Chapter 10. Challenge
For a moment, an eerie silence swallowed the room whole.
Not a single soul dared to speak—not the maids, not the butlers, not the Lancasters, and definitely not the groom's family. It was like time had frozen mid-breath, the air dense with unspoken shock.
Except for Mia.
Her mouth was still agape, eyes wide, and honestly, if she kept that open any longer, I was going to shove a pebble—or maybe a whole dinner roll—inside it. The longer the silence stretched, the more tempting the idea became.
Then, a soft, almost casual chuckle shattered the quiet like glass hitting marble.
Of course, it came from Lucian and Isolde.
Lucian leaned back in his chair, laughing like he had just heard a mildly amusing joke at a tavern, while Isolde tried to mask her amusement behind a delicate hand. But the sparkle in her eyes and the curve of her lips betrayed her mirth.
Lucian turned toward his wife, locking eyes. "What do you think, dear?" His voice oozed playfulness. "Shall we annul the marriage?"
The smirk dancing on his face was enough to spell the outcome, loud and clear—well, to everyone but Mia. She stood there, still frozen, as clueless as ever. 'Gods, she really is dumb sometimes.'
Isolde smiled—a serene, maternal kind of smile—and nodded. "Of course, if that's what our child wants."
Lucian's chuckle returned, heartier this time. Then his attention shifted to the groom's side. "My apologies, Curlts. But my son has requested to annul the arrangement, and as such, we will honor his wishes."