X
Join our Discord server and get release updates for every novel you follow.
Join the ServerRod Valga possessed short hair the color of spun gold, deep blue eyes, and an aquiline nose. He exuded the noble bearing of royalty, coupled with the unwavering resolve forged in battle, making him an undeniably striking man.
Upon seeing his countenance, even Lucia was compelled to praise him, convinced that he was the dream prince of any maiden in the throes of first love.
But Lucia was no maiden yearning for romance!
She had no need for a prince!
Driven by an intrinsic fear, Lucia merely cast a fleeting glance at Rod Valga before averting her gaze. This reaction, to Rod Valga, seemed nothing more than girlish shyness.
Despite being the old king’s youngest son, Rod Valga was exceptionally intelligent. From a young age, he earned the old king’s favor and, at ten years old, was sent to train under the Marshal. He left the capital early.
That year, the Angel had not yet awakened.
In his memories, the Angel was a tiny sleeping beauty, slumbering within a crystal prism.
Eight years later, he returned to the capital, only to find himself marrying the Angel on their very first meeting. This marriage was as abrupt for him as it was for Lucia.
However, as a member of the royal family, Rod Valga did not hold views on free love.
To stabilize the kingdom, his father, the king, had married off three princesses and welcomed six noble daughters as daughters-in-law. Even the king himself had engaged in political marriages; both his former and penultimate queens were products of such alliances.
Growing up in this environment, Rod Valga had long understood that his own marriage would also serve the Valga family, becoming a crucial political cornerstone for the kingdom’s advancement.
Lucia, as the last of her kind, embodied the entire Angel race’s prestige. Her influence was unparalleled in the world.
To forge a marriage pact with Lucia was, in his estimation, the most perfect union imaginable.
Rod Valga readily accepted this sudden marriage, his eyes twinkling with a smile as he observed Lucia’s flustered expression, offering a gentle, knowing grin.
Princess Delia Yass watched the newlywed couple on the platform, a smile plastered on her face, though she gnashed her teeth inwardly. ‘How could her Angel be snatched away by a man of Valga so swiftly?’
‘The Angel isn’t even old enough for marriage yet.’
‘Those wretched Valga royals, so impatient! They’ve thrown all my plans into disarray.’
Meanwhile, the old king gazed at his most favored youngest son, his aged eyes crinkling with a smile as he looked towards Lucia.
‘The Angel’s bloodline is about to be firmly bound to the Valga royal family. From this day forward, no other royal house in any nation will be able to rival the Valga royal family in prestige.’
The wedding officiant recited the Ten Laws of the Marriage Pact from the platform, his voice broadcast live through amplification magic. Even those on distant streets could hear him.
People there, unable to see the ceremony clearly, could still commit the details of this marriage firmly to memory through their ears.
Each law of the marriage pact that echoed in Lucia’s ears felt like a countdown, ticking away the seconds, making her so nervous she almost fainted.
Finally, the countdown reached zero.
The wedding officiant closed the
Rod Valga took three steps, positioning himself in the center of the high platform.
The wedding officiant then looked at Lucia. “Your Eminence, please step forward.”
Lucia stood rooted to the spot, unwilling to advance. This was her final act of defiance.
The pressure now fell upon Betty Lane. She had been holding Lucia’s hand, acting as her guide. It was her duty to correct Lucia’s behavior should she act improperly.
Despite a thousand inner protests, Betty Lane had to fulfill her responsibilities. She closed her eyes, tensed her muscles, and took three swift steps, pulling Lucia along to the center of the high platform. They stood face to face with Rod Valga, no more than a meter apart.
Betty Lane’s task as a guide concluded, and she released the hand she had gripped throughout the journey.
The moment she let go of Lucia’s small hand, her heart suddenly felt hollow, as if she had lost something critically important.
She turned and descended from the platform, leaving Lucia, whom she had protected for eight years, to the Valga prince. All eyes were fixed on Lucia and the prince; no one noticed the tears tracing a path down Betty Lane’s face.
Betty Lane, for the first time, entertained a disloyal thought: ‘How wonderful it would be if this wedding could be utterly ruined.’
As if a deity had answered her plea, grey-white smoke surged simultaneously from beneath, around, and all sides of the high platform. The thick smoke quickly filled the grand altar.
Rod Valga, having spent years abroad, rarely attended noble weddings and was not involved in planning this ceremony. Though astute, he couldn’t discern whether the sudden smoke was part of the wedding or an unforeseen event.
His hesitation cost him valuable time to secure Lucia, a regret that would haunt him for half a lifetime.
The knight captain guarding the wedding, fully aware of the ceremony’s procedures and being a seasoned knight, reacted swiftly. Seeing the unexpected smoke, his expression instantly changed. He drew his longsword and shouted a warning: “Assassins!”
His alarmed shout plunged the scene into instant chaos. Within the smoke, shouts of alarm multiplied, and shadowy figures swarmed.
His Majesty the King, His Royal Highness the Prince, and Her Eminence the Angel were all figures of extreme importance. Even in this solemn setting, where excessive armament was inappropriate, elite knights provided close protection.
The King and the Prince were quickly secured. However, the knight assigned to protect the Angel, Lucia, was Betty Lane, who had just been moved away from Lucia.
Lucia seized the opportunity. Lifting her skirt, she turned and fled. Regardless of where these assassins came from, she could not let this godsend of an opportunity slip away.
You’ve got to see this next! Not Me, The Fans will keep you on the edge of your seat. Start reading today!
Read : Not Me, The Fans
