Chapter 218: v2- - 37: the fourth test

The next time Marian saw Adrian, she was prepared.

At least, she thought she was.

The reception was already underway when she entered the ballroom with Clara.

Music drifted beneath the murmur of conversation, and the chandeliers cast warm light across the polished floor.

Marian paused for only a moment.

Then she saw him.

Adrian stood near the tall windows, surrounded by several members of the council.

The sight of him brought an unexpected flutter to her stomach.

She had spent the past two days thinking about the last reception.

About how she had approached him.

About the way he had reached for her.

About the way he had kept her beside him afterward, as though there had never been any question of where she belonged.

The memory still made her smile.

Tonight, she would do the same.

She would simply go to him.

Marian waited until the conversation around Adrian reached a natural pause.

Then she excused herself from Clara and crossed the ballroom.

She felt a few eyes follow her.

She ignored them.

She had already survived worse.

When Adrian saw her approaching, his gaze settled on her.

For one brief moment, Marian thought she saw something familiar in his expression.

Then he looked away.

Marian slowed.

She reached the edge of his circle of conversation.

No one stopped her.

No one questioned why she was there.

She simply stood beside him.

Adrian continued speaking.

Marian waited.

Perhaps he hadn’t realized she was there.

She glanced at him.

He didn’t look at her.

She waited another moment.

Still nothing.

A strange little uncertainty began to form inside her chest.

She shifted her weight.

Perhaps he was genuinely occupied.

That had happened before.

She could simply wait.

So she did.

The conversation continued.

One minute passed.

Then another.

Marian’s fingers tightened around her fan.

Surely he knew.

He had seen her.

He had looked directly at her.

He knew she was standing there.

And yet he was deliberately refusing to acknowledge her.

Her stomach sank.

She glanced around.

A few people had noticed.

A lady standing nearby looked at Marian, then quickly looked away.

Two gentlemen exchanged a brief glance.

Heat crept up Marian’s neck.

She suddenly felt as though she were standing in the middle of the ballroom alone.

This was worse than she had expected.

The previous time, she had walked toward Adrian knowing that he might reject her.

Tonight, she had assumed she already knew the answer.

She had become comfortable.

Perhaps that was precisely what he wanted to test.

Marian lowered her eyes.

She could leave.

There was still time to preserve what remained of her dignity.

She could simply say she had been mistaken.

She could return to Clara and pretend she had never crossed the room.

But then what?

She would be running away again.

The thought stopped her.

She remembered Adrian’s voice in the garden.

You could have come anyway.

And suddenly she understood.

Perhaps this was not about whether he would acknowledge her.

Perhaps it was about whether she would remain when he didn’t.

Marian swallowed.

Her pride told her to walk away.

Her heart told her to stay.

Neither one seemed willing to compromise.

Another moment passed.

Adrian continued his conversation.

Marian’s cheeks burned.

She had never felt so foolish.

And yet—

she stayed.

Finally, she made her choice.

Marian stepped closer.

Her fingers lifted hesitantly.

Then she caught the edge of Adrian’s sleeve.

Just lightly.

Just enough to make him aware of her.

The conversation stopped.

Adrian looked down.

His gaze settled on her hand.

Then slowly lifted to her face.

Marian’s heart hammered.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then the smallest smile appeared at the corner of Adrian’s mouth.

Satisfied.

He had been waiting for that.

Marian realized it immediately.

The humiliation hadn’t been an accident.

He had wanted her to reach for him.

And she had.

Adrian turned his hand and gently took hers.

His fingers closed around hers.

Then he looked toward the men beside him.

"Excuse me."

They bowed immediately.

"Of course, Your Majesty."

Adrian began walking.

Marian followed.

She could feel the heat still lingering in her cheeks.

But now there was something else beneath it.

Relief.

And, unexpectedly, happiness.

They moved through the ballroom together.

Adrian did not release her hand.

People noticed.

Of course they did.

Marian could feel the whispers beginning again.

But this time they were different.

"She went to him."

"And he took her hand."

"Perhaps the Emperor truly has chosen Lady Valmont after all."

Marian heard them.

She couldn’t help it.

But instead of shrinking from the attention, she felt something warm bloom inside her.

She had been standing there moments ago feeling like a fool.

Now she was walking beside the Emperor with his hand wrapped around hers.

The contrast was almost dizzying.

Adrian glanced down at her.

Marian looked up.

Their eyes met.

There was still that faint satisfaction in his expression.

"You’re pleased with yourself," she murmured.

His eyebrow lifted.

"Are you not?"

Marian tried not to smile.

"I don’t know."

"You’re smiling."

She looked away.

"I can’t help it."

His thumb brushed once over her knuckles.

"Good."

That single word made her heart flutter.

Marian looked down at their joined hands.

Perhaps she had passed.

And perhaps that was why the happiness felt so intense.

She had endured the humiliation.

She had chosen to remain.

She had reached for him when her pride had told her not to.

And Adrian had answered.

For the rest of the evening, he kept her beside him.

Not constantly touching her.

Not making a spectacle of her.

He simply made it clear that she belonged at his side.

And Marian found that she liked it.

More than she should have.

By the time she returned home, the embarrassment of earlier had almost become something sweet in her memory.

She had been hurt.

She had been humiliated.

And then Adrian had taken her hand.

The sting had made the happiness afterward feel almost twice as bright.

Marian fell asleep that night smiling.

She had passed.

And for once, she didn’t wonder what Adrian would ask of her next.

She simply enjoyed the fact that, tonight, he had chosen her.

--

Tbc

AN: i hope you don’t think she is being a masochist here. Think about the premise again.