55: I Don't Care

I Don't Care

Two days before the wedding day…2

"Greetings, Mother," Arlan bowed. 

A graceful middle-aged woman with a gentle impression pleasantly smiled at him. At this moment, her lady-in-waiting had just removed her travel coat, exhaustion still visible on her face. The servants tactfully left the Queen's bedchamber, leaving the two by themselves.

"Finally, we have arrived. That kind of long journey was too exhausting for a poor old lady like me," the woman complained a little. 

"I do not see an old lady in the room though?"

The woman laughed. "How have you been, Arlan? It must have been hard for you to settle the wedding preparations on behalf of your brother and me. I was worried that the unexpected delay would cause us to postpone Lenard's wedding…"

Arlan offered her the same smile and embraced the woman. "Even then, there can be no wedding without the groom. Guests can wait. You worry too much, Mother."

The Queen of Griven, Julien Cromwell, began her trip about a week earlier than Arlan, but arrived later than him because she took the official land route between Griven and Abetha. The groom had personally fetched his mother, and thus, both of them only arrived at the Royal Palace of Abetha with little time to spare.

"It will be rude to the bride and her family though," Julien commented as she sat down in the lounge area. "I am so busy dealing with Lenard's affairs that I am yet to visit Wimark. How is Alvera and her baby?"

"They are both doing good.  Ryan is only less than two months old, still too weak to travel, but I'm sure Sister will bring him to the palace for you to meet your grandson once he is able to."

"That's understandable."

"Oh, who is here? His Highness the Crown Prince of Griven?" 

The newcomer was a handsome young man who shared somewhat similar features to Arlan, The same ash brown hair and sea blue eyes, only Lenard Cromwell looked younger and thinner compared to him. Just from one glance, anyone could tell  they were blood-related siblings as both had inherited their appearance from their father, the King of Griven.

The pair of brothers shared a hug.

"I thought my brother won't attend my wedding as he is busy playing with our nephew."

"Little Ryan is adorable, I tell you. I was tempted to stay in Wimark, but our sister kicked me out," Arlan jested. 

"I will tell our big sister you are bad mouthing her behind her back."

"Then I will tell your wife that her husband is a terrible blabbermouth. Hmph. Aren't you pretending to be a cool and well-behaved gentleman in front of Princess Meira? I will let her see your true colors, that you gossip like a village woman."

Lenard rolled his eyes. 

"By the way, how is Sister's health? The baby…?"

The three Cromwell siblings shared a close relationship amongst themselves, an oddity in the long history of royal families, and they had no reservations bickering with each other. 

After exchanging taunts and insults, Arlan and Lenard laughed at each other.

"You two find another place to chat. I'd like to rest a little," Julien remarked, shaking her head at the immaturity of her sons. However, even though she said it like that, it could be seen that she was happy with the brothers' harmonious relationship.

  Lenard led Arlan to his own chamber. They lounged on the soft long couch and had expensive wine delivered to them by the maidservants. 

"...oh, which reminds me," Lenard said as he poured himself a glass. "Mother received a missive from Father while we were traveling. The letter mentioned your engagement. Seems there is news about the Verners?"

"Keep talking," Arlan told him.

"I didn't read the missive itself but she's optimistic that the daughter of the Verners will be found soon. She wants to start preparing for your engagement ceremony."

Arlan raised a brow. "Found soon? They got solid clues already?"

"You don't know?"

"Last I heard, they merely found a trace."

"Umm, then that must be it, and Mother is simply getting ahead of herself. She sounds really happy though, so I hope you do not upset Mother once the Verners are found."

Like Alvera, Lenard also had a certain understanding of how deep Arlan's bias was against his betrothed's family.

"Once they are found, I will let them have a few more days to live," Arlan said as he smirked. "That's the greatest mercy they'll get from me."

—--

The following day became a whirlwind of activities for the Cromwells, meeting with Lenard's acquaintances and emissaries from afar. That evening, they even had a small dinner banquet where Arlan got the chance to chat with Meira, his new sister-in-law.

Finally, the day of the wedding arrived. 

The grand hall of the palace, where the wedding ceremony was arranged, was filled with guests, a majority of them from the nobility of Abetha. Arlan entered the hall with his mother, the Queen of Griven, and found their seats at the front row nearest the altar. The Queen of Abetha was seated next to them.

Chatting with Niobe, Julien's happiness was palpable, and so was Arlan. However, underneath his charming smile shown on the surface, the Crown Prince's mood began to darken as his inhumanly sharp senses caught the murmurs of the other guests.

"I wonder why the Second Prince is getting married before his older brother? To a foreign princess no less! Aren't they afraid that the Second Prince's faction will overwhelm the Crown Prince's? That's a revolt in the making… "

"The Second Prince has relinquished his stake in the crown, so I guess, that's the reason."

"I heard the Crown Prince is betrothed since young to a daughter of the Cromwell Family's friend, but the girl and her family went missing for unknown reasons. Up till now, they are still searching for that girl."

"If that family has long disappeared, then the Cromwell Family has ample reasons to dissolve their betrothal. Waiting for nothing is not beneficial for the royal family, right?"

"Not sure what is going on, but it seems like the Cromwells are determined to honor their promise."

"No, I heard a different version. Indeed, the Cromwells are still searching for that family, but it was so they can be punished for insulting the prestige of the royal family."

"Really?"

"Haven't you heard how cruel their Crown Prince is?"

"No, what I heard is that the Cromwells are well-known for their benevolence. The King is wise and kind, and the Queen is like a real mother to the kingdom—" 

"That is because the Crown Prince embodied all the evils of his kingdom. People say he has no emotion and will kill anyone at the slightest suspicion  without batting an eye."

"Royalty ought to act like that. They are all saints outside. That is how politics work. Don't exaggerate too much."

"Well, either way, the reputation of the Crown Prince of Griven on the surface is that of a charming prince who's perfect in all aspects, be it looks, temperament or skills. People love him. He is a crowd favorite if you are to ask around in social gatherings. There must be a long list of families waiting in line to send their daughters to his bedchamber, hoping to be the future Queen of Griven."

Arlan happened to glance in the direction where t his friend Drayce was sitting. The young king had obviously heard the same conversation, and he currently sported a gloating smirk on his lips. 

The Crown Prince of Griven sighed and shook his head, as if saying, 'What busybodies'.

Drayce offered him a look that said, 'And?'

Arlan shrugged his shoulders as if to reply, 'I don't care.'

Arlan chose to shut his sharp hearing senses, almost regretting why he didn't do it before. What was the use of listening crap from the morons?

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