Chapter 65: The Crimson Wedding

Tick-tock, tick-tock.

A profound silence had fallen over the hall, broken only by the rhythmic swing of a pendulum clock, its sound echoing distinctly in Chloe’s ears.

Her own heartbeat thrummed in unison with its steady rhythm.

Carloman still wore his snow-white groom’s attire, standing beside the officiant with a beaming smile plastered across his face.

Una, clinging to Chloe’s arm, appeared even more nervous than the bride herself, her sweaty palms dampening Chloe’s wedding dress.

Chloe pressed the dagger hidden beneath her wedding gown, striving to maintain a façade of normalcy.

This was her first chance to seize control of her own destiny—and quite possibly, her last.

As they took their places, the officiant raised a single finger and declared loudly, “And now, for the final couple of this wedding — His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince of Eledis, and the Countess of Avros!”

A murmur rose from the audience, a collective discussion about the apparent mismatch of the union. Even with the bride’s captivating beauty, how could a mere countess possibly ascend to such a position beside the Crown Prince?

Carloman maintained his smile as he spoke to Chloe. “They’re saying you’re not worthy of me.”

“And what do you think?” Chloe retorted.

“I’ll make them shut up.”

Carloman’s smile vanished, his cold gaze fixing on Chloe’s face, sending a shiver through her.

‘Had he discovered something?’

Chloe’s hand instinctively moved to where the dagger lay hidden. Una, her face ashen, stammered, “I… I entrust… the bride… to you.”

Carloman gently stroked Una’s head. “It seems our little bridesmaid is a bit nervous,” he said softly.

Una was too terrified to react, her eyes staring blankly into the distance.

The officiant turned and announced loudly, “Bride, do you take this groom to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

Finally, the moment had arrived.

Chloe lifted her gaze, taking in Carloman’s handsome features. Just as Lilith had observed, he bore a striking resemblance to Chloe, with matching silver-white hair, crimson eyes, and delicate features—he was almost her mirror image.

She pressed her lips together, preparing to deliver her answer.

“No—”

At that very instant, Chloe caught sight of the officiant subtly drawing a dagger from his sleeve, lunging to stab Carloman.

No, no, no, no, no! What was happening?

Blood splattered across Carloman’s handsome face. A gaping hole appeared in his chest, the gleaming silver dagger stark against the wound.

“You truly are something, Cliff.”

Carloman forced out a bright smile, as if nothing untoward had happened. With a swift movement, he seized the officiant’s arm.

The officiant, sweat beading on his face, struggled to pull the dagger free, his hand trembling uncontrollably.

“How are you not dead?”

Accompanied by a tragic shriek, the officiant’s arm was brutally snapped by Carloman, blood gushing like a spring from the severed limb.

The officiant collapsed to his knees, frantically clutching his detached arm from the floor, desperately trying to reattach it.

Carloman extracted the dagger from his own chest and hurled it with vicious force at the officiant’s head. The man fell instantly.

The wound on Carloman’s chest slowly healed, leaving only a crimson stain on his pristine white attire to bear witness to the injury he had sustained.

Screams erupted throughout the hall as guests watched the sudden, dramatic turn of events in utter shock. The Crown Prince—assassinated? Yet, incredibly, he had turned the tables and slain his attacker.

However, more guests began to produce shining daggers from their sleeves and pockets, swarming towards Carloman like a plague of locusts.

What was happening? Was this a rebellion?

Chloe stared at the chaotic scene before her, her face filled with incredulity. Nobles, dressed in black and white, wildly wielded their daggers, attacking Carloman.

Chloe could only retreat several steps, desperate to avoid being caught in the fray.

“Guards? Guards!”

A noble in white cried out, but in the next second, his throat was slit by another white-clad noble beside him.

The festive atmosphere had completely dissipated, leaving only blood and death in its wake.

The royal court had descended into pandemonium. Una clung tightly to Chloe’s arm, refusing to let go.

Chloe struggled to carve a path through the frenzied crowd. Still in her wedding dress, she found every step arduous amidst the crushing bodies.

A burly man with a scraggly beard spotted the beautiful bride, a malicious grin spreading across his face. He lunged at Chloe, his hands clawing.

Chloe immediately recoiled, but people pressed in from behind, leaving her no escape. Una tried to shield Chloe, but it was too late.

Clang.

The burly man was suddenly knocked aside, collapsing to the ground, his head bleeding.

Chloe focused her gaze. Norria stood before her, panting, with Lilith紧tightly by his side.

“Are you alright, Lady Chloe?”

“Thank you.”

Chloe swept aside the silver hair from her forehead, her eyes glistening as she looked at the hero who had appeared as if from the heavens.

“We must escape quickly; it’s too dangerous here.”

Lilith clutched Norria’s arm, her expression grim.

“Is there anywhere safe left?” Norria asked, bewildered.

“The right wing of the palace!”

Chloe cried out.

Indeed, the Elder Council was holding a meeting in the right wing. No matter how audacious these rioters were, they wouldn’t dare disturb the Elders. Moreover, Alice and Wuxu were also there.

“What are you waiting for? Let’s go!”

Norria picked up a dagger from the ground, roughly pushing aside the endless stream of assassins rushing towards them.

Norria’s physique was far superior to that of the pampered nobles; they practically toppled with a mere touch, allowing him to clear a path with relative ease.

Cliff stood at the entrance of the right wing, arm-in-arm with Dorota, seemingly having awaited their arrival.

“Is this not the Crown Princess?”

Cliff inclined his head slightly, a smile playing on his lips.

“I am not yet wed to him,” Chloe countered, though her voice was already weakened by exhaustion.

Cliff was about to respond when a black whirlwind swept past Chloe’s ear, rustling her wedding dress.

The black whirlwind halted before Cliff, hundreds of bats swirling within it, gradually coalescing into human form, revealing Carloman’s figure.

Carloman was impaled with dozens of daggers, his once handsome face now completely obscured by gashes, his features unrecognizable.

Yet he was still alive and well, like a demon emerged from purgatory. A bloody glow ignited in his hand as he lunged with full force towards Cliff.

Crunch.

Blood soaked into the red carpet, making its hue even more vivid.

Dorota’s black wedding dress gained a splash of red; a gaping hole now marred her chest.

Dorota had, astonishingly, blocked the attack for Cliff. This act had drained the last vestiges of life from her.

Her face pallid, she coughed up blood and collapsed limply into Cliff’s arms.

“Thank you, my ‘Queen’.”

Cliff emotionlessly laid Dorota on the ground. Carloman, however, offered no opportunity for mourning. He had already charged before Cliff, his left hand enveloped in darkness, poised to plunge into Cliff’s heart.

Chloe closed her eyes, believing this was the end. Countless schemes and stratagems were rendered meaningless before absolute power.

Suddenly, a silver spear pierced through Carloman’s heart, its tip resting against Cliff’s chest, a mere hair’s breadth from impaling him as well.

But the wielder of the spear was clearly a master, having calculated the distance with precise accuracy.

Longinus approached with graceful elegance, an empty goblet held in her left hand, as if she were merely a noblewoman strolling through the palace.

Carloman finally lost his strength, his head falling against the spear shaft, only his feet still stubbornly rooted to the ground.

“Is this your plan?” Carloman murmured.

“No, it is mine.”

Carl strode grimly towards Carloman, while Olga had already drawn her sword, holding it to Carloman’s throat.

Carl settled the crown firmly on his head and solemnly declared, “I shall take your place, becoming the undisputed Emperor of Eledis.”

Carloman staggered back a few steps, pulling the long spear from his body. Blood splattered onto the floor as he slowly shuffled.

No one dared to speak, nor dared to step forward. All held their breath, watching the final fate of this king.

Carloman came before Chloe, with Norria and Una guarding him nervously on either side.

Chloe drew the silver dagger from her wedding dress and plunged it into Carloman’s abdomen.

Carloman offered no resistance, made no superfluous movements. It seemed this final blow had shattered all his pride. A faint smile was forced onto his bloodied face.

“My beloved wife, are you in on this too?”

As his words faded, Carloman swayed like a brittle branch and collapsed into Chloe’s arms.

Chloe took the goblet from Longinus’s hand and placed it beneath Carloman. After his blood filled the cup, she raised it and took a small sip.

A bitter, salty taste lingered in his blood.