[Music Recommendation: Trigger ~ Seori]

Few weeks later. . .

Adric sat on his work chair, reviewing different parchments. He tapped his finger on the table, deeply concentrated with what he was doing when a small knock on his door called his attention.

"Come in," he said without looking up.

Gwen walked inside the room, with a small frown on her face like she had been forced to the mother duties which she was about to do.

"Good morning Mother," Adric greeted with a smile, now dropping the parchment he was holding.

Gwen cleared her throat, "It’s been weeks since you attended the wedding at Morado, have you no intentions of getting married?"

Adric chuckled. "Aw...who put you up to this? Let me guess, Father? I understand. Now, say what you actually wanted to say to me."

Gwen gave the young man a hard stare. "If you won’t be getting married, then move to the old palace. Kai and Walter would need the entire place for their training," the woman remarked.

"Now that’s what I was waiting to hear. This is the real you; don’t ever change that," Adric smiled, shaking his head slightly. He picked up his parchment and continued reading.

Gwen walked forward, leaning closer. "You will never have that throne. A respectable bow out from the struggle will help your reputation. I already have all the ministers and officials on my side, and..." The woman paused when Adric used his pointer finger to push her forehead back.

"I won’t indulge in that. You are my father’s wife, and I am not interested. Take that elsewhere. Maybe to your numerous side men," he grinned.

The Queen blinked. She wanted to angrily shout at Adric, but it was of no use. So she inhaled. "When I become the great Queen dowager, you will chew your words."

"Mother, I suggest you leave the early morning wine. It’s too early for daydreaming, and these are the consequences," Adric said, dropping the parchment he was reading and continuing, "The only relevance you would have in this palace is to take care of My Father as he is aging, and I don’t even trust you with that."

Gwen moved her head to a side, ready to raise her voice one more time when another knock was heard.

"Please come in," Adric waved, and when Rowan stepped inside, he smiled. "Thank you, Rowan, for coming to save me. I thought I was going to die young. Please take over."

Rowan looked at the crown prince, then at the Queen who was now glaring at him. He quickly bowed. "Your Majesty."

"Speak quickly and leave!" Gwen shouted at the guard.

Adric’s lips curled. "And leave with her, please, so I can get enough rest."

Rowan cleared his throat. He knew very well that Adric was trying to put him in a tight spot. "Your Highness, a letter was sent to you a few weeks ago, but you had traveled to Morado for the wedding."

"A letter? Perhaps a love letter?" His lips twisted into a sly smile.

Gwen’s ear perked up at this. She tried to stretch her neck to read the contents, but Adric was quick to hide it.

"Bad mother! Don’t read my love letter," Adric hid it away, turning to the side. He opened the letter and read it slowly, which was also how the smile on his lips disappeared. Slowly.

"When was this letter sent?" Adric asked after reading it.

Rowan replied, "A few weeks back."

"Then we are cutting it close, if not already too late," Adric picked up his jacket, took his seal, and one of the parchments he had already reviewed, including the letter.

Gwen’s mouth watered. She wanted to know more. "What was that letter?"

Adric turned to look at his mother. "Aw...worried are we? Don’t worry, I’m going to bring a bride home."

"Just like that?" Gwen widened her eyes.

The Crown Prince twitched his lips. "You know what, I’ll take that as excitement. Quick, Rowan, get the carriage ready," he left the room with his personal guard.

Currently at Orion, carriages were lined up ready to carry the marriage chest and the Crown Princess to her new home.

Oriana sat inside her room, her heart beating very fast. These past few weeks she has tried to see reasons with her family, but she couldn’t understand the reason why they would treat her in such a manner.

"Your carriage is ready, Princess Oriana," a maid announced at the door.

Oriana inhaled deeply. She stood up from her chair. The heavy marriage gown and veil made her very uncomfortable. She was going to first carry the marriage chest, then a wedding would be held later. With slow steps and the aid of two maids who held her hand, Oriana stepped outside the room.

She looked around to see her Mother and sister standing beside the carriage she was going to enter, but there was no sign of her father. Did he feel so guilty that he decided not to show up? Oriana thought to herself.

"Oriana, please take care of yourself. I promise this is for the best," Saline tried to hold her daughter’s hand again, but Oriana took a step back.

Sophie, who was also standing there, smiled. "I know it’s a privilege for you to be me. But not to worry, I don’t mind sharing."

Then come marry the man yourself was what Oriana had wanted to retort, but she was too tired. First from the heavy dress, and secondly, the sun was out. She moved her back a little to ease the itch on her side.

Finally, the maids helped her enter inside the carriage where she tried to adjust until she got a comfortable position.

"We will come for the wedding when it’s fixed. Until then, please take care," Saline waved at her daughter with a smile as the carriage started moving.

Oriana looked at her family through the carriage window. She noticed her mother wipe her face. Was she really crying? Meanwhile, Sophie was shouting at two maids for something she didn’t hear. Oriana was about to relax inside the carriage when she saw, at the other side of the palace, her father who was discussing with his officials. It was not guilt but shame. He was ashamed to see her off. Maybe..

Tired and exhausted, Oriana reclined on the carriage couch. She couldn’t wait to meet her death after she had told the man she was touched. Maybe this was the best way for her to meet her end, but it was much better than being Adric’s wife. She nodded to herself.

Freya and Louis. Oriana had almost forgotten them. Her life hasn’t been less stressful since she returned with the strict training to prepare her as a bride. Now, she was going to die...

"In another life..." She muttered, "I’ll pay back the favors I owe."

The carriage stopped soon, and Oriana knew it was time. Once she gives the marriage chest, her life was very much over. She waited patiently for it.

"It’s time to give the groom the chest," Oriana heard the maid announce. She stepped down from the carriage, only to notice that the groom was not standing outside. She looked at the maid, with a knitted brow.

"This way, please. He waits in the carriage," The maid pointed.

Oriana nodded. The man was too old; probably he couldn’t stand for long. She carried the chest and walked to the carriage with the help of the maids. She entered inside.

"Greetings, my husband. I present the marriage chest to you," Oriana had her head bowed as it was tradition never to look until the groom spoke. She waited to hear a voice, but nothing. What if the man had died? Oriana thought. He was old, and there’s every possibility. She slowly raised her face to be met with a smirk and grin that infuriated her the most.

"I accept the chest, my wife," Adric grinned wildly.

"Argh!?" Oriana shrieked loudly, her eyes widened with shock.