CHAPTER 475: RUNAWAY BRIDE

After investigating, Kaiden discovered it was the magistrate’s niece who had drugged Ariel with the aphrodisiac. She had done it in a calculated attempt to lure Kaiden.

He took swift action after all, Kaiden was no saint. He wrote to the Duke of Nightshade, demanding a replacement for the current magistrate. Pierre responded personally and saw to the matter himself.

The magistrate’s family was removed from power. Although the magistrate himself had committed no crime, the single action of his niece was enough to doom the entire household. It also helped cover up his second son’s rude behavior toward the prince.

It was only after several pleas from the townspeople who still held the magistrate in high regard that Kaiden chose to spare his life. Even so, the man still paid the price for turning a blind eye to his children’s behavior.

All of this unfolded within a week while Ariel remained unconscious. Unfortunately, during that time, Claire was buried in the presence of a few family members from a neighboring town. Ariel, still considered "dead," was absent.

The body couldn’t be preserved because of its condition or at least, that was what Kaiden had been told.

Ariel’s eyes sharpened. "I am not your wife," she said through gritted teeth.

Kaiden smirked and leaned in until they were eye-level.

"Not yet," he said softly. "We’ll get married once we arrive in Vitalis. Of course, you can refuse, after which you’ll have to deal with the consequences of what happened between us." He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear.

"The royal family won’t hesitate to erase you to cover it up. You might end up assassinated. The choice is yours," he whispered like the devil, calm and terrifying.

Ariel’s head jerked up, locking eyes with him. She knew he wasn’t lying. The royal family would silence anything that threatened their image, especially someone like her. If anyone even brought up the incident, she’d already be gone. No evidence. No witnesses.

"Why are you helping me?" she asked.

Kaiden’s soft smile lingered. He thought he had forgotten how to smile after all the carnage he’d seen on the battlefield. He had been wrong.

"There’s something about you I can’t ignore. And it’s not your beauty," he said simply. "I’m genuinely curious."

Then, without waiting for her response, he turned to leave. Just before he walked out the door, he spoke over his shoulder.

"You have until the end of the day to decide. I leave at dawn tomorrow. Oh, and your mother has been buried."

He left, and Ariel found herself alone again, caught in a predicament she didn’t even know how to handle. She was the one to be blamed. She should have waited for Lizzy.

******

The wind blew through her dark hair as the sun dipped below the horizon. A lone figure stood beneath a tree, Ariel, staring at Claire’s grave, utterly lost.

If she didn’t accept Kaiden’s offer, she might die.

"Mother, what am I supposed to do?" she whispered, knowing the dead could never answer.

Her gaze shifted to the withered trees behind the house. Every green plant had died. She distinctly remembered them being lush and full of life the last time she was here. The sight left her disturbed.

"I guess it’s time I left this town... but marrying a prince? That’s too much," she muttered. Her decision was firming in her heart.

She’d met Lizzy earlier. Most of the villagers didn’t know what had happened, aside from the rumor that Kaiden had taken an interest in her.

*****

The next morning, Kaiden received news he hadn’t anticipated: Ariel was gone.

"It seems she ran away from the village last night. The gate guard said she left close to midnight," a knight reported.

Kaiden’s fist clenched. He was still in the small house Ariel had lived in, holding out hope that she would return. She hadn’t shown up that morning, so he came here instead only to find the house empty.

"Why would they let a single girl like her leave town at night especially one who looks like Ariel?" he hissed.

She could easily fall victim to slave traffickers or bandits. Who knew what they might do to her? Rob her, assault her and leave her half-dead.

What had she been thinking?

"We can send men after her," a knight suggested.

Kaiden shook his head. "It’s fine. I offered her an olive branch. She refused. This was her decision."

He turned away, cold and composed.

"We leave for the capital immediately. I’ve been away for too long."

They were returning from war when a mudslide forced them to change their route leading them to this town.

"I’ll inform the men," the knight said. It was already past noon.

*****

Ariel’s decision had been impulsive. She took the only horse Claire had owned and rode out in the middle of the night, aiming for the duchy’s capital.

It was her one chance to escape.

The city wasn’t far. After riding nonstop from midnight through dawn, through woods that felt like they had eyes watching her, she finally reached the city gates completely exhausted.

She truly believed she’d gotten away. That her escape had been flawless. That she’d never cross paths with Kaiden again.

Fate, however, had other plans.

She stopped at a cheap inn near the port to rest. It wasn’t fancy, but it was all she could afford with the few coins she had left. The receptionist was kind and led her to a small room.

Ariel collapsed on the bed, drained and starving. As soon as the door closed, her eyes grew heavy, and she fell into a deep sleep.

What she didn’t expect was to wake and find Kaiden leisurely sitting beside her window, reading a book.

She jolted upright. "What are you doing here?!" she barked.

Kaiden arched a brow. "The runaway bride finally woke up. How was your sleep? I assume it was peaceful, considering you slept through last night’s chaos," he sneered, clearly irritated.

Who travels alone and decides to spend the night at a rundown inn?

******

"What chaos? You can’t just barge into my room however you please, Your Highness! If you want to help me, then pretend I’m already dead!" she ranted. He was like a shadow she couldn’t shake, his presence suffocating.

She didn’t expect what happened next, he sealed her lips with his to shut her up.

It was a short kiss, but it left her dumbfounded.

"You love to talk a lot, Ariel," he murmured. "But unfortunately, time isn’t on our side."