlier, several people tried to approach him, but Blair quickly asked them to leave.
"If you keep glancing at him like that, Blair will know," whispered Aeneas, who had returned after taking his new ring.
Selah notices the ring box in Aeneas' hand. "Don't you have too much jewelry?" she asked in surprise. As far as she could remember, Aeneas already had a lot of jewelry gifts from King Tristan.
"Who said I bought this ring for myself? This ring is for you," said Aeneas.
"What?"
Aeneas opens his ring box in front of Selah. Peridot reflections look beautiful. "Although peridot is not as expensive as other gemstones, this ring is famous because it was found with the owner's palm. It belongs to the first female knight in Balthasar," he told her.
Selah furrowed her brows. "Yes, I know it. The host told me a little earlier…."
Aeneas smiled crookedly, a sign of danger for Selah.
Sure enough, the man suddenly knelt in front of her. Selah was about to stop him, but everyone was looking their way, including Blair.
"The courage this ring reminds me of you. So, I intend to propose to you with this ring." Aeneas's sapphire blue and golden brown eyes glint mischievously. "I knelt before Selah Dulcia to ask her as my wife. Are you willing?"