Chapter 2: The Prince Behind the Mask
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The royal palace stood like a city carved from ivory and gold.
Its towering walls reached toward the heavens while countless flags bearing the Valerius crest fluttered proudly in the afternoon breeze. Noble families from every corner of the kingdom had gathered to witness the Crown Princes marriage.
Inside the carriage Alvinas hands rested tightly in her lap.
They trembled.
She could still picture the man she had met in the marketplace.
His calm eyes...
His quiet smile...
The way he had risked himself without a thought to save a frightened child.
He was nothing like the monster the rumors described.
"Move."
Lady Beatrices sharp voice shattered her thoughts.
"We've arrived."
A palace maid opened the carriage door.
As Alvina stepped onto the carpet thousands of eyes turned toward her.
Whispers spread instantly.
"So that's the Ashford girl."
"I heard shes only becoming a concubine."
"What a pity..."
"The prince finally agreed to take a woman."
"She won't survive a month."
Alvina lowered her head. Continued walking.
Every whisper felt like another stone pressing against her heart.
Eva smiled from the crowd dressed elegantly than many noble ladies.
Standing beside her Nina leaned close. Whispered, "Look at her. Shes trying hard not to cry."
Lady Beatrice hid her satisfaction behind a smile.
Everything was going exactly as she had planned.
Soon Alvina would disappear into the palace forever.
Then nothing would stand between Eva and the title of Crown Princess.
...
The palace chapel was breathtaking.
Sunlight poured through towering stained-glass windows painting the marble floor with shades of blue, crimson and gold.
Rows of nobles lined both sides of the hall.
Knights in silver armor stood still.
Even the air seemed heavy with expectation.
Alvina stood alone at the end of the aisle.
The High Priest smiled gently.
"The Crown Prince will arrive shortly."
Her breathing became uneven.
She had imagined this moment times.
Each version ended with the terrifying image.
A eyed prince surrounded by darkness.
A cruel man whose heart had ago turned to stone.
The giant doors at the end of the chapel slowly opened.
Boom...
Boom...
Boom...
Every step echoed through the hall.
The Crown Prince entered.
His black ceremonial uniform was embroidered with silver dragons. A jeweled sword rested at his side. A flowing crimson cape trailed behind him.
The nobles immediately bowed.
"So handsome..."
"He truly looks like a god."
"No wonder every noble lady dreamed of marrying him."
Alvina slowly lifted her eyes.
The moment she saw his face...
Her heart stopped.
No...
It couldn't be.
The man walking toward her...
The man every noble feared...
The prince everyone called a monster...
...was the man who had saved the little boy.
The same stranger who had smiled at her.
The same man whose face had occupied her thoughts all day.
Her lips parted in disbelief.
"You..."
Ryan stopped before her.
Recognition flashed across his face well.
"So..."
His deep voice carried through the chapel.
"It was you."
Alvina could barely breathe.
She had spent the day wondering if she would ever meet that mysterious swordsman again.
Never—not in her worst nightmare—had she imagined he was the very man she had been forced to marry.
The High Priest looked between them in confusion.
"You... Know each other?"
Neither of them answered.
Ryans dark eyes remained fixed on Alvina.
For the time in years the emotionless prince looked genuinely surprised.
A faint smile almost touched his lips before disappearing as quickly.
"So fate has a sense of humor."
Alvina stared at him her mind in turmoil.
This couldn't be the merciless prince the kingdom feared.
There had to be another side to him.
Had everyone been lying?
The High Priest cleared his throat.
"Your Highness... Shall we begin the ceremony?"
Ryan finally looked away from Alvina. Gave a single nod.
"Proceed."
The priest raised his hands.
"Before the gods and the people of Valeria we gather to witness this union."
The ceremony continued in silence.
Ryan never looked at anyone
Neither did Alvina.
The vows echoed through the chapel like a promise neither of them had chosen.
When the ceremony ended the High Priest smiled warmly.
"From this day Lady Alvina Ashford shall belong to the royal household as the Crown Princes honored concubine."
The nobles applauded politely.
Alvinas heart sank at the word.
Concubine.
Not wife.
Not princess.
Just... A concubine.
As everyone prepared to leave Ryan took one step toward her.
Without warning he leaned enough that only she could hear him.
"I owe you an apology."
Alvina blinked.
"...For what?"
"For allowing you to believe I was a stranger."
She frowned.
"You never told me who you were."
"No."
His expression softened for a heartbeat.
". If I had... You would never have spoken to me the way you did."
Alvina couldn't deny it.
If she had known he was the feared Crown Prince she would have run the moment she saw him.
Ryan. Offered his hand.
"Come."
She hesitated.
"Where are we going?"
"To the palace."
His voice was calm almost unreadable.
"You are under my protection now."
Those words sent a ripple through the watching nobles.
Lady Beatrices smile faltered.
Eva clenched her fists.
Nina stared in disbelief.
Why...
Why was the Crown Prince personally escorting a concubine?
Why did he look at her as though she were someone worth protecting?
Far, above them hidden in the palace balcony a cloaked figure watched everything unfold.
"So..."
The stranger smiled coldly.
"The girl has finally entered the palace."
"Excellent."
"The game can begin."
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