Chapter 278
Chapter 278
Malik felt like a dead man walking.
‘Now they’re even starting to discuss betrothal gifts? Isn’t this just asking Leon to kill me??
thought Malik.
“Your Majesty, Her Majesty, marriage arrangement… is a matter of great importance. I should return to Askar and discuss it with my father, the King.
Then…”
“That does make sense,” the Queen nodded, cutting him off again. “However, with both parties present today, His Majesty can draft an official letter to your king to clarify the situation. But with Jessica here, such a perfect opportunity, you shouldn’t let it slip, Prince Malik.”
Malik forced a smile, but he was crying his eyes out inside.
‘Is the Queen hell–bent on making this so–called ‘good match‘ happen today?‘ Malik thought helplessly.
Jessica remained silent. Her gaze fixed on him as if watching a spectacle unfold.
‘Is she truly not bothered by this?‘ Malik wondered.
Malik was practically freaking out, desperately signaling her with his eyes, but she merely maintained a faint smile, and even threw him a teasing, sidelong glance.
‘I dug my own grave, now I have to lie in it. She isn’t in any hurry at all,’ Malik thought bitterly.
Malik stammered, “J… Jessica, would you… you be willing to…” A chilling glare swept over Malik, and he suddenly felt his throat constrict, as if his neck had become dangerously exposed.
‘Don’t ask,‘ thought Malik, warning himself. ‘If I asked Jessica that, I’d be shifting all the pressure onto her. That’s hardly gentlemanly. Of course, the most immediate consequence would be that bastard Leon killed me. No joke.‘
Malik stammered, “I, uh… I think…”
Here he was, the proud and noble Prince of Askar. He might not be called a conqueror, but he was surely someone to be reckoned with. Today, he was so pressed that he couldn’t even speak coherently.
He genuinely had no idea what to say. ‘Who can save me?‘ Malik thought desperately.
The King frowned. “Prince Malik, is there something you can’t tell us?”
Malik stammered, “I… I do…”
“The Askar royal family has had no mourning in the past two years,” the Queen declared, her tone leaving no room for argument. “Prince Malik, you couldn’t possibly have any unmentionable circumstances.” With these words, she once again sealed off all Malik’s avenues of retreat.
The Queen smiled and added, “Besides, Prince Malik, since you took the initiative to express your wish to marry Jessica, you must have made all the necessary arrangements. A distinguished prince like you surely wouldn’t act on mere impulse, would you?”
“Y… Yes… That’s… correct,” Malik stammered, wishing he could vanish into thin air. ‘Is there no one who can get me out of this mess today?‘ he th desperately.
The thing was, he did act on impulse back then to see how Leon would react.
‘If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have acted I so recklessly back then!‘ Malik thought bitterly.
“Prince Malik, what exactly are you still hesitating about?” Even the King could now see Malik was not sincere about the matter.
At that moment, the King’s expression darkened ominously, his displeasure evident.
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12:17 Sat 14 Jun C4 G
Chapter 278
‘How can a royal marriage alliance be taken so lightly? Does Prince Malik dare to toy with a noble lady of Novigrad in this manner thought the king
“Prince Malik,” the King thundered, “are you trifling with Jessica simply because she lacks parental protection? Do you dare disregard my authority Now could I possibly allow you to mistreat her like this?”
The King heavily slammed his cup on the table.
A chill swept through the court. Everyone froze, barely daring to breathe heavily.
Malik’s breathing was ragged. At that point, to keep refusing would be nothing short of cowardice.
Malik thought, ‘If I refuse this marriage today, I’ll be personally destroying the last shred of Jessica’s reputation.
‘If Jessica were rejected in marriage twice in a row, she’d never have a chance to redeem herself in this lifetime. Her reputation would be ruined for good.
‘The relentless gossip would drown her completely.
Malik took a deep breath. He finally made up his mind and said, “As for Ms. Yates, I truly…”
Jessica smiled faintly. Upon seeing that the matter was almost settled, she was just about to speak.
However, someone else unexpectedly stepped in and took charge of the matter before she could speak.
“Your Majesty,” Prince Leon said.
Leon rose to his full imposing height from the lower seats and declared in a deep, resolute voice, “Your Majesty, I have long admired Jessica. It is my wish to take her as my wife. I beg for your blessing!”
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