Chapter 157

A Little Appreciation Note ??

Dear Readers,

First of all, I owe you all an apology for my horrendous uploading schedule and how messy my work has been lately. I know things haven’t been as consistent as they should be, and I truly appreciate your patience with me.

Thank you for sticking around, for continuing to read my book, and for showing me love even when I’m not at my best. You have no idea how much it means to me to have you here, supporting me through it all.

You guys are my real MVPs, and I’m so grateful for every single one of you.

With love and appreciation,

Your grateful author ??

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***

Despite everything, Octavia continued to treat Simon as she did every other member of the family, with affection and consideration, even when he did little to deserve either. She was also a firm believer in second chances, convinced that everyone deserved an opportunity to mend their ways and prove they could be better.

The trouble was that this was hardly Simon’s first chance. He had been given more opportunities than Draven cared to count, and he had squandered every single one of them.

Yet whenever Draven came close to throwing the man out on his ear, his mother’s persistence invariably got in the way. This time had been no different.

Their strained relationship aside, Simon was still a close relative, and Draven could hardly pretend that excluding him from the wedding would not have raised questions of its own.

Their relationship had deteriorated considerably over the years, and Simon was hardly the sort of man to set aside an old grievance simply because the occasion called for civility.

And yet, here he was. How peculiar.

Draven watched him make his way towards the family pews, wondering what had persuaded him to attend. Simon had never been particularly forthcoming about his intentions, and Draven had long since learned not to assume he understood what went on in the man’s head.

Whatever his reasons, Draven intended to keep a close eye on him. The last thing he needed was Simon causing trouble on his wedding day.

Simon, pretending to be oblivious to the scrutiny from the altar, reached the pew and took the first available seat. The woman sitting beside him had her face turn so he didn’t immediately recognize her, her attention fixed on something beyond the aisle.

She seemed entirely unaware of his arrival until a movement to her right caught her attention. Turning towards him, she finally acknowledged the person who had taken the seat beside her.

Simon stared at her, his eyes widening in disbelief.

Lorelei.

She was the last person he expected.

For several seconds, he simply stared at his cousin, struggling to reconcile the sight before him with the last time he had seen her. Five years was a considerable stretch of time, particularly when no letters or visits bridged the distance.

He had not known she was back.

The surprise was plain on his face, and Lorelei seemed equally taken aback by his presence. Then a more welcoming expression replaced her initial astonishment. The years apart did not erase the familiarity between them, though they had certainly left plenty unsaid.

Simon recovered enough to extend his hand and Lorelei accepted it gladly.

"I didn’t think you would come," she said.

"Neither did I."

Her mouth curved into a small, knowing smile. "All the black sheep of the family need to stick together."

A chuckle escaped him.

It was an old sort of humour, the kind they had shared long before their lives had taken such different directions. Of all his cousins, Lorelei had once been the one he felt most comfortable with. Apart from his late mother, there had been few members of the family he had been as close to, and seeing her now stirred a peculiar mixture of joy and regret.

He wondered what she had been doing all these years. Whether she was well. Whether she had changed as much as he suspected.

There was no opportunity to ask. Mass would soon start.

He recognised several faces among those present, though there were many others he knew only by reputation. His gaze travelled across the pews, taking in the distinguished families and familiar figures gathered to witness Draven’s wedding. He noticed that the seats near the front traditionally reserved for the bride’s relatives were still unoccupied.

Perhaps they had yet to arrive or had merely chosen to sit elsewhere.

He looked at Lorelei and lowered his voice.

"Which of them are the bride’s family?"

Lorelei shook her head. "None of them."

"What do you mean none of them? Does the bride have no family?"

He had not meant to speak loudly enough for anyone else to hear, but his voice carried farther than he had anticipated. The conversations among the guests seated nearest their pew faltered, and several heads turned towards them.

From the altar, Draven heard him as well.

His gaze shifted to his cousin, his expression stern as he levelled a warning look at Simon. He would not tolerate anyone disparaging Cassandra. If Simon intended to cause trouble, Draven would have no qualms about having him thrown out of the cathedral.

Simon met his gaze without confidently, appearing entirely unbothered by the warning.

He had not asked the question with the intention of drawing attention to Cassandra’s circumstances, but neither did he seem particularly apologetic. It was difficult to feel remorse over something he scarcely cared about in the first place, and the attention his question had attracted did little to trouble him.

Draven regarded him for a few seconds longer before turning away.

Whatever Simon’s reasons for attending, he would not allow them to interfere with the ceremony.

Besides, there was nothing to explain.

Cassandra’s family was absent because Cassandra had chosen to exclude them. Draven knew that her decision was deliberate, and he understood the reasoning behind it. She had no intention of preserving the appearance of familial unity when the reality was so different, especially when she was actively working towards her family’s utter destruction.

It was a calculated decision, and Draven respected her right to make it.

He might not have chosen the same approach himself, but he understood why she had.

The Ashfords weren’t the only people absent that day, John and his mother were nowhere to be found. His father, on the other hand, was sitting comfortably among the rest of those gathered.

The murmur of conversation gradually resumed, though the brief exchange had left a trace of curiosity among those who had overheard it. Before anyone could pursue the matter further, the great doors opened once more and a liveried servant stepped forward.

"All rise for Her Majesty, Queen Delphine." He announced.

The announcement carried through the cathedral.

Conversation ceased as the congregation rose to its feet. Faces turned toward the entrance, and a quiet anticipation passed through the gathering as the Queen appeared, accompanied by Prince Adrian, who offered his arm to assist her down the aisle.

Her Majesty was dressed in a rich blue gown embroidered with delicate silver thread, wearing a collection of diamonds at her throat and ears. Her auburn hair was arranged beneath an elegant headpiece, and her bearing remained as dignified as ever.

Although she had withdrawn from public engagements for a period on account of illness, her return to such an important occasion was a welcome sight to those gathered in the cathedral.

Few knew the extent of her recent suffering. To most, the Queen had simply been unwell and had required time away from public life. They had no reason to suspect the true severity of her condition, nor the circumstances that had caused it.

Her appearance today would reassure those who had wondered whether she was recovering.

Adrian remained beside her as they made their way toward the front pews.

Draven inclined his head respectfully as the Queen passed. She acknowledged him with a gracious nod, her gaze briefly meeting his before she continued toward the seats reserved for Cassandra’s family.

She and Adrian took their places there.

The symbolism was difficult to miss. The Ashfords were absent, yet the royal family was present to witness Cassandra’s marriage. It would not escape anyone’s notice. Even those who were not present would be speaking about this for weeks to come.