The maids stepped aside and Rosalind was escorted out of her chamber.

As she crossed the threshold, she realized she had not left the room in what felt like forever. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest while she was led through the familiar corridors, and her fingers tightened around the bouquet until she nearly crushed the flowers.

Soon she would be married to the man she despised most, and despite everything, she continued to hope. Hope was all she had left, and so she clung to it desperately.

Eventually, the doors to the ceremonial hall were opened for her.

She was to walk down the aisle alone.

Every gaze immediately turned toward her, making her stomach churn just as she took her first step forward.

The nobles looked at her with narrowed eyes, and before long the whispering began again.

Rosalind wondered if these people ever stopped talking.

They always seemed to have something to say, and their gazes felt more judgmental than admiring.

She walked slowly down the aisle, forcing herself to remain steady because the last thing she wanted was to stumble in front of people who seemed eager to see her fail.

As she moved forward, her gaze swept across the crowd and caught sight of familiar faces. Verity and Thalia.

Rosalind’s eyes brightened immediately. It felt as though years had passed since she had last seen them. They noticed her too, and even though words couldn’t be exchanged, the sight of them brought a brief warmth to her chest.

Then she spotted Sabine seated beside Claire. Sabine no longer looked as openly hostile as before. She still seemed distant, but there was a calmness about her now that Rosalind had never seen.

Her gaze moved again and landed on Calder. He didn’t spare her so much as a glance, treating her like a complete stranger.

Rosalind supposed that was exactly what she was to him. But then she saw Beth and her eyes widened.

Beth was sitting comfortably without her wheelchair.

The sight surprised her greatly, but she had no opportunity to dwell on it because she was already approaching the front of the hall.

At the altar, the priest stood waiting. But Alaric wasn’t there.

Rosalind frowned beneath her veil. Wasn’t the groom supposed to be waiting for the bride?

Gathering her skirts carefully, she moved into position and stood quietly in front of the priest. Through the veil, she lowered her gaze to the flowers in her hands while she waited.

Minutes passed but Alaric still didn’t appear.

The whispers in the hall slowly began again as guests exchanged confused glances and questioned where the groom could possibly be. Meanwhile, Rosalind’s emotions churned violently inside her. Standing there beneath hundreds of eyes, she felt completely alone.

Humiliated.

Deep down, she knew exactly what Alaric was doing.

There was no other explanation than he was making her wait on purpose because he wanted to embarrass her.

Time continued slipping by until an entire hour had passed and the King still hadn’t shown himself.

Rosalind could barely breathe beneath the layers of fabric. Her legs ached from standing, heat gathered beneath the veil, and her patience was quickly fading. Despite the growing commotion around her, she used every opportunity to glance toward the entrance, hoping to see some sign that the delegation from Merovia had arrived.

But they hadn’t.

The realization settled heavily inside her chest that they hadn’t received it at all.

The guests were beginning to complain openly now. Some scoffed while others muttered insults and criticisms that reached Rosalind’s ears even from where she stood. Then, just as the noise threatened to overwhelm the hall, everything suddenly fell silent.

The doors opened once more and trumpets blared, announcing the king’s arrival.

Everyone expected to see Alaric enter alone.

Instead, their eyes widened in shock as Alaric rode into the hall atop a tiger.

The massive beast moved forward while several servants surrounded it, holding restraints and guiding it under strict control. Every noble in the room froze. Hearts pounded. Fear spread through the hall like wildfire as they watched the enormous beast advance.

Rosalind wondered what in the world Alaric was trying to prove by doing this.

This was a wedding, not a traveling fair!

Yet Alaric spent several minutes parading the tiger through the hall as though he were displaying a trophy. He basked in the attention and fear it inspired before finally bringing the beast to a stop near the altar.

Then he dismounted with effortless elegance. Straightening his attire, he walked toward Rosalind.

"Did I keep you waiting?" he asked with a smile that immediately unsettled her.

Rosalind felt like cursing him where he stood. Instead, she simply turned her gaze away.

Alaric seemed amused by her reaction. Without another word, he turned toward the priest. "Let the wedding begin."

The priest bowed immediately.

Silence settled over the hall once again as he began reciting the sacred rites, setting the tone for the ceremony, and with every word that left his mouth, the reality of what was happening settled more heavily upon Rosalind’s shoulders.

Her fingers tightened around the bouquet, while the priest’s voice carried across the hall. Everyone remained quiet and composed, although many were still keeping wary glances on the tiger nearby and looked ready to flee if anything went wrong.

"Do you, Your Majesty, King Alaric, First of His Name, ruler of Eryndor and House Eryndell, take Lady Rosalind as your lawfully wedded bride in health and sickness, in happiness and sorrow, in prosperity and poverty, until death parts you?" the priest asked.

"I do."

Alaric’s answer came smoothly and without the slightest hesitation.

The priest then turned toward Rosalind, who was struggling to breathe beneath the veil. Her head felt light, and the reality of what was happening pressed down on her chest like a crushing weight.

"Do you, Lady Rosalind, take King Alaric as your lawfully wedded husband, to support him, listen to him, and bow to him in obedience while you rule beside him for the betterment of Eryndor? Do you promise to follow his words, never betray him, submit yourself fully, and remain an obedient wife?"

Rosalind almost wanted to laugh at the unfairness of it.

Why was his vow so simple while hers sounded like the terms of a lifelong imprisonment?

But priest was reading exactly what Alaric had ordered him to read. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

The question lingered in the air and Rosalind couldn’t bring herself to answer.

Because she knew that Alaric didn’t want a wife but a slave.

The crowd began murmuring amongst themselves when she remained silent.

"Repeat the question," Alaric said calmly, although the smirk on his lips carried something cold and dangerous. "My bride must be overwhelmed."

The priest obeyed immediately.

Again, Rosalind heard every word and sweat gathered beneath her veil.

When the time came for her answer, silence was all she could offer.

The whispers around the hall grew louder. People exchanged confused glances while wondering why she refused to speak.

Alaric’s smile slowly disappeared. Leaning closer, he lowered his voice so only she could hear. "You know I hate waiting," he said softly. "If you delay me one more time, I’ll unleash my anger on everyone in this hall."

Rosalind swallowed hard.

Because the terrifying thing was that he wasn’t bluffing.

The priest repeated the question for the final time.

"I..." Her voice trembled.

Her heart hammered violently against her ribs. "I..."

The word refused to leave her mouth.

Across from her, Alaric’s glare sharpened.

The patience in his eyes vanished completely. And just as Rosalind was about to force herself to say the words, the great doors of the hall burst open.

The sound echoed through the chamber and every head turned sharply.

Alaric’s gaze sharpened immediately as he saw the royal insignia of Merovia being carried through the doors.

His guards had tried to stop the sudden interruption, but upon realizing that it was the Queen of Merovia herself and remembering that the royal family had been invited to the wedding, they had no choice but to step aside and allow her passage.

The Queen entered the hall with her entourage behind her, her expression firm and unwavering. Behind her was Crown Prince Marek, Princess Hannah and several members of the Merovian delegation.

The entire hall fell into a stunned silence while Rosalind froze where she stood.

She could only stare in shock.

She had believed The Queen wouldn’t come.

She had convinced herself the letter had been lost. That the pendant had never reached them.

But she had been wrong...

The Queen walked forward with all the authority of a ruler who feared no one in the room. "I OBJECT to this union," she declared.

Her voice rang across the hall with such certainty that nobody dared interrupt her.

Then her gaze settled firmly on Alaric. "His Majesty King Alaric cannot marry the Princess of Merovia."