Nico replied in a low voice, barely audible to anyone else, "Bring Malik to the palace just before sunset. Make sure he looks battered, his clothes soaked in blood, and his wounds visible. That will make Princess Viola even more impressed with him."
The man gave a faint smile. "Understood, sir. I'll see to it immediately."
Time passed slowly as the tension in the palace continued to mount. The sun began to set on the western horizon, casting long shadows across the palace grounds. Guests started murmuring among themselves, speculating about the potential failure of the wedding.
Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the direction of the palace gates. Everyone turned, their eyes widening as Malik appeared in a pitiful state. His clothes were torn, dried blood stained parts of the fabric, and his body was covered in wounds and bruises. Despite his exhaustion, Malik walked with his head held high, his gaze fixed on the main hall.
Princess Viola covered her mouth, trying to hold back tears. She ran toward Malik, her eyes filled with worry. "Malik! What happened? Are you all right?"
Malik gave a weak smile. "I'm fine, Princess Viola. They tried to stop me, but I wouldn't let anything stand in the way of our wedding."
King Bernault approached, inspecting Malik closely. His face remained stern with anger, but a hint of admiration began to surface in his eyes. "You have shown remarkable courage, Malik. Those who dared to attack you will pay dearly."
Nico, who had been standing quietly in the background, raised an eyebrow and hid a small smile. He knew his plan had worked perfectly. Malik was now a hero in the eyes of Princess Viola and King Bernault.
Nearby, Sana and a few servants glanced at Nico with awe. Their eyes were filled with curiosity, as if trying to uncover the mystery behind his calm demeanor. How had Nico orchestrated such a complex plan? Everything had unfolded seamlessly, as if time and fate bent to his will.
That night, the atmosphere shifted. The wedding proceeded as planned, though it was shrouded in stories of Malik's bravery. Guests whispered about his courage, while Nico continued to monitor the situation from the shadows, ensuring everything went according to his design.
By the end of the evening, as everyone indulged in the celebrations, Nico stepped out onto the palace balcony. From there, he gazed at the stars, his mind preoccupied with the next steps. "This is only the beginning," he murmured, a faint smile returning to his face.
The Wedding Vow Ceremony:
The priest, with steady steps, moved to the front and raised his hands, creating a silence that heightened the sacredness of the moment. The hushed whispers of the guests gradually faded, replaced by the sound of hearts beating as if echoing throughout the hall.
"Malik," the priest began, his deep voice filled with solemnity, "do you take Princess Viola to be your wife, to share your life in sacred union, through joy and sorrow, in health and sickness, until death do you part?"
Malik gazed at Princess Viola. His eyes radiated genuine hope, and with a slightly trembling yet resolute voice, he answered, "I do. I will cherish you, Viola, for the rest of my life."
The priest then turned to Princess Viola, who now looked at Malik with pure love. Each breath she took seemed to carry a prayer, and softly, she answered, "I do. I will love you, Malik, until the end of my days."
Under the dim glow of lanterns, the priest raised his hands once more, offering a blessing to seal the couple's sacred vows. The moment seemed to freeze time. All doubts disappeared, replaced by a flow of hope and happiness as unstoppable as a rushing river.
After the meaningful exchange of vows, the newlyweds stepped out of the ceremony hall, heading up the staircase. Meanwhile, in a separate room, Nico and King Bernault met with serious expressions, reflecting the unseen burdens they carried.
Nico broke the silence with a calm yet firm voice. "Your Majesty, it seems Jones hasn't given up. He didn't appear today, but I'm certain he's planning something even more audacious after the attempted kidnapping of my son."
King Bernault nodded slowly, his sharp eyes gazing far ahead as if piercing into an uncertain future. "You're right," he replied, his voice heavy but resolute. "If he's still alive, he'll strike back with even greater force."
Nico took a deep breath, then continued with a concrete plan. "I believe it's time we send a formal reprimand to Castle Kahsgar immediately, along with 7,000 troops from the Black Tiger. We can't wait any longer."
King Bernault gave a firm nod. "Do it," he said, his commanding voice resonating. "Oh, and one more thing. Now that we're family, stop calling me 'Your Majesty.' Just call me Bernault."
Nico gave a faint smile. "Very well, Bernault," he replied in a lighter tone, as if a weight had been slightly lifted. "But only when we're alone will I address you that way."
They laughed together, briefly setting aside the tension that loomed over them, if only for a moment.
Meanwhile, at Jones's residence, a far darker atmosphere loomed. A servant approached, carrying an important letter.
"Mr. Jones, a letter for you," he said.
Jones, seated in his grand chair, opened the letter with trembling hands, as if he already knew its contents would change everything. After a brief read, a sly smile crept across his face. The letter revealed a grand scheme meant to escalate the chaos.
"The King is likely to deploy his forces, including Blacktiger, to attack Kahsgar. Stick to this plan. Exploit the situation and kill all of the King's troops once the war begins. Then, return to the city and stage a coup. If the chaos worsens, Blacktiger's forces will be unable to withstand King Bernault's army alone. We need this war to happen. Support from Kahsgar's forces is crucial to defeating King Bernault's troops."
After reading the letter, Jones burst into laughter, as though he could already taste victory. "Bernault, you fool. You may be enjoying yourself now, but Mr. Tang and I will have the last laugh."
His laughter brimmed with hatred and confidence that everything would unfold according to his plan, even though the war had just begun.