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GARDEN OF POISON
Emily's Soulmate (Chapter 171)
Emily stared into his black eyes, which looked in pain. Since coming of age, she had eagerly anticipated meeting her soulmate, someone who would truly understand and love her. However, at this moment, she was filled with confusion. Uncertain if he was aware of the situation, she uttered,
"We are each other's soulmates."
"I figured it out," stated the blond man from where he stood.
So he knew, Emily said to herself. She furrowed her brow before inquiring, "Then—why didn't you come and talk to me?" She wondered how she smelled to him, and all she wanted was to close the distance that had arisen between them before they had even spoken a word to each other.
"There you are."
Emily heard a woman's voice behind her, and when she saw the man's attention shifting to her side, she couldn't help but turn around to follow his gaze. Her eyes fell on a beautiful woman with lustrous black hair and striking green eyes, who possessed a delicate, graceful figure.
"Princess Emily, greetings to you." The young woman bowed, and Emily recognised her.
She was one of the minister's daughters, whom she had met and engaged in conversation with multiple times during previous palace celebrations. The woman was renowned for her gracious and sweet demeanour, forging good relationships with everyone she encountered and actively participating in her kingdom's affairs.
"Lady Layla," Emily greeted her with a polite bow.
"The wedding was beautiful, wasn't it? The sight nearly brought tears to my eyes, and I can hardly wait for my own." Layla smiled, making her way over to stand beside the blond man. She placed her hand around his arm and remarked, "I see that you have already met Nate."
"Nate?" Emily whispered his name, feeling her heart beginning to crack.
"My apologies. His full name is Nathaniel Lynx, but I've grown so used to calling him Nate that I tend to forget," Layla beamed, continuing, "Aren't I a fortunate woman to have him by my side? When my mother passed away, he provided me with such unwavering support that I don't think I will ever be able to live without him."
Emily couldn't believe that this was happening to her. This was not how it was supposed to go. Stunned and shocked by the revelations, she locked eyes with Nathaniel, who stared right back at her.
"I hope you weren't planning on skipping the next part of the celebration. The king and queen are about to have their first dance," Layla remarked as she turned to Nathaniel.
Emily noticed the man bestow a smile upon the woman, a smile that she herself hadn't received from him. If it were possible, the cracks in her fragile heart only grew wider and expanded. She then heard him say,
"There was something the princess wished to discuss with me, about what occurred a few weeks ago with the Elder ministers," Nathaniel said to her, and he added, "I will join you shortly. I just need to address a few important work-related matters. I hope you don't mind."
"Oh, you both carry on then. I will go and speak with Princess Niyasa. She appears to be in quite a foul mood for a reason I haven't yet figured out. I will be waiting inside." Layla then offered another courteous bow to Emily before heading back in the direction of the main hall.
Once Lady Layla disappeared from sight, Nathaniel stated, "The person I love is Layla, and I promised to stay by her side no matter what. That is why it would be best for both of us to not acknowledge this soulmate thing."
Emily's hands clenched at her sides, and she said, "No one has ever been able to defy destiny or preordained fate. There are consequences…" Her voice trailed off, for even though they were soulmates, the man was engaged to another woman, and the couple were in love.
The look in Nathaniel's eyes hardened, and he responded, "When I came here, I never considered the possibility that I have a soulmate. Typically archdemons don't have soulmates, because they are soulless beings. But it might be because I was born here in the living realm." He muttered the last words with a visible scowl appearing on his face.
The frown on the princess's forehead deepened even further, and she whispered, "You are an archdemon? Like Brother Dante…"
"Princess Emily, I reject the fate of the living world as my heart belongs to Layla, and I have no intention of abandoning her. She is important to me. I hope you can understand the complexity of this situation," Nathaniel remarked before walking past her to join his fiancée.
Inside the main hall, the chairs had been removed to create a space for the dance floor. The soft melody of violins and the piano filled the room with harmonious music. The guests gathered along the sides, while Dante held Anastasia's hand and escorted her to the centre of the elegant marble floor.
They came to stand face to face, their hands entwined while Anastasia placed her other hand on Dante's shoulder. He placed his free hand on her waist, then gently guided it around her back, pulling her closer to him.
"I was successful in convincing your parents to allow you to stay here indefinitely," Dante remarked as they began to sway to the music. "And this time, you have nothing else to do in the morning but be with me."
A sweet smile blossomed on Anastasia's lips as she recognised what he meant, because she was thinking about the same thing. He was referring to the very first time they had danced together, when she had attempted to wiggle her way out of the deal he had proposed.
"I cancelled everything to stay with you," she replied, and reminded him, "You pricked me that evening."
"Forgive me," Dante apologised to her. "I had no idea you were my little rabbit back then. I will make sure to kiss it better once we are alone."
A quick blush came to settle on her cheeks, and she responded, "I will hold you to that."
Their footsteps were graceful and light as they glided across the floor, and with every turn, Anastasia's skirt billowed like an elegant umbrella, making it look prettier than before. After being twirled, she returned to Dante's embrace.
Each step they took brought another smile to her lips, and in response, she was rewarded by Dante's smile growing broader as he watched her, his happiness evident. When she turned to face him, he murmured, "Thank you, Anastasia."
Anastasia looked at him with a quizzical expression and asked, "For what?"
"For everything," Dante replied. The music came to an end, and he gently cupped her cheeks and leaned in to kiss her lips. "My precious rabbit."
"My brave lion," Anastasia replied, and they exchanged smiles filled with affection.
One of the guests ushered the others, saying, "The floor is now open for everyone to enjoy," and before long, the dance floor began to fill with couples eager to be part of the extravagant wedding celebration of the King and Queen of Versailles.
"Aziel, let us go," the Mother Queen ordered, and the minister turned with a start to look at her.
"Are we leaving the hall already, milady?" he inquired.
The Mother Queen finished her first glass of wine and said, "It is my grandson's wedding. It would be a travesty if I didn't dance, especially when the old man I invited didn't turn up."
Aziel gave her a polite bow and offered his hand to the older woman. He asked, "Would you do me the honour of dancing with me, my beautiful Queen?"
"Ahaha, oh, Aziel, there was no need to say that," the Mother Queen responded, taking his hand, and her words were filled with an undertone of, "You don't have to voice what I already know."
Lady Sophia, standing behind them, couldn't help but roll her eyes at her mother-in-law's antics that never seemed to end. A respectable gentleman then approached her with a respectful bow and asked, "Milady, would you—"
"Excuse me, I have somewhere to be," Lady Sophia stated with a smile before walking away, declining the offer of a dance. Meanwhile, Lady Maya found herself without any dance invitations or conversation partners, as word had spread about her wrongdoings and how she manipulated people to believe that her son had found a soulmate.
Lady Maya watched the couples dancing on the floor while the rest of the guests laughed and talked at the sidelines, thoroughly enjoying themselves. If only her son were alive… she thought to herself. Perhaps he would be here with the rest, dancing and socialising with everyone.
On the other side of the room, the Blackthorn princesses stood beside each other, observing the crowd from their position. Niyasa remarked, "I cannot believe that not a single worthy man has asked me to dance." Pausing for a moment, she added to her sister, "I thought the handsome duke would have asked me by now, but he's busy spinning Lady Zoe."
"Mm," Emily softly hummed as her gaze remained fixed on a couple surrounded by others on the opposite side of the room.
"And did you see Mr. Barbadoc? He's grown such huge moustache that—Lily, are you listening?" Niyasa frowned in frustration, unhappy that neither her sister was engaging in conversation with her nor were any eligible men approaching her. The younger princess was not oblivious to the fact that some were discreetly eyeing her from the corner of their eyes. "I have been the only one talking for the past five minutes."
Emily's heart was heavy, and she felt not only uncomfortable but also suffocated, yet here she was, watching her soulmate with another woman. Tearing her eyes away from him, she turned to her sister, asking,
"I don't recall you ever mentioning that you wanted to wait for your soulmate."
"Some people meet their soulmates, while others don't. I mean, look at you, wasting your prime years waiting for someone you don't know will ever show up," Niyasa pointed out in a matter-of-fact tone. She said, "I might as well marry a wealthy man with status now. Which reminds me that I need to discuss it with Grandmother."
Emily watched Nathaniel and Layla making their way to the dance floor when a new song was about to begin. Her heart squeezed in her chest, and she took a deep breath. Just as she was about to leave, her youngest brother approached them and inquired, "Sister Niyasa, would you like to dance?"
"I am a little busy at the moment, Victor," Niyasa replied, which left the young prince confused, considering she was merely standing there. Sensing his gaze, she suggested, "Why don't you ask Lily? She could use a little twirl on the dance floor."
"Sister Lily?" Victor asked with his big, pleading eyes that Emily couldn't refuse, and she gave him a nod. A bright smile appeared on his lips, and they walked to the dance floor.
Upon reaching the dance floor, the music started, and everyone began to move in a clockwise direction. The men moved at a slightly slower pace than the women, so it didn't take long for Emily to end up standing near Nathaniel, although not directly in front of him.
Emily's heart began to race, her breath becoming shaky, and her senses heightened as she became acutely aware of Nathaniel's presence. She couldn't resist stealing glances at him, noticing his slightly droopy eyes and his lips now pressed into a tight line. She could tell that it wasn't just her who was being affected; he appeared equally tense and stiff when he realised she was nearby.
Finally, the circle of women shifted, and Emily came to stand squarely before Nathaniel. His eyes narrowed, and he asked in a lowered voice, "Why are you making things difficult?"
His words hurt her, and she replied, "I am here to dance with my brother."
"And you didn't realise it would make it hard for both of us?" Nathaniel questioned her. As they raised their hands, their fingertips briefly brushed against each other, causing Emily to experience a surge of emotions coursing through her body and mind.
Suddenly, a small commotion arose at the entrance to the main hall, and an old man with his silver hair slicked back appeared. It was the Devil himself.
"What do you want me to do?" Emily asked, seeing Nathaniel distance himself from her.
"I am committed to another and can never be yours. Stay away from me," Nathaniel declared before leaving the dance floor and making his way to the recently arrived man.
Emily felt her heart shatter into a million little pieces as his words reverberated in her mind. She felt a prickling sensation in her eyes as they welled up with tears, and she quickly blinked them away, not wanting anyone to notice.
With Victor called away by her grandmother, she left the dance floor. In that moment, her gaze locked with the Storm Prince's, who stared at her as if he had overheard their little exchange. She quickly averted her eyes and departed from the hall.
_________
GARDEN OF POISON
Devil's presence (Chapter 172)
Music Recommendation: Emma is bored - Isobel Waller
—
Dante and Anastasia's wedding celebration continued until late into the evening, with guests only starting to disperse from the main hall as the night wore on. The guests scattered throughout the palace and its grounds, taking this opportunity to mingle with eligible suitors in the hopes of settling down. While some individuals actively searched for potential life partners, there were others who chose to patiently wait to meet their soulmates.
"Ginger Blackthorn," the Devil addressed the Mother Queen as he came to stand before her. "You have been busy."
Though the Mother Queen had noticed the Devil the moment he arrived, she had been engrossed in conversation with her other guests. She remarked, "I didn't know you were waiting for me to talk to you. It is good to know that my invitation reached you. I had begun to worry that it had gotten lost, as you missed the wedding ceremony."
A slight smile appeared on Viktor's lips, almost imperceptible. He responded, "I do not particularly enjoy weddings. Funerals are more my thing."
The Mother Queen extended her hand forward, and Viktor took it in his before leaning in to place a small kiss on the back of it. She said, "How unfortunate. If we had met many years ago, you could have accompanied me to the many funerals that had taken place within the palace."
"Any plans you have in mind for the future?" Viktor inquired, subtly questioning who else she had planned to kill next.
"It remains to be seen," the Mother Queen replied, and then added, "For now, allow one of my attendants to offer you the finest beverage in the entire living realm." Saying this, she turned and waved her hand to one of the newly demoted concubines, now serving as a maid, Kailani.
The maid promptly appeared next to the old-looking man, whose hollow eyes resembled deep wells and whose face displayed a sullen expression with slightly sunken cheeks. Viktor grasped the glass and took a sip, allowing the liquid to linger on his taste buds before swallowing it. He remarked,
"Absolutely rotten."
The Mother Queen smiled, observing the Devil's eyes scanning through the crowd as if searching for someone. With Dante and Anastasia still present in the room, she asked the underworld visitor, "Do you plan to stay in the living realm for a while?"
"My visit to the living realm is a short one," the Devil replied, his gaze continuing to wander before his eyes returned to the old woman when she said,
"That is regrettable. I was going to ask Norrix to arrange your accommodation, but perhaps some other time."
When Viktor emitted a low hum, it sounded like a growl, causing many of the nearby guests to jump away from where they stood, creating a clear space around the two individuals.
Lady Sophia, Lady Maya, and Princess Niyasa came to stand before them, and the Devil cast his gaze upon each of them, discerning the evil deeds they had committed throughout their lifetime.
"Mother Queen, we will be heading to the entrance. Some of the guests are departing and require a proper farewell," Lady Sophia dutifully conveyed, as she took her responsibilities in the palace quite seriously. Sensing the man's gaze from beside her mother-in-law, she fleetingly met his eyes before offering a respectful bow.
"Who is this man?" Niyasa questioned, her curiosity piqued as she had never seen him before. She frowned and added, "Are you replacing Aziel with him?"
"Niyasa," Lady Maya grasped her daughter's arm tightly, causing Niyasa to flinch.
"This is Viktor," the Mother Queen introduced, and the three women fixed their gaze on him, wondering whether she had transformed little Victor into an old man. "Viktor, the Devil."
"You have a bad sense of humour at times, Mother Queen. Excuse me," Lady Sophia remarked, shaking her head, and Lady Maya followed her out of the room.
"I should pay my respects to the happy couple. I will see you later," Viktor said, finishing the glass in his hand and reaching for another.
"Grandmother," Niyasa began as Viktor walked away from them.
The Mother Queen watched the Devil keenly and asked, "Yes, Niyasa?"
"Now that Brother Dante and Anna are married, it should be permissible if some of us wish to marry as well, right?" Niyasa asked her grandmother in a polite tone. "We should get a fair chance, too."
"I am listening," the Mother Queen responded, holding the wine glass in her hand and turning to look at her granddaughter.
"I have reached marriageable age, and would like to settle down," Niyasa conveyed to the woman.
"And have you found a man who has agreed to marry you?"
"No, not yet. But you see, I think I should probably go to other kingdoms to find a man for myself," Niyasa said, offering her grandmother a warm smile.
"I thought you weren't waiting for your soulmate, for you to go and search for him." The Mother Queen's eyes narrowed. Though, inwardly, she acknowledged it was the right thing to do.
Most of them, much like herself, had met their soulmates only to experience disillusionment. Not to mention, some lived their lives without ever meeting their soulmates, either due to the person's death or because they had formed a connection with someone else, weakening the bond to never truly know.
The young princess displayed an air of arrogance as she said, "No, I am still sticking with my earlier decision. It is just that I believe it would benefit me more if I found someone outside Versailles, you know."
The truth was that, after everything that had happened in Princess Niyasa's life, a bad reputation had been attached to her and her mother. One, her brother Maxwell had used deceit to steal the crown from the rightful heir. And two, she had harshly whipped the Queen of Versailles. It wasn't just men but also women who stayed away from her as if she were some kind of pest, and it upset her.
"The men in Versailles don't interest me as much as they used to, and I was probably born destined for another place," Niyasa attempted to convince her grandmother.
However, the Mother Queen was Niyasa's grandmother, and she knew exactly why the young princess wished to leave Versailles. So she could start her life from scratch, but she doubted it would make a difference. She said,
"Versailles is your home, and you won't be going anywhere unchaperoned."
"I will have Mother with me. I think she could benefit from a change of scenery," Niyasa proposed with a smile. "Especially after what happened with Max and everything else."
The Mother Queen's eyes narrowed, and she remarked, "And I wonder whose fault that was. Regardless, your mother has decided to retreat to the old palace and spend some time there."
"What?!" The smile on Niyasa's lips fell, replaced by a shocked expression. "How—When did she say that?"
"Two days ago," the Mother Queen responded and then cast a pointed look at her unruly granddaughter. She advised, "You haven't apologised yet. You should do it before it is too late."
"Apologise to you?" Niyasa's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
The Mother Queen rolled her eyes and replied, "To your sister-in-law. It is better to mend your relationship with her now than to dance in the fire later."
Niyasa pursed her lips and whispered, "But Brother Dante has already punished me for it."
"Are you sure it was solely for that?" The Mother Queen raised her eyebrows.
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