The Mad Princess and the Dying Prince novel Chapter 39

Lucia was going to be her aunt?!

Hearing those words, Aurelia nearly fainted on the spot.

"Lucia, don't you think this is a violation of propriety? The royal family values order and bloodlines above all. You and I are sisters. How can we marry an uncle and his nephew?"

Aurelia had spent the afternoon carefully reflecting on her behavior.

Her reputation in the Royal Capital was built on being gentle, elegant, and poised. She played the lute beautifully and her embroidery was unmatched.

But ever since she heard Lucia was returning, an inexplicable panic had gripped her heart. She had lost her composure, completely obsessed with stopping Lucia from entering the house.

If she hadn't lost her cool and acted so terribly, she wouldn't have ended up getting slapped by Lucia.

Lucia was officially back, there was no stopping it. She had to calm down and plan carefully for the future.

With this thought in mind, Aurelia forced a soft, gentle smile onto her face.

She reasoned with Lucia, "You said yourself you didn't know Prince Jareth before. So there can't be much affection between you. The decree was just issued. If we act now, before the news spreads, we can still fix this mistake."

Seeing Aurelia regain her usual calm poise, Lady Beaumont sighed in relief.

Aurelia had been an anxious mess for days, obsessing over how to deal with Lucia, which had stressed Lady Beaumont out endlessly.

"Your sister is right. Our family cannot accept this marriage," she quickly chimed in.

Lucia remained entirely unmoved. "You both know this is a royal decree. A direct order from the king. How exactly do you propose to cancel it? The decree is already in my hands. How arrogant must you be to think you can defy the king?"

Alistair gritted his teeth. "I am telling you to go find Prince Jareth and make him fix it! We cannot defy the decree, but Prince Jareth can certainly persuade the king to retract it!"

Lucia looked at him. "Does having me as the future Princess Consort humiliate you?"

At that question, Alistair felt a shameful flicker of temptation.

If Lucia became the Princess Consort, wouldn't that make him Prince Jareth's father-in-law?

No. She was a liability. Lucia was not worth the risk.

His wavering heart hardened once more.

He glared at Lucia. "I don't need you to bring glory to my name. You were raised in the country and haven't learned a single rule of etiquette required of a noble lady. How could you possibly marry into royalty?"

Lady Beaumont laughed mockingly. "Exactly. Sending you into the royal family would only make us a laughingstock. Who knows what disasters you'd cause! My lord, you cannot agree to this, lest she drag the entire House Beaumont down with her."

Her words further cemented Alistair's decision.

Indeed.

Selena snorted and shouted, "Father, she's about to make an enemy of Lady Marquis!"

Lord Marquis doted on Seraphina. Lucia had stolen the man Seraphina had loved for years the very moment she arrived in the capital. Seraphina would absolutely hold a grudge.