Mated To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 812: No Wedding Invitations

The priest, clad in traditional Fae robes adorned with the symbols of the autumn Court began the ceremony. His eyes, sharp and full of wisdom, scanned the assembly before finally resting on the couple before him.

"Dearly beloved Faeries..." the priest’s voice echoed through the garden. He paused briefly, his gaze shifting slightly to acknowledge the presence of those among the crowd who did not belong to the Fae. With a clipped expression, he continued, "...and humans, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Lady Islinda Grace Remington and Prince Andre Huxstabel in marriage. This is a joyous occasion, as these two souls unite to share their lives, their dreams, and their hearts."

Despite the initial tension, the Fae appeared enthusiastic. It seemed that no matter the circumstances, Faeries loved a joyous occasion, particularly one that offered an excuse to eat, drink, and dance. And dance they would, for the Fae were known for their wild and enchanting revelries.

At this point, Islinda had given up all chance of a dramatic rescue and given into the idea that she was really getting married.

Andre suddenly leaned closer, his lips brushing against her ear. "Don’t fall my hands, my love. Now smile." His voice was low, but there was a commanding edge to it that left no room for defiance.

Confused by his sudden remark, Islinda nonetheless complied, forcing a smile onto her face. She giggled softly, the sound carrying a hint of nervousness, but to the onlookers, it appeared as though Andre had whispered something endearing and private, something that hinted at the passionate consummation to come. The crowd, none the wiser, assumed it was merely a tender moment between the betrothed.

The priest, satisfied with the outward show of affection, continued the ceremony. "Islinda Grace Remington and Prince Andre Huxstabel, do you come here today of your own free will to be united in marriage?"

Andre answered swiftly, his voice steady and unwavering. "Yes, I do."

Islinda turned to Andre with a slight frown of her face, finally understanding what thay move had been for. He was subtly reminding her that she couldn’t back down now incase she was having ideas. After all, there was a mass assembly of people at their wedding that she might be tempted to ask for help —not that the deal would let her to. But he was just making sure.

Then eveyone turned to Islinda, waiting for her response. When a minute passed by and she hadn’t said a word, it brought by a nervous tension in the air. The whole guest began to murmur wondering if by chance the human was being married against her will. King Oberon has the most frown on his face. Till now, he couldn’t understand what had pushed Islinda to decide to marry Andre.

Islinda had intentionally remained silent, wanting Andre to squirm a little before she gave in. It was her own form of rebellion. A way to punish Andre to think he could control her. And then just when the murmurs reached a crescendo and guests were sure she would come clean, she blinked with a sickly sweet smile, "of course, I do."

Queen Victoria and a lot of other guests let out a sigh of relief. Aside from her and King Oberon, no other members of the royal family attended the wedding. Victoria couldn’t blame them though. The wedding was too quick and suspicious. Also, she didn’t want their problems. Not to mention, she has not been on goody terms with them since the attack on Islinda —the same person that was about to become her daughter in law. How funny life was. She almost murdered her daughter in law.

The priest, regaining his composure, signaled to his apprentice. The young Fae stepped forward, carrying the ceremonial cord that would be used for the handfasting ritual, a sacred tradition among the Fae. The cord, woven from threads of gold and autumn leaves, shimmered in the light as the apprentice handed it to the priest.

The priest raised the cord high for all to see, his voice ringing out clearly. "In the tradition of handfasting, we bind the hands of Lady Islinda Grace Remington and Prince Andre Huxstabel with this cord, symbolizing the connection they have formed and the vows they will make today. As their hands are tied, so too are their lives joined in unity."

He stepped forward to wrap the cord around Islinda’s and Andre’s joined hands. But as he moved to do so, a sudden spark of light caught everyone’s attention. The cord, seemingly of its own accord, burst into flames. The fire was quick and fierce, forcing the priest to step back in shock. Islinda and Andre both recoiled, startled by the unexpected turn of events.

Gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd, and a scream rang out from somewhere in the back. The guests turned, searching for the source of the disruption.

"There will be no wedding today," a voice called out, dripping with vengeance.

The crowd parted as Valerie, stepped forward, his eyes blazing with fury. It was clear that he had been the one to set the cord on fire, his magic disrupting the ceremony.

But it wasn’t Valerie’s appearance that caused Islinda’s heart to skip a beat. It was the figure that followed him, stepping into the clearing with a smirk playing on his lips.

"No wedding invitation, brother? It stings," Aldric said, his voice carrying a mixture of mockery and malice. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

"Aldric..." Islinda whispered, her feet moving of their own accord as she stepped toward him. She barely registered Andre’s hand grabbing her arm, pulling her back with a snarl of anger.

"How dare you interrupt my wedding!" Andre bellowed, his voice echoing through the clearing. He turned to the guards, his face twisted with rage. "Seize him! Now!"

But the guards hesitated, their loyalties divided between prince Andre and the rightful heir to the throne Valerie. The clearing was plunged into chaos, the ceremony all but forgotten as all three brothers stood facing each other, their rivalry laid bare for all to see.