Chapter 4

The long-awaited wedding day finally arrived.

In our previous life, Draco had been called away to war at the last moment, leaving Amelia with a rushed, joyless wedding. The humiliation had haunted her through both lives.

So this time around, armed with her knowledge from rebirth, she was determined to have the grandest wedding imaginable.

She screamed and sobbed until Lysander emptied his accounts and borrowed from loan sharks, all to stage the most extravagant wedding in the kingdom and crown her its most dazzling bride.

Her diamond-encrusted gown and white carriage did draw gasps from a few lower-ranked shifters.

Amelia basked in it, then shot me a triumphant look.

"Elena, do you see this? This is what a woman's wedding should look like! What can Draco give you? All that brute knows is how to fight."

The instant the words left her mouth, the deafening thunder of engines split the sky!

A fleet of helicopters plunged toward the grounds, nearly flipping Amelia's white carriage!

Then a motorcade of Maseratis pulled up to the ceremony hall entrance.

The lead door opened, and Draco unfolded from the car.

He wore a custom dark-gold suit that made him look every inch a King. Ignoring the stunned crowd, he crossed to me and gently took my hand.

The sheer wealth and authority behind his entrance left every guest speechless!

Beside us, Amelia and Lysander's spectacle looked like a cheap carnival act.

The smile on Amelia's face crumbled, and she dug her nails into her palms with jealousy.

The ceremony had barely begun when history repeated itself: war had broken out in the North.

As the kingdom's warlord and rightful heir, Draco had to abandon the wedding and ride for the front at once.

But this time, Draco didn't walk away without looking back the way he had before.

He turned to me, conflict and raw reluctance filling his eyes.

His hand tightened around mine. "Elena... I don't want to leave you now."

He cared about me. He couldn't bear to leave me facing an unfinished wedding alone.

Just then, a sneering voice cut in.

"Draco, if you and your bride are so desperately in love, why not stay here with her?!"

Lysander jumped at the chance, gloating openly.

Amelia piled on at once, making sure everyone heard. "Exactly! It's only an uprising in the North. What can a few feral clans do? Even if they breach the border, only lowborn commoners will die. How can their lives compare to a royal wedding?"

She raised her voice deliberately, trying to use flattery as a weapon. "Prince Draco would give his life for Elena. How could he possibly abandon his bride on their wedding day? Am I right, everyone?"

The shifters around them traded uneasy looks and began to whisper.

If Draco stayed for me, the realm would brand him a coward, and he would lose the people's trust for good!

Amelia's trap was vicious!

"Shut up, you fool!"

I spun on Amelia and cut her down with my voice!

My voice echoed through the entire great hall, and everyone held their breath.

I looked at her and Lysander as if they were vermin. "The people of the North are citizens of this kingdom too! Without them bleeding at the border, would any of you be standing here in gold and jewels, celebrating a wedding?"

Amelia went pale. "You... stop acting so noble!"

I didn't spare her another glance. I turned and looked straight into Draco's eyes.

I cupped Draco's face in both hands and raised my voice. "Draco! Our wedding can wait. The kingdom cannot!"

"You are the rightful heir and the greatest warrior this realm has ever known! You have a duty. Your battlefield is in the North, and your blade belongs at the enemy's throat!"

I held his gaze. "I am already your wife and your future Queen! I will never ask you to betray your principles for me. Go. I will stand with you through whatever comes."

The truth was, every part of me wanted to ride into battle at his side!

But Draco's death in our previous life had not been an accident! I had to remain in the capital, secure his position, and hunt down whoever had plotted against him.

My declaration rang through the hall like a battle cry.

Even the old King rose from the place of honor, pride and astonishment shining in his eyes.

Draco's eyes reddened.

He pulled me into his arms and kissed me hard on the lips.

"Wait for me to come home."