"Prince Florian! You’re finally here!" Alexandria exclaimed happily as she stepped closer, her bright eyes filled with excitement.
Florian was absolutely awestruck.
Alexandria, along with the other princesses present, looked stunning. They were already beautiful in their daily attire, but now, adorned in grand gowns of the finest fabrics, they were truly breathtaking. The intricate embroidery, the shimmering jewels—everything about them exuded elegance and grace.
"You look stunning, Lady Alexandria," Florian complimented with a warm smile.
Alexandria beamed. "Thank you! You look amazing as well, Your Highness."
Before he could respond, another figure stepped forward—Princess Athena, standing quietly behind Alexandria.
Florian’s eyes widened slightly as he took in her appearance. "Oh my, Princess Athena! You should wear more colorful dresses instead of your usual brown ones. This suits you beautifully!"
Athena’s gowns were typically plain, simple shades of brown, but tonight, she was dressed in a strikingly vibrant ensemble—a blend of green, purple, and gold, each color complementing the other perfectly.
Athena’s face flushed. "Oh, I couldn’t... I wouldn’t be able to afford such dresses often."
"Eh? But His Majesty provides for all our clothing, doesn’t he?" Florian asked, tilting his head in confusion.
Alexandria let out a small sigh before answering. "Athena has always refused to use the allowance given to her by His Majesty. She still wears the dresses she brought from her homeland."
Florian blinked in surprise.
’Wow. She’s incredibly frugal... but now it makes sense why Scarlett and Camilla pick on her so much.’
Speaking of them, his gaze drifted toward Camilla, who stood nearby, watching him with an unimpressed glare but remaining silent.
Out of all the princesses, Camilla’s gown was, unsurprisingly, the most extravagant. She was from a kingdom renowned for its beauty and fashion, and it showed—her dress, a luxurious cascade of orange and gold, was designed to demand attention.
’What a shame that her beauty and fashion sense come with such a terrible attitude.’ Florian sighed internally.
"I see that Princess Scarlett isn’t here," Alexandria noted, glancing around the room.
"Oh, she’ll be arriving later with His Majesty," Florian answered. "We’ll be going in first to mingle and greet the guests."
"It’s like we’re just here to entertain their nobles," a voice scoffed.
Florian turned his head, surprised. It was Mira. She was never one to hold back her thoughts, but her bluntness still caught him off guard. Beside her stood Bridget, who remained quiet but watchful.
Alexandria frowned. "I’m sure it’s not like that. This is the first time, aside from touring Concordia, that we get to truly speak with the nobles."
Mira huffed, crossing her arms. "And do you really think they aren’t going to make a spectacle out of us? We’re members of their king’s harem. We’re accessories."
Bridget shot her a warning look. "Keep quiet, Mira. If anyone hears you..."
Florian’s attention briefly shifted to Bridget.
’Oh. She’s not wearing her glasses.’
His lips curled into a soft smile. "Lady Mira, Lady Bridget... You both look even more beautiful today."
Both women turned to him, their expressions momentarily stunned before their gazes hardened.
"You still owe us an explanation, Prince Florian," Bridget said, her voice measured but tinged with frustration. "As much as I want to respect your decision, I cannot fathom what went through your head to give her the advantage."
Ah. There it was.
’I knew it. They’re still upset about the choice I didn’t even make... And here I thought I was finally getting along with them.’
’Alexandriaaaaa! You are a goddess, an angel, an absolute queen!’
Bridget and Mira seemed taken aback by Alexandria’s words. But more importantly, they listened.
’This is what I feared. Some of them were really affected by this test.’
"Besides... wouldn’t it be fun to show them all how stunning you look? This is your moment to represent your kingdoms. Show the nobles of Concordia who you really are."
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The readers' comments on the novel: Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight!