|ASHER’s POV|After getting off the call with Malcolm, I made my way to the hospital that the prime minister was taken to the previous day, and there were a whole bunch of people, both young and old, men and women claiming to be strong supporters of the dark raven and they were demanding to have the body of the prime minister handed to them after they found out on the news that their founder is dead and will not be buried properly because of the link that he had to them while he was still alive so they requested to be given his body so that they can be allowed to perform the las right for him since he had no kids.The whole peaceful protest was starting to get out of hand because the angry mob camped in front of the hospital with different weapons, threatening people as they went in and out of the hospital refusing to leave until the hospital instructed the people in the mortuary to hand over the body.It was quite difficult for the hospital to go about its daily activity when they ha

|ASHER’S POV|“It is almost time for dinner, Your Highness,” Malcolm informs me as soon as he walks into my office.“I will skip dinner today because I have so many appeals and petitions to attend to and I am not even halfway gone with it, I state the obvious, eyeing Malcom snobbishly for being one of the chief contributors as to why I have much work to do.“Can you please not give me that look?” he whines as he takes his seat in front of me but I keep on giving him the look.“In my defense, you know how much I hate to be cut up in the palace mix, but you sent me to deal with not only the queen consort but also those power-hungry ministers when you know so well that getting involved in the palace mix is not my style at all,” he tries to defend himself.“Why are you trying to make it sound like I intentionally sent you to the lion’s den?” I hiss through my teeth as I open the next batch of appeals to see what the prime ministers of Orion have to say about the situation on the ground.“

|ELENA’s POV|“You are the closest thing that I have to a friend right now, and I really need someone to talk to because at this point, I am losing my damn mind, and I know that you have your life to figure out, but can you please call me as soon as you see this?” I send to Jayda with shaky hands.My heart hammers against my rib cage, a thunderous beat that revibrated through my body matching the rhyme of my escalating panic.I clutch my chest with my fingers trembling as if I am trying to keep my racing heart from leaping out of my body“Jayda please call me,” I plead with growing desperation.After waiting for so long for Jayda to call, my phone suddenly starts to ring, and my eyes light up as soon as I check the caller ID to see that it's Jayda calling.“Valeri?” Jayda calls out in an inquiry tone.“Hi,” I speak up with my voice cracking and tight.“I got your message, are you okay?” she poses the question in a worried tone.“No Jayda…I am not,” I answer her truthfully.“What happe

|ASHER’S POV|Four days later“Is everything set for the engagement ceremony?” I ask both Malcolm and Allen as we are about to leave my private residence where I have been hiding from my mom for the past four days.“Yes boss,” they both chorus, and Allen ignites the engine since he is taking Malcolm's place to drive today after Malcolm created a scene because he didn’t want to drive.“Do you think Elena will come to the palace to create a scene?” I ask them because I barely know her to be able to predict her 100%.“I don’t know if she will come to the palace, but one thing I know is that she is going to find you soon,” Allen answers confidently.“How can you be so sure that she is going to find me?” I throw the question at Allen who seems to know something that I don't know.“Most importantly, even if she wants to find him, how is she supposed to do that?” Malcolm asks.“How is she supposed to navigate the city when she has refused to step out of the gate for the past four days,” I ex

|ELENA’S POV|I navigate the crowd with the Usher and we both approach Amelia who is dressed in a radiant red dinner gown that is a perfect blend of elegance and allure, hugging her figure gracefully. The bodice of the dress is adorned with intricate beadwork that shimmers under the soft light, adding a touch of glamour and the gown's skirt flows down to the floor, creating a striking silhouette“Good evening ma’am… you have a special guest here to see you,” the usher informs Amelia.“Thank you,” Amelia smiles politely at the usher, with her radiant smile and sparkling eyes completing the enchanting image of that of a beautiful bride.“If I didn’t know any better that she is being manipulated and blackmailed into this arranged marriage, I would have confused her for a happy and contented bride, but I know that she is just doing this to protect herself and I really can’t blame her,” I mumble as I look around to see if I can find a secluded spot around for both Amelia and I to have a c