Chapter 1693


    But she couldn’t. She could only watch helplessly as Chloe entered the door before them.


    “Can’t you see? It’s clear as day what Queen Julia is thinking. Blood is thicker than water after all”


    “While Chloe is received with respect after presenting her invitation, Princess Becky and Barbara


    still need the consent of Duke Dubo to enter. The difference in treatment is clear enough for


    even a fool to see who Queen Julia favors. Better keep your wits about you and try to get on better


    terms with the real princess”


    “But Barbara and Becky have been by the Queen’s side since they were kids. The Queen wouldn’t


    completely ignore them just because there’s a new princess. If so, what does that make of her?


    She’s just letting the new princess get ustomed to the environment, there’s no need for


    comparison.”


    The whispers reached Barbara and Becky’s ears, their faces turning sourc2


    “Please, princesses


    The servant reminded them. Barbara, maintaining a shallow smile, turned and walked into the grand


    entrance.


    The Dubo estate was vast To reach the banquet hall from the entrance, one had to traverse an


    esctor. Given the grandeur of the event and the difort of high heels, everyone chose to take


    the esctor


    When Barbara and Becky caught up. Damon was just stepping onto the esctor with Chloe Chloe,


    clutching her gift box, squinted into the circr holes on the sides under the bright lights, but


    couldn’t see what was inside.


    Damon smiled at her curiosity and pointed to the box. “This ring has an outeryer. When you ce


    it on the table, just take that off


    Chloe blinked, her curiosity piqued.


    “What’s inside? I don’t even know what the gift is How can it be the gift sent by me?”


    Damon pursed his lips, “The birthday girl will love it. That’s for sure.” He had a hunch that if she


    were to know what was inside, he might have another enemy on his hands.


    Chloe couldn’t open the box now, so she clutched it to her chest. What the gift was, they would find


    out when Fiona opened it. This was certainly an unprecedented gift


    The silence was soon broken by two figures walking past them to their left.


    Barbara, being dragged by Becky, looked entirely passive. Everyone knew Becky was impulsive


    andcked tact, so her behavior was not surprising. Barbara, on the other hand, looked


    ufortable and apologized to Chloe, Tm sorry”


    Chloe gave a casual smile. That’s okay. You two can go ahead”


    But Barbara held Becky back and chose to stand in front of Chloe and Damon, striking up a friendly


    conversation. “We’re all here for Fiona’s birthday, and there’s no rush. Becky’s just a bit impatient.”


    Chloe just smiled and didn’t respond


    Barbara looked awkwardly at the gift box in Chloe’s arms, a glint of curiosity shing in her eyes


    “What’s that? Chloe, what are you nning to give Fiona?


    Chloe raised an eyebrow and gave her a cryptic smile. I don’t know Fiona that well, so grandmother


    prepared the gift.


    Becky snorted, “You’ve never given a gift before, have you? It’s just a..


    “Becky”


    Barbara quickly reprimanded her, giving Becky a warning look that instantly silenced her


    “Grandma’s gifts are always the best. We’re not at home now, so be careful with your words”


    Becky pouted but didn’t say anything more.


    Barbara gave a gentle and apologetic smile, “Sorry, Chloe. Well, since you don’t know Fiona well, I


    can introduce youter. She’s a bit temperamental, so be careful with your words. She can get


    unhappy suddenly, and today is her birthday after all.”


    Chloe didn’t ept the offer, “No need, I can manage”


    Barbara’s face twitched visibly before she forced a strained smile. She turned to Damon to strike up


    a conversation, but his cold gaze left her speechless


    Finally, they exited the esctor and entered the banquet hall


    The grandeur of the Dubo’s banquet hall was breathtaking Dozens of luxurious chandeliers


    hung from the ceiling, their glow reflecting off the glittering ornaments around the room. The


    opulence was palpable


    In the center of the banquet hall, there was a circr tform surrounded by pinkce, adorned


    with an array of rose petals. At the very center, there stood a cake several meters high, exquisitely


    decorated and looking particrly stunning under the lights


    Everyone marveled at the cake’s intricacy Chloe heard whispers that it had taken several master


    patissiers a whole day to make. The fruits and choctes on top were of the highest quality, making


    the cake worth nearly a million dors


    Chloe now understood the true meaning of the Dubo family’s opulence She saw what true


    luxury looked like


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    Compared to them, Damon was modest. If he were like them, their rtionship wouldn’t have


    developed as it did.


    Barbara and Becky were the first to enter, drawing some attention When Chloe and Damon


    followed, Damon’s presence diverted some of the attention. Some had guessed that the woman


    beside him was the new princess of the Y Country, Queen Julia’s granddaughter, and they couldn’t


    take their eyes off


    her


    this moment, Chloe was removing her coat in front of the waiter, and everyone was eagerly


    anticipating how she would present herself to the public ir the first time as the noble princess of Y.


    However, when she took off her cost, the crowd’s expressions were nothing short of shock and


    disbelief.


    his outfit was as in as theye, What on earth was she thinking?


    ompared to the formal gowns worn by Princess Becky and Barbara, her entire outfit probably wasn’t


    worth as much as the jewels on their dresses. This as nowhere near the appearance of a royal


    princess.