My Stubborn Mistress 373 Somewhere, Trapped In Time: Charles's Promised

Madison patiently followed Charles every time he halted when someone greeted, or he who greeted from the aristocrats. She could tell that there is no difference to Charles in the past and Charles's characters in the future and that is Levi.

So Madison glances at Levi whose eyes never left watching at her the whole time. Their gaze meets and their heart talks. However, they must act properly as everyone curious to know her and find out why she was wearing a face veil.

Charles walks toward the king to greet him. "Good evening, King Philip."

"Good evening, Doctor Charles! I am absolutely happy and please having your presence tonight!"

"It is my honor to be part of this gathering, your majesty! And greetings to the beautiful Queen Mary," his attention s.h.i.+fted to the woman seated next to the king.

"Good evening, Doctor Charles. I could see, you bring a date this evening! How rare of you my cousin," the queen teases him.

Charles chuckles, and then glance at Madison. "Rare, alike of a beauty of a twilight's first blush." Charles poem.

The queen laughs and Madison wants to pa.s.s out. Once again, his attempts to sound like a poetic, and that what made him look like an idiot.

Quinn and Levi, who move closer to the King's table, heard everything which Levi wanted to smack Quinn from sn.i.g.g.e.ring, he who tries to suppress his laughs.

"You are so lousy, poet. I could never imagine you want to be an actor..."

Is what Quinn whispered to Levi. He rolled his eyes, frowning at Quinn. "I wanted to punch my past self," he mumbled while they remained to listen to the king's conversation with Charles.

"Anyway, your date has a beautiful dress!" The queen praises. "Who made them?" the Queen inquired Madison.

"Oh, Madam Chen who made our dresses, but then Marivella and I made a little modification, your highness."

"Oh, absolutely stunning!" she praises again. "My king, I want to meet Madam Chen the soonest!" full of excitement, her request to her husband.

"Then let's invite the madam to visit you tomorrow!" the King's approval which made the queen very, please.

Gladly, Charles excused themselves after a little more talks and moved to the seats that reserve for them. Madison could feel those glaring eyes in her direction. It was the group of the mayor's granddaughter, but she has no time for their child okay. She's more focused on the woman seated across her in this huge hall. She can't believe that this beautiful widow is her grandmother; she who plotted to harm Marivella.

She could now realize, it is just better she did not grow up with the Williams when her parents died that night.

"Is something bothering you?" asked Charles, he who watched her closely.

Madison looks up at Charles and then made a request. "Don't let her find me after my parents died."

"All right. I will…"

"Promised me, Charles…" she's determined. 

Her eyes are begging him, and he cannot refuse if she's showing him these vulnerabilities.

Indeed. The d.u.c.h.ess won't care at all to a.s.sa.s.sinate even to her blood. Charles thought.

"I promised. I will hide you away from whoever wants to harm you."

"I would prefer that, Charles," she smiled at him.

He nodded. Lovingly, he peered at Madison. 'Just you and me. I will a.s.sure you, you will live a happy life until my last breath.' he whispered.

"Hum? Did you say something?"

"Ah! I said, you are too beautiful, mademoiselle." praises Charles that blushes her.

"This is not the time to joke around," she pouted, averting his gaze but s.h.i.+fted to Levi whose eyes never left them but observes keenly.

"But I did not!" Charles defended himself and made further reasons to her.

Madison giggles as she's feeling like she was talking to Levi the whole time. The past and the future of him, it seems nothing changes.

~~~~~

The grand hall has now filled with both the middle cla.s.s and aristocrat guests. Not long after, the Chen family arrived. Gossips arising in the room, but Louis has no interest to put the care of their judgment on his family, especially to his daughter Marivella.

"Greetings, your Highness," politely, Louis bowed before the king and queen of France.

"Welcome, Master Chen," the king returned a greeting. 

Everyone keenly listens to their conversation; whose confused why the king called him Master when his status is lower than the middle-cla.s.s families.

"How was your daughter?" asked the king.

"She is well, your highness."

"I am glad to hear that! She is the most important guest tonight!" The king's remarks that made everyone confused about it.

"Thank you, your highness. Such an honor for my entire family."

"Hmm… perhaps, I wish to know this later than tonight," the king pauses when his attendant whispered something to him. He nodded, and the attendant ran toward the greeter. 

"It seems, your nephew will appear at last."

The people nearby whispering to each other. They are confused about the way the king and Louis have a dialogue.

Entire family? Nephew who? How important is this relative that the king mentions, that he seems to recognize the Chen family?

Chattering filled the hall. Everyone just shut their mouth when the greeter announces something related to their guests from a foreign land.

He then halted and pa.s.sed the introduction to the man named Councilor Dae-Ho.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. To the Lord's and d.u.c.h.esses, Counts and Countess... your highness," Dae-Ho partly bowed at the king and queen. 

"I am honored to introduce, the crowned princess of Silla Kingdom. First Princess Min-jee Chen and her husband, the General of the Northern Silla border General Soo Jin."

Everyone watched closely to the couple who is now entering the Eastern entrance of the Hall.

Everyone awestruck upon recognizing the design of the dress the princess wearing, which is actually similar to Marivella's clothing. They were astounded and ponder, that Marivella dresses were like princess clothing.

There was no surprise at all, in which, her mother is a seamstress, it is easy for her in making dresses for her daughter princess.

Now, the Princess and the General which both still young, have arrived in front of the king and queen of France. They bowed and greeted them by their language, and Councilor Dae-Ho translated it for the King and Queen to understand.

"The princess is grateful for such a gathering. She wants to thank you, your majesty."

"Hmm, it is our great honor to have them tonight!"

Dae-Ho translated this to the princess, and they bowed once again. After the princess greeted the King, she quickly walks towards Caroline.

"Auntie Hee Young!" the princess hugs Caroline. It happens, Caroline is a very good friend of her mother, the present Queen of Silla Kingdom.

"Min-jee! I am so glad to see you, dear!" Caroline returned the hugs to the princess. She's teary-eyed upon a rare meeting of her friend's daughter.

"Master Young-Jae Chen," Soo Jin greeted Louis, gesturing a soldier greetings.

He nodded at the young man. "General Soo Jin, welcome to Paris."

"Thank you, Master Chen."

"Uncle Young-Jae!" the Princess turned to the old Chen.

"Min-Jee, how are you, my niece? I am surprised you also came," Louis told the princess. 

"I am very curious about what Paris looks like. That is why I nagged Soo Jin to take me since he was asked to come." Min-Jee replied.

"I am glad they permitted you to come."

"Yes, father agreed. He has great ties with the Joseon king after all."

"That's great news to hear."

Dae-Ho listens to the chatters from the guests. Also, the king has been showing curiosity about what they were talking about.

"Your highness, allow me to explain further. Princess Min-Jee's father the present king of Silla, and Master Chen are brothers."

"Is that true?"

"I can't believe this!"

"Marivella Chen is actually a princess?"

"But, Master Chen is the next head of the Chen House, as the firstborn of the Minister to his real wife. He supposes to marry the crowned princess of Silla Kingdom. However, Master Chen refuses the marriage and the candidacy to the throne that is why he runoff through a Parisian vessel."

"Oh..."

"That makes sense."

"They were truly in the line of royals."

The hall filled with whispers...