Fated Eclipse: The Illegitimate Princess And Her Alpha Suitors

Chapter 347: Faces She Had Missed

Lyria’s POV

The mother and daughter stared at me for what felt like an eternity.

I grew even more nervous under their gaze, my fingers curling into the fabric of my gown as I tried to steady my breathing. Perhaps they had spent so much money to be here because they wanted to see me—the girl who had lied to them about who she was.

Helen had suspected something before, I knew that. She had always been perceptive, always able to see through the masks I wore. But she had not known that it was the royal family I belonged to. She had not known that the girl behind her bar was the King’s hidden daughter.

I was so caught up in my thoughts that I almost missed the movement of her lips.

But then I focused, and I interpreted what she was asking me.

"Have you been well?"

I paused.

That was not what I had expected her to ask first.

I had expected anger, perhaps, or hurt. I had expected questions about why I had lied, why I had hidden the truth from them. I had expected disappointment in their eyes.

Instead, she had asked if I was well.

I paused for a moment longer, my throat tight.

Then I gave a slight nod.

Helen beamed at me, her smile wide and genuine, the kind of smile that had always made me feel like I belonged somewhere. Beside her, Brianna, unable to contain her excitement, bounced on her toes and waved at me with all the energy she could muster.

I waved back.

A boy who was with Brianna turned, following her movement, and his eyes widened when he spotted me. He waved too, his arm moving with the same enthusiastic energy that Brianna possessed.

I smiled and waved back at him.

Soon, almost all the commoners around Helen and Brianna were waving at me.

I noticed Jacob and Olly among them, their familiar faces standing out in the sea of strangers. Jacob caught my eye and gave me a thumbs-up, his grin wide and reassuring, and beside him Olly cupped his hands around his mouth as though he meant to shout something across the arena, only for Jacob to elbow him firmly in the ribs before he could manage it.

I did not know this before—I had hardly had the time to think about it after everything that had happened—but I missed them.

I missed them dearly.

I missed hearing Olly and Jacob argue over the smallest, most trivial things. I missed the warmth of the Tallow and Tide, the way the noise of the tavern wrapped around me like a blanket on a cold night. I missed the simple kindness of people who had no reason to be kind to me, who had given it freely all the same, without once asking what it might earn them.

It was strange, I thought, how much could be missed in so short a time.

After a while, the commoners settled down in their seats, the excitement of the crowd gradually giving way to anticipation. I had to admit, I was worried that the competition might be too violent for the children in attendance, that they might see something no child ought to see.

But then again, no one was killing anyone, and the children who grew up in the capital had seen far worse violence in the streets than anything that would happen in the arena.

Besides, the competition was being held under the watchful eyes of the crown.

There were guards everywhere, stationed along the lower tiers and at every entrance, their armour catching the grey afternoon light.

If anything went too far, they would intervene.

At least, I hoped they would.

I glanced around the arena.

The stands stretched around the circular grounds, packed with nobles, commoners, servants, and everyone else fortunate enough to secure a place. The atmosphere was thick with excitement, a kind of restless energy that seemed to hum beneath the crowd’s chatter.

People spoke in low voices, speculating about the matches.

I heard several names being mentioned.

Some people were discussing their favourite suitors. Others were arguing over who they believed would win, coins already being wagered between neighbours with the casual ease of long habit.

Just then, Jacinta walked in.

She was dressed in a gown of deep crimson, her hair arranged in elaborate curls that caught the light. She looked, as she always looked, effortlessly composed, as though the eyes of an entire kingdom settling upon her was nothing more than she deserved.

Her gaze swept across the crowd for a brief moment before landing on me.

She gave me a look—sharp, dismissive, filled with contempt.

Then she scoffed.

But just as quickly, a smile spread across her face, pleasant and practised, the kind of smile she wore whenever she knew people were watching.

I knew she was only pretending for the public.

She moved towards her place, her smile never faltering, and settled into her seat with the unhurried grace of someone who had spent a lifetime being watched.

The King and Queen entered moments later, and everyone rose, including me and Jacinta.

The King and Queen stood in front of their seats, their presence commanding the attention of everyone present.

The King looked across the arena.

His expression was calm, composed, and authoritative.

The Queen stood beside him, her posture equally regal, her hands folded neatly before her.

From a distance, they looked like the perfect royal couple, which, given their love for cruelty, perhaps they were.

The King raised his hand, and the crowd fell silent.

"Welcome," he said, his voice carrying across the arena. "I am pleased to see so many of you here today, nobles and commoners alike, gathered beneath one sky to witness what I hope will be a display worthy of this kingdom’s name."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the assembled crowd, lingering nowhere in particular and yet somehow touching everyone at once.

"As was announced during the ball, we are gathered here for the third competition of this Selection process. And as I said then, this competition is a sparring competition."

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