Chapter 279
Chapter 279
Jessica’s heart clenched.
Garbisch was so shocked he nearly leaped from his seat.
Elsie clutched at her dress, keeping her head bowed in silence.
Malik heaved a huge sigh of relief after a brief moment of shock.
‘Finally, he speaks!‘ Malik thought.
The King and the Queen widened their eyes in shock.
Consort Adele was absent today. Since her son injured his leg, she has recently been keeping a low profile, staying secluded in her quarters and praying devoutly for her son’s swift recovery.
With Consort Adele absent and no other consort daring to challenge the Queen’s authority, the party was noticeably more subdued than usual
However, at that moment, the Queen was also so astonished that she couldn’t utter a single word.
After a long moment of stunned silence, the King’s expression darkened. “Do you realize what you’re saying?” he demanded sternly.
‘Though Jessica is exceptional in every way,‘ the King thought sternly. ‘She was intimately involved with Prince Waldo for years. Who in all of Novigrad hasn’t heard of their affair?
‘Jessica has called off her engagement with Prince Waldo but is getting involved with another of my sons. If the words get out, won’t it become palace gossip? What would the common folk think?‘
Leon said, “Your Majesty, I have admired Jessica for many years. Nine years ago, she promised to marry me when we grew up, and I have cherished that promise ever since.”
Leon stood straight, meeting the King’s furious gaze without flinching.
“Over these years, I never once forgot Jessica while campaigning east and west,” Leon added. “I thought I could return to marry her once I pacified the Northern Borderlands. But who would have thought…”
Though he left the words unspoken, everyone present understood the implication.
Leon had indeed spent years away on military campaigns. Particularly, he hadn’t returned to Capitalia for five years during the Northern Borderlands campaign.
Regarding that, the King harbored lingering guilt toward Leon.
Therefore, when Leon mentioned the campaign in Northern Borderlands, the King’s gaze softened noticeably.
Leon continued, “Your Majesty, you promised you would grant me a reward if I reclaimed the Northern Borderlands. I hope this reward is your promise to allow me to marry Jessica.”
He had never intended to force Jessica into marriage this way. He had vowed to wait until she consented of her own accord before petit for her hand.
‘Who would’ve thought that bastard Malik would pull such a stunt?‘ Leon fumed inwardly.
Leon could see clearly that if he didn’t step forward now, even with Malik in such a tight spot, he wouldn’t dare to reject the marriage.
If Malik refused political marriage now, he would be unable to answer the people of both nations. Worse still, it might put Jessica in harm’s way.
the King
12:17 Sat, 14 Jun G G
Chapter 279
Malik had no other choice.
“This… This requires… seeking Jessica’s opinion,” the King said, his tone hesitant. In truth, he wasn’t troubled. Jessica’s marriage was nothing significant to him. It was merely an imperial decree.
However, the past matters between Jessica and Prince Waldo…
The Queen zeroed in on the key point. “Leon,” she pointedly asked, “are you saying Jessica promised to marry you nine years ago?”
Though the party was small in scale, all the key figures were present, surrounded by the highest–ranking court ministers.
Whatever happened at the party today would spread throughout Capitalia by tomorrow morning.
All eyes were fixed on Leon, awaiting his explanation.
Jessica’s gaze also remained fixed on him.
Jessica thought, ‘Nine years ago… Something is stirring inside me, but I can’t quite grasp what it is and don’t dare to believe it.
‘After all, those things happened so long ago. It’s so long that remembering them makes my heart wrench.
‘Could it be… just as I suspected all along?
‘Have we known each other all along?‘
1217 Sat,
Chapter 280
