Prince Jayce staggered backward, bewildered, surveying the chaos surrounding us. His gaze ultimately rested upon me, and his countenance became devoid of expression. He faced the servants who were hurrying towards him.
They have not yet detected my presence; the shadows have reemerged, concealing me within.
“We have been searching for you everywhere!” one of the servants exclaimed, her tone laced with breathlessness and panic. “Your presence is required at the ceremony. Mr. Leon is becoming increasingly agitated.”
Mr. Leon served as the chief attendant; should Prince Jayce arrive tardily for the ceremony, his position would be jeopardised. All were aware of this, particularly Prince Jayce. The issue was that he was indifferent. He exhibited a lack of concern for nearly everything.
I felt repulsed at the thought of the prince making contact with me.
I successfully concealed myself sufficiently to return to the palace. I concealed myself among the rose bushes to prevent the other servants from seeing me. The thorns of the roses penetrated my back, causing me to wince as pain coursed through my body; I sensed blood trickling down my spine and saturating the soil beneath my feet.
Prince Jayce appeared perplexed, yet he refrained from disputing their assertions. He permitted them to lead him out of the gardens and back to the palace. Finally abandoning me to solitude.
As their footsteps diminished, I extricated myself from the rose bushes.
I gazed in the direction they proceeded.
I was incredulous.
Prince Jayce was my assailant.
Jayce traversed the foyer of the palace, the music from the ballroom intensifying as he neared the grand doors. A servant on either side of him to ensure he does not topple or attempt to escape. He has been apprehensive about this moment for months since learning that Elsie Eldarion, a woman he once admired, was to wed his half-brother, Crown Prince Ashton.
The wine he had consumed moments earlier was causing dizziness, impairing his ability to walk in a straight line. His wolf was displeased with him and desired his return to the gardens for unspecified reasons. It repeatedly informed him of his destined mate, yet that could not possibly be accurate. He was accompanied by a servant; she was unremarkable and could not possibly have been his companion.
He was unaware of her name.
The concept of a mate repulsed him; his mother perished due to her destined mate, and he would not permit a similar fate to befall him.
Servants entered and exited the ballroom while attending to the ceremony, with the music intensifying as the doors opened and closed. Subsequently, there was Mr. Leon.
Beads of sweat accumulated on his forehead as he intermittently gazed into the ballroom and surveyed the foyer. He appeared anxious.
Mr. Leon was presumably seeking Jayce; however, Jayce was indifferent. He was reluctant to attend this event. He was unwilling to witness Elsie Eldarion wed his brother, and he certainly did not wish to be in the same vicinity as the woman who murdered his mother.
Queen Kamila of Luna.
His father’s spouse since the demise of his purported destined partner.
Jayce clearly recognised that Luna Queen Kamila had murdered his mother out of jealousy. She desired Alpha King Elliott exclusively and pursued her objective relentlessly. She abducted Jayce’s mother. She orchestrated her son Ashton’s marriage to the sole woman Jayce ever genuinely desired.
This entire event was abhorrent; however, his father insisted that he attend. None of them were permitted to be absent.
Mr. Leon finally observed Jayce approaching and relief washed over his face as he hurried towards him. As he neared Jayce, his expression dimmed slightly while he assessed Jayce’s appearance.
“Prince Jayce, your highness, you appear disheveled,” Mr. Leon remarked with discontent.
Jayce observed the white shirt he was wearing and recognised that it was unbuttoned, exposing his chest. It was also somewhat soiled from the rose garden’s soil.
Jayce remained silent as he gazed towards the ballroom. His anger was already propelling him; his sole focus was the necessity of another drink.
With a sigh, Mr Leon approached the closet containing the coats. He reappeared shortly thereafter, grasping a tie.
“At a minimum, don a tie,” Mr. Leon remarked while fastening the tie around Jayce’s collar.
Jayce lamented despondently; he detested the necessity of formal attire. Had it not been for Mr. Leon, Jayce would have attended the ceremony in pyjamas. Upon donning the tie, Mr. Leon scrutinised him with a disapproving expression.
“That suffices,” Mr. Leon murmured, remaining discontented. “I implore you, your highness, to refrain from causing a disturbance,” Mr. Leon beseeched.
Disregarding him, Jayce pushed past and approached the grand doors.
He entered the ballroom, pushing past several servants carrying trays of food. The food fell to the ground, and the trays produced a clattering noise that startled several guests. The guests turned to investigate the disturbance and promptly observed Jayce standing there.
Jayce was indifferent. He relished making a boisterous entrance, particularly at an event he was reluctant to attend. He smirked mischievously at several guests and seized a glass of wine from a nearby servant.
He advanced further into the room, nearly losing his footing, and utilised a table for support. His weight exceeded the table’s capacity, resulting in the legs fracturing and the table toppling over. Beverages and food were splattered onto the ground, with some staining the gowns of the women seated at the table.
They leaped from their seats, astonished by the recent occurrence. Food and wine soiling their gowns.
