The Hero's Forsaken Princess
Chapter 74: The Solo Performance

Chapter 74: The Solo Performance

Eve stood at the center stage, looking in the direction of the royal family. Then her gaze fell on Alaric who was also staring back at her.

She tightened her grip on the zither the moment she saw Princess Thalia sitting next to Alaric.

’They are together,’ she thought.

"You can do this, Ericka!" Norah cheered on her, her voice snapping her out of her deep thoughts.

The members of the Siren Ensemble expressed their support to Eve. They knew this was her first time performing in front of the royal family.

Eve smiled at them, nodding her head. Then, she looked around her, searching for someone.

After a while, she met Gideon’s eyes. He raised his fist and mouthed the word ’fighting’.

Seeing her greatest ally, Eve felt more at ease. There was nothing to be afraid of because she wasn’t alone in this fight.

In a brief moment, Eve sat down and placed the zither on her lap. She began strumming the strings and a soft melody echoed in the banquet hall.

Gideon was surprised, not expecting her to be good at playing the zither.

No one knew from the royal family that Eve’s mother taught her how to play zither. Princess Esmeralda made sure to teach Eve everything she knew– writing, reading, and playing instruments.

Princess Esmeralda prepared Eve for her future. She didn’t want people to look down on her daughter just because she pretended to be a slave in this kingdom.

She believed that Eve’s real identity would be revealed in the future, making the Goldwyn family proud of her.

As Eve played the zither, Crown Prince Cassian’s eyes were glued on her. That was also the time Sylvana approached him.

She whispered from behind, "Your Highness. It’s her. The woman we’ve been looking for. She’s here."

Crown Prince Cassian’s mood changed instantly upon hearing that, a satisfied smirk flashed on his gorgeous face. He focused his attention on the masked lady.

Meanwhile, Alaric’s raging emotions had finally calmed down upon hearing the soft melody. He decided to remain in his seat, watching and listening to the masked lady playing the zither.

It did not take long before Eve started to sing the lyrics of the song she composed for tonight’s performance. It was a song reflecting her story as the third princess of Kingdom Averion.

I was born to shadows and pain,

Living in silence, drowning in shame.

A crown I’ll never wear,

A life I’m forced to bear.

They never saw me, never cared,

A princess lost, nobody dared...

To love me for who I am,

I’m just a name in their cruel plan.

As Eve sang the first verse of the lyrics, numerous memories flashed in her mind. Her father, the king, neglected her, while the queen enslaved her, isolating her and hiding her in the Lotus Pavilion as she grew up.

Her royal siblings always bullied and humiliated her. She never felt a family love from any of them.

Eve shifted her gaze from her royal family to Alaric. A somber look could be seen in her emerald eyes as she sang the second verse of the song, her gaze fixed on Alaric and Thalia.

I thought I found the place to hide,

Thought I’d escaped and stood with pride,

But he came back with her by his side,

Now I’m standing on this fragile tide.

When Eve composed this second verse, she thought about her marriage with Alaric and the moment he returned from victory. Princess Thalia came back with him. She couldn’t forget the feeling of vulnerability when Thalia expressed her desire to marry her husband, Alaric.

Eve’s eyes never left Alaric as she sang the chorus.

Torn between my heart and the chains that bind,

Love or freedom, what will I find?

I’ve been bruised, I’ve been scarred,

But I’m stronger than before,

Fighting for more than just a dream.

In this world, nothing is what it seems,

Torn between the man I need,

And the freedom I must seek.

For some unknown reason, Alaric frowned as he listened to her song. A certain someone flashed in his mind– Princess Eve. His heart skipped a beat as he continued listening to her sad lyrics.

’Why do I feel like this song is somehow related to Eve? Am I just overthinking?’ Alaric thought to himself.

Everyone was mesmerized by her angelic voice, clueless of the true story behind the song. The banquet hall fell silent, everyone was all eyes and all ears on her.

I gave my trust, I gave my soul,

Now I’m losing all control.

A heart that’s broken, torn apart,

A warrior’s love or a brand new start?

Can I forgive, can I believe,

Or is it time to finally leave?

Alaric subconsciously clenched his fists. His longing for Eve intensified further. He couldn’t understand why his heart was feeling uneasy and pained. Was she referring to him? Why did she keep staring at him?

Meanwhile, Eve was almost reaching the end of the song, expressing everything within her heart.

I won’t stay in the shadows anymore,

I’ll rise above and settle the score.

Love or freedom, it’s my choice to make,

No more hiding, no more heartache!

Torn between love and the chains that bind,

But I’ll find my way, I’ll leave it all behind,

Fighting for freedom, fighting for me,

In the end, I’ll be who I meant to be.

There was only one person who could understand the message of Eve’s song. It was Gideon. He had complicated emotions as he darted his gaze back and forth between Eve and Alaric.

’Hmm. I didn’t expect that she could sing well even though she had just regained her voice. She is truly a hidden gem, full of talents,’ Gideon smiled inwardly, staring at Eve with pride and admiration in his eyes.

Eve had just finished her performance and the banquet hall was still engulfed in deafening silence. It seemed her song had touched their hearts, with the sorrowful melody seeping into their souls.

Eve put the zither down and stood up. Then she courtly bowed, signifying the end of her performance.

It was Crown Prince Cassian who broke the silence, standing up and clapping his hands.

"Bravo! That was an excellent performance!" Prince Cassian declared.

The banquet hall erupted into loud cheers as the honored guests gave Eve a round of applause. Everyone was amazed by her solo performance!

In a brief moment, Crown Prince Cassian joined Eve on the stage, surprising everyone.

Without any hesitation, Prince Cassian spoke to her and said, "May I have the honor to see the face behind this mask? May I know your name, Milady?"

Everyone was stupefied the moment Prince Cassian approached the Lady Musician with utmost interest in his eyes. The prince had been avoiding ladies the entire time, even ignoring the princesses.

Who would have thought that a mere musician would catch the crown prince’s attention? Did he really like people who were great at playing the zither?

Meanwhile, Gideon looked at Eve with anticipation. "What are you going to do now, Princess Eve?"

Eve smiled back at Crown Prince Cassian. With a determined look in her eyes, Eve raised her hand, removing her mask.

The banquet hall was filled with loud gasps the moment Eve’s face was revealed to everyone.

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