Sold to a Prince!

The carriage had already neared the royal castle and so it had slowed down considerably to allow for the regulation of traffic.

Sylvia peeked out to see that long lines of carriages were heading in and out of the castle main gate, which was somewhat similar to the devil's castle gates.

The inside, however, was not as rough and untamed. 

Fresh green leaves and creepers decorated the main gates and the interior was vast with huge tall trees and well-maintained lush gardens.

Primly shaped bushes and plants with different colored flowers were tastefully arranged, making the garden entire breathtaking and a work of art.

Crossing these gardens, the carriage finally came to a halt when their turn arrived. 

Unlike the devil's castle, Sylvia noticed that the main royal castle didn't have too much space between the main gates and the castle gates.

She assumed that it was probably because of how busy the King's castle could get. 

Guests only barely visited their castle, with Prince Nicolas and Lady Priscella the only two to have ever visited Mikel in her presence, but surely the King's castle was much livelier?

The door of the carriage was opened when Mikel abruptly took out a mask from his spatial ring and shoved it into Sylvia's hand.

He then stood up without any explanation to elegantly step out of the carriage, wearing some sort of a mask himself, a black mask that didn't cover much of his face.

Sylvia followed his actions and quickly put on the silver mask in her hands that matched her long silver strands. 

Her mask was rather more elaborate than Mikel's and it covered three-fourths of her face including her forehead, revealing only her eyes, and the lower half of her face.

It essentially masked her identity and someone would probably not recognize her to be the same person if they saw her on the street the next day.

Sylvia didn't quite understand what this fuss was all about but she was determined to be on her best behavior as her freedom depended on it.

After tightening the mask around her face, she gracefully stepped out, when a couple of handmaids standing nearby hurried forward and helped her straighten out her dress.

Sylvia bowed, silently thanking the maids, and quickly stepped forward joining Mikel. The man smiled, his thin lips curving upwards as he extended a hand towards her.

Sylvia gulped. She sighed remembering his words and didn't hesitate too much. 

She raised her own hand as well and shyly looked down as the devil linked her arm within his.

The two of them then walked forward, hand in hand, standing side by side. 

Sylvia's face was gradually getting heated up as she felt more and more eyes starting to look towards her.

They had only taken a few steps but there were already so many people around them, men and women of high social standing, dressed just like her in expensive clothing and jewelry.

Everyone had donned on masks and were murmuring, standing in their small groups. They were all getting inside the castle one by one, their arrivals announced in order to the King.

"Your highness… this… what is happening?" Sylvia muttered under her breath, only for Mikel to hear.

"Eh? For a smart kitten, you are so slow in some things. It's a masquerade ball and you are my partner for the evening." Mikel lightly pulled her, bringing her body closer to him.

"Ball…?" Sylvia asked in confusion. She knew about the winter ball and the summer ball which was typically held in the castle every year.

A chance to participate in one of these balls at least once in their lifetime used to be every young girl's dream in her small town.

But why a ball now, suddenly?

"It's for the Quilin beast. The King is celebrating the defeat of the magical beast." Mikel explained. 

"It's mostly to raise the morals of the citizens as some of them are scared by this incident."

Ah! Sylvia nodded in realization. She had seen the terrifying magical beast up close so she knew first hand just how scary it was.

"Please head this way, your highness." The guard bowed when Mikel and Sylvia reached the main hall, walking past the several others who were waiting in the long corridor.

Since Mikel was the firstborn son of the King, a royal prince, he was obviously given special treatment and he didn't have to wait in the line like others.

Even though he was not the Crown Prince because of his shortcomings, he was still favored by the King and his status in the society was no less than any of his other brothers.

As soon as the two of them stepped into the main hall, Sylvia gulped as her gaze inevitably landed on the man sitting on the throne at the end of the giant hall.

"His highness Prince Mikel." Another guard announced their arrival.

Sylvia immediately looked down, not daring to see anywhere else. 

Just like when she had stepped inside the stable full of magical beasts for the first time, a frighteningly powerful aura assaulted her from the many many powerful people standing around them at the moment.

Her grip on Mikel's hand subconsciously tightened and the man as well wrapped his hand around hers in a comforting manner as if he was assuring her that everything would be alright.

They didn't stand there for long.

Mikel bowed, with Sylvia quickly following him, bowing even deeper and then the two of them quietly moved aside away from the center of the hall.

"Stay here." Mikel leaned closer to whisper in her ears and then quickly walked up to the middle-aged man sitting on the throne, the King.

Sylvia looked at his back, wondering if he was paying respects to his father in person, but then she quickly took her gaze back down and leaned on the pillar behind her for some support. 

It had only been 2 minutes since they had arrived but she already felt tired and drained out.