My Mother Forced Me to Marry a Stone Statue to End a War — On Our Wedding Night, I Felt My Dead Fiancée's Heartbeat Inside the Marble
The morning of the 29th day dawned cold and grey, mirroring the tension that clung to every stone of the castle. This was it. Less than twenty-four hours remained for Clara. The air in the grand cathedral was thick with expectation, the low murmur of voices echoing off the vaulted ceilings.
The High Council, robed in their somber colors, took their places along the ornate benches. The Northern Barons, their faces stern and unyielding, sat opposite them, their presence a heavy reminder of Lord Halstead’s 10,000 gold sovereign loan.
Queen Eleanor, resplendent in crimson and gold, ascended her elevated throne. She sat like a goddess, radiating an aura of absolute power and unwavering confidence. A faint, triumphant smile played on her lips. She believed victory was hers.
My heart hammered against my ribs, but I forced a calm exterior. I stood beside the veiled stone statue, Clara’s beautiful, trapped form hidden beneath a heavy silk cloth. It was arranged on a smaller altar, waiting for the ceremonial unveiling.
My hands, hidden beneath the voluminous sleeves of my royal robes, clutched the hidden abdication documents. They felt thin, fragile, yet held the power to shatter an empire. Gideon Frost was hidden among the lower clergy, ready to retrieve the abdication documents at my signal. Captain Reed stood near the main entrance, his face a mask of stone, his loyal guards positioned strategically. Julian Hawkes was also present, blending among the lesser nobility, his eyes darting towards me.
Eleanor’s gaze swept over the assembly, her expression one of supreme satisfaction. She caught my eye and offered a subtle, almost imperceptible nod of approval, a gesture that twisted my gut. She thought I was finally hers, a broken king to be discarded at her whim.
Lord Halstead cleared his throat, his gaze fixed on the veiled statue. “We are here to witness the sealing of this most vital treaty,” he announced, his voice booming through the cathedral. “To usher in an era of peace and stability for Veridia and its allied territories.”
Eleanor rose, a regal presence. “Indeed, Lord Halstead. Today, we forge an unbreakable bond, ensuring the prosperity of all.” Her voice resonated with triumph. “Let the ceremony begin.”
She gestured towards me, a silent command to unveil the bride. My hand hovered over the heavy silk, my eyes meeting Captain Reed’s across the crowded hall. He gave me a barely perceptible nod.
This was the moment. The turning point. The stage was set for Eleanor’s grand delusion, but it would be her downfall. I took a deep breath, the cold weight of the documents beneath my cloak a promise of destruction and a prayer of hope.
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