Crowds of royal capital onlookers lining both sides of the street scrambled back, automatically clearing a wide, clean thoroughfare.
Brando rode slowly forward on a jet-black purebred warhorse, and the hushed whispers drifting from the roadside reached his ears loud and clear.
"I heard this noble marriage alliance only happened because the old lord swallowed his pride and begged the king for it personally."
"This duke doesn't care for the second young lady of the Rivington family at all. Even if he marries her into the ducal manor, it'll just be a meaningless front!"
"Who would've guessed the duke is actually head over heels for a woman from the pleasure quarters..."
Brando glanced over the surrounding onlookers, his brow slowly furrowing. He then tightened his grip on the reins and r
