Chapter 238
Michael led the wedding procession out through the South Gate and circled to the West Gate.
The entire journey was an exercise in frustration.
First, the road suddenly collapsed, injuring many in the wedding party.
The procession couldn’t turn back, so they had no choice but to grit their teeth and press on.
But as if things weren’t bad enough, the moment they exited the city gates, they ran head-on into a funeral procession.
The road was barely wide enough, yet the funeral procession refused to yield.
Michael frowned, weighing his options. The dead must be respected, so he had no choice but to step aside.
This act of deference cost them even more precious time.
The messenger who caught up delivered Eloise’s words to Michael word for word. Michael felt that he was about to explode with rage.
Things had gone wrong from the moment he left home, and instead of showing any understanding, Eloise added to his troubles.
However, as she was his elder, Michael could only bite back his fury.
Michael urged those behind him, “We mustn’t be late. Everyone, pick up the pace.”
The porters had it the hardest. Struggling under the weight of those massive chests, they had to half-jog just to barely keep up with Michael.
After finally reaching the West Gate, the wedding matron did a quick headcount and couldn’t help but panic. “Why are eight chests missing?”
Michael, barely containing his fury, instructed, “What are you all still standing around for? Get back and find them now.”
The attendants retraced their steps, only to find that the eight large chests had tumbled to the ground.
After asking around, they discovered that the chests were simply too heavy, and the carrying poles had snapped under the weight.
Left with no choice, they doubled back for a carriage and only just managed to rejoin the procession.
Seething with suppressed rage, Michael arrived at the West Gate, only to find it barred shut.
“Marquis of Somers here! Why are the city gates closed?” Michael demanded on horseback, raising his voice as he looked up at the guards in the gatehouse.
A guard peered down from the wall, recognized the Osborne family’s entourage, and replied respectfully, “Forgive me, Lord Osborne. Relief food is being distributed at the West Gate today, so we cannot open the gates at this time.”
Michael’s brows furrowed. “Distributing relief food? How is it that I wasn’t informed?”
“That’s an order Prince Xander just issued, Lord Osborne. Heavy snow a few days ago caused many houses to collapse, leaving countless people displaced. This is why we’re distributing relief food.”
At this moment, Michael cast aside all aristocratic decorum, his refined upbringing forgotten as white-hot rage threatened to erupt into a stream of profanities.
Michael fumed, ‘An order just issued? Prince Xander must be doing this deliberately. But then again, how did Prince Xander know I’d take the detour to the West Gate?’
Seeing that he was about to be late, Michael had no choice but to swallow his pride. “Today is my wedding day. Please open the city gates and let us through.”
The guard looked troubled. “Lord Osborne, it’s not that I don’t want to accommodate you, but with so many people here today, I’m afraid you can’t get through.”
Michael, however, was brimming with quiet confidence. “Rest assured. Just open the city gates. I have my ways to get us through.”
Convinced by his words, the guard no longer refused. He waved to the guards below and ordered, “Open the city gates. Let Lord Osborne pass through.”
Michael let out a sigh of relief. He glanced up at the sun, quickly calculating. Only half an hour remained until the start time.
Michael’s heart pounded with anxiety as he silently prayed, ‘Please let everything go smoothly!’
He said, “Bring out the prepared lucky coins. Once inside the city, use them to draw the refugees collecting food aside so the wedding procession can pass through.”
The subordinate acknowledged respectfully and reminded Michael, “Lord Osborne, will this work? What if those people take the lucky coins but still refuse to budge?”
“Commoners wouldn’t dare defy a Marquis. If they cause us to be late for the wedding, they can’t afford the repercussions. Just do as I command.”
The subordinate’s eyes shone with admiration as he responded, “As you command, Lord Osborne.”
As the city gates slowly creaked open, Michael, leading the charge, rode into the city.
Beyond the city gates stretched a dense crowd.
They had completely blocked the city gates, waiting for their rations.
Michael rode in on his tall, majestic horse, but the crowd barely spared him a glance before immediately turning their attention back to the relief food.
A noble’s son getting married didn’t matter to them.
Nothing beat a full stomach.
Michael gave his subordinate a meaningful look. The subordinate nodded, then hauled out several large baskets and shouted to the crowd, “Today, the Osborne family is celebrating a joyous wedding. These lucky wedding coins are a reward from Lord Osborne. Those who want them, come get them here.”
The two heavy baskets of copper coins were placed at the foot of the wall, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.
“There are free coins. Hurry, everyone, grab them!”
A wave of excited shouts swept through the crowd, and the once-quiet commoners instantly erupted into a frenzy.
The crowd surged toward the foot of the wall.
Just as Michael had predicted, the crowd was instantly drawn to the copper coins like moths to a flame, scrambling aside to clear a path.
A triumphant grin flashed across Michael’s face. With a sharp tug on the reins, he barked, “Go!”
Michael led the wedding procession as they charged forth toward the duke’s estate.
Little did Michael know that behind him, the poor crowd was shoving and trampling each other to grab the copper coins.
Frail women and children were knocked down and trampled underfoot. Before they could even rise, the surging crowd pressed relentlessly over them.
Shrill screams of women and terrified wails of children pierced through the chaos.
By the time the city guards realized what was happening, it was already too late.
The crowd was massive. Everyone was desperate to grab the copper coins, pushing and shoving frantically in a chaotic scramble.
The front rows suffered the worst. Left empty-handed, some had their hands crushed underfoot, while others had their legs broken in the stampede.
Some even had their ribs crushed in the stampede.
With the situation rapidly spiraling out of control, the city guards frantically shouted, “Hurry, send word to the Pidence Guards. Have them dispatch a unit immediately!”
Michael urged his horse through the streets at breakneck speed. The wedding procession behind him was struggling to keep up, their breath coming in ragged gasps.
If not for his groom’s attire, the townsfolk would have thought Michael was charging into battle.
By the time they finally reached the gates of the duke’s estate, they were already late.
Eloise had the main gates shut already. Come hell or high water, she was determined not to let Willow be married off like this today.
Inside her room, Willow dissolved into tears upon hearing what had happened.
Tears streamed down Willow’s face as she pleaded, “Mother, please, I’m begging you. Let me go through with the wedding. If Michael sees the gates shut, he’ll be heartbroken.”
Eloise looked at Willow with a pained expression and tried to explain the situation to her, “Willow, my darling, come to your senses. If you go through with the wedding now, you’ll only bring suffering upon yourself.
“A wedding day fraught with problems is a terrible omen. Are you going to marry into the Osborne family with such a stain on your name?”
Big tears rolled down Willow’s cheeks, but her eyes were full of determination as she said, “I’m willing, Mother. As long as I can marry Michael, I’ll gladly endure any hardship.”
“You!” Eloise was so furious her vision swam. For a moment, she wanted nothing more than to shake Willow until Willow saw reason.
But Willow was the child she had raised with such doting care. She couldn’t bring herself to do so.
As a mother, Eloise couldn’t bear to see Willow suffer.
As Eloise and Willow remained at an impasse, the butler entered and respectfully reported, “Lady Eloise, Lord Osborne said that arriving late was entirely his fault. He would return another day to beg for your forgiveness.”
It sounded like Michael intended to call off the wedding and leave. Willow’s eyes widened in horror.