"Yes, my king, " Gael sounded. "Princess Rose and I are indeed in love as the queen reported, " he acknowledged
A pained tear rolled down Prince Angelus's eye. It trailed a path down his cheek and fell off. Prince Angelus felt a pang in his heart. It broke a piece of him to hear the man he loves claim to belong to his sister.
His gaze was locked with his mother. Prince Angelus didn't dare to turn around and face Gael. He feared seeing evidence of Gael's claims in the man's eyes. His feet were rooted to the ground, his mind in chaos and the pain in his heart paralysing his body.
Queen Rosalyn's heart squeezed in pain. The pained expression in her son's eyes haunted her. In her attempts to control the narrative and secure her son's future as the heir of Sevigoria, she broke him.
The queen was convinced that Prince Angelus's obsession with Gael Vondrak was from a place or rebellion. The scene proved her theory wrong.
"Why didn't you mention this before?" Mistress Diane inquired.
"You ambushed him with the proposal, so how was he supposed to admit the truth, " Queen Rosalyn gave a response to royal mistress Diane.
She ignored her son's pain and played on with the lie. Queen Rosalyn made a calculating decision; Prince Angelus had his entire life ahead of him to fall in love again, but he gets one shot at being the next king of Sevigoria. She chose the crown over her son's feelings.
"Edmund, I hope you won't break Rose's heart to keep your mistress happy?" she confronted the king.
King Edmund was stunned. The queen and princess Rose managed to secure the richest man in the kingdom. Gaining influence and power, going against her when Gael himself confessed to being in love with princess Rose felt stupid.
As much as he wished to please Diane and get Gael and Princess Elveryn engaged at the earliest. He didn't wish to provoke the anger of the Vondrak family and his cunning queen.
"Do you wish to marry Princess Rose?" The king raised a question to Gael.
Gael stared at Prince Angelus's back. With guilt squeezing at his heart, he answered the king, "Yes, I wish to marry the princess. "
Prince Angelus let his tears fall. He heard Gael's answer, and it shattered him. The man barely acknowledged him in the times that he courted him. Yet Angelus couldn't shake how easy it was for him to consent to marrying his sister.
"You have his word and mine. Please arrange for their wedding at the earliest, " Queen Rosalyn folded her hand in front of her chest and pleaded with the king.
"What about my daughter? " Diane rose from her seat. Enraged by Queen Rosalyn for turning the tables on her. "She fancies Gael, my love. Don't break her heart by getting him married to Princess Rose, " she pleaded with the king, tugging at the strings of his heart.
King Edmund felt torn between the love of his life and the queen of his kingdom. On one hand was his legitimate daughter's love, and on the other was his illegitimate daughter's future.
He never thought he'd see the day when the two would fall in love with the same man. As a father, he wished to see both his daughters happy, but as fate would have it, one's happiness promised sadness to the other.
"Gael doesn't fancy, Elveryn. Don't condemn him to a life of misery with someone he doesn't love, " the queen made a case for Gael.
"I won't stand for my son marrying a woman he doesn't love, " Lord Vondrak spoke up. "My son has everything. All I wish for him is love with his life partner. As such, I wish you get him married to Princess Rose, my king," he summed.
Prince Angelus dug his nails into his palm. The discussion like icy shards pricking his soul. He marched into the family room to get his love back and prevent Diane from marrying him off. He didn't expect his mother to step in and turn the tables around.
Princess Elveryn watched Prince Angelus keenly. She felt something amiss by his reaction. She couldn't pinpoint why he seemed broken out of the blue. Princess Elveryn grew up away from the castle for most of her life. However, she was aware of Prince Angelus's reputation.
She'd heard stories and gossip from the servants of her useless, short-tempered brother who spends his days eating grapes and sleeping the days away. Prince Angelus's behaviour went to prove the gossip true.
Princess Elveryn shook her head in disappointment and cheered for her brother to succeed their father. In her mind, Prince Augustus was far more deserving of being king than the useless crown prince.
"I can't see you cornered because of me, father, " Princess Elveryn spoke up. "Get Gael married to Princess Rose, " she added.
The reason she selected Gael was due to the servant gossip she picked up on. Queen Rosalyn threatened to marry Gael to Princess Rose if Prince Angelus refused to obey her wish and entertain Lady Saskia.
Whether or not she married Gael didn't matter to her. Princess Elveryn was satisfied knowing that the queen's threat would come true and hopefully strain her relationship with Prince Angelus.
She hoped the incident would make Prince Angelus less likely to listen to her and ruin any little chances Prince Angelus had of being the next king of Sevigoria. Princess Elveryn stared at Prince Angelus's back and smirked.
Prince Angelus noticed malicious gaze on his back and instictively shot his gaze to Elveryn. His bloodshot red eyes narrowed as he noted the smirk on her face. Prince Angelus felt the urge to tear her apart limb by limb and feeding her carcasses to the dogs in the palace.
He found the mastermind behind the drama. The bitter look in his eyes promised payback for the heartache.
"Thank you, princess Elveryn, " King Edmund admired her poise. "I give my blessings for Lord Gael Vondrak and Princess Rose Rathmore to marry. The engagement will be held in two days, " he gave his word.
Prince Angelus's eyes went wide for a split second. Tears streamed down his cheeks. Speaking masses on the pain in his heart.
"Angelus, " Queen Rosalyn touched Prince Angelus's arm. "Did you hear the ne... "
Prince Angelus slapped her hand away. He wiped the tears in his cheeks with the back of his hand and turned around to face everyone.
The rage evident in his face added to the intensity of his gaze. "One way or another, you're all going to regret this, " he let out.
Before anyone could process his words, Prince Angelus stormed out of the room and marched in the direction of his chambers. Captain Devon and his helpers followed behind him.