The rest of his family refused to attend the wedding, offering flimsy excuses that left Orig feeling abandoned and isolated.
"Mom, how is my brother's wife? I heard that she is the most beautiful woman in the capital," Dollyo, the second prince, asked casually. He was a striking figure with his blond hair, thick eyebrows, and piercing blue eyes. His tall frame made him the kind of man who turned heads wherever he went.
Many women dreamed of being his mistress, as he never conformed to the idea of settling down with one woman. Dollyo preferred the thrill of fleeting relationships and dismissed the concept of sincerity in love.
"Where is Prince Orig? I want to talk to him about this lady he brought into our family," the Queen stated, addressing her son as he lounged on the sofa near the crackling fire. Her tone was filled with curiosity, though she maintained an air of indifference.
"In the training hall," Dollyo replied nonchalantly, not bothering to look up from his position. "He's talking to his men. He barely has time to breathe. How could he get married? He's not the type to settle down with a family. Honestly, Mom, his marriage is a lost cause."
Dollyo smirked, clearly enjoying the thought of his brother's failure.
The Queen tightened her grip on her dress, her fingers clenched in frustration. "I see you're talking about yourself rather than him. Now, I don't want you to stir up trouble for Orig. Stay away from his wife. Let me assess the situation first, do you understand?" The Queen's voice grew stern as she motioned for her maid to enter.
"Your Majesty, I apologize for calling you at such a late hour, but you must see this. It's about the new lady Prince Orig brought into the family," the maid said nervously, lowering her gaze as she spoke.
The Queen rose from her seat, a sense of urgency in her movements. Without a word, she followed the maid to the pavilion of Prince Orig, which was located between her own wing and that of her son Dollyo.
"What in God's name is happening here?" The Queen asked, her eyes wide with disbelief as she observed the servants rearranging all of the furniture in Prince Orig's wing. It was as if everything was being replaced and altered.
"She's making a bold statement," Dollyo observed as he leaned against the doorframe, watching the scene unfold. "Seems like a lady who's just entered the Dessman family is proving her worth, showing she has power and influence, Mom, I mean. Your Majesty."
The Queen's frustration only grew. She felt her heart tighten as she witnessed the changes taking place under Orig's roof. Dollyo, uninterested in the chaos around him, walked off toward his room. He preferred to spend time with his maidservants rather than get involved in what he deemed trivial matters. To him, Orig's wife was probably not as beautiful as the women he kept in his service, and thus, she was not worth his attention.
The Queen clenched her jaw. She could hardly stomach what was happening in the palace. "This farce has gone too far," she muttered under her breath, heading downstairs. She was determined to confront Orig about the disruption.
Meanwhile, Orig was occupied with his men. They had managed to escape from the clutches of the Crown Prince's forces, thanks to a well-laid plan that had placed them out of harm's reach. Orig was putting his life at risk to ensure their safety.
"Sir, your plan was tight. If you hadn't come to the river, we wouldn't have made it out. But how did you know where we were?" one of the men asked, clearly impressed. The man had a thick red beard and a bald head, his voice rough but respectful.
Orig frowned slightly but said nothing, a cold mask over his face. He didn't wish to answer questions that seemed irrelevant to the task at hand.
"Let's focus on the details that led to the failure of the Crown Prince's assassination," Orig said, his voice now low and serious. The hall became eerily quiet as his men fell silent, ready for instructions.
"The poison used was potent, but it appears a skilled alchemist within the palace managed to treat the Crown Prince," one of the men explained, his voice measured and calm.
"That's good news. At least the Crown Prince didn't recognize your face when you stabbed him with your dagger. It's as if he has seven lives—he survived the poison and your attack," another man added, his voice tinged with admiration for the Crown Prince's resilience.
Orig sat back, deep in thought. The task had taken six months to set in motion, and for a moment, it seemed as though the Crown Prince's survival had been nothing short of miraculous. The assassination had failed, but Orig was not ready to give up yet.
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid Prince Orig has a meeting with the masters of the pentagram," a guard announced. "As you know, he doesn't allow interruptions during these meetings."
Before the guard could say more, the Queen raised her hand, signaling him to stop. "When he finishes his meeting, let him know that I want to speak with him," she ordered curtly, her voice cold. She turned and walked away, her lips biting down in frustration.
'I know for certain that Orig will not interrupt the meeting of the masters of the pentagram under any circumstances,' the Queen thought bitterly as she watched more servants moving furniture into Prince Orig's wing.
"I changed the entire palace furniture when Orig's mother died, and I didn't leave a single trace of her behind in his mind. I will not allow this girl to do the same every time she asks," the Queen whispered to herself, steeling her resolve.
Just then, a long-haired girl with gray eyes crossed her path, stopping her thoughts cold. The girl passed by without acknowledging the Queen, her presence as striking as it was silent.
"It seems that your opponent in Orig's heart has finally appeared," the blonde-haired lady said, her tone casual and nonchalant as she walked past, not even bothering to greet the Queen.
The Queen's eyes narrowed, her frustration simmering. "What does a girl who left her husband to return to her father's house know about winning someone's heart?" she muttered under her breath, making sure the blonde heard her. Despite the complicated relationships within the Dessman family, it was clear that power struggles were just beginning to unfold.
Three hours later, Prince Orig ended his meeting and stepped out into the garden. He was taken aback when he saw the servants hauling his new furniture out into the yard. His sharp eyes immediately found Evail, who was directing the servants.
"I want an explanation for what's going on, Evail," Orig said, his voice low but filled with fury. His nerves were stretched thin.
Evail's heartbeat faltered, as though she were on the verge of a terrible fate. She could feel the tension in the air and knew that Orig was not in the mood for excuses.
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