Silent Crown: The Masked Prince's Bride Novels & Stories

The crowd parted, forming a path as if paving way for a divinity. A figure appeared on the far end of the path. A female. Dressed in a milk-white gown that shone even brighter than mine. Veiled like a real bride. A bouquet rested so well in her hands. Confusion surged through me, mingling with fear and pain. There was not supposed to be another bride today. ‘What is happening? Did we have a double wedding?’ I reached for Mina. silence. A chilling silence. She didn’t even stir to give me a signal that she heard me.

And she was daring me to expose it, to start a war here and now in Silver Claw’s own den. The priest cleared his throat, oblivious. “Do you, Prince Alaric, take this bride—m.. ” “Yes.” The word cut from me like a blade before I could stop it. A collective exhale shivered across the hall. Ethan’s smirk deepened. My mother inclined her head, approval gleaming in her eyes. But it wasn’t for them that I’d spoken. It was for her. For the girl with ice-fire eyes who stood silent yet unbroken before me, daring me to decide whether she would be destroyed or protected.

The ritual was laid out, and the omen came back overwhelmingly favorable. Vincent nodded in satisfaction. Then he turned slowly, his voice booming through the hall like the toll of a cathedral bell: “Our Lord has confirmed it through the divine reading. From this day forward, this woman shall be recognized as the Bride of Our Lord. She shall receive the highest honors and offerings from every descendant of Stockholm!” “Kneel before Our Lady!” At his command, hundreds of people dropped to the floor before me in reverent submission. Only my stepmother stepped forward instead.

Thinking I was kept in the dark, Lana breathed a sigh of relief and said happily, "That's good. Take good care of the wedding arrangements. After the baby is born, I'll hand over the company to you and be a housewife." I did not respond but silently opened the wedding invitation, looked at the name on it, and sneered. She had no idea that I already had someone else as the bride, although the wedding was proceeding as planned. The bride's name on the invitation was not Lana Piller. It was Mabel Dawson, my childhood sweetheart. Lana always thought I had no other choice but her, which was why she always acted so superior, thinking she had me completely under her thumb. However, little did she k

A warmth, arriving from a direction I had not expected, produced by watching a woman I had known for three days throw red wine on my sister for wearing white to my wedding, and mean it completely. I looked down before it could become visible on my face. When I looked up, Damien's eyes were already on me. He had seen it. Whatever had almost crossed my face, he had seen it, and his expression had shifted by something I could not quite name, something very small and very specific in the quality of his attention. The ceremony continued. The priest said the words that ended it "You may now kiss the bride." Everything in me went still. He is going to remove the mask.

I struggled to open my eyes, but the blood dripping from my forehead made it difficult. "Mummy? Mummy, where are you?" I shouted, blindly reaching out for her. "Mummy?" I called again. "Ba…by. I'm here. Mummy…." She let out a breathy cough, her voice cracking. "I'm here….baby. I'm…he….." Then silence. "Stupid girl, what are you thinking about?" Vero snarled, snapping me back to the present. "Ways to avoid this marriage? There's no way out."

I was not sure I had heard him right. With an angry look in his eyes, he thundered, his fist slamming on the table. "You're getting married to the Prince." He repeated and I gasped. "I'm not supposed to get married to the Prince." I clapped back, with a confused look on my face. "What? You're mateless. You're the perfect fit." He replied and I gasped. "What about Kira? She was betrothed to the Prince. Why me?" I asked. I could not believe I would be a substitute for my sister.

“Finally, Astrid! You took forever!” Lena, one of Astrid’s overly dramatic friends, grabbed her arm the second they stepped inside. Her eyes already scanning Astrid’s dress with approval. “You missed so much! Come on! Prince Mark is about to choose his future bride!” Astrid gasped like she had just been told she missed a royal coronation. “Are you serious? Oh, I cannot miss this!” Just like that, the two of them rushed off, leaving me standing alone.