Chapter 331
Xander gazed down at Ferris, his icy stare dismissing him as nothing more than an insignificant insect. He said, “For Athena’s sake, consider this your one and only warning. Should there be a next time, I shall show no mercy.”
His voice seemed to emanate from the nethermost depths of hell, carrying a bone-chilling menace that made Ferris’s blood run cold.
Ferris swallowed hard, his confidence utterly shattered. In a feeble voice, he said, “Prince Xander, please forgive me, but I truly don’t understand what you’re referring to.”
A massive hand crashed down on Ferris’s shoulder, bearing down on him like a mountain. Ferris couldn’t withstand the crushing weight. His body suddenly buckled under the pressure, causing the ground made of bricks beneath his knees to crack apart like a spider’s web, sending fragments scattering in all directions. However, instead of easing up, the pressure only intensified.
The green bricks finally gave way under the relentless pressure, shattering into countless fragments. Sharp stone fragments pierced into Ferris’s flesh, sending a searing pain straight to his bones. Beads of cold sweat formed on his forehead as a suppressed groan escaped him.
Xander’s icy voice came from above. “Your schemes only work because I allow them, not because you are cunning. I care for Athena, and thus for those she holds dear. But if you dare exploit this to harm her, I shall make you beg for death but never grant it.”
Such a menacing warning drained all color from Ferris’s face. Ferris prostrated himself on the ground, but his eyes burned with hatred. Ferris gritted out between clenched teeth, “I wouldn’t dare.”
Xander let out a cold snort from above. “You are on very thin ice.”
Xander left with his entourage, and Ferris slumped defeatedly to the ground. The excruciating pain in his knees drained all color from his face. But worse than the pain in his body was the way Xander ruthlessly trampled Ferris’s pride underfoot. Ferris clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms, glaring after Xander’s retreating figure. Through gritted teeth, he spat out the name like a curse, “Xander.”
The beginning of June was a good time for weddings. The wedding ceremony between Ferris and Lizzie took place as planned. The bridal procession stretched as far as the eye could see, a dazzling sea of red that seemed to go on forever. A grand procession of one hundred and eighty chests made its way along Crimson Street outside Level Gale, finally arriving at Ferris’s residence.
Within thirty-six gilded chests lay luminous pearls, each the size of a fist. Even when covered by cloth in broad daylight, they emitted an eerie glow. Seventy Lao rosewood chests were filled with royal brocade. The unique pattern was woven with gold thread and mermaid silk. A single chest’s worth could sustain a common family for ten years.
The most striking were the twenty-four emerald boxes. As their lids opened, emerald radiance shimmered within, revealing priceless imperial treasure from a former empire. Among them were an exquisitely carved openwork screen, an emerald wine vessel, and a sixteen-tiered shelf with a bass inlay with pearls.
By the time the crowd counted everything within 108 chests, they were utterly dazzled. Murmurs of amazement rippled through the onlookers as everyone marveled at just how much importance the royal family placed on this wedding.
Lizzie sat inside the bridal chair that was carried by eight people, adorned in her jeweled decorations and embroidered bridal robes, her face heavily made up. Yet the lingering swelling in her cheeks twisted her features into a disturbingly fierce expression. On her wedding day, Lizzie felt not a shred of joy—only a seething, venomous rage coursing through her veins. During her preparations, Lizzie had a maid thrown into the well for merely tugging at one strand of her hair by accident.
Lizzie thought, “It’s all because of that bitch, Athena! If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have suffered so much. How the hell did that bitch manage to escape? I just can’t figure it out.” But Lizzie was absolutely certain of one thing. There was no way Athena and Ferris were innocent. Lizzie seethed inwardly, “I’ll make sure Athena pays for this.”
The carriage came to a graceful halt before the gates of Ferris’s manor and was gently lowered to the ground. The curtain was lifted by a maid, who bowed deeply to Lizzie and said, “Your Highness, please alight.”
Many people came to attend the ceremony today; nearly all the court officials were present, showing due respect to the royal family. Peering through her veil from inside the carriage, Lizzie caught sight of Ferris in his ceremonial clothes, cutting a strikingly handsome and refined figure. Upon seeing Ferris, Lizzie felt her mood lift slightly.
Ferris stepped forward to the carriage and extended his hand. Lizzie placed hers in his palm, allowing him to assist her descent. Wedding music swelled as fireworks were set off. Lizzie strutted into the wedding hall on Ferris’s arm, looking like a proud peacock.
After the wedding ceremony, Lizzie was escorted back to the chamber by her maids. Meanwhile, Ferris went to the front reception hall to entertain the guests. Lizzie sat in the chamber and snapped at her maid, “Have you seen that bitch Athena?” She knew that Athena, as the future wife of Xander, simply had to be present at this event. But Lizzie saw no sign of Athena, which struck her as strange.
The maid replied cautiously, “Your Highness, the Viscountess is with Prince Xander in the rear courtyard.”
At these words, a flicker of disgust crossed Lizzie’s eyes. With a sneer, she said, “How pathetic of her to value herself so little, she doesn’t even dare show her face before me.”
Lizzie let out a chilling cackle, her features contorting grotesquely. Lizzie seethed inwardly. “If that bitch Athena dares show her face in front of me today, I will claw it to shreds!” Lizzie was in high spirits, silently counting down the hours until Ferris would join her for their wedding night.
Lizzie thought to herself, “Soon, Ferris will be groveling at my feet, utterly devoted to me.”
By the time the last guest finally departed, Lizzie was so exhausted she could barely keep her eyes open. The sound of approaching footsteps echoed outside the door. Ferris had finally returned. Lizzie forced herself to sit up straight, blinking away her exhaustion as she waited for him to enter.
“Out, all of you!” Lizzie snapped at her maids. The maids, visibly relieved, practically fled the chamber.
Ferris strode forward, coming to a deliberate halt exactly three paces from Lizzie. His striking eyes fixed on Lizzie, but held no trace of affection—only chilling indifference. Lizzie furiously tore off her bridal veil, eyes blazing as she glared at him. “What? On our wedding day of all days, must we still be at each other’s throats?"
However, Ferris sat down on the stool with a faint, mocking smile, completely ignoring Lizzie. With slender fingers, Ferris picked up the wine jug, poured himself a drink, and took a slow, solitary sip. He didn’t even bother to give Lizzie a proper look.
“I’m talking to you!” Lizzie had never been so blatantly disregarded. Enraged, she lunged forward, snatched the wine jug, and made as if to hurl it against the wall.
Ferris clamped down on her wrist with a vice-like grip. With a subtle twist, Lizzie yelped in pain, her hold instantly going slack. The wine jug slipped from Lizzie’s grasp, but Ferris caught it mid-air and calmly set it back on the table.
Lizzie’s features twisted grotesquely, resembling a vengeful spirit. She shrieked, “Ferris, how dare you ignore me!
Lizzie grabbed Ferris by the collar, desperately fumbling to tear his shirt open, but Ferris roughly shoved her hand away with cold disdain. Ferris stood off to the side, his gaze fixed on Lizzie with nothing but undisguised contempt.
Instead of getting angry, Lizzie burst into a shrill, mocking laugh. “Ferris, we’re married now. If you refuse to sleep with me, you’re defying the imperial decree. You know what that means? You’ll lose your head!”
Ferris let out a soft, bitter chuckle and said, “It’s not that I refuse you, Princess, I simply can’t.”
“What do you mean by that?” Lizzie’s face darkened, her expression shifting to one of confusion and suspicion as she fixed Ferris with a sharp, questioning stare.
Ferris gave a sardonic smile. “I’ve been poisoned by Ashen Feather. Anyone who sleeps with me will be contaminated. Without it, you will rot away from within. I cannot bear to subject Your Highness to such torment. That’s why I must keep my distance.”
Lizzie’s pupils quivered, panic flickering in her eyes. Her voice trembled as she blurted out, "Ashen Feather? How could… That’s a poison developed by the royal family to control their assassins. There’s no known antidote in the world!
Chapter 332