Chapter 104: A Marriage Bestowed

A soft beam of pale pink light shone upon Arthur and Avril.

The entire hall fell into a sudden hush, followed by a swell of sobbing. All eyes were fixed on the balcony, where two figures seemed to glow with an ethereal light.

The man was strikingly handsome, the woman breathtakingly beautiful. Both had radiant golden hair and fair skin, but what captivated everyone most were their mesmerizing blue eyes—like angels painted atop the castle roofs, their bodies emanating a subtle halo.

The crowd inside the hall felt dizzy, unable to collect their thoughts.

In a corner of the hall, Maria, after a brief daze, regained her composure and gazed at the two angelic figures on the balcony. Her eyes shimmered with complexity; her once vibrant lips now pale, and her fiery red hair dulled.

He, after all, was never meant to be hers.

Whether it was the woman with elven purple eyes or this angelic figure with blue eyes so similar to his own, the place beside him would never be hers.

Thinking this, Maria’s lips curled into a sarcastic smile, but her green eyes betrayed no emotion.

Then, she turned her gaze away from the dazzling man and woman.

Before anyone could even begin to process the scene, a golden beam of light illuminated the opposite side of the balcony, and a strict female voice rang out:

“Now, please welcome Her Majesty the Queen to announce tonight’s banquet theme.”

Without giving anyone a moment to breathe, the Queen’s voice echoed throughout the hall.

“I hereby announce the theme for tonight’s banquet,” Her Majesty smiled gently at the crowd, then articulated slowly and clearly, “Tonight marks the engagement ceremony between His Grace Arthur Rivers, Duke, and Miss Avril of the Wething family.”

The moment the Queen’s announcement fell, the hall erupted in a wave of astonishment.

Arthur furrowed his brow and was about to step forward when his right arm was suddenly tugged. Pausing, he turned to see Avril with a pitiful expression, as if he were a beloved dog about to be abandoned. Her breath quivered, her sea-blue eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Arthur pressed his lips tightly, seeming ready to speak, but was interrupted.

“Please… don’t… reject me in front of all these people, okay?” Avril clutched his right arm desperately, terrified of being abandoned and gossiped about in public.

Arthur’s brow furrowed deeper as he scrutinized her, weighing whether to speak.

Seeing that he did not immediately refuse, Avril exhaled heavily, then shyly lowered her head and spoke hesitantly:

“I’m sorry—I had no idea this would happen. If I had known, I wouldn’t have clung to you or stopped you from leaving. But…” Avril suddenly lifted her head, her sea-blue eyes fixed steadily on Arthur, her voice soft yet resolute, “Rest assured, I will never force you into this engagement. If you don’t wish it, I will announce its cancellation myself. But please, grant me the right to refuse, will you? You understand how humiliating it is for a lady to be rejected by a gentleman… Besides, if my father knew you turned me down, he would be furious.” As she spoke of her father, her shoulders trembled slightly.

Hearing the words “my father,” Arthur’s whole body tensed, his gaze flashing sharply. His right foot, which had just stepped forward, immediately withdrew, and his eyes locked onto Avril’s as he said softly,

“Very well. I will give you time to exercise that right of refusal.”

Avril’s face lit up joyfully as she raised her head, a fleeting spark twinkling deep within her sea-blue eyes—too swift for Arthur to notice.

“Thank you, Arthur. I will handle this promptly,” she smiled warmly.

“Hmm,” Arthur replied coolly.

Stars seemed to dance in Avril’s eyes.

Nearby, Maria shuddered as the Queen announced the engagement, her gaze fixated on Arthur.

She saw Arthur and Avril exchange looks; his right leg, once poised to step forward, now pulled back after Avril’s words. His furrowed brow relaxed, and he even smiled at her, silently accepting the Queen’s decree. The two exchanged smiles, radiating contentment, clearly pleased with the royal match.

Maria’s lips, once poised for mockery, remained stiff and unmoved.

So, he could accept another woman besides Ying Yue, but no matter who she was, it would never be her.

Maria lowered her head gloomily, her somber red hair cascading down to conceal her face.

After the exchange, Arthur looked up toward the Queen, who wore a triumphant, scheming smile stretching nearly to her ears. Arthur’s sky-blue eyes flashed a sharp glare at her, as if warning, “This time, I’ll let it slide—but next time, don’t blame me for publicly defying you.”

The Queen seemed oblivious to the threatening look, smiling brightly at him before turning her gaze to Avril, a gleam of cunning flickering in her eyes. Avril responded with a bashful smile and performed a flawless courtly kneel. The Queen nodded in approval and began conversing with her attendants.

Once the initial shock subsided, the guests returned to normal, resuming their conversations. Their primary focus was now to offer congratulations to Arthur and Avril.

They eagerly surged toward the couple, faces alight with genuine smiles, as if Arthur were their own son or Avril their own daughter.

Indeed, these two were no ordinary individuals—Arthur, the youngest duke in history personally appointed by the Queen, and Avril, whose lineage was equally illustrious. Though the Wething name had somewhat faded from common memory, no one could forget the legacy it bore.

The Wething family name evoked memories of the greatest hero of the British Empire during the medieval era. When foreign invaders threatened the land, General Wething bravely defended the nation. After days and nights of fierce battle, he fell from exhaustion. Even after his heart stopped beating, he remained standing, refusing to collapse.

Thus, upon learning Avril was a descendant of General Wething, many genuinely offered heartfelt congratulations, particularly before knowing her true identity, when she had already won much goodwill.

As the crowd pressed in to congratulate them, Arthur’s relaxed expression tightened again. He discreetly avoided those who sought to touch him enthusiastically.

Meanwhile, Avril maintained her angelic, enchanting smile and greeted each well-wisher with warmth and grace.

Growing weary of the repetitive flattery, Arthur gradually stepped away from Avril. He stood nearby, watching her with a heavy gaze.

“I knew you wouldn’t refuse this marriage,” a smug voice declared.

Without turning, Arthur recognized the speaker and furrowed his handsome brow again, offering no reply.

“Heh, I told you so,” the voice’s owner continued, unconcerned by his silence, “I knew it would turn out this way.”

The woman beside her, of similar age, bowed her head slightly, her shoulders trembling.

There was no mistaking the imperious lady with absolutely no self-awareness—it was none other than Her Majesty the Queen herself.

“Are you done yet?” Arthur finally snapped, unable to tolerate it any longer.

The Queen did not relent but responded with a frosty tone:

“Hmph, you’re shameless—and lucky! So many have tried and failed to marry the Wething heiress, yet you managed it effortlessly, and to marry the Wething family’s pride, no less! Hmph, even in your sleep, you should be quietly pleased!”

“That’s enough. If you keep nagging in my ear, I won’t hesitate to announce right here and now that what you said was a joke—that Miss Wething and I have no intention of getting engaged!”

“You—” The Queen’s triumphant expression froze, her face darkening as she stared at Arthur, lips trembling, “How disrespectful you are to your elders!”

Arthur’s lips curled into a sly smile, pleased to have finally unsettled the cunning old lady. His handsome features bore a hint of mischief as he said,

“You should know—I’ve always been like this.”

“You—” The Queen, furious and abandoning decorum, raised a trembling arm and pointed at Arthur, unable to find words.

Arthur glanced at the Queen, the mischievous smile fading into a feigned look of concern:

“Rixi, Her Majesty must be tired. Please help her back to rest.”

Rixi, watching Arthur’s worried expression, twitched the corner of her mouth and respectfully responded before supporting the Queen:

“Your Majesty—”

The Queen glanced around, noticing those once gathered around Avril now quietly watching this side. She cursed under her breath,

“You brat!” Then, with Rixi’s help, she left Arthur’s side to join another group.

Arthur smiled faintly, amused that the troublesome old lady had finally been driven off.

“I always thought there would be only one woman by your side forever. Turns out, Arthur Rivers, you’re just like everyone else,” came a voice trailing off into the distance.