Ever Ever After - Chapter 39

Chapter 39:  The Woman Who Will Be My Wife

The knights rushed down to the first floor, a natural feat for them.

“Where are they going?” asked Ailea.

Clint smiled. “Arming themselves to train.”

“N-now?”

“Of course. They turned against me, calling you by your name carelessly. You’re my woman now, so I’ve the right to make sure they respect you. They’re being punished.”

“I kept my identity a secret!”

“Whether they know it or not, it’s awfully rude to call the name of the woman who will be my wife so carelessly.”

Ailea closed her lips, hesitating.

Clint smiled and left the room.

Blue, awakened by the chaos, rubbed her head against Ailea’s ankle. She wanted a hug.

Ailea bent down and held Blue in her embrace. “It looks like I’m getting married, Blue.”

She found it difficult to accept that a man desired by the empire was to be her husband.

“You’re my woman now… the woman who will be my wife.”

“Something’s wrong with his eyes… Why does he want to marry me?” Ailea murmured, her cheeks turning red.

The power of the nobility in the empire was connected to the size of their territory and castle. The Teniac aristocrats were thought from a young age that wealth and power were directly tied to their territory. When they grew of age, they knew which castle held prestige or which castle was experiencing a current downfall.

Ailea’s expression darkened.

Clint was a commander of the Knights Order. Though prestigious, they didn’t have any title to their name. But if he became the owner of Excalibur and gradually strengthened his territory, he would be on par with the emperor.

Her shoulder trembled a bit. She shouldn’t allow his status to bother her. No matter what becomes of Clint or if he ever finds a more worthy and desirable woman, she won’t interfere. Clint had given her a way out. Though it was not the fairytale ending she longed for since she was young, it was more than enough. At least she was married.

With that, she made up her mind.

***

The next morning, the knights emptied the Outer Castle and moved to the mansion provided by the Crown Prince.

A few days later, a carriage arrived for Ailea. It would take her to the Imperial Castle. The knight escorts were under Lawrence’s command and they, too, drew a face of disgust upon seeing Ailea’s beastly appearance. With a grunt, they cut the protective shield with a knife, unaware that Cline and his men had previously cut the barrier open, and dragged her to the Imperial Castle.

Ailea was worried. She didn’t have a proper dress, but fortunately, she was thrown a dress to wear at the ceremonial breakup. It was a plain black dress, more than enough for what she needed.

It had been two years since her last meeting in the castle. This time it would be to end her engagement with Lawrence.

Ailea pulled down the black veil that covered her face and passed through the gates of the castle. She saw royal guards protecting the fort. At the front was Kaiton. He was pushed down and strangled. He was having fun. Though he was the youngest of the Knights Order, he made a significant contribution to war, causing his status to rise considerably.

She wanted to greet them, but she couldn’t. She turned around and hurried to the Crown Prince’s office, bumping into a crowd of noble ladies admiring the flowers in the garden.

They looked pretty, sitting at a white and elegant outdoor table. They were lovely and looked at peace. In the centre was the current reigning empress. No one in the Imperial Castle would dare attack those noble ladies. They had the empress as their backing.

“His Majesty Lawrence gave it to you?”

“Yes, at the victory party.”

“Ah, I’m jealous.”

“And today? He’ll be ending his engagement with that woman, right?”

“Yes, he assured me.”

Ailea tried passing them by quickly, her head down. But it was futile. She was caught.

“You… you’re Lady Ailea?”

It was Rita.