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PHYSIENTS WILL ALWAYS OFFER BEST NOVELS || LATEST MOVIES || LIVE STREAMING ALL TIME
GARDEN OF POISON
Something already borrowed (Chapter 169)
Music Recommendation: Canon in D Major- Johanna P
—
The most-awaited wedding day in Versailles and other kingdoms had finally arrived. This special day belonged to King Dante Blackthorn and his soon-to-be wife, Anastasia Flores.
The entire kingdom had already commenced their jubilant celebration with music and revelry as the guests arrived at the palace in their carriages. They disembarked one after another, and as the servants carried their trunks from the rear of the palace, those in charge ushered the guests inside and guided them to their respective rooms.
"Did you see the forest outside the kingdom walls?" inquired one of the guests of another. "There wasn't a single tree in sight out there before."
"It's King Dante, haven't you heard about how he defeated all the Elder Ministers? He's one of the most powerful men around now," replied the guest as they walked beside each other, greeted by delightful music that didn't drown out the ongoing conversations taking place in the corridors. "I always knew he would be a great man one day."
As some of the guests made themselves comfortable in their rooms, others were already dressed and took the liberty to stroll through the corridors to admire the palace's architecture.
"Wasn't this side of the palace off-limits? Yet people are going in there?" asked one of the women before she and her partner proceeded down the corridor that led to the forbidden garden.
"It said that the plants in this garden are poisonous, and Lady Evin fell sick for an entire month after being pricked by one. She remained unconscious for many days," someone else said.
"Is this the same woman who was supposed to be the former king's soulmate?"
"It seems that was nothing but a sham! How scandalous to even consider attempting such a thing! I am amazed Lady Maya didn't get beheaded for that," another woman snickered, well aware of the haughtiness she had exhibited.
"Perhaps she could still face consequences for trying—Oh, Princess Emily! Don't you look lovely!" the guest exclaimed upon spotting the first princess in the garden.
"Thank you, Mr. Colt. Greetings to you as well," Emily responded with a polite smile, but then their attention was drawn to a basket and a knife that she carried in her hands.
"Would you like some assistance?" a gentleman offered, but Emily declined with a shake of her head.
"I will be fine." Emily approached the Blackthorn plant, which had bloomed with numerous buds and roses. The flower was no longer black but had transformed into a rich shade of purple. As she moved to cut it, a few people in the vicinity gasped and issued a warning,
"Princess Emily, isn't that plant poisonous? You should step back immediately!"
Emily carefully snipped one of the roses that had just begun to bloom, and it was exactly what she had been looking for. She confidently stated, "It is no longer poisonous," and proceeded to cut three more of them before stepping back into the corridor. Just before she left, she offered a friendly smile and added, "Also, our king doesn't tolerate disparaging remarks about our family. So I kindly request that you be mindful with your words."
Saying that, Emily carried the flowers to the floor above, holding the front of her aqua blue dress with one hand while carrying the flowers in another. She knocked on the door, which was promptly opened by Mrs. Flores.
"Is she ready?" Emily inquired, stepping inside the room and closing the door behind her.
"Almost," Mrs. Flores replied, turning around and walking back to the others. "I hope we aren't late."
"There's plenty of time. I heard from Aiden that Brother Dante is still getting ready, and even if we are a bit late, it should be fine," Emily reassured, while waiting for Anastasia, who was currently donning the wedding gown behind a wooden divider. Also present in the room was Lady Maya, having arrived a few minutes earlier.
"Where is the Mother Queen?" Lady Maya inquired of Emily.
"She and Mother are with Brother Dante," Emily replied. "She mentioned something about too many people here and not enough there."
"That's because the possibility of getting ejected from that room is higher than from here," Lady Maya murmured with a straight face, making the princess smile.
Marianne and Theresa were the first to step away from the divider.
"She's ready!" Marianne announced, her voice filled with excitement. The room quietened, save for the sound of Anastasia's soft footsteps as she made her way around the divider, while the rest held their breath at the sight of her.
Anastasia's stomach fluttered with nervous anticipation as she stood before them in her off-white wedding gown. The gown featured a sweetheart neckline and long sleeves. The bodice of the gown was adorned with delicate pearls intricately embroidered in floral patterns that gradually extended from the waistline. Beneath the gown, numerous layers of the skirt created a stunning cascading effect.
Her dark hair was loosely combed to the side and gathered into a bun, leaving a few strands to frame her temples. The upper rims of her eyes were darkened with kohl to give them depth and fullness.
"I have such beautiful daughters!" Mrs. Flores exclaimed, her hands rising to cover her mouth in delight, and her eyes welled up with tears. And they were, both before her, safe and sound.
Emily gently stroked Mrs. Flores's back, wearing a warm smile on her lips. She complimented, "You look stunning, Anna. Brother Dante is a lucky man to have you." And she meant it, as Anastasia had brought balance to her brother's life and opened up his heart again.
"I believe he's well aware of it," Lady Maya remarked, offering a nod to Anastasia. She continued, "Anastasia, you were able to achieve something no one else could over all these years. I genuinely hope you achieve your long-awaited goal—breaking the cycle and helping families heal."
Anastasia smiled in response to the woman's words and expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Lady Maya, and everyone."
Over the past few days, Anastasia observed a curious development. Her mother had bonded faster with Lady Maya than with Lady Sophia, and it was possibly because Lady Maya had once been in her position in the past, without a maternal figure to rely on.
Emily then said, "The most important part of your day," as she held up the purple roses. "Why don't you take a seat right here, Anna?" And Anastasia did just that.
She sat in front of a long mirror, which reflected the woman she had turned into today. Gazing at her reflection, she caught a glimpse of her former self, clad in the plain and dull attire of a maid, with her hands covered with calluses, bearing the scars of hard labour. Her eyes then shifted to her hands, which rested on her lap, now resembling the ones she had secretly envied in the past.
It had been a long journey, transitioning from maid to queen-to-be, shifting from wanting to leave the palace to wanting to remain within its confines, and from being separated from her family to reuniting with them and gaining new family members along the way.
"Such beautiful roses," Mrs. Flores murmured as Emily secured three of them in Anastasia's hair. She added, "You don't have any flowers in your hair, Emily."
"I must have forgotten about it. I will get one later when we go downstairs or have someone fetch one for me," Emily responded, while she adjusted Anastasia's delicate veil.
"I know how to remedy that," Mrs. Flores said, pulling out one of the flowers from her own hair. She suggested, "Let's have you coordinate with me."
Anastasia smiled at her mother, who had built rapport with the family, except for one member. Marianne suddenly remembered something and remarked, "We still need something borrowed."
"Maybe a handkerchief?" Theresa proposed, dressed in silk like the rest of them.
"How about a piece of jewellery, like a necklace or earrings?" Lady Maya suggested, echoing the sentiment of the others.
With everyone suggesting this and that, Anastasia interrupted them by stating, "I'm actually already wearing something borrowed." Receiving quizzical glances from those in the room, she lifted her wedding gown to reveal her anklets. "They belong to Lady Lucretia."
Someone knocked on the door, and Aiden entered, about to ask, "Is—Oh, wow, Anna, you look like a treasure!"
Anastasia felt herself turning into mush from all the compliments and attention she was receiving from everyone. She asked him, "Is Dante ready?"
"I would say he is ready, assuming Grandmother finally decides on how his hair should be styled. I am surprised none of us have lost our hair with the amount of time she's spent combing it," Aiden remarked with a thoughtful expression.
On the other side of the palace, Lady Sophia tried to maintain her composure, mirroring Dante's display of patience, while the Mother Queen held a comb in one hand, fully engrossed in diligently styling and adjusting her grandson's hair with great concentration.
"This is a work of art," the Mother Queen murmured before pulling away and smiling. "I think you are ready."
Lady Sophia let out a sigh, and Dante smiled, seeing how ecstatic his grandmother appeared. He doubted she had been getting much sleep over the past few days, as she had been meticulously organising every aspect of the event, even though there were others assigned to handle it. He himself had been keeping an eye on the preparations as well.
Dante rose from the chair his grandmother had made him sit on and adjusted his midnight blue shirt adorned with golden embroidery. Over it, he had worn a darker coat, embellished with matching designs at the lapel and near the cuffs of the sleeves.
"There is one last thing," Lady Sophia said, opening the box in her hand to reveal a thin gold chain. Taking it in her hands, she positioned herself in front of him and fastened it around his neck. She added, "Your mother wished for you to wear it, if and when you married."
Dante's eyes widened slightly, and he reached out to touch the chain that now rested around his neck. He murmured, "Thank you, Lady Sophia."
"Lucretia was always a thoughtful person, planning ahead of time for all possible scenarios," the Mother Queen remarked and added, "She also set aside some things for you, just in case you were ever expelled from the palace. Seriously, though, with me here, it wasn't going to happen, and I had to reassure her of that."
Dante smiled at his grandmother's words. He missed his mother the most, but he didn't doubt the decision he had made in choosing to bring back Marianne instead of his mother. He was certain that his mother had already given her blessings for his choice, and he hoped she was as much at peace as he was now.
Back in Anastasia's room, the women had offered her their well-wishes before departing one by one, leaving her alone with her thoughts and eager anticipation of marrying Dante. After five minutes had passed, her father entered the room, wearing an expression of complete pride.
"My lovely, beautiful daughter, you've grown so much, and now you are getting married," Mr. Flores said to Anastasia. He gently hugged her.
"Mary and I have a handsome papa and a beautiful mama," Anastasia responded, closing her eyes as if she could capture the memory and store it in a vial as a memento.
"How are you feeling, Anna?" Her father asked her.
"I was nervous, but I am feeling calmer now," Anastasia replied, and her father nodded.
"Of course, there's nothing to be worried about. Dante and you love each other. You were meant for each other." Mr. Flores smiled at his youngest daughter, even though he felt a pang of sadness in his heart. The thought of giving her away weighed on his mind, but he understood that this was a natural progression, and it was time for her to establish her own family.
"Lady Anastasia, it is time." Mr. Gilbert came to inform them.
Anastasia took a deep breath, slipping her hand around her father's arm, and together, they finally left the room.
____________
GARDEN OF POISON
Husband and Wife(Chapter 170)
Music Recommendation: Canon in D Major- My Little Lullabies
—
The ceremony was held in the palace's main hall.
The guests had already taken their seats, and the priest delivered his sermon to unite Dante and Anastasia in matrimony. The couple gazed lovingly at each other, and Anastasia was glad that the veil hid her blush, which showed no signs of fading from her face. Dante looked at her as if she was the only one in the room, as if she was all he needed to exist.
When a tear spilled from Mr. Flores's eye, Mrs. Flores passed him a handkerchief.
"My future great grandbabies are going to be exceptionally good-looking." The Mother Queen had already begun designing outfits for the yet-to-be-born little ones. She remarked, "They make a stunning couple, don't they?"
"They do, milady," Aziel agreed, standing beside her.
As the priest carried on, the minister's gaze swept across the guests, and he remarked, "It appears the invitation didn't have the desired effect."
The Mother Queen emitted a soft harrumph and commented, "At least we know he is a compliant devil who listens." It seemed that the Devil had likely discerned her ploy and decided to ignore her.
Princess Emily discreetly shook her head upon hearing her grandmother's words. She smiled as she watched her brother and Anna getting married. While she was engrossed in watching the wedding ceremony, something suddenly caught her attention.
A smoky aroma wafted through the air as if someone had brought a hookah into the hall. She frowned. Were they unaware that a wedding was taking place here? Her eyes scanned the guests and settled on an individual with dark red hair. As if sensing her gaze, Raylen's blue eyes met hers, and he offered her a smile.
Emily gave him a subtle bow from where she stood before her gaze continued to scan through the room. It was then that her eyes locked onto a pair of captivating eyes set in a handsome face that stared back right at her with a hint of curiosity. The man had dirty-blond hair, which was elegantly combed to the side.
"Do you, King Dante Blackthorn, take Anastasia Flores to be your lawfully wedded wife?" asked the priest.
"I do," Dante replied, and he heard Anastasia's heart skip a beat.
The priest turned to address her next, asking, "And do you, Anastasia Flores, take King Dante to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do," Anastasia responded with ease.
She had spent the previous night and even this morning tossing and turning, consumed by anxiety about how things would unfold. However, with Dante by her side, it had become more manageable. The priest then declared,
"I now pronounce you husband and wife."
The room erupted in a chorus of cheers and applause before music began to fill the air. However, Anastasia paid no attention to the celebration, her focus entirely on Dante as he drew near. Gently, he lifted the veil that had partially concealed her face, pushing it back.
Anastasia's heart didn't stop racing, and a surge of emotion welled up within her, not because she was sad but because she was happier than ever before. She felt Dante's hand snake around her waist, drawing her close before he leaned in and kissed her lips. She kissed him back, sharing a silent vow to always be there for each other.
"We now belong to each other in every word and form," Dante whispered against her lips, and he slowly pulled away. "I love you, Anastasia."
Anastasia couldn't prevent her eyes from welling up with tears, quickly blinking them away. She said, "I love you, Dante. My husband."
"Completely yours." Dante couldn't help but press his forehead against hers, feeling as though he had been blessed, a sense of tranquillity washing over him. He whispered, "My rabbit," and her smile warmed his heart.
"Only yours," Anastasia replied, while the cheers in the room carried on.
"Let's give another round of applause to the King and Queen of Versailles," the Mother Queen declared, and the cheers continued.
Shortly after, a variety of drinks and appetisers were served one after another as the guests took their turns approaching the newly married couple to offer their personal congratulations. After the Mother Queen finished bestowing her blessings, it was time for Mr. and Mrs. Flores to step forward.
"Congratulations, Dante and Anna." Mr. Flores offered his well-wishes and warmly embraced his daughter's husband. "I know you will take good care of her." He affectionately patted the young man's back.
Dante hugged Mr. Flores back before they pulled away, and he said, "Thank you for entrusting her to me. I will always cherish her, Mr. Flores."
"You don't need to call me Mr. Flores anymore. We are family now," Mr. Flores said to Dante, and then he added, "You can call me 'papa'."
Dante's eyes widened in surprise at this unexpected gesture, and for the briefest moment, he teared up. He smiled and said, "Thank you. Papa," and hugged him once more.
Anastasia flashed a grateful smile at her father, silently mouthing a heartfelt 'Thank you' to him. She knew that these gestures might seem small, but they held great significance for Dante, whose father had kept him at arm's length, denying him the privilege of having a father figure in his life, despite being alive.
Aiden, standing beside his sister, remarked, "Who would have thought that she, the same woman who used a pan to strike a man in the Bazaar, would end up becoming my sister-in-law?"
Emily smiled and mused, "They had a connection from the very first day they danced together. If you think about it, it is quite remarkable, isn't it? The fact that Brother Dante is now a married man."
"You are right, Lily," Aiden nodded, and he then noticed his sister frowning. "What has caught your attention?"
"I've been detecting the smell of smoke," Emily said before her eyes returned to the individual with dirty-blond hair that was just leaving the room. She added, "I will be back soon."
Stepping out of the hall, Emily followed the scent to another corridor, where she finally located the same man. He stood there, tall and impeccably dressed. As if sensing her presence, possibly due to her footsteps being louder than usual, he turned to meet her hazel eyes.
Emily could feel her heart rate quickening as realisation began to sink in. She had been waiting for this moment for so long, and it was finally here. Could this person truly be her destined soulmate?
As if wanting to touch him to confirm, Emily took a step forward, but the man clenched his teeth before saying, "Don't get any closer."
Emily's initial eagerness began to wane, giving way to confusion in her eyes. She said, "I don't understand…"
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