The morning after Princess Lilian’s unexpected visit to Edward’s residence began quietly.
Too quietly.
Edward stood beside the tall windows of his new royal chamber, staring across the gardens as servants moved about below.
The morning sun spread a golden light over the palace grounds, but he hardly noticed it.
His mind was still trapped in the conversation from the previous night.
Lilian’s trembling voice.
Her confession.
I love you, Edward.
He closed his eyes.
He had never imagined that Lilian’s feelings had gone that far.
She was Evelyn’s sister.
The woman he had always respected because of her position, her dignity, and the kindness she had shown him over the years.
But now everything had changed.
Edward had refused her.
He had made his position clear.
His heart belonged to Evelyn.
Still, something about Lilian’s final expression troubled him.
She had looked less like a princess and more like a wounded woman who had just lost the last hope she had secretly held onto.
Edward sighed.
“I hope you will understand,” he whispered.
But deep inside, he knew the matter was not finished.
A gentle knock interrupted his thoughts.
“My lord?”
Edward turned.
One of the royal attendants stood at the door.
“Yes?”
“The King requests your presence at the council chamber immediately.”
Edward frowned.
“Immediately?”
“Yes, my lord.
His Majesty said it was urgent.”
Edward’s expression became serious.
“Did he say what it concerns?”
The attendant shook his head.
“No, my lord.”
Edward looked toward the gardens one last time.
Something was wrong.
He could feel it.
Across the palace, Princess Evelyn was enjoying what she believed would be an ordinary morning.
She sat in the garden with a book resting on her lap, although she had not turned a page for several minutes.
Her thoughts were filled with Edward.
After seven years of waiting, everything seemed to be moving so quickly.
The wedding preparations had begun.
Her gowns were being designed.
The royal jewelers had already been instructed to prepare the wedding crown.
The palace kitchens were discussing the wedding feast.
Even the musicians had begun practicing songs for the celebration.
For the first time in years, Evelyn allowed herself to believe that her dream was finally becoming reality.
She smiled to herself.
“Edward,” she whispered.
A maid standing nearby smiled.
“Princess?”
Evelyn looked up.
“Nothing.”
The maid lowered her head respectfully.
But Evelyn’s smile soon disappeared when she noticed several royal guards hurrying toward the main palace.
Something was happening.
Before she could ask, another maid came running into the garden.
“Your Highness!”
Evelyn stood.
“What happened?”
“The King has summoned the royal council.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
Evelyn’s heart began to beat faster.
“Is Edward there?”
The maid hesitated.
“Yes, Your Highness.
His Majesty summoned him as well.”
Evelyn’s face immediately changed.
“Then something is wrong.”
Inside the council chamber, Edward stood before King Adrian.
Queen Amelia sat beside the King.
Princess Lilian was also present.
Several members of the Council of Elders occupied their seats around the long table.
Edward noticed Lilian immediately.
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment, neither spoke.
Lilian quickly looked away.
Edward felt an uncomfortable weight settle inside his chest.
Why was she here?
King Adrian rose slowly.
“Edward, you have served this kingdom faithfully for seven years.”
Edward bowed.
“I was honored to serve, Your Majesty.”
The King nodded.
“And during those seven years, you proved yourself worthy of the position you sought.”
Edward remained silent.
King Adrian glanced toward the council members.
“However, there is a matter that must be clarified before the wedding can proceed.”
Edward’s heart stopped for a moment.
“The wedding?”
Queen Amelia’s expression was solemn.
King Adrian continued.
“You remember the ancient marriage law of Bexton Kingdom.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“The law states that no man may marry the second princess while the first princess remains unmarried.”
Edward’s jaw tightened.
“I understand.”
“Do you?”
The question was unusually sharp.
Edward looked directly at the King.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
King Adrian stepped away from his chair.
“For years, we believed Princess Lilian would marry before your seven years of service were completed.”
Edward’s eyes moved briefly toward Lilian.
She remained perfectly still.
“But that did not happen,” the King continued.
Silence filled the chamber.
Edward already knew where this was going.
Still, he refused to believe it.
“So what happens now?” he asked.
King Adrian’s voice became firm.
“Now we must obey the law.”
Edward felt his stomach tighten.
“Your Majesty…”
The King raised a hand.
“Let me finish.”
Edward fell silent.
“The Council of Elders has reviewed the matter. New chapters come out on g.com first.
The law is clear.”
One of the elders stood.
“According to the ancient royal decree, if the first princess remains unmarried when a man completes the required service to marry the second princess, the man must first be offered the hand of the first princess.”
Edward stared at him.
“Offered?”
The elder nodded.
“If he accepts, the matter is settled.”
“And if he refuses?”
The elder’s face became grave.
“Then he may request permission to continue pursuing the second princess.”
Edward’s heart began pounding.
King Adrian continued the explanation.
“But there is another condition.”
Edward swallowed.
“What condition?”
“If you reject Princess Lilian and still wish to marry Princess Evelyn, you must undertake another seven years of royal service.”
The room became silent.
Edward stared at the King.
Another seven years.
The words seemed to echo through his mind.
Seven more years.
Seven more trials.
Seven more years away from Evelyn.
He slowly shook his head.
“No.”
The King looked at him.
“You knew this possibility existed.”
“I knew the law,” Edward replied.
“But I believed there would be another solution.”
“There is.”
Edward looked hopeful for only a moment.
King Adrian’s next words destroyed that hope.
“Princess Lilian has been chosen as your bride.”
Edward froze.
The council chamber seemed to disappear around him.
“What?”
King Adrian’s voice remained calm.
“The royal council has formally chosen Princess Lilian to become your bride.”
Edward stared at Lilian.
She had gone pale.
She did not look at him.
“Chosen?” Edward repeated.
“Yes.”
Edward stepped backward.
“Your Majesty, with respect, I never agreed to this.”
King Adrian’s expression softened slightly.
“You are not being forced to accept without explanation.
But the law gives Princess Lilian the first position.”
Edward shook his head.
“My heart was never given to Princess Lilian.”
Lilian’s eyes finally lifted.
Their eyes met.
There was pain in hers.
Pain, guilt, and something Edward could not name.
King Adrian sighed.
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because I am King before I am father.”
Those words silenced the room.
King Adrian looked toward the council.
“The law existed before any of us were born.
If I destroy it simply because my daughter loves a particular man, what message does that send to the kingdom?”
Queen Amelia finally spoke.
“And there is another truth we cannot ignore.”
Edward turned toward her.
Queen Amelia looked at him with compassion.
“Princess Lilian has done nothing wrong by being unmarried.”
Edward’s expression softened.
“I never said she had.”
“Exactly,” Queen Amelia said.
“This is not a punishment for Lilian.
It is the consequence of an old law.”
Edward looked at Lilian again.
She lowered her eyes.
For the first time, he noticed that her hands were trembling beneath the table.
That surprised him.
She had wanted this.
Hadn’t she?
She had visited him the previous night.
She had confessed her feelings.
She had tried to persuade him to choose her.
Yet now that the council had officially announced the arrangement, she looked frightened.
Edward understood why.
There was a difference between secretly wishing for something and having the entire kingdom place it upon your shoulders.
“Princess Lilian,” King Adrian said.
She looked up.
“Yes, Father?”
“You have been informed of the council’s decision.”
“Yes.”
“And do you accept?”
The room waited.
Lilian looked at Edward.
Her lips parted.
For one terrible second, Edward thought she would say yes immediately.
Instead, she looked away.
“I…” Her voice trembled.
“I need time.”
Murmurs moved through the council.
King Adrian raised his hand.
“Silence.”
Lilian breathed deeply.
“I respect the law,” she said.
“But I do not want to enter a marriage where I am merely obeyed.”
Edward looked at her sharply.
She continued.
“I want a husband who chooses me freely.”
Her words struck Edward harder than he expected.
Because he knew exactly what she meant.
She wanted him.
But she wanted him to want her.
And he could not give her that.
King Adrian nodded slowly.
“That is why Edward has been called here.”
Edward’s hands tightened.
The King turned to him.
“Edward, you are not required to give your answer this morning.”
Edward looked surprised.
“You may take time to consider the consequences.”
The King paused.
“But understand this clearly.”
He pointed toward the royal decree lying on the table. The source of this chapter is g.com.
“The royal law has been activated.”
Edward stared at the document.
“Until Princess Lilian’s position is resolved, the wedding preparations for Princess Evelyn and yourself are suspended.”
His heart sank.
“S-suspended?”
“Yes.”
Edward closed his eyes briefly.
All the happiness he had imagined suddenly seemed to be slipping through his fingers.
At that same moment, Evelyn was waiting outside the council chamber.
She had been told that she could not enter.
She paced nervously.
“What is taking so long?”
No one answered.
Then the doors opened.
Edward stepped out.
Evelyn immediately rushed toward him.
“Edward!”
He looked at her.
The love in her eyes almost broke him.
She smiled.
“What happened?
Why were you called?”
Edward opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Evelyn’s smile slowly disappeared.
“Edward?”
He reached for her hands.
“There’s something you need to know.”
Her heart began to race.
“What?”
Before Edward could answer, King Adrian emerged from the council chamber.
“Evelyn.”
She turned toward her father.
“Yes, Father?”
The King looked at her with sorrow.
“The wedding arrangements have been suspended.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“What?”
Queen Amelia came out behind him.
“Evelyn, listen to your father.”
But Evelyn’s eyes remained fixed on Edward.
“Why?”
King Adrian took a breath.
“The royal law concerning the order of marriage has been formally clarified.”
Evelyn’s face became pale.
“What does that mean?”
The King hesitated.
Then he said the words that would change everything.
“Before you can marry Edward, your elder sister must first be given the opportunity to become his bride.”
Evelyn stopped breathing.
She looked at Edward.
Then toward Lilian, who was standing several steps behind them.
“Lilian?”
Lilian’s eyes filled with tears.
“Evelyn…”
Evelyn stepped backward.
“No.”
Nobody moved.
“No,” she repeated, shaking her head.
“That can’t be what you mean.”
King Adrian’s voice was gentle.
“Princess Lilian has been chosen as Edward’s bride under the royal law.”
Evelyn looked at Edward.
Her eyes searched his face desperately.
“Edward?”
He immediately stepped toward her.
“Evelyn, listen to me.”
But she pulled her hands away.
“Is it true?”
“Yes,” he said quietly.
“The council made the announcement.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“But you said you loved me.”
“I do.”
“Then why are they choosing her?”
Edward’s voice broke.
“Because of the law.”
Evelyn turned toward Lilian.
For several seconds, the sisters simply stared at one another.
Neither knew what to say.
Lilian looked devastated.
Evelyn looked betrayed.
And Edward stood between them, realizing that the love he had fought seven years to protect had suddenly become the center of a battle neither sister had expected to fight.
Then King Adrian spoke again.
“Edward has not accepted the proposal.”
Evelyn looked at him.
Hope flickered in her eyes.
“But if he refuses,” the King continued, “he must serve another seven years before he can marry you.”
The hope vanished.
Evelyn’s lips trembled.
“Seven more years?”
Edward stepped closer.
“I will do it.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“You would?”
“Seven years or seventy, Evelyn.
I told you once that I would not abandon you.”
She covered her mouth as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Behind them, Lilian quietly lowered her head.
Because she knew something Evelyn did not.
She had already told Edward that she loved him.
And now the entire kingdom had placed her between two people who had waited seven years to be together.
Lilian’s heart broke.
But another voice inside her whispered:
Perhaps this is the chance you were never brave enough to ask for.
She hated herself for thinking it.
Yet she could not silence it.
King Adrian looked at all three of them.
“This decision will not be settled by emotion alone,” he said.
“The law must be respected, but so must the hearts of those involved.”
Edward took Evelyn’s hand again.
This time, she allowed him to hold it.
Their fingers intertwined.
Neither spoke.
But their silence carried a promise.
They had survived seven years apart.
They would not allow one announcement to destroy them.
Yet somewhere in the palace, the royal decree was already being prepared.
And with it came a question that could change the destiny of Bexton Kingdom forever:
Would Edward choose the royal law and Princess Lilian—or sacrifice another seven years to remain faithful to Evelyn?
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