Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 143: An Intimate Friend

Chapter 143: An Intimate Friend

The entire capital was bustling with the news of the royal wedding that was about to commence. Every single person was encouraged to celebrate such an important event regardless of their status, and thanks to King Ruan’s grace, the wedding day was announced as a national holiday. Even the commoners were invited to a joyous celebration arranged for them in the form of an outside fair.

The fair was directly supplied by the Royal Family, its generosity offering free food and drinks for everyone, culminating in the celebration with a carnival and dancing until morning.

The wedding ceremony itself was a very exclusive event held inside the sacred walls of the Holy Church; only the members of the Royal Family and their closest friends were allowed to be present, leaving much to the imagination of curious nobles who never missed the opportunity to speculate and gossip, especially when it came to the still-mysterious figure of the foreign princess from Lafad.

Once the wedding ceremony was over, the proper celebration was to be held in the Royal Palace, precisely in the largest banquet hall, and the noble families of every rank were invited to join the festivities.

The grandiose banquet hall shimmered with opulence as guests flooded in, their gowns and suits a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors. Nobles, dignitaries, and esteemed guests from far and wide mingled, their laughter and chatter filling the air with an air of anticipation and joy.

The hall itself was decorated with luxurious draperies of rich velvet and silk, in hues of royal black and blue, cascading from the high ceiling to the marble floors below. Gilded candelabras flickered with a warm, inviting glow, casting a soft radiance over the scene. Tables were draped with pristine white linens and adorned with elaborate floral arrangements of roses, lilies, and orchids, their sweet fragrance mingling with the tantalizing aroma of the feast to come.

The banquet spread was a sight to behold, a feast fit for true royalty. Towering pyramids of fresh fruits and berries glistened enticingly, while golden bowls overflowed with exotic delicacies, from spiced olives to marinated cheeses––a generous gift sent from Melania’s homeland by her parents who, unfortunately, were not able to share the happy day with their daughter.

As guests mingled around, crystal goblets were filled with fine wines and bubbling champagne, their effervescence a symbol of the joyous occasion. Servers moved gracefully among the tables and guests, offering trays of delicate hors d’oeuvres and dainty pastries, each bite a symphony of flavors and textures.

The atmosphere was alive with music and merriment, as musicians played lively tunes and dancers twirled gracefully across the polished dance floor. Toasts were raised in honor of the happy couple, their love celebrated with each clink of glass and heartfelt sentiment.

As the evening unfolded in a whirl of laughter and joy, it was clear that this royal wedding would be remembered as a truly unforgettable celebration of love and unity. Or at least something that could resemble such notions.

Amidst the splendor and extravagance, the Royal Family sat radiant at the head of the room, with Prince Yanad and Princess Melania seated beside the King, to his left. Their unexpectedly serious and tense demeanors contrasted with the lighthearted atmosphere filling the room.

Both Yanad and Melania seemed exceptionally bored and extremely out of place, which immensely bothered King Euris and his wife Fleur. The event, just like everything else that involved the hungry looks of the outsiders carefully observing the Royal Family’s every muscle twitch, had to be perfect.

Tired of his son’s uninterested face, Euris leaned closer to him and whispered,

"Your expression might turn the wine bitter, Yanad. At least pretend to enjoy being here, if not for your wife, then for tomorrow’s news’ sake."

Yanad’s response was a silent frown, which seemed to have aggravated the King’s mood even more.

"You are no longer a child, Your Highness. If before, I could close my eyes to your neglect because you could pretend to be busy with the preparations for the title, now, being a husband to Princess Melania is a part of your duties as well. You can no longer ignore it, Yanad, so do your Kingdom a favor and at least ask your wife for a dance."

With a long, weary sigh emptying his lungs, the Crown Prince closed his eyes for a moment as if doing so could dispel the growing sense of irritation within his chest and offered his father a brief nod, his lips curling into a fake, submissive smile. Then, he turned to Melania, faked another smile, and asked,

"Your Highness, would you like to share the next dance with me?"

To Yanad’s great surprise, the princess did not reply to him right away. On the contrary, she looked rather busy, with her big brown eyes frantically moving around the banquet hall as if desperately searching for something. Or someone.

"Your Highness?"

As if to do his father a favor, the Crown Prince repeated his words, finally attracting the princess’s attention.

"Pardon? A dance? Well... yes, of course."

At last, the young lady graced her husband with a somewhat dismissive and uninterested reply, which now surprised even Euris and Fleur, who were also used to her craving for Yanad’s attention.

"You look like you are searching for someone, Your Highness. Are you expecting to greet an important guest tonight?"

The King asked Melania with a wide, cunning grin on his lips, and his words made the princess visibly flustered. Queen Fleur joined the friendly interrogation as well,

"Goodness, Your Highness! Have you finally made a good friend here in the Capital? It is about time! It is not good for a member of the Royal Family to be cooped up in the palace all day, and an intimate friend can help you adjust to life here much more easily."

With her eyes still gliding over the mingling noblemen in the banquet hall, Melania smiled rather awkwardly and shrugged her shoulders, her quiet response getting drowned out by the loud announcement of the next dance.

"Yes... An intimate friend."