3 How about a Wedding?

Sibyl’s POV

The moment I walked out, I could hear the low murmurs of surprise from the guests.

I don't know what exactly they were surprised about. Maybe they didn't think that a princess like me existed in this palace.

A white silk veil was placed over my head, covering my face and blocking the guests' probing eyes.

Thank goodness, otherwise I would not have been able to withstand so many different-minded glances, especially that particular one.

The gold threads of my dress rubbed against my body, creating a unique touch. The jewels made my head a little heavy, so I kept my head down. My shoes stepped on the expensive carpet as I approached the man step by step.

My hands were slightly sweaty and I breathed in and out slowly under my veil to ease the tension and anxiety.

I had no idea what I was about to face.

As I moved, I saw a silver Sabaton.

This person should be him. No one in the hall would wear such big and noble shoes, and no one would dare to put their feet so casually.

"Sibyl, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and give a toast to Knight Nuri Rodriguez."

I slowly squatted down, my eyes cautiously sizing up the man in front of me through the veil.

He was even taller than I had just seen from a distance, full of power as well as an intimidating strength.

I held my breath and lifted my glass.

"Sir-ah-"

I let out a low cry. A large hand gripped my wrist holding the glass and yanked me forward violently.

I leaned forward so hard that my head almost hit his chest. The wine in the glass shifted a few times, spilling a few drops on his chin.

"I'm sorry," I hastily apologized, trying to pull my hand out to reach for the napkin on the side of the table.

But his hand gripped my wrist tighter, and I even felt the pain.

He stared into my eyes through the veil, and I wasn't sure he could read my expression. He lifted his other hand and wiped the red wine off his chin with the back of his hand. His gesture was so provocative and manly that it heightened my unease.

Instead of taking the glass from my hand, he continued to tug on my wrist and drank the wine from my hand with his head down.

An odd sensation covered my nerves and goose bumps appeared on my body.

"Oh, that is really great. I'm so glad to see you all getting along so well."

The Queen's voice filled the hall, announcing to everyone that Nuri Rodriguez was pleased with me.

Nuri Rodriguez narrowed his eyes, stared at me for a few moments, then looked up and pulled off my veil.

A cold and handsome face I had never seen before appeared before me.

He has dark brown hair with just a slight wave to it, and his big hazel eyes fixed on me，both intoxicating and intimidating。His cheek bones were high chiseled, like a statue of a god in a palace。

His plump lips, which should have been sexy, were pursing into a line because of hidden anger.

He was angry, and I felt it.

I hurriedly lowered my eyes and held my breath so as not to anger him.

He must have hated this arranged marriage. Ever since my father withdrew his reinforcements and signed a contract with the werebear Kingdom five years ago, leaving his father and brother to die in battle, our royal family has been the most hated of the Rodriguez family.

No one wants to take the daughter of an enemy as a wife, especially for a hero like him.

My meekness, however, did not please him. He sneered, leaned back lazily in his seat, released his grip on my wrist, and then lifted my chin with one hand.

There was little expression on his face, but I still saw hatred, disdain and disgust.

He took a good look at my face, then gazed down at my chest, and finally he stared into my eyes again and said in a low and icy voice, "The princess of our country is really better than an army."

The queen's face changed, and all the guests did not dare to speak. Although the words were apparently praising me, everyone knew he was being sarcastic about what happened 5 years ago: my father gave another princess as a gift to the king of the Werebear.

That year, the Werebear Kingdom and our country were fighting in the north, and the Rodriguez family, as our country's best knights, had been fighting on the front lines, defending the country with their swords and the honor of knights.

Nuri Rodriguez's father was the general and commander of the army, and he was at the forefront, leading the knights to fight and kill the enemy. The Werebear surrounded them and their position was getting smaller and smaller, so they had to fight while waiting for reinforcements.

But the reinforcements couldn't come any longer, because their king, my father, was signing an agreement with the king of the Werebear. He gave the Werebear a city and a princess as a gift in order to quell the war.

Of course, this agreement has a hidden clause. The Werebear had always hated the Rodrigue family and they asked my father to give up rescuing them and let them die on the battlefield.

My father acquiesced.

So Nuri Rodriguez's father and his brother died on the northern border. Their blood stained the flag of their family, and their bodies were covered under the snow overnight.

The princess my father gave as a gift was Selene. I should call her sister. We were both forgotten princesses in the palace. Our father usually didn't care about us in the slightest and even forgot our names, but when he needed a daughter to make a sacrifice for him, he would ask his servants, "Do I have any daughters left to marry?"

Five years ago, my sister Selene, with tears in her eyes, was sent to the werebear country as a concubine. It is said that the king of the werebear is more than 50 years old, he has lung disease, and can only lie in bed to recuperate.

The day Selene was married, I secretly hid under a tree and watched as she was taken away by soldiers from the werebear country. My heart was filled with sorrow. This time it was Selene who was sacrificed, and I would be next. I swore to myself that I would take my brother and leave this terrible place when I was 18.

But it was too late. Tomorrow I will be 18, but today I was sent to Nuri Rodriguez.

"The princess of our country is really better than an army." With that statement, Nuri Rodriguez is being sarcastic about what happened five years ago. He lost his father and brother in this tragedy. His mother soon passed away from grief. This is a pain in his heart forever and he will never forgive anyone in the royal family, including me.

"Knight Nuri Rodriguez, how about a wedding in 10 days?" The Queen was eager to set the wedding date.

Nuri looked at the queen, and his hand squeezed my jaw, and I ached a little. Although my nails were pinching my palm in my sleeve to fight this pain, my eyes were still moist.

Sensing something, Nuri turned his head to look at me, his eyes narrowed, and then pushed me away roughly.

I lost my balance and fell to the floor.

"Fine." Showing impatience, Nuri slammed down a glass of wine, then stood up and left the party with a word.

"It's just a wedding."

The sound of armor, spears and shields clashing reached the hall.

So Nuri had brought so many knights with weapons today.

He could give a command at any time and let everyone die here.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let's bless the couple." The queen raised her glass.

"Bless the couple." The guests raised their glasses.

……

After the party, I went back to my house alone in the dark.

"Sister!" A small figure ran to me, and I opened my arms to take him in my arms.

He was my brother, Meggie's son, Doyle.

He is the one in the world I want to protect the most.

"You look so beautiful today, like the bride in the painting." Doyle is only 10 years old, and he doesn't know what happened today.

I crouched down so that my eyes were level with his. In a lighter tone, I said to him, "If I really become a bride, are you happy?"

"I'm happy," Doyle says, clapping his hands.

In his world, a wedding still means happiness, "Who's the groom?"

"The groom - he's a hero."

"Yeah! A hero." Doyle exclaimed happily, running around the yard, "Finally, someone can protect us, so you don't have to worry, sister."

I looked at his smiling face and smiled back. However, the sound of his laughter made me want to cry. I quietly turned my head and wiped my tears with my handkerchief.

Doyle is a child, but he also feels the unfriendly environment he lives in.

Doyle, I'm sorry I couldn't take you away, but I'll do my best to protect you. I swear.