Chapter 15
A hush fell over the hall, then exploded into chaos.
Cecily’s smile froze. Her voice trembled.
“W–What? Your uncle? Roland, what are you talking about?”
An old man appeared, supported by the steward–stooped, silver–haired, eyes gleaming with mirth.
“Well, well,” he chuckled. “So this is the girl? Not bad at all.”
“This is my uncle, Lord Peregrin,” Roland said coolly. “Widowed many years, and eager to wed again.”
Cecily stumbled backward, aghast.
“No! No, this isn’t funny! Roland–this isn’t funny at all!”
“Prince Roland,” the guard corrected coldly. With a resounding crack, he slapped her across the face. Cecily reeled from the blow, her cheek swelling in seconds.
Only then did Baldwin react, stumbling forward.
“Your Highness, surely there’s been some misunderstanding. You–your affection for my daughter…”
“Lord Viremont,” Roland cut him off. His voice turned glacial.
“My uncle finds your daughter pleasing. If you consent to this union, I assure you—the Viremonts will be well compensated. That petition you filed for your son’s elevation to heir? It’s been languishing on the Chancellor’s desk, hasn’t it?”
Baldwin’s eyes gleamed. That petition–if approved–would grant his house another generation of noble title.
“Father!” Cecily cried, her voice shrill. “You can’t! You can’t possibly–I’m only sixteen!”
Her father hesitated… then coldly shook off her grip.
“To marry into the Prince’s family is an honor,” he said flatly. “You should be grateful.”
Cecily stared at him in horror.
No, No–this wasn’t how it was meant to be.
“This can’t be happening!” she sobbed, throwing herself at Roland. “You love me! You said you’d die for me!”
Roland stepped back, disgusted, as if her touch were filth.
“Love?” he said softly, with a cruel smile.
“The girl I loved was land. She wore a white gown at the Spring Hunt three years ago. That girl wasn’t you.”
Her eyes widened, the color draining from her face.
“I mistook you for someone else,” he said simply. “The one I truly loved… was your sister. Eleanor.”
He turned to his guards.
“What are you waiting for? Take her away. Uncle Peregrin is waiting for his bride.”
Cecily screamed as they dragged her from the hall, her sobs echoing off the vaulted ceilings.
The music resumed. Goblets clinked Dishes clattered Laughter returned—though it never reached Roland’s eyes.
Throughout the rest of the feast, Baldwin attempted several times to approach the prince, but Roland avoided him with pointed indifference. Only at the end of the evening did Baldwin finally catch him as he made to leave,
“Your Highness, about the heir petition=”
Of course,” Roland said smoothly, gesturing toward the training yard “Let’s discuss it there.”
Unthinking, Baldwin followed, eager.
Roland picked up a bow, nocked an arrow, and loosed
Thwackd
Chapter 19
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The arrow struck Baldwin in both legs. Blood sprayed across the stone.
“Fetch a physician,” Roland said calmly to a guard. “Make sure he suffers.”
Roland rode hard into the night, his horse foaming at the mouth, collapsing at last in exhaustion.
Only then did he loosen his grip on the reins, shaking with rage and something deeper.
“Eleanor,” he whispered, “it’s done. I’ve avenged you.”
Then, to his shadow guard, “Saddle the horses. We ride for Westmarch tonight.”
The man hesitated. “Forgive me, Your Highness, but… we may already be too late.”
“What?”
“Today…” the man’s voice shook, “is Lady Eleanor’s wedding day. She is to marry Lord Edmund Wolveston.”
Roland froze.
“Wedding? But… wasn’t Lord Edmund still in a coma?”
“That’s just it,” the man whispered. “He woke the day she arrived in Westmarch.”
Chapter 15
