Replacement Bride for the Alpha of the North - Chapter 57

Chapter 57: THE DAY OF THE CEREMONY (3)
“Zenith, why is it so hard for you to understand how much I care for you?” Aurel was desperate. For almost a decade, she helped him with this, but not even once Zenith glanced her way willingly.

“If you really care about me, tell me what the concoction is made of.” This was the second time Zenith repeated the same thing and Aurel should have known better not to push her luck too far, yet the healer was too emotional.

“No. You will stop looking for me if I do.” Aurel then shook her head. “I will let you know with one condition. If you stop this ceremony and this union, I will tell you about it.”

Zenith was not willing to spend another second breathing the same air as her. He was done. Nobody could stop him from having Dawn. He couldn’t care less about the whole ceremony, but Dawn would be his.

The guards then grabbed Aurel by arms to escort her out of the room, but the healer snapped at them.

“Don’t touch me! I can walk out on my own!” She screamed in their faces and then stormed off, feeling humiliated because she was outright rejected in front of these lowly guards.

Once the room fell quiet, Zenith walked toward the window, he stared at the bright sky. Today was the union between him and Dawn, and he hoped… he could make it right for her.

“What are you thinking now?” Zander entered the room through a secret door, so no one would know that he came to meet his brother before the ceremony. “Are you thinking of running away? Having second thoughts about killing the woman that has potential to kill you?”

Zenith threw him a vicious glare, as if to warn his brother not to touch a strand of her hair, yet Zander looked immune to his brother’s rage. He walked toward a chair and sat down leisurely.

“Get out.”

“What is it? You developed a habit of chasing people out now?” Zander saw what happened with Aurel. “How can you survive this long without her help?”

Zenith didn’t want to answer that. He changed the topic. “Elder Max approached me with the same intention.”

“For you to take the throne? The same old song from the old people.” Zander chuckled. “Actually, if you want the throne, I will give it to you for free. Just kidding.” He changed his tune quickly when he received a nasty look from Zenith. “Being a king is a lonely job with too much power and responsibilities.” He sighed and stared at the ceiling.

“Have you figured out who the people that used poison on the warriors were?”

“I have a few suspects, but I need to be sure and lure them out first.”

“Just kill them all.”

“Killing some of them will only startle them and make them more aware, but if I let them think that they led the game, they will be reckless enough to expose themselves.”

This was why, in public, Zander and Zenith played opposite parties. People who wanted to take Zander down from the throne, would seek Zenith and campaign in his name to put him on the throne.

This was the best solution that they could come up with ten years ago, when everything started to go downhill.

“Smoke the snake out,” Zenith said. That was what Zander usually did. His twin sibling was a meticulous planner, he thought every move he made, unlike him. Zenith didn’t have the patience for a long game.

That was why Zenith believed if Zander really wanted to kill Dawn and disregard his opinion, he would have her dead already.

“Exactly.” Zander chuckled childishly, he tilted his head. “You look awesome! Very handsome! I love your face! Congratulations on your union!”

Zenith glanced at Zander’s cheerfulness and there was a complicated feeling that flickered in his blue eyes.

“I know what you are thinking. Please, don’t. I don’t need your pity.” In a second, Zander’s voice turned stern. He looked serious, though the face behind the golden mask was hidden.

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Dawn took a deep breath, she bit her lip and started to walk out of her room. There were around twelve royal maids, who followed behind her while four walked in front of her. Meanwhile, the royal warriors stood apart every few meters on both sides of the corridors.

The palace had been decorated in purple and black, the royal colors. Everything looked beautiful and ethereal. People would talk about this royal ceremony for ages, probably until the next royal ceremony that would occur in the future.

The trail of her dress was so long, the ten royal maids had to help her with it so it wouldn’t tangle when she walked, but then with every step she took, Dawn felt like she was exercising. She was panting slightly.

Damn it. It seemed what Zenith said about her needing more exercise was right. She was already very tired when she finally arrived at the main hall, where the ceremony would take place.

This dress was quite heavy and her legs were tired from dragging the trail of her dress, while walking gracefully. Her hair was styled in such a way that would make it easier for the king to put the crown on her head. She wondered how heavy the crown would be.

Dawn’s mind was thinking trivial and unimportant things to help herself avoid breaking down from nervousness and anxiety.

Especially when the guard announced her presence and they opened the doors. All eyes immediately fell on her. These were the people she had never seen before, but they were important figures for this kingdom. Merchants from Karam continent, people from Andelus Continent, Marca El continent and many more.

She would be doomed if she made a mistake here. She would not only embarrass herself, but also Zenith.

Dawn felt quite overwhelmed, until she found a familiar figure standing at the end of this long red carpet. Zenith looked at her, his eyes met hers.