Born As The Emperor’s Daughter - Chapter 199

“Everyone, I apologize for making my appearance just now. I’m sure that you’re all confused about the identity of the girl beside me right now. Let me keep it short and tell you all, this is mine and my late wife’s daughter which I have kept hidden for a long time, Alexandra Alice Elizabeth Everly,” Silence dominated the whole room right after the emperor spoke it was as if everyone disappeared because of how silent the whole place is. Not even a single person dared to speak after that as they stared at her. Alexandra was becoming more and more uncomfortable as seconds passed by while they stared at her. Their gazes confused, shocked, wondering.

Alexandra wanted to speak but she doesn’t know what to say at this moment with this kind of atmosphere but her father cleared his throat once again to gain everyone’s attention before he spoke in the same tone of voice as before, “There’s a reason why we kept her hidden for a long time. I know most of you already know what the reason is,” What her father has said was quite short but it was already enough, it made them whisper to each other as they stare at her, glancing over her direction.

“Unbelievable. This is unbelievable.”

“I am utterly shocked, I don’t know what to say.”

“Then don’t speak, you’re just adding up to the noise.”

“I see no harm in her.”

“She looks innocent.”

“She’s a witch, what are you saying?”

“Look, that’s a kid. A little girl, she’s innocent. Nobody would be expecting this kind of thing to happen.”

“And? What about her being a little girl?”

“What are you going to do? Are you going to pick a fight with her?”

“You’re childish.”

Her father spoke once again. “Alexandra will have her coronation a month after this as the princess of this empire, it will be held on public and there would be a banquet after that.”

Even though they were somehow having a disagreement because of her, they just couldn’t tell it straight up to the emperor, it’s just like asking to be killed by him or committing suicide. That also means defying him or going against him which is pretty much a brave act. Though he can also hear what they were saying but he was restraining himself, he let out a sigh before he spoke once again but this time, his tone of voice was stern and serious making the atmosphere of the room cold and tense.

“If you have any problems or complains about it, please step forward and say it out loud rather than whispering it like bees. The Elders have approved with this decision and they were also the one who helped me with it and Alexandra, my daughter, is not a ‘witch’ or a ‘curse’, I’m telling all of you,” It feels like his words were hands reaching out to their necks, choking them letting them not breathe. Now if they defied or went against him, they would be against the church and the Elders too so it’s useless. Besides, it’s not like Alexandra intend to do any harm. In fact, she looks nervous and shy as she stood still. She looks innocent, the thoughts of some people inside their heads as they stared at her.

Though he didn’t forget what Friyedor told him about Alexandra being a potential wielder of either holy or dark magic which would be pretty dangerous and bad. However, they still weren’t sure yet and there is also a chance that she might be not a wielder though it’s only a small one.

Her father was still holding her hand which was placed on top of his and it was tight but not that tight enough, it was like it was there to soothe her, to ease her. To tell her that everything will be alright and he’s here. Alexandra relaxed because of that and she looked up to her father with a smile on her face.

Her father turned his head slightly in her direction, looking down. “Are you not going to say anything? It looks like you badly want to say something,” Her father said in a low voice only she could hear and she blinked multiple times wondering how he knew that, it’s probably because of the expression on her face or how she looked like she was uncomfortable or uneasy. Alexandra smiled at her before she returned her gaze to the front. This time, she held her chin up high and there was a wide smile on her face. A bright expression can be seen, and her eyes were closed in the process as she smiled at them before she spoke in a gentle voice.

“I’ll be looking forward to knowing all of you and getting to know all of you. I hope that we’ll get along,” She made a small bow as she gently took her hand away which was placed on top of her father’s as she did. The previous cold and tense atmosphere of the place suddenly became warm and bubbly as Alexandra spoke. It’s like she did some sort of magic to make that atmosphere replaced with a better one, some of them let out the breaths that they were holding since earlier which they didn’t notice until they let out.

This feels like the time when she was first introduced to everyone who was working in this palace but they were much gentler and kinder to her as if they already knew that she wasn’t a bad person or something. They were much easier to handle and get close to as they are open and friendly. They don’t believe in such rumors and things easily.

But somehow, everything went smoothly than she has thought.

Unknowingly, they were suddenly charmed by Alexandra, and all of those negative thoughts about her vanished. I mean, how could they think of such a cute and innocent girl like her to be a witch? I guess, Alexandra’s charm really does some wonders at some time. But she knows that it wouldn’t be that easy trying to get close to them, there would be a lot of pursuing to do. Especially that there are still some people who think negatively about her. Some might be even pretending that they are fine with her and weren’t on the inside of their heads. She has to be careful with her actions and words now.

—

Minutes passed after that and the ball went back to its normal state as if nothing happened after she danced with her father. It was just a short dance which only lasted for a few minutes but it felt long for her though she did trip, however, her father did something unexpected and held her up, grabbing firmly on her waist as they turn around, Alexandra’s dress fluttering and swaying along with it. They dominated the whole dance floor and only them were seen dancing earlier as everyone watched them in awe, some even applauded right after and she felt proud of that. She was sure that her instructor, Vivienne, was in this ball and watched her dance with her father.

However, even with those positive whispers and murmurs unlike from her dream which was all negative and it humiliated her, there were still some negative ones to which she just ignored. If somebody walked up to her and told that to her straight to the face, she wouldn’t back up, of course. How bold of them to assume that they could just do that easily to her.

Some people actually approached her seeming like they want to get along with her though most of them are high-ranking nobles and she could tell that they were just after her because of her status. They think that kids like her, especially girls, are easy to take advantage of so they approached her with a smile on their faces and spoke to her coating their words with sugar trying their best to know and get along with her just like what she wanted. But she doesn’t like this kind of person. They only suck up to her because of status, fame, and wealth. Some were even brave enough to approach her and introduce their kids to her telling them that they were just shy so they have to come along with them.

Even though she badly wants to get along with everyone, there are also some people she doesn’t like and wouldn’t get along with. Carlos has to shoo them away after that like a fly. Only a few people wanted to truly get along with her and become friends with her though they were older than her.

Humming a happy tune of a random song that she thought of, Alexandra was making her way towards her brothers who were still on that same spot as she saw them before. They saw her walking towards their direction, Christian smiled and approached her. A bright expression was etched on his face and he was stopping himself from wrapping his arms around Alexandra and hug her tight. She smiled at him widely and stopped in front of him, they were standing not far away from the table, probably a few steps away from it.

“You have done well, Alexa,” Christian said as he slightly ruffled her hair, trying his best not to ruin her perfect hairstyle. Alexandra just giggled and didn’t say anything, now that she was introduced to everyone but still haven’t talked to them, she was now free and able to do whatever she wants to do when she would be stuck inside her room and the palace walls not allowed to go out. It feels like she was a bird who was trapped inside a cage for so long and she was released just now. Christian withdrew his hand back after a few seconds and they continued to walk towards the table.

“I saw you dance with father, you’re good though I noticed that you stepped on father’s foot one time and he easily dodge the situation where you might trip by suddenly carrying you,” Gilbert said and a laugh escaped from Alexandra’s lips before she responded to him. “Please don’t remind me of that, Brother Gil. I was glad that I didn’t trip thanks to my father’s unexpected move.”

“Well, you’re clumsy so it’s no shock that you would step on father’s foot. You would look like an idiot if you tripped.”

“Ah, Brother Chan, why do you always call me an idiot?” Alexandra said as if she was already tired of hearing him call her idiot almost every single day and every time they talked to each other. She turned her head in his direction and saw him looking at the glass of juice placed on top of the table. He picked it up and lifted his gaze to look at her, “That’s because you are one and it’s ‘Chad’ not ‘Chan’, would you please stop calling me with that ridiculous nickname?”

Alexandra just hummed and before she could say anything, her brother spoke once again. “Well, you look amazing earlier while you walked down the stairs and while you danced with father. Y-You did well…” His voice was low and it was like a whisper but Alexandra was able to hear it and she grinned at him. Heh, being a tsundere once again, she thought to herself.

“Here, have some macaroons and take a rest for a while,” Calixander lightly pushed the plate filled with colorful macaroons towards her as he spoke and she smiled at him. “Thank you, Brother Calix,” She picked one macaroon up and took a bite from it, she could also tell that this was made by Diana because of its taste. Diana has this specific style or taste that she does when making baked sweets or desserts that’s why she was able to know that it was hers.

“Aren’t you going to dance with someone, Brother Calix?” She asked him since not even once did she saw him leave this spot. “I don’t have someone to dance with, maybe you can?” She was slightly taken aback by what he said and she almost choked on the macaroons that she was eating. It took her a few seconds before she was able to respond to him.

“Of course, I would love to!” Alexandra responded happily, her voice filled with glee as her expression brightened. “Hogging our sister all by yourself, isn’t that kind of unfair?” She heard Gilbert say. “It’s not like you know how to dance anyways, you always escape your lessons,” Calixander fired back and continued eating.

“I escape those lessons because I already know and learned all of it.”

“Reasons.”

“Says the one who always uses that same excuse over and over again when in truth is you’re really just worried about us and you love us like the caring eldest sibling you are.”

“Shut up.”