Chapter 2

The moment Christine heard the news, she hurried over and pulled Nathan to his feet.

The man deliberately let out a startled gasp when she grabbed his hand. Once he realized what was happening, his face flushed red.

"Jonathan, I know this decision wasn't easy for you. Once Nathan and I are married, I'll come back and make it up to you."

With that, she turned and headed toward the main hall.

But Nathan stopped in his tracks. He looked at me anxiously.

"Wait. Jonathan is still in his wedding attire."

Christine stopped walking. Her brows furrowed as she turned to look at me.

"Jonathan..."

My gaze immediately shifted to Nathan. The killing intent in my eyes was impossible to hide.

"Christine, His Majesty personally bestowed this wedding attire to me. It's not something a mere son born of a concubine can wear."

Nathan trembled. He forced out a bitter smile and spoke in self-deprecation.

"Jonathan is right. I'm just a worthless piece of trash. How could someone like me ever be worthy of such a magnificent attire? I was the one reaching above my place..."

Before he could finish, Christine coldly said, "Jonathan, are you going to take it off yourself, or should I have someone help you?"

At her words, I instinctively tightened my grip on the collar of my attire. My breathing grew heavier.

Seeing my reaction, Christine lowered her eyes and laughed coldly.

"I earned this wedding attire by making great contributions before His Majesty. I personally asked him to grant it to you. Now, shouldn't I be the one who decides who gets to wear it?"

Had Christine forgotten that without my countless strategies and advice, she wouldn't have had any achievements to present to the king?

But it wasn't time for me to completely turn against her yet. I could only swallow my anger and give in.

"It's just a wedding attire. If you want it, I'll give it to you."

The moment I finished speaking, I turned to return to my room and change.

"Wait."

Her voice stopped me.

"There's no need to make it so complicated. Just take it off here and give it to Nathan."

I stared at her in disbelief.

"You want me to take it off here?"

But Christine only frowned, her expression cold and businesslike, as if this were nothing more than a simple matter to handle.

"Jonathan, stop hesitating. You're not a woman, so what are you afraid of? Besides, didn't you take off your clothes without hesitation back when you were in the military camp?"

The moment she said that, the expressions of everyone who had come to escort the bride changed.

I could even hear the servants whispering shamelessly among themselves.

My entire body trembled with anger.

It wasn't that I was afraid.

Christine knew perfectly well that I had a large birthmark covering part of my body. She knew exactly how humiliating it would be to force me to undress in front of everyone, yet she still chose to do it.

Before I could say anything, Christine waved her hand at the servants.

"Take off his wedding attire quickly. If we're late to the ceremony, I won't forgive any one of you."

More than a dozen hands reached toward me at once.

Within moments, the complicated layers of my wedding attire fell away, revealing the large, dark birthmark across my body.

Someone in the crowd whispered, "That's disgusting."

Christine's eyes widened. She immediately removed her outer coat and shouted at the servants.

"Close your eyes! All of you. Don't even look at him!"

She turned toward me, her voice filled with panic.

"Jonathan, I forgot for a moment that..."

I stood up and slapped her hard across the face.

"Get out. I never want to see you again."

Christine froze.

Nathan lowered his voice and reminded her. "General Smith, it's almost time for the ceremony."

In the end, Christine gritted her teeth and left with Nathan to complete the wedding ceremony.

The news that Christine had married the Prime Minister's concubine's son spread throughout the entire capital.

And I became the laughingstock of every spoiled noble in the city.

When my father returned from the palace, he looked at me with a heavy expression.

"Son, your marriage to Princess Selena has been finalized. In three days, the palace will send a coffin to escort you there."

By the time he finished speaking, tears were already streaming down his face. When he saw how calm I was, he couldn't help but ask,

"Why are you still so composed?"

I smiled, my words carrying a deeper meaning.

"Father, why are you crying? Soon, you'll become the eldest princess's father-in-law."

-

The next day, Christine and Nathan appeared before me with unmistakable marks of intimacy covering their bodies.

Nathan was no longer the aloof, refined gentleman he had always pretended to be. Instead, he walked up to me with a smile and casually patted my shoulder.

"Jonathan, you suffered because of what happened yesterday. I'm not a petty person. I've already discussed it with my wife. Once everything settles down, I'll ask her to give you a position as a servant by her side. That way, perhaps you'll finally be able to ease the longing in your heart."

I grabbed his pale wrist and twisted it until it broke.

"How dare you. I am Princess Selena's future husband. You have no right to insult me."