Said No to the Prince and Yes to the King novel Chapter 236

Chapter 236 Hold Such Deep Affection for Me

Finished

The attendant smirked darkly. “There’s no other reason Prince Theodore would keep her close all of a sudden–men are always drawn to a pretty face, no two ways about it.”

Robin clicked his tongue. “I once thought Stella was the most breathtaking beauty in sight, but this woman has a one–of–a–kind grace all her own.”

A faint playful smile on his lips. “Uncle Theodore truly has an eye for beauty. I’ve long heard he sends for her every single day; turns out he recognized her extraordinary allure from the very start.”

The attendant lowered his voice. “Prince Theodore has never been short of fair ladies. Take Ms. Hickman- for one–she’s clung to him faithfully for years on end.”

Robin remarked casually, “Speaking of Myrna, she’s holding a grand birthday celebration today, isn’t she? Uncle Theodore must have gone to her feast long ago. No wonder she sits alone over there, drowning her sorrows in wine. Come, let’s go greet her.”

With that, Robin took a step forward, ready to walk over.

The attendant quickly reached out and grabbed his arm to stop him. “Ms. Stella Campbell has been waiting for you in a private upper chamber for a long while now.”

Robin’s gaze turned cold and sharp. “I’d completely forgotten. Oh, well–both sisters are peerlessly beautiful. It matters little which one I meet today.”

After saying this, Robin finally turned and headed up the stairs.

A moment later, he stopped right outside the chamber tucked in the far corner.

He rapped lightly on the wooden door. “Stella, are you inside?”

The door swung open at once. Stella’s cheeks flushed pink; she pulled him inside in a flustered panic, then shut the door firmly behind them.

Stella said softly, laced with quiet relief, “Robin, you’re finally here, I’ve waited so long for you.”

Robin arched an eyebrow and sized her up slowly, his look heavy with unspoken meaning,

He said, “These past two days, I’ve heard silly rumors that you’d grown terribly out of shape. Whoever is spreading those tales is talking absolute nonsense, You’re just as delicate and lovely as you’ve always been.”

Tears welled up in Stella’s eyes in an instant. She dragged herself to the table and sat down, looking utterly wronged.

Stella whimpered, “You have no idea, Robin. My whole body was badly swollen for days. If Mr. Kingston from Life Preserve Pavilion hadn’t used his superb medical skill to heal me with acupuncture, I’d still look bloated and ungainly if you saw me now.”

Her shoulders shook with quiet sobs, and she blinked, overcome with grief. “I didn’t ask you here for any ulterior motive. I just wanted to see you one last time before I take a husband. Once I’m married, who knows how many years will pass before we can meet again.”

1/3

May

Chapter 236 Hold Such Deep Affection for Me

Finished

Watching the tearful young woman before him, Robin stepped forward and pulled her gently into his arms.

Robin murmured softly, “Silly Stella, I’m overjoyed you came to find me. I thought you had no feelings for me at all, so I never dared disturb you.”

Stella wrapped her arms around his back tightly. “No, Robin. You’re the only one I’ve ever loved. You’re the only man I’ve ever wished to marry.

“But Crown Prince Christopher has set his heart on me. He’s coerced and pressured me into marrying him, swearing endless devotion to me. In truth, he only wants to make Margaret jealous by taking me as his bride. The two of them are truly in love with each other. I’m just caught between their tangled affections, and I’ve lived in constant agony all this time.”

Stella went on, her voice thick with hurt, “I’ve wondered more than once–if I’d chosen to marry you from the very beginning, would I not be suffering like this now? But Crown Prince Christopher insisted right from the start that I could be no one’s bride but his. I didn’t want you to fall out of favor with him, Robin, so I had no choice but to turn you down. Every day, I live with regret, and my heart aches bitterly every single night.”

Robin narrowed his eyes slightly. “So you hold such deep affection for me, Stella.”

Stella nodded through her tears. “It’s true. You’re the only one I’ve ever truly loved. You’ve heard all the ugly gossip going around the court, haven’t you, Robin?”

Robin gave a slow, slight nod, “Yes, you made quite a humiliating scene at the royal banquet.”

Stella wept bitterly. “Margaret did this to me—it’s all her doing.

“I can’t bring myself to believe someone with no grudge against me would use an acupuncture needle to harm me. What could anyone gain from watching me disgrace myself before the entire court? Only Margaret would wish misfortune and shame on me. She must have paid someone to do this.”

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