The Devil's Betrothed
Chapter 389: Exchanging The Rings

Chapter 389: Exchanging The Rings

With bated breath, the guests in the grand hall observed as the Crown Prince, the most striking man in the kingdom, made his grand entrance with the mysterious woman who concealed the lower half of her face beneath a veil. While her features remained hidden, her bearing and demeanor exuded nobility and confidence, capturing the attention of all present.

Whispers and murmurs rippled through the crowd, particularly from the women who harbored dreams of capturing the Prince’s affections, and their mothers who aspired to see their daughters wed to royalty. Oriana’s unexpected absence had raised concerns, and her veil only fueled curiosity about her beauty.

"Is she hiding her face because she’s ugly or disfigured?"

"Did you see? The Prince isn’t even holding her hand. It seems he’s not particularly fond of her."

"If that’s the case, why is he marrying her? He could simply send her away."

"Remember, our kingdom’s rules state that the Crown Prince can ascend the throne upon marrying his betrothed."

"Perhaps the Prince has no choice. But marrying an unattractive woman is unfortunate."

"No need to fret. After marrying her, the Prince can still take other wives. I’m sure he’ll select some lovely daughters from prestigious families."

"Indeed. No one knows where this girl came from, how she lived, or even if she’s virtuous. Our Prince deserves better. See, he doesn’t look happy at all. He seems colder than usual."

The discussions persisted until the couple reached the altar in front of the throne, where the King and Queen sat, beaming at the pair. Following the customary greetings, the Crown Prince and his betrothed turned to face the assembled guests.

The King addressed the assembly, his voice resounding through the grand hall. "Today, we have gathered here to witness the long-awaited engagement of our Crown Prince to Oriana Verner, the cherished daughter of the esteemed Verner family. This moment marks the fulfillment of a promise made in times gone by. Despite unfortunate events that kept her away from us, we are indeed fortunate to have found her at last."

He emphasized, "It is crucial to understand that we bear no blame upon her for her absence. She now stands as a member of the Royal family, assuming the role of Crown Princess and, ultimately, the mantle of our next Queen. I trust that each of you will demonstrate the utmost respect for your future King and Queen."

Acknowledging the absence of Philip Verner, the patriarch of the Verner family and a longtime friend of the King, he continued, "Regrettably, Philip Verner, the elder statesman of the Verner family and the Crown Princess’s grandfather, cannot be with us today due to health concerns. However, his blessings and well-wishes accompany this momentous occasion. As you are all here to bear witness to this auspicious union, I implore you to bestow your heartfelt blessings upon this couple."

With a regal gesture, he proclaimed, "Let us now commence the engagement ceremony."

The King’s words resonated deeply with the assembly, for they knew that, in the kingdom, the betrothal of the Crown Prince was an affair of paramount significance.

The engagement ceremony commenced with Arlan and Oriana following the prescribed instructions, turning to face each other. Arlan’s icy gaze bore into her eyes, which betrayed an air of indifference, as if she were entirely innocent of any wrongdoing, a veneer that concealed her true intentions.

Beneath her veil, a smile graced Oriana’s lips, an ostensibly sweet gesture that masked a hidden mockery. Though he couldn’t see the smile itself, he discerned it in the depths of her eyes. It was evident that this woman was prepared to play games, but she remained blissfully unaware that he was not one to be trifled with.

The royal attendants presented the rings, and Arlan made the first move, taking the ring in his hand and locking eyes with Oriana. In silence, he carefully slid the ring onto her finger. Oriana did the same and put the ring on his finger as well.

The grand hall erupted with resounding applause, marking this pivotal moment.

Once more, the King’s voice resonated throughout the hall, formalizing the announcement: "I hereby declare Lady Oriana Verner officially as the Crown Princess of our kingdom. I also wish to announce that, within the span of a month, we shall celebrate the grand wedding of this distinguished couple on an auspicious day."

Arlan maintained his composure, as if he had anticipated his father’s haste for the wedding. In contrast, Oriana felt a surge of tension within her. She had never intended to marry him and hadn’t expected the King to expedite the process. Her mind could only grapple with one question—would her grandfather fully recover by that time, allowing her to leave without having to marry the Prince against her wishes?

The festivities commenced, and the couple was gracefully ushered to the center of the grand ballroom to partake in the day’s inaugural dance. Arlan’s gaze briefly connected with his father’s, and he tacitly complied with the King’s orchestrated plans, unwilling to risk disappointing his father.

As they stepped onto the dance floor, Oriana found herself the object of envious stares, heavy with jealousy. The Prince, gallant in his demeanor, led her to the center stage.

"Does she even possess the ability to dance? I’ve heard she was discovered in some remote village on the outskirts of the Wimark territory."

"How could a village girl possibly know how to dance? She’ll only end up humiliating both the Prince and herself. Tsk!"

"Perhaps she should have declined instead of subjecting herself to this embarrassment. There are plenty of other eligible ladies who could have accompanied the Prince."

Such envious murmurs persisted, even as the music began to play. While Oriana’s training might not have been as extensive as that of the noble ladies in attendance, she had acquired a grasp of the basics. Furthermore, following her dance with the Prince in Othinia, she had grown more comfortable with the art. Her innate intelligence allowed her to quickly adapt to new challenges, and she had no qualms about taking to the dance floor.