Chapter 132 - Opera House
With only a little time left before she would belong to someone else, Cian wanted to use it to give her everything that she couldn't get for the past seventeen years.
Cian bought her jewelry, clothes and whatever nice things he found from almost every shop they entered. The knights escorting them all had their arms full with boxes and packages. Though Seren didn't show on her face that was happy, but in her heart she liked it a lot. Her brother was buying various things for her. This was something she had seen whenever she came to this market before: those girls of her age were receiving various gifts from their parents or other family members. Back then, how badly she wished it to happen to her too. Finally, that day arrived. Her heart felt so warm and full, it seemed to be bursting with happiness.
For the first time, she walked in public with her head held high and her identity known to everyone. No one dared to say a word, and no one dared to neglect her. Every shop owner welcomed them like they were the children of the Goddess of Wealth herself, coming to bless their lives. Each and every manager and owner would offer them the best they had in their shops. Her brother was her shield and she couldn't explain how happy she felt.
After doing rounds on various shops in the marketplace, Cian brought Seren to visit the opera house next. It was a place that Seren had never seen before as it held a kind of entertainment only wealthy merchants and people of high society could enjoy. The venue was extremely large and luxurious, almost as grand as the halls inside the palace where royal banquets were held. There were many rows of seats in front of the stage, and there were high-class private rooms with open balconies on the second floor reserved for the guests with important backgrounds.
Seren was visibly excited to see what would happen inside this huge hall which was currently being filled with many people . Cian and Seren were seated in a separate compartment meant for royalty. Among the private rooms, it had the best view where the entire opera house was visible below it.
Though she was unfamiliar with the play itself, Seren liked the music performance of the lady who was playing the heroine, singing with a sweet voice while confidently standing on the stage. She was so captivated by the music, she did not even realize the hours passing by.
Once it was over, Cian asked, "Did you like it?"
"Hmm." She nodded happily.
"Tell me if you are tired, Sister. If not, we still have one more place to visit. I believe you will find it the best."
"Which one?" she asked with a sparkle in her eyes. Today was already the best day of her life. She could not even imagine what could make it better.
"You will know once we are there," Cian replied with a mysterious smile. He offered her his hand once more like a gentleman, and she did not hesitate to take it.
After the performance ended, the nobles who happened to be in the opera house got to know that Prince Cian was there himself. They all wanted to meet him, but his knights allowed no one to come close. Cian had specifically ordered that no one were to disturb him and his sister. It was a day only meant to be spent with Seren. Moreover, dealing with those annoying nobles who knew nothing but to fawn over and flatter him was such a pain.
Still, a few stubborn nobles didn't wish to let this chance slide and found a chance to approach Cian when they reached the carriage.
"We have seen Your Highness the Crown Prince!" Two middle-aged men came to him and bowed with humble smiles on their faces. "We have seen Your Highness the Third Princess!"
Cian glared at his knights, not sparing them his attention. "Didn't I instruct not to let anyone disturb us?"
The knights immediately bowed apologetically. "Our apologies, Your Highness. We tried to stop them—"
One of the nobles laughed as he cut off the knight. "Don't get angry at them, Your Highness. We are here to give our well wishes to the Third Princess for her wedding with the King of Megaris."
Those sly nobles knew to get to Cian, treating his sister well was the only way. 'Regardless, this witch will be gone soon so let's just face her for the last time.'
Cian looked at his sister through the corner of his eye. They were standing side by side, with their arms linked together. "What do you say, Seren?"
"In return for their wishes, this witch seems to have nothing to give back. I am not well versed and can only offer a few curses, since those are the only things I know," she said and then her purple eyes stared at the two men blocking their way. "I wonder which one would suit these two gentlemen."
The two nobles were scared stiff when they found her purple eyes focused on them. The way she looked at them with narrowed eyes, they felt as if there was already something wrong happening on their bodies. Of course, Seren had done nothing, and it was simply their imagination going wild. The bias they had against her was too deep; her smallest actions always seemed to have meaning in their eyes.
"A-Apo-pologies for getting in the way, Your Highness! We will leave." The two nobles left after bowing, not even waiting to be dismissed.
Cian grinned at the silly sight while Seren giggled lightly behind her veil. For the first time, she liked being called a witch. Until today, she had never had this much fun with this identity.
As the two siblings enjoyed themselves, the knights around them didn't know how to react. To most of them, this was the first time they saw royals being this light and casual. It was especially so for their cold-natured and intimidating crown prince.