"Prince Demian Salamander and Princess Seraphina Salamander are entering." There was an announcement as Seraphina and Demian entered the banquet, their chins held high.

All of the eyes present there moved toward them and whispers washed over the crowd. Women peeked a glance at their princess as most of their faces carved with envy and as soon as their eyes fell on Demian, the crowd's jaw fell to the ground before their feet. They had heard about the young prince of the Salamander family but certainly they hadn't expected him to be a child. Some of them had scowls and some of them even scoffed while hiding it behind their decorative fans. The rumours had been false.

Alonzo and two guards joined them, following from behind as the couple went to their designated place as Seraphina was concentrating not to trip in front of them while maintaining her eyes up ahead.

Lord Heartstone welcomed them and led them to their seats. As soon as both of them sat, the crowd bowed before them. 

The ceilings and walls of the hall were painted with the murals that seemed to depict the story of the great dragon. It was fascinating to eye as the watcher would follow across the vast hall to know the whole story. The beautiful glass and diamond chandeliers hung from the ceiling lighting up the whole place even making the jewelry of the people present there glow. 

"Your Highness, Prince Demian and Princess Seraphina, I welcome you to my humble abode, my heart is filled with happiness to have you here with us," Lord Heartstone said bowing deeply and pressing his hand over his heart.

Demian resisted his scoff at Heartstone's hollow words and peeked at Seraphina who had almost scoffed but coughed at the last moment to hide it. He smiled slightly at that and Heartstone thinking it was for his words as he continued, "I hope you will enjoy your stay here with us."

"Sure," Demian said.

Heartstone grinned now showing off all his whites and raised his golden glass facing it to the gathering.

"Now, in the presence and honor of our mighty Prince Demian I announce the commencement of this Ball!" His voice boomed through the Hall followed by the cheers of the people and clinking of glasses.

Demian gave a false small smile as he clinked his glass with Heartstone and Seraphina hid her scowl at Lord Heartstone as she clinked her glass with Lady Heartstone with a smile.

Her eyes moved toward her daughters as one of them sat beside her, Lady Diana and the other one had already gotten a man's attention. The daughters were literally flowing out of their dresses, Seraphina wondered why wouldn't the jewelry around their necks choke them or rather pull their necks down. Seraphina smiled slightly as she shifted in her own dress, the deep blue dress had too many sapphires and onyxs adorning them. What irritated her more was that compared to her other dresses this one was heavier and its gown was wider. She was hoping she wouldn't fall wearing so many skirts in front of the nobles and take Demian's prestige to ground with her. 

Men and women had selected their dresses to show others of their wealth. A lot more jewelry and stones than the clothes needed. She wondered why weren't they suffocating in them?

As she moved her eyes, she felt blinding by those glittery stones that screamed off their aristocracy and wealth. Wealth that had extorted from the poor people of their places yet they had no compassion for them. She sighed. 

Demian had read all of their reports and all the lords present there had affiliated with Lord Heartstone to transform their cities into a decorated spots. Everywhere the same was happening yet, they had the gall to show off their dresses and accessories. 

Demian couldn't help but smirk at them thinking what would be their expressions when he will do the announcement.

Demian raised his cup and as he touched the cup with his lips, the men present there gulped it down. He put the glass back to the tray gesturing the servant away. 

There were large, long tables set at a side of the great hall and all kind of food items were placed on it, Seraphina gazed longingly at the table. She knew she could not just go and devour it as she held a higher position here besides, it would create a bad impression of Demian as well. 

Celia had engraved into her mind about how she would act in front of them. Less talking, no laughing only smiling that was in her hands and no leaving Demian at any cost. There were additional rules as well and she had already forgotten most of the rules as amazing aromas lingered in the air. She could not eat lunch properly as the Lady of the house was preparing her the whole time in lunch and she was strict like Celia. 

She looked around and found Lord and Lady Heartstone had already joined the gathering along with their daughters, Lady Diana and Lady Fiona who were fawning over Casian now. She cringed at their tastes in men. 

Both of them were fanning themselves as they chuckled at everything Casian was entertaining them with. However, in a few minutes, a band of musicians played the light music capturing the attention of everyone in the hall.

The men went to collect their partners and Seraphina raised her brows as she saw few men, some knights walking over and asking for the ladies' hands which they gave with pleasure and then as they waltzed to the centre of the hall. One hand held their hands in the air while the other rested on their waists as they twirled in circles while Seraphina imagined how would she and Demian look. She bit her lower lip and glanced at Demian who had a knowing smirk on his face as his gaze watched the dancing couples in utter amazement.

Seraphina narrowed her eyes as she thought he had never liked dancing. She recalled Demian had never asked her for a dance even on their wedding she had to dance with Casian. She scowled at the memory. 

Seraphina dreaded that her first dance was with Casian and not with her husband as she glanced again at Demian.

Demian must have felt her gaze on him as he moved his eyes and raised a brow questioningly. 

Seraphina's cheeks warmed up as she shook her head and sat straight watching the couples dancing there. Why wouldn't he ask her? She felt her stomach filled with uneasiness and then she frowned. Why was she even expecting it? They weren't here for dancing they here to solve the problems.

She looked at the people and her mind reminded her of the poor people she had seen not quite long ago. They were hungry yet their masters were having fun. She sighed.

She felt the time moving too slowly and she relaxed her shoulders as Alonzo whispered beside her, "Would your Highnesses want a little snack?"

Seraphina was about to say yes when Demian said, "No." 

Seraphina jolted her head at him, "Why?"

"Because as their dance comes to an end, I'll make an announcement."

"But that still has time..." Seraphina pouted.

Demian released a sigh and nodded at Alonzo as Alonzo went to collect snacks as per Princess's liking. 

Seraphina glanced at Demian and found mischief dancing on his face as she followed his gaze and it landed on Lord Heartstone. Something wasn't right in Demian's gaze and Seraphina could feel it.

"You haven't come here just to see how Lord Heartstone settles things over here, have you?" 

Demian grinned, "Of course, not."

Seraphina wasn't sure what was happening in that little skull of his and she had no way of reading his mind. "Then what is it that you came here to do?"

"You'll see, dear wife..." He teased as Seraphina felt the warmness in her ears. But she had to concentrate not to melt from his teasing!

"Don't avoid my question! Tell me!" Seraphina pressed as Demian looked at her and took her hand. "Let's just dance for now."

"Wh—"

Before she could finish, he pulled her with him to the floor as the crowd dispersed and a new music played in the background. Seraphina was finding it hard to register what was happening all of a sudden and as she realised, they were already the centre attraction of the floor. Her cheeks must have gotten bright shades of red as Demian put his one hand on her waist and took her right hand in his palm. 

They started with steps by steps and twirled in rounds and the whole time her heart was banging against her chest. Demian's deep blue eyes stayed on her as she felt it hard to breath. What was happening with her?

"Y-you can't avoid the question." Seraphina mumbled weakly.

"I wasn't." Demian's eyes twinkled darkly as he added, his voice cold as ice, "Let them have all the fun for a few hours because after this, only misery is what they will get."

Demian had an unusual darkness surrounded him that Seraphina had no courage to ask what was he talking about. She felt all the hair on her skin straightening at his voice and as if he was someone else.

They danced for a few rounds as the crowd joined them again and it seemed the musicians found the enthusiasm to play more songs. Seraphina and Demian danced and as the music came to an end Demian detached himself and looked around with a dark glint in his eyes that Seraphina felt a shiver run down her spine. What was he planning?

Lord Heartstone tapped his spoon against his glass gaining the attention and announced, "Now, please take your seats as the dinner will be served."

All the crowd scattered away, getting their seats as Demian took Seraphina's hand in his and with slow steps, he neared their table.

He watched as everyone was almost seated comfortably and the servants were ready to serve the large number of nobles. But Seraphina's heart thumped as her gaze lingered on Demian, just what was he planning?

He took his glass and tapped it with a spoon. The large audience moved their heads toward him as he smiled. A smile that screamed of an arrival of storm. He said, "Well, I am very honoured that Lord Heartstone went through so much trouble of throwing such a grand ball for us."

Lord Heartstone's chest puffed at his words as if he knew he was going to win a child's heart with expensive toys.

"I am happy that you all joined us despite of your busy schedules," he continued.

The audience nodded as their prince was showering them with praises, they exchanged glances and all of them had smiles on their faces but Casian who had a smirk on his face watched Demian with his intensified gaze as if he knew of the incoming storm.

"However, my arrival here was not to enjoy..." Demian said as the crowd looked at him questioningly and Lord Heartstone's smile dropped to a frown which said he knew what the young prince was about to say. "I had heard that the condition here was growing worse day by day because the common people were rioting. The reason was the tax which you had imposed on them." 

The noblemen looked at him horrified faces but no one dared to utter a word or even breath. "Alonzo, remind me how much tax they had to pay?"

"75 percent, Your Highnes." Alonzo answered from behind him as Seraphina tilted her head and looked at Alonzo who had a stoic face and a plate full of snacks for her. Was he also into this with Demian?

"Yes, 75 percent which is much more times higher than the regular tax and this has been happening for two years." He said with a smile. "I'm certain, all of your vaults have already filled with the money you've snatched from those people. However, I haven't gotten any reports on this." Demian looked at Lord Heartstone as the first drop of sweat dropped from the Lord's forehead and Demian said, "I'm sure Lord Heartstone must have forgotten to write about it in his reports." 

Heartstone gulped as Demian's gaze became dark and the smirk he had on his face told it was the last day of his smiling days. It was as if he had been wrapped around by spider webs.

As Demian's next words left, the whole crowd filled with gasps, "I want the extra added wealth that you had gained over two years in my hands within two days."