Wife of The Demon Prince
Chapter 60: Annual beauty contest

Chapter 60: Annual beauty contest

When they returned, the ballroom was just as they left it. There were a bunch of guests enjoying themselves, and couples of all ages whirled in the middle of the hall, while some had indulged themselves with the delicious food with rich wines, some were discussing and laughing loudly.

But as the couple entered back inside the ballroom hand in hand, the noises died down a bit, countless eyes turned to them at once again. However, this time Ara had completely composed herself as she walked gracefully beside Hamon,

"I’ll go back to my sister now." She said.

Hamon nodded, "Alright, just find me when anything happens, I’ll be just across the room."

"Thank you, your highness." Ara left Hamon side, then strode to Anne’s table were she was already seated with Mary, the lady from the banquet as they both whispered to each other and laughed about whatever Anne said.

Ara didn’t trust Mary that much as she was once friends with Claire, and they had tried to feed her spite wine at the Morrison banquet, who knows if Mary was only pretending to be nice because Claire had asked her to.

"Anne?"

Anne was quick to look up to her sister with radiant look, "Oh sister, you’re back!"

Mary also greeted, "Good evening, lady Ara...you look gorgeous." She complimented with a smile, as if they were friends.

Ara saw how happy her sister was with the lady, then decided to not dwell on how she didn’t trust Mary, "Evening. You don’t look bad yourself, you look wonderful."

"Oh, thanks for you kind words." Mary said shyly as she wasn’t used to getting complimented by people.

THUD THUD

Suddenly a loud sound came from the platform, the sound drew the attention of everyone to the platform where the queen stood with a wide smile on her face, then announced with radiant voice,

"Good evening! I hope you’re all ready for the annual event of the royal grand ball!...The beauty contest! Which I know everybody has been waiting for the whole time!"

Ara had completely forgotten about the purpose of the royal grand ball, as she had been looking forward to the ball only because she wanted to make her relationship with Hamon official to the people. She had forgotten about the beauty contest that would be held later In the celebration.

Queen Merona had organised an annual beauty contest at the royal grand ball, to choose the most beautiful maiden in Findara, the winner would be crowned and gifted luxuriously by the queen herself. All the maidens looked forward to this annual event every year.

The entire ballroom cheered excitedly as the time had come to crown the most beautiful maiden.

Merona stepped to the side to give the royal herald a chance to take over.

"I’d like to inform you that there will be a change in this year’s contest! Only three maidens will be nominated by the queen, and you’ll vote for who you thinks is the most beautiful amongst them!" Exclaimed the royal herald who stood beside the queen as who sat gracefully with a paper in hand.

Ara thought back to the beauty contest in her last life, the memory was dim, but she could still recall the winner.

It was Claire Tudor who’d won the most beautiful in Findara.

Ara then heard Anne say, "They seem to change the contest every year, it’s quite a bit unfair to those who wouldn’t get the chance to be nominated."

Then Mary explained further, "Since it’s a royal annual event, it’s fair to Change it. Last year’s contest, you’re allowed to nominate yourself, and people would vote for you."

"Oh I see..." Ara had no idea the beauty contest method changed each year, as she had only attended the grand ball once in her last life. But no matter the nomination changes, she knew who’d win tonight, she glanced towards Claire who looked excited.

The royal herald on the platform spoke again in a booming voice, "Her majesty has chosen the three nominated candidates for tonight’s contest, and I’ll call them out here!"

Many young men whistled while the young women cheered excitedly.

"Our first candidate goes to...Lady Evangeline from the Golding household!"

Everyone applauded and congratulated her as she walked to the platform.

"And the second candidate... Lady Claire from the Tudor household!"

"Congratulations Claire!"

"Wow!" Catherine and Eleanora squealed next to Claire, but Claire had a sour look on her face, as she wasn’t announced first before that shabby lady Evangeline! She raised her head proudly and strode towards the platform.

"The third and last candidate is..." The royal herald paused to look up. Everyone waited in anticipation, some young ladies looked hopeful.

"Lady Arabella from the Boxton household!"

Ara who wasn’t paying much attention to the announcement, suddenly froze when she heard her name. She looked around surprised. Could there be another Arabella in the crowd?

Anne whooped, "Oh yeah! Congratulations sister! I knew you’re amongst the nominated candidates!"

"Congratulations, Lady Ara!" Mary congratulated.

All eyes turned towards her direction as she didn’t make an attempt to move, she still looked bemused at the fact that she was nominated for the contest. She had already realized that the future wouldn’t flow the same way like in her previous life, but she hadn’t expected to be nominated.

Many eyes were on her again, It seemed like she had been really bringing people’s attention to herself on this night, it wouldn’t have happened if she hadn’t worn these expensive attire! Ara thought.

"Go on, sister!" Anne urged as she pushed the shocked Ara a little.

Ara slowly ascended to the platform. As she stood on the platform, she could see her sister and Mary cheering happily, she also caught sight of Hamon standing in a distance with a man, he had a gentle smile on his face as he stared at her his chin raised up proudly without paying much attention to what the other man was saying, She could feel his intense gaze from afar.

She swallowed dryly, the predatory look was in his crimson eyes as he stared at her, it made her feel a little nervous. She then heard Claire remarked beside her,

"Wow, am I that beautiful that the crown Prince is staring at me intensely. I think he’s in love with me."

Ara turned her head towards Claire, and saw how the spoiled brats was beaming as she stared at Hamon, it made Ara feel a little strange as she saw Claire’s reaction towards Hamon,

’Does she like him?’

Claire noticed Ara’s stares, she glared at Ara then whispered in a low voice for only Ara to hear, "Don’t think you’ve won just because he danced with you, Mark my words. I’ll make him mine, so don’t even think of stealing my future husband like you stole everything away from me." She warned with a smile so people would take they were just discussing.

Ara was puzzled by Claire’s words. She hadn’t taken or stolen anything away from the spoiled brat, who between them both was supposed to be saying these words to the other? wasn’t she the one who stole their ball gowns? But before Ara could retort back, the herald began,

"These three beautiful young women have taken everyone’s breath away tonight, it will be hard to pick from them the most beautiful, Don’t you think?"

The crowd agreed, as the three women were all beautiful in a different way.

"The votes will begin soon, from these three ladies, you’ll vote for who you think is the most beautiful..." The man paused to read what was written on the paper he was holding, then continued to say, "The most voted candidate will be given a diamond tiara made in Dumbarton, and would be crowned the most beautiful by the second Prince tonight!"

Many young women in Findara coveted the diamond tiara not just for it’s price, but also for the respect and honor that comes with it.

Ara looked towards the second Prince. Although, she had only seen him a few times in distance, she was able to recognize him without difficulty. He was the one Hamon mentioned in their earlier conversation outside, and was the possible successor to the throne as he was supported by the queen. He was the biggest threat to Hamon presently.

’But why will he be the one to crown the winner this time?’

It had never happened in history, the Prince had never crowned the winner. The queen has been the one to take the honor to crown the most beautiful.

Prince Cassius stepped to the platform to stand beside the herald, "I wonder which of these lovely ladies would be crowned tonight!" Cassius remarked as he gave Ara a sly smile.

Ara couldn’t help but feel bemused. In the past the second Prince had never crowned the winner, and she wasn’t part of all this then. Did all of this change because of her? She felt a little panic at the thought.

"It’s time for the votes! You can place your vote for who you think is the most beautiful in those boxes!" He pointed to three transparent boxes at a side, each box had a name tagged on it’s side, but only the voters could see the name of the candidates on it, as it was a bit far from the platform.

Then the herald continued, "Place your votes in the box of the most beautiful, she who receives the most votes will be crowned the most beautiful maiden in Findara for the year!"

The guests responded excitedly, the herald gestured for everyone to start placing their paper votes in the boxes.

Ara saw a sea of people move to drop their votes. It was always enjoyable to participate in the royal events, she had attended the same grand ball in her last life, she knew better than anyone who would win tonight.

’I wonder if Claire would win again this time.’

She wouldn’t want anything more to change from what she knew in her previous life.

Finally the voting was over. The middle box looked more fuller than the other two boxes, "Wow! I guess the one with the middle box wins."

As the name on the boxes wasn’t visible to the people on the platform. The three ladies wondered who it belongs to.

Claire raised her head proudly as she was the one standing in the middle, so the box in the middle must be hers! Obviously she was the most beautiful maiden amongst all in the ballroom!

Ara had a nonchalant expression on, she couldn’t wait to get off the platform already. While Evangeline had a hopeful expression on.

"Now, I will announce the winner of this year’s most beautiful maiden!"

Claire smirked as she stepped forward so that it would be easy to place the tiara on her head without hurting the other shabby ladies pride! ’Just call my name already sire!’

"The winner is..."