She opened it.
There were only four words.
Dinner with the prince tonight.
Clara stared at him.
Then, for the first time that afternoon, you laugh.
Not nervous.
Not for education.simo
Honestly.
On the other side of the room, the women who had mocked her remained speechless.
Adrian reached out.
“I can’t promise where this will lead.”
Clara looked at her hand and then at him.
“That’s probably the first sincere marriage proposal I’ve ever heard today.”
Even King Edward laughed.
Adrian smiled.
“It was not a proposal.”
Clara raised an eyebrow.
“Good.”
He took his hand.
“Then I will accept dinner.”
Six months later, the same throne room was full again.
But this time there was no competition.
No evidence.
No whispers.
Clara was with Adrian in a simple white dress.
And the mysterious wooden frame remained in a corner of the room.
Not like a beauty test.
But as a reminder that what everyone had laughed at had revealed what none of them could hide.
His true character.
