The crowd didn't hide the fact that they murmured about the presence of a woman beside the second prince, it is also the fact that the prince didn't even try to hide but he also held her hand promptly.
Without uttering any word, the personal knight of King Alaric reported to him the woman has been part of the march, the prince said that she has contributed to the army in subduing the rebels and that he treats her with high regards. After it, he stood away and went back on his duties.
Alaric observes Oriana's reaction through his peripheral vision, waiting for any reaction or any urge to ask what has the knight reported to him. But to no avail, she remained composed and dignified, a smirk formed to his lips as he turned to greet his brother who brought a very special guest.
"The banquet is for the celebration of the return of my brother, Prince Alexandros Montclair Vaisilis, a hero who protected the kingdom." He paused and went to do the ritual of awarding him the medal of acknowledgement of his achievement as a war hero.
"My brother, I am glad that you are back in one piece, the battlefield has been your home for the past three years, I hope that the piece of land given to you will be enough for you to start a home with the Princess." Alaric, ignoring the presence of the woman beside his brother,
"Your Majesty Alaric, I have been to the battle for the past three years forging alliances with independent countries and meeting new people that can contribute to our country." He proudly narrated the things he achieved, this made both Marceline and Niketas alert with what the second prince would ask the King, they knew very well that whatever comes out of his mouth will never be favorable to their princess.
"I just hope that it is not what I am thinking of." Niketas is getting more and more frustrated in every second as he watches the man who married the person he dearly protects.
"This scene is very predictable, how dare they do this to our princess." Marceline who is at limit on herself, trying to contain her emotions. Meanwhile, Princess Oriana remains unmoved, observing the environment, her gaze fixed to the mouth that was about to utter what she has predicted.
"I plead to your Majesty, please let the lady Helena Aveline stay in the capital and work in the city to stabilize her family's current financial situation." It was a forward request that has made the audience gasp at the thought, even Concubine Selene who attended the banquet in honor of her child is shrinking from shame upon hearing such ridiculous demand.
The second prince knelt to the ground and gestured his plea, "Your majesty, lady Helena helped during the alliance discussion, her knowledge to strategize the offense plan on the border, reducing the number of casualties on our end. She is beside me during those hardships on the battlefield. I owe her half of the victory for our country's safety and she deserves to at least be given an opportunity to redeem her family's honor and glory as they have been a long supporter of the royal lineage of Hohenberg."
"Allow me your Majesty to introduce myself, I am the youngest granddaughter of the count of Aveline in the province of Hohenberg. We are a family that has hailed knights who have been serving the royal family of Vasilis since the old times. As the rebellion in the borders broke out, I decided to step forward and join the army of the second prince in order to serve and bring peace to our lands. Please do not blame Prince Xandro." Her speech emphasizes the way she refers to the second prince, this rings the ears of the nobles, even the two sides of the princess and Oriana herself.
"You may casually call me Xandro, that's what my family calls me."
"Family you mean huh?" Oriana thought of herself, her gaze then focused on the woman beside her so-called husband.
"Please do not blame Prince Xandro, he is only helping this humble servant as I have told him the current challenges that my family has been facing. It was me who voluntarily joined them and participated in the war. I only wanted to be of help as my parents are already at the retiring age and I still have younger siblings to support." Helena continued.
"Helena, what do you mean by that? You have contributed a lot with the war, you only deserve to be acknowledged." The words of the second prince only lead to a more heated discussion among the nobles.
King Alaric remained stoic looking at his younger sibling as he continued with his blunder, "Your Majesty, I assure you will not be disappointed with Lady Helena, she is trustworthy and dependable."
"However, how sure are you about her intent of joining your army?"
"Princess?" They were all surprised at the intervention of the Princess.
"An ordinary citizen who didn't get through the proper training as a knight, or not even part of the palace's security team suddenly joined the army." She pointed out.
"Elen 's intention is about benefiting the country and to bring back her family's stability." The prince, without knowing, has landed a mine, he unintentionally called the lady with her nickname. The princess didn't let it slide and pushed more into the second prince.
"Prince Alexandros, you know the protocol of the palace, everyone must undergo the background clearance, must have good credentials and complete several trainings before they will be able to be part of the royal army. Don't you find it unfair that the knights who worked hard were able to be in service." Technically, the second prince has violated the palace rules and even overstepped the knights rule, upon realization his eyes wavered.
"Princess, I know of it, but I am just looking at the better good that she has done, unlike you who have only stayed here in the capital, her dedication to resolve the negotiation between other countries has contributed a lot." A sudden change in his tone was evident as he defended the stranger rather than the princess who is his wife.
"Prince, do you even know what you are saying? I am a princess and a royalty, I may not be at the battlefield but I have contributed to the battle as well, you are well aware of this." She argued back, the princess has been preparing all the document for the request of the supplies of food and medicine of the army and she did not miss to have an online conference with the second prince during negotiations not until the few months that the communication has become seldom due to the unstable connection that leads her to just send the correspondence and email her suggestions to the second prince. A day turns to a week to wait for the prince's response.
"Of course it is normal for you to arrange for the supplies and medicine of the army, but it is not even on par with the real hardship when you are on the battlefield." This shocked Oriana, she can't believe that her hard work is being belittled by her very own husband.
"Prince, don't you think your own words are unjustified right now?"
"I am just stating the fact princess, if you are hurt just admit your lapses, we both knew you can't be in the battlefield and just being petty to see others receiving praise."
"So now I am the petty one huh?" She mocked him back.
"If you aren't, why can't you just stay silent, it is not because we are married you will also receive the praise of your husband's hardship. The mere fact that Elen was beside me during those times and now receiving the glory with me, isn't more reasonable to call you petty?"
"Princess, please don't be jealous, what the prince has said is all true, but if you don't want me to take credit I will back out and just return to the borders." Her pitiful demeanor made the second prince worried and soon, harsh words were thrown at Oriana.
"What are you talking about Elen? You don't have to worry about anything, I will take responsibility for you even if they don't agree and give you a post here in the capital." Alarmingly, the princess is confused why the prince, her husband is acting this way towards a strange woman whom he just met.
"Xandro, I don't want to cause you trouble, I did it all voluntarily so it won't weigh anyone down." Her words made the second prince snapped at his wife.
"Look how humble Elen is, how can you be so stubborn towards her?" The argument starts and Oriana for the first time in her life felt so humiliated, she knew the nobles and the council who are gossiping towards the heated conversation and the fact that her husband the prince is showing his bias to someone who is beneath her status.
Her ego has been hurt.
"Prince, I am a royal, don't compare me to her, and I am your wife!"
"You are only my wife on paper!" It seems like water was splashed on Oriana.
"What?"
"What we have is only a marriage of convenience."
"Aren't you the one who welcomed me? Didn't you say that I can call you Xandro because that is what your family calls you? Yet, this lady suddenly appears and speaks of your name like she is closer to you?"
"What are you insisting? We trust and support each other in the battlefield, it cannot be match with anything else."
"You dare to choose her over me, your wife?" She is in disbelief, holding back the tears.
"Oriana, while we can still be civil, let's end this, I want to be frank with you."
"No…"
"Let's get divorced."