The applause from the dance slowly faded, but the whispers did not.
They spread through the ballroom like ripples on water.
Sebastian still held Eliana's hand as they stepped away from the center of the floor. The orchestra began another piece, softer this time, but very few people were paying attention to the music anymore.
All eyes were on them.
"My, my," a duchess whispered behind her fan. "They look far too comfortable for a marriage arranged in a single night."
Sebastian seemed completely unaware of the attention. Or perhaps he simply didn't care.
His thumb brushed lightly over the back of Eliana's hand.
"You handled that dance very well," he murmured.
Eliana tilted her head. "Were you expecting me to trip over my own feet?"
"Not exactly," he said. "But I was expecting you to look more nervous."
"I told you earlier," she replied calmly. "The whispers don't frighten me."
Sebastian's lips curved faintly.
"I noticed."
Before either of them could say more, a voice cut through the air.
"Your Highness."
The tone was polite.
But the tension beneath it was impossible to miss.
Sebastian and Eliana turned.
A tall nobleman was approaching them through the crowd. His expression was tight, his jaw rigid.
Lord Adrian Vale.
More importantly—
The man publicly promised to Princess Fiona.
The surrounding nobles immediately leaned closer, sensing trouble.
Adrian bowed stiffly.
"Congratulations on your marriage, Your Highness."
Sebastian inclined his head slightly.
"Thank you."
Adrian's eyes shifted to Eliana.
His gaze lingered far longer than was appropriate.
"Princess Eliana," he said quietly.
Eliana offered a polite nod.
"My lord."
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Adrian exhaled sharply.
"I must admit," he said, "this announcement came as… quite a surprise."
Sebastian's voice remained calm.
"It was not planned."
"That much is obvious."
Several nearby nobles exchanged glances.
Sebastian's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Do you have something you wish to say, Lord Vale?"
Adrian laughed softly, though there was no humor in it.
"Oh, I have many things I wish to say."
The ballroom began to quiet.
People were listening now.
Adrian's eyes returned to Eliana.
"Of all the women in the kingdom," he said slowly, "I did not expect you to choose her."
Sebastian's expression cooled.
"Eliana is my wife."
"Yes," Adrian replied bitterly. "That is precisely the problem."
Gasps rippled quietly through the crowd.
Eliana felt Sebastian's hand tighten slightly around hers.
His voice remained polite.
"You are speaking very carelessly tonight, Lord Vale."
Adrian's control finally cracked.
"Carelessly?" he snapped.
He gestured toward Eliana.
"I loved her!"
The words exploded into the ballroom like shattered glass.
The music faltered.
Fans snapped open.
Dozens of nobles froze mid-conversation.
Adrian's voice rose, emotion breaking through every word.
"I have loved her for years!"
A stunned silence followed.
Then whispers began spreading rapidly.
"Years?"
"But he's engaged to—"
"Princess Fiona—"
Adrian didn't seem to care anymore.
His gaze burned as it fixed on Sebastian.
"And suddenly you appear and marry her overnight," he continued bitterly. "Why?"
His voice shook.
"You had every princess in the kingdom to choose from."
He gestured sharply toward the balcony.
"Why couldn't you choose Princess Fiona?"
The entire ballroom went still.
Above them, Princess Fiona stood frozen.
Her face had gone completely pale.
Every noble in the room slowly turned toward her.
The humiliation was immediate.
Whispers erupted everywhere.
"Did he just—"
"In front of everyone—"
"How disgraceful—"
Sebastian, however, remained perfectly calm.
Almost too calm.
He stepped slightly in front of Eliana.
His voice, when he spoke, was quiet.
But sharp enough to cut through the noise.
"Lord Vale."
Adrian glared at him.
Sebastian's expression did not change.
"You are embarrassing yourself."
Adrian's hands clenched.
"You stole her."
Sebastian's gaze darkened.
"No," he said evenly.
"I married her."
A beat of silence passed.
Then Sebastian added quietly,
"And if you truly cared for her, you would not be shouting about it in a crowded ballroom."
The words landed heavily.
Adrian's anger faltered.
Sebastian's arm slid gently around Eliana's waist.
Not possessively.
Protectively.
He looked down at her for a moment before speaking again.
His voice softened just slightly.
"Eliana deserves respect," he said.
Then his eyes returned to Adrian.
"And tonight, you have given her none."
Adrian stood frozen, realizing too late what he had done.
The gossip had already begun spreading like wildfire.
And across the ballroom…
Princess Fiona turned slowly and walked off the balcony, her dignity barely holding together.
Sebastian didn't even look up.
His attention remained entirely on the woman beside him.
"You handled that well," Eliana murmured quietly.
Sebastian sighed softly.
"I would have preferred a quieter evening."
She smiled faintly.
"I doubt the court will forget this one anytime soon."
Sebastian glanced at the whispering nobles.
Then back at her.
"No," he agreed.
"They won't."
And somehow, despite the chaos around them, the way he looked at her made it feel like the rest of the room didn't exist at all.