Chapter 40: Laughingstock
"Princess, your mask," Henry handed over the mask that Elys had accidentally dropped.
She accepted it sheepishly, embarrassed but still holding her chin high. She did not want to admit her blunder, even when it was too obvious that even a half-blind man could have noticed.
Elys wanted to beat herself for making such a mistake.
She didn’t want to look weak in front of the prince of all people. He might be as gentle as an angel right now, but the moment they return, she knew he was bound to use her mistake as a means to insult her.
"Thank you," the princess smiled at the old man.
Henry was a bit more polite to her now too, so it seemed.
"Your highness," a man in a formal attire greeted them, "the ball is this way."
Aleksander glanced at Elys, a fake yet still an impeccable smile plastered to his face, "Shall we?"
The prince was so gentle that it irked Elys to the point she almost shoved him away. It was as if Elys was so fragile he had to keep her always by his side.
Noticing her reaction, Aleksander withdrew from Elys, and then held his arm out for the princess to take.
Elys braced herself to play her part.