Chapter 4

Evelina's shout rang through the entire ballroom. Every head turned toward her. Ignoring the stunned stares around her, she charged onto the balcony, snatched the gift box from Hadrian's hand, and hugged it tightly to her chest.

She'd made it just in time!

Hadrian blinked, then looked her up and down. "What's with the outfit?"

Was it the latest trend to wear a coat over a nightgown?

Evelina had to catch her breath first, and before she could speak, a reproachful voice sounded.

"You're late, Your Highness."

She turned toward the voice and sized up the male beside her. Ivan was tall and slender, with handsome, refined features. Unfortunately, he wasn't her type.

Ivan regarded her with visible displeasure. "Why have you come dressed like this, Your Highness?"

She hadn't even bothered to put on an evening gown before coming over. It was completely inappropriate.

Evelina froze in shock. The nerve of him! She was a princess! How dare he talk to her like that?

She wouldn't even have bothered showing up if not for the crystal worth a million gold astras.

Nevertheless, she replied with a polite smile, "Sorry about that. I left the house in a bit of a hurry."

Hadrian turned his head away in exasperation. He'd long since grown tired of watching his little sister chase after this frail-looking peacock. But since she was hopelessly infatuated with him, Hadrian simply learned to ignore it.

He honestly couldn't understand what she saw in Ivan. As far as he was concerned, all they had to do was apply a little pressure to the Bairds, and they would've delivered Ivan to her doorstep.

Noticing the less-than-pleased expression on Hadrian's face, Ivan swallowed his irritation and decided to drop it. Even though she had shown up late, he decided to be magnanimous and not press the issue.

"It's fine. I'm just glad you made it, Your Highness," he said, his gaze drifting toward the gift box she was holding.

Willa had already let it slip that Evelina had asked Hadrian to acquire a rare resonance crystal for him. He was now waiting for her to hand it over personally.

Evelina blinked, looking a little hesitant. "There's… something I want to tell you."

The balcony was near enough to the ballroom that all the guests heard her, and they immediately snickered. They knew what was coming. She was about to launch into a heartfelt confession again.

The same scene played out at Ivan's birthday party every year. She would confess her feelings to him, and he would reject her, reducing her to a puddle of tears.

The male guests who had witnessed the spectacle before settled in to enjoy the entertainment.

Only this time, Evelina fidgeted awkwardly before saying, "I want to tell you that it's time we stop having contact with each other. I can't fool around like that anymore."

Ivan thought he'd misheard her. "What did you say?"

Across the ballroom, ears perked up instantly. What was this? Were things going to be different this year? Had Evelina come up with a new strategy this time?

Looking and sounding utterly sincere, Evelina said, "The truth is, I came today to clear things up. The queen has recently started selecting candidates for my future prince consort.

"As you know, my mind force is weak. Whoever becomes my husband will already have to suffer because of that. And if I maintain relationships with other males, I'd be hurting his feelings, too.

"So I've been thinking that it's time I stop playing around so much. My future husband will be upset if I hang out with other males, and I shouldn't upset him like that, right?"

The crowd was stunned by Evelina's display of a shameless flirt finally turning over a new leaf. No one spoke. They were all too busy gasping over what they just heard.

So all this time, Evelina had only been playing around with Ivan? And was she serious about showing such respect to her future husband?

If she'd spoiled a casual fling this much, spending all these years catering to his every whim, what would she be like toward her actual husband?

The implication dawned on a few of the young males, and they started eyeing Evelina with greater fervor.

Even Hadrian froze before whipping his head around to stare at Evelina. Did she get hit on the head on her way in?

Meanwhile, Ivan's expression went from shock to humiliation before resting on icy hostility.

"Is that so?" He let out a cold laugh. "How is it any of my business that you're about to choose a husband? Go right ahead. I look forward to seeing how many males would be willing to join the selection."

What the hell was she up to now? Was she trying to play hard to get again?

She'd pulled stunts like that before, and she'd always come running back to apologize to him within a matter of days. But it was his birthday today, and she'd chosen today of all days to pull this crap?

A husband, huh? Who would want to be the husband to a C-class Inferior female like her?

However, Hadrian wasn't going to take that. He shot Ivan an icy glare, snapping, "Regardless of who makes the selection list, I know for a fact that you're not even qualified to get on it."

Who the hell did this male think he was, talking to his sister like that?

Ivan stiffened, and his expression turned ugly. His lips parted, but in the end, he dared not talk back to Hadrian.

Evelina might be willing to humble herself in front of Ivan, but Hadrian certainly wasn't going to. Not only was he the second prince of Centoria, but he also wielded absolute power over the entertainment industry. Ivan dared not offend Hadrian.

Evelina was cheering wildly on the inside. Hadrian looked so cool doing that!

Below the balcony, whispers spread through the crowd.

"Prince Hadrian is right. The Bairds aren't even qualified to make the selection list for a prince consort, and Ivan's lineage isn't exactly notable either."

"What's going on with Princess Evelina this year? Why have she and Ivan fallen out like that?"

"Didn't you hear her? She said she's done fooling around. Hey, do you think I'd stand a chance if I entered the selection?"

"You? I doubt it. A prince consort would have to come from a distinguished noble family, at least…"

The murmurs drifted upward in fragments, and Ivan's face turned green. It had taken him years to make everyone forget that his father had been nothing more than a bondservant. But now, all his efforts had been ruined!

Meanwhile, all of Evelina's attention went to the crystal she was holding. Having said what she came to say, she grabbed Hadrian's arm and started walking away, but she didn't forget to bid Ivan a polite farewell.

"Now that we've cleared everything up, my brother and I will be leaving. Goodbye."

With that, the siblings walked out beneath everyone's astonished gaze.

The moment Evelina sat down in the hovercar, she began stroking the box with a look of gladness. She'd almost let a million gold astras fly right out of her hands!

The next second, the box was snatched away from her. Flashing a pleasant smile at her, Hadrian asked, "Aren't you going to explain the situation to me? What's up with you?"

Evelina didn't know what to say. Looking at Hadrian's captivating face, she frantically searched through the original Evelina's memories.

Thankfully, although the original Evelina had become rather rebellious over the past few years, she and Hadrian had always been exceptionally close. He had indulged her in every way possible.

Based on the memories from the original Evelina, she puffed out her chest and declared, "What, you don't believe that I was telling the truth just now?"

Hadrian clicked his tongue before eyeing her strangely. "Haven't you been so hopelessly devoted to your beloved Ivan this whole time that, only a month ago, you even fought with Mother because you absolutely refused to take anyone else for a husband?"

Evelina sheepishly rubbed her nose.

That was true. The original Evelina had argued so fiercely with the queen over the issue that she'd packed her bags and moved out of the palace, settling into her private villa.

She gave an awkward laugh before saying, "I just... didn't like the idea of ending up with a complete stranger."

Hadrian narrowed his eyes. "So if he isn't a stranger, you'd accept it?"

Evelina eagerly nodded. "I'll go along with all the arrangements!"

Ivan hadn't been entirely wrong just now. There probably wouldn't be many noble males willing to compete for her hand anyway. Even if there were, she had only just reached the legal age to find a husband. There was no rush.

Hadrian fell silent for a moment before tossing the gift box back into her lap. "When did you become so sensible?"

Evelina immediately hugged the crystal protectively. She had barely relaxed when Hadrian casually dropped another bomb on her.

"But it's just as well. Keep up the good behavior. Gideon will soon be reporting back to Stellaris. You better not let him catch you causing any trouble."

Evelina, who was currently hiding a penal slave in her villa, felt her scalp go numb. "S-Soon? How soon are we talking?"

"In two or three days, I guess. He'll be back for two weeks, so you need to behave yourself," Hadrian replied before glancing at her frantic expression. "Or are you telling me you've already stirred up trouble?"