As the Marquis and his son stared in shock, the Lord Chamberlain rolled up the decree, handed it to me, and congratulated my father. “Lord de Valois, you are truly blessed. So many have vied for the position of a royal princess, yet the honor has fallen to your house. On the day of the wedding, I must be sure to come and ask for a cup of celebratory wine.”
My father smiled and said he was unworthy, discreetly pressing a pouch of silver into the Chamberlain’s hand.
I was about to take the decree to the ancestral hall when Julian rushed forward and blocked my path. His eyes were wild, as if I
were a heinous criminal.
“The Prince? When did you and the Prince begin a clandestine affair? So, Seraphina, that’s why you refused me! You already had a
new lover!”
“You are truly skilled, to have charmed the Prince into requesting a royal decreer
I looked at his furious face and let out a soft laugh. Julian, you were the one who broke our engagement three years ago. Why
should I wait for a faithless man like you?”
“You are quite the tyrant, my lord. You allow yourself to win the beauty’s heart, but forbid me from marrying a good man!”
Julian roared, “Eva will not be an obstacle between us! For you, I am willing to divorce her! But you, having a secret affair with the
Prince… how could you betray me like this?”
I almost laughed out loud from the sheer absurdity. “What does your divorcing Eva have to do with me? The day you broke our eng- agement, you should have known that I would never, ever marry you in this lifetime!”
Julian shook his head frantically. “No! I was just foolish for a time! A prodigal son’s return is worth more than gold! You have me in
your heart, you would have waited for me forever!”
My father, having seen the Lord Chamberlain off, returned, stroking his beard and casting a sidelong glance at the Marquis, “My daughter, who no one would dare marry? After the New Year, when the Marquis sees my daughter, he will have to address her as ”
Your Royal Highness!”
“Father!” Julian turned to the Marquis, his eyes red–rimmed. “You have been urging me to divorce Eva and marry Seraphina, haven’t you? Go to the Emperor! Use your military honors to exchange for a new decree! His Majesty will surely, for the sake of your lifeti me of service to the crown, retract the decree for the Prince and grant Seraphina to me!”
“Seraphina is my fiancée! She can only marry v me!
Just as the Marquis was about to answer, a cold laugh came from behind him.
“The heir of Blackwood has quite the nerve, trying to steal my princess?”
Prince Adrian, dressed in a magnificent black brocade robe, strode into the room and stood beside me. The jade pendant at his waist was a perfect match for mine. The sunlight streaming through the window enveloped us, a picture of a perfect match.
He paid no attention to Julian’s desperate fury or the Marquis’s stammered apologies. He simply looked down at me and explained softly. “My royal brother kept me for a while longer today, I came as soon as I left the palace.”
Chanter
In his pupils, I saw my own reflection, so clear and flawless. I smiled at him, and his eyes instantly filled with starlight.
“Does the Prince know that Seraphina is my fiancée?” Julian, still not knowing when to quit, persisted.
Prince Adrian turned to him, his expression once again cool and indifferent. The innate dignity of royalty was a palpable pressure.
Oh? Seraphina is your fiancée? Then where is the marriage contract?”
Julian gritted his teeth and said nothing.
“And the betrothal gifts?” Prince Adrian asked again.
Julian’s mouth opened, but no words came out. When he broke the engagement, the contract and all gifts had been returned.
“No contract, no gifts. You slander a woman’s reputation with empty words. Do you know your crime?”
