The Second Husband
Charlotte Bourbon, a 19-year-old widow, was happy in her life after she got married to the man of her dreams. However, because of a sudden illness, her husband died within a month, and Charlotte's life came to a sudden halt. ‘She became the curse for her husband that he died young.’ ‘She is the one, who killed her husband.’ ‘She should have died with her husband.’ Numerous such things Charlotte would hear from the people around her in the palace when she decided to take her life. However, was it that easy to die? Édouard Bourdillon was the eldest son of King Christian Bourdillon of the Kingdom of Escana. He decided to marry the widow of his late younger brother so that he could take over the Beromont territory which his brother possessed. But was this the only reason he wanted to marry Charlotte? ~~~~~~~~ "What are you doing?" Terrified Charlotte asked as she saw Édouard unbuttoning his shirt. "I am hot, so I am taking off the shirt," Édouard said and reached for the last button. "But it's cold weather," Charlotte said and knitted her brows. "Not here, Charlotte. Your mere presence around me makes me hot," Édouard said and took off the shirt. "Ahhh!" Charlotte quickly brought her hands in front of her eyes and covered them. From the gaps between her fingers, she peeked out of curiosity. A lump formed in her throat as she saw his perfectly carved body with a few scars on the chest and near the abdomen. Charlotte saw him approaching her and she tightly shut her eyes. A few seconds later, when she realized everything was so quiet, she opened her eyes again and found him before her. She promptly moved back and hit the wall behind her. She thought to leave the room when Édouard caged her petite body between his arms. "Are you going to—" "Yes. I want to be wild with you tonight, Little Cherry," Édouard said with a smirk, and the next second, he lifted her in his arms. ~~~~~ *Cover art is mine. Made by "HS AONARAN" available on FB* Follow me on Instagram: rayoflight_pcy
Lays his finger on Charlotte
Finally, the wedding day arrived. Édouard got dressed in the wedding dress which he once had thought he would never wear. He looked at himself in the mirror. He was happy, but at the same time, he was concerned.
Yesterday, Charlotte didn't talk to him except for a few words. He knew that she was devastated by the fact that she would be his wife soon.
He picked up the white short silk gloves and wore them. Interlacing his fingers, he again looked at himself in the mirror and told himself that it was for Charlotte's long time happiness.
Charles came from behind and asked Édouard if he should help him out wearing the royal mantle. Édouard hummed and turned to him. Charles hooked the mantle from Édouard's shoulders and went behind him to check if it was hooked well.
"Is Charlotte ready?" Édouard asked him.
"No, Your Royal Highness. It will take another hour for her to dress up," Charles answered and stepped back.
Rainard came and bowed before the Prince and said, "Your Royal Highness, His Majesty is here and he wants to see you." Édouard got confused to learn about it and wondered why his father came to the palace unannounced.
He left the dressing room and went to the drawing room, where his father was waiting for him. Édouard bowed to see the King, who was sitting on the middle of the sofa. He lifted his head and sat on the sofa chair across from him.
Édouard's relationship with his father was well known. King Christian after handing the territory of Wexnon to Édouard never once visited the place. Even when Édouard asked him to come a day before the marriage with his mother to Wexnon, Christian didn't follow that.
Both the King and the Queen had indeed reached Escana a day earlier, but they didn't come to the Escana Palace. They instead stayed in a royal private home.
"The Prince decided to marry after a long time, but he is marrying the woman whom I wanted to throw out of the Kingdom. Because of her, my precious son is no more," Christian opened his mouth and said some of the harshest words.
"Father, we have already talked about it earlier. Today is my marriage and I want him to bless us," Édouard stated.
"You are my eldest son and definitely the next-in-line King. I don't want anything to happen to you," Christian pronounced.
Édouard chuckled to hear his father's words. Was he really concerned for him? Because if he was, then he would not have given Édouard an order to go to Aezha Kingdom.
"Father says that he is worried for me. However, his action speaks otherwise. Why didn't he come here and decide to stay in the private home with my mother? I would have been happy if you both had come here," Édouard stated. "Also, Father must not say that Mathieu died because of Charlotte when he is very well aware of what he was into." He got furious at his father.
"The Prince must not argue with me and he must not say that Mathieu was into wrong things. Prince Édouard doesn't even hold any evidence about it. You already became the talk of the Kingdom after you didn't come to your own brother's funeral." Christian also didn't stop himself from reprimanding Édouard. The Prince's jaw clenched in anger.
"Right after your wedding, we will leave for Escana Palace. Also, if anything goes wrong with you, I won't hesitate to punish Charlotte this time," Christian said and stood up to leave.
"I will not hesitate to take action if Father lays his finger at Charlotte," Édouard said with a stern tone. He also rose to his feet when King Christian walked out of the drawing room.
Rainard entered after a while and bowed before Édouard. "Your Royal Highness, the royal carriages are ready. I got a piece of information from Lady Charlotte's personal attendant," he stated.
"What kind of information did you get?" Édouard asked.
"Her Highness is intentionally delaying the auspicious time of marriage," Rainard said. He wanted to tell Édouard not to marry such an insolent woman, who didn't care about him at all. If she would delay the time, everyone would only blame Édouard.
"Today's entire day is auspicious," Édouard said. "Let her delay as much as she can," he added.
Rainard looked into his eyes. "His Royal Highness is going into depths to marry Lady Charlotte," he affirmed. Édouard furrowed his brows and glanced at him.
"Rainard, I do not intend to hear anything against Charlotte. Charles and you always forget that she is more precious to me than my own life," Édouard stated.
He was already annoyed by his father and now, Rainard wasn't understanding him a bit. Rainard didn't speak directly anything against Charlotte, but Édouard understood his satirical tone.
"You should wait for us near the carriages." Édouard dismissed Rainard. He bowed and left the drawing room to comply with the Prince's command.
Édouard went back to the dressing room and pulled out the drawer. He took out the ring box and opened it. It was a red emerald ring which he prepared on a special order four years ago. Today, he would make Charlotte wear this and adjoin her fate with his.
A tiny smile formed on his lips and he closed the ring box. His fingers curled around it and he walked out.