Chapter 148

The carriage arrived at the banquet hall.

I usually favoured vivid colours, but tonight I had dressed head to toe in deep scarlet. Something told me I would be drawing attention later in the evening.

I wasn't the only one. Friedrich and Joachim had both come in red as well. Friedrich had changed into his red coat the moment he saw the colour of my dress, and Joachim — seeing the two of us — had switched outfits too.

If Marie had come, all four of us would have arrived looking like a unified front in crimson.

"Princess Rene, her consort Prince Friedrich, and Duke Rommel — entering now."

I stepped into the hall with lips painted the same deep red as my dress, and every head turned.

The atmosphere had shifted perceptibly from any gathering before.

"Your Highness, that red gown is stunning on you — and the Prince…