Chapter 8
It wasn’t just Linden–everyone was stunned by the royal decree. The man the princess had chosen wasn’t Ethan, but her lifelong rival, Linden.
Even Linden himself couldn’t help but ask in disbelief.
“Your Highness, are you sure this isn’t some kind of joke? What if I accept the decree, and later you claim you were only teasing me?”
Lena smiled faintly and closed the decree, a document as valuable as gold.
“Absolutely not. My future husband is you, Linden. Or are you refusing a royal order and unwilling to marry me?”
“Of course not!”
It was perhaps the first time Lena had ever seen Linden this flustered. He had always been flirtatious, living life on his own terms. But now, he knelt solemnly, accepting the decree with both hands. He read it over and over, making sure the name written on it truly was his.
Then, his almond–shaped eyes met hers, and a smile spread across his lips.
“No matter the reason, now that I am your future husband, Your Highness, I won’t give you any chance to regret it.”
As he spoke, he reached out to take Lena’s hand.
Suddenly, Ethan burst out.
“That’s impossible! I should be the one marrying you! You are a princess–how could you treat something so important as a game? If you act on impulse, you’ll disgrace the royal family!”
His face had turned ashen. He stared at Lena, clearly convinced this was a petty act of revenge.
Lena’s smile faded. As she looked at Ethan’s chiseled, knightly features, the fluttering she once felt for him was gone. Her voice was calm as she replied. “This isn’t a joke, Ethan. You said you loved someone else, so I’m letting you go. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
At that, Flora immediately dropped to her knees and kowtowed several times, the sound echoing clearly.
“Thank you, Princess, for granting me and the Earl Sterling your blessing!”
Her face lit up with excitement. She had never imagined Lena would willingly give up Ethan. Now, nothing could stop her from marrying into the Sterling family.
Ethan’s expression turned complicated.
This was exactly what he had hoped for, so why did his heart tighten when he heard Lena was marrying someone else?
He stared at her face, then scoffed coldly.
“Very well. I just hope you won’t come crawling back to me someday, begging me to marry you.”
Clearly, he still believed she would never truly let him go. But her heart had already died, again and again, in the coldness he’d shown her. If their paths couldn’t converge in the future, it was better to let go now.
Lena gave a small smile.
“No, Ethan. I hope it’s you who won’t regret this one day.”
Then she turned to Linden and held out her hand.
“Let’s go. You’re my fiance now. The decree states the wedding must be held today–we haven’t much time.”
Linden nodded. At some point, his folding fan had returned to his hand.
He bowed slightly, one hand behind his back, and the other gently took hers, his eyes full of mischief–and something else she couldn’t quite read–Joy. “Don’t worry. Since the princess has chosen me, I’ll make sure you never regret it–or end up crying alone in your chambers.”
His playful tone made Lena huff and scold him.
“Who said I’d be crying?”
That was just how things were between them–always bickering, always teasing. And somehow, in this moment, Lena found it rather comforting. Lucian and Alexander had been watching the whole time, their hands practically raw from clapping. They still hadn’t wrapped their heads around it- Linden was actually going to marry Lena! The pair that everyone thought was the least likely to end up together were now walking hand in hand. Chapter 8
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Even the king nodded repeatedly in approval.
“Linden is not a bad choice–skilled in both the arts and combat. He’s a worthy match for a princess. Since this is their wedding day, issue a decree: reduce the national tax by thirty percent.”
The court immediately dropped to their knees to thank the king for his grace.
Lena turned and smiled before being led into the ceremonial chamber, where a white veil was draped over her head.
According to tradition, the princess’s future husband must lift the veil with the scepter so that the marriage could be considered complete.
Alice stepped forward, presenting a scepter adorned with emeralds, her face lit with a playful smile.
“Your turn, my fiance.”
Linden shook his head. True to form, he refused to follow convention. Instead, he simply reached out and lifted Lena’s veil himself.
In front of everyone, he
azed upon the princess’s delicate and radiant face.
In that instant, Linden’s heart thundered in his chest.
He tried to appear composed, but he couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face. His eyes seemed to melt like honey.
Lena had never looked at him so closely before. Now, under his gaze, she felt a little embarrassed, her ears flushing red.
She gave a soft laugh and changed her tone.
“From now on, you are my husband, Linden. If you ever mistreat me, I’ll divorce you.”
Linden only smiled.
“I won’t give you that chance.”
