The Bride They Bought 14

Posted by Admind, ? Views, Released on July 1, 2025

Chapter 14

Prince Roland’s name day banquet was nothing short of extravagant.

The grand hall of the palace swelled with nobles, courtiers, and foreign envoys alike. Everyone who was anyone in Crownspire had come–each hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive prince cloaked in mystery.

From the upper balcony, Roland stood in silence, his gaze fixed on the palace gates.

The moment he spotted his friend, Lord William Westbrook approaching, still travel–worn and dust–covered, he descended the marble steps almost at a

run.

“You’d best brace yourself,” William said grimly, his voice low. “I questioned dozens of servants–maids, guards, even the kitchen boys. On the day of the banquet, Cecily never once left the main hall. She never went to the palace gardens.”

Roland froze, the words striking him like a blade.

So he had been wrong. From the very beginning, he had mistaken the wrong woman.

Meanwhile, beneath the gilded arches of the palace’s great gates, Cecily made her entrance flanked by a glittering retinue of noble ladies.

“Heavens! Look at this spectacle!” one companion whispered theatrically. “Only fitting for Prince Roland, I suppose.”

“Of course,” another chimed in sweetly. “Didn’t he buy out every treasure in Jewel Hall just for Cecily? And that necklace he gifted her–worth a duchy, I

heard.”

Cecily lifted her chin, basking in their adoration, her silks rustling like applause.

Lord Viremont, flushed with pride, stood nearby, surrounded by flatterers from every ministry. The Viremonts had long fallen from grace in Crownspire

-but tonight, they were basking in glory they hadn’t tasted in decades.

He chuckled meaningfully as he spoke, “Well, the rumors aren’t wrong. His Highness has indeed shown great favor to my daughter as of late… Who knows? He may make an announcement before the night is through.”

“His Highness, Prince Roland–enters!”

The steward’s voice rang through the hall like a bell tolling judgment.

All heads turned at once.

Roland descended the grand stair, slow and deliberate.

His eyes, sharp as cut glass. His jaw tight. His very presence–commanding. It was as though the air itself bent to make way for him.

Cecily’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Roland? It’s you?!” she gasped.

Her voice echoed in the stunned silence.

Murmurs erupted like wildfire.

“Wait… Roland? Prince Roland? Cecily, you mean to say–your personal guard was the prince this whole time?”

Cecily’s shock melted into radiant delight.

So that was why. All those glances, those gifts, the way he stood by her side at every turn–it hadn’t been duty. It had been devotion. He wasn’t a lowly guard. He was her prince.

She trembled, already envisioning the moment he would take her hand before the court and name her his bride.

Lord Viremont’s grin stretched ear to ear. He seized his daughter’s arm and led her forward eagerly.

“Your Highness! So it truly was you disguised among us all this time! Why, had known, I would never have allowed you to go unrecognized in our hame. Forgive me for my neglect!”

Haland didn’t so much as blink at the flattery. With a thick of his hand, the signaled the musicians to halt

*I thank you all for gracing this celebration,” he said, his voice low yet cutting through the room like a blade and I have gathered you here not only to mark my name day–but to make an announcement.”