Knowing there was a trap, but for the sake of benefiting others while also being unable to reject Qiao Ying in front of Karina, Lin Cheng could only go along with the act.
So he raised his voice to the crowd: "Everyone—"
Almost everyone responded at once, surrounding him while heatedly discussing something.
"Is Duke Lin really going to propose to this girl?"
"It seems this Lin Cheng truly loves beauty more than his nation."
"Now there will be a good show to watch."
Lin Cheng: "Today I, Lin Cheng, am asking everyone here to help witness something." He looked at Qiao Ying beside him, and the cold brows and eyes softened somewhat: "The girl beside me is my girlfriend, called Qiao Yin, and will soon be my fiancée. Today..."
Karina: "Duke Lin!"
Karina almost spat out these words through gritted teeth. She interrupted Lin Cheng, and stepped forward, wanting to stop him. She couldn't believe Lin Cheng was actually willing to give up the throne for the sake of someone without power or status, and even doing it right in front of the entire royal family.
"What does Your Grace make of me and my father by doing this?"
Karina desperately held back her emotions.
But Lin Cheng completely ignored her. He took out the badge representing his status, and said to everyone: "Pardon the abruptness, I haven't prepared anything, and will have to impose on my girlfriend. The engagement ceremony and ring will have to wait until we return, for now please everyone bear witness, I, Lin Cheng, am proposing to my girlfriend."
At Lin Cheng's words, the entire scene erupted.
Qin Hanyue downed two more glasses of wine.
"Duke Lin, you can't do this. The king and princess have not mistreated you. Have you thought about the consequences of your actions?"
"Your Grace's marriage is not only your personal affair. This concerns the entire C Country. I hope Your Grace will reconsider carefully."
By doing this, Lin Cheng was giving up his right to inherit the throne.
"As Duke you should shoulder your responsibilities, how can you only think of yourself and not the big picture? What you're doing is very disappointing."
"Princess Karina is your only choice. If Your Grace insists on this today, I will definitely tell your uncle..."
The onlooking crowd split into two factions. From their reactions it was clear which side they were on.
The king's supporters looked nervous and anxious, disregarding their image as they hectored Lin Cheng, like a vegetable market.
While Lai En's supporters looked completely relaxed watching the show, some even secretly clinked glasses in celebration.
With the clear stance of winners.
Lin Cheng ignored everyone's advice as if he couldn't hear them. He handed the badge to Qiao Ying and said to the crowd: "I'm sorry to disappoint everyone."
His apology was flat and insincere. If you said he had ambition, he was also stubbornly set on giving up the throne as if it were dirt. And if you said he was free of desire, that also wasn't true.
Qiao Ying took the badge, and calmly said: "On the day I marry Lin Cheng, everyone remember to come drink at the wedding banquet."
"Crack." Several cracks appeared in the wine glass in Qin Hanyue's hand.
From outside the crowd, the tall Qin Hanyue's gaze leaped over the sea of heads, staring at the spot of red in the center.
Qiao Ying's eyes silently met Lai En's, who was slightly ahead of her.
Lai En gave her a faint smile, and lightly raised the hand holding his wine glass, as if to say to Qiao Ying: "Well done on our cooperation."
Lin Cheng publicly rejecting his right to inherit clearly pleased Lai En regarding Qiao Ying's sincerity.
Karina trembled with anger.
It was at this time the king returned. Seeing the situation, he was utterly devastated: "Duke Lin..."
The king's supporters immediately surrounded the old king, urging him to persuade Lin Cheng.
Lin Cheng: "No matter who I marry, no matter who eventually inherits the throne, I will do my utmost to assist them."
This was Lin Cheng's promise to the old king.
The old king was extremely disappointed. He slowly shook his head at Lin Cheng, his graying temples unable to say a word. At this moment he did not seem like the ruler of a nation, but more like a pitiful old man who had lost his backbone. This further angered the king's supporters.
Yet it did not move Lin Cheng to feel touched or guilty.
Just as Karina had said, while Lin Cheng appeared sentimental, in truth his emotions were very weak.
"Father..." Karla went to the king's side, supporting his arm.
Seeing her grieving father and publicly humiliated sister, then looking at Qiao Ying wearing Qin Hanyue's clothes beside Lin Cheng, Karla's hatred for Qiao Ying grew swiftly in that instant.
Karla could not let Lin Cheng abandon the royal family for a fickle woman like Qiao Ying. She wanted to publicly expose the disgraceful affair between Qiao Ying and Qin Hanyue, to let everyone, especially Lin Cheng, know what kind of woman Qiao Ying was.
"Duke Lin, you cannot become engaged to this woman. She is—"
Karla stepped forward, pointing at Qiao Ying. More than winning Lin Cheng back for her sister Karina, she now wanted to get back at Qiao Ying.
But she saw Qin Hanyue's warning gaze coldly fixed on her.
Karla's words stuck in her throat. She remembered Qin Hanyue's threat, and hesitated.
Even if Lin Cheng did not marry Qiao Ying, it would still be difficult for him to agree to marry Karina. And if she publicly exposed this scandal, it might not change Lin Cheng's decision, but would definitely offend Qin Hanyue.
If Qin Hanyue retaliated against her, against the royal family, it would surely greatly impact C Country's economy.
She could not be so impulsive.
Qiao Ying glanced at the frozen Karla, then looked at Karina and stepped forward twice, coming before Karina.
The corners of Qiao Ying's mouth curved up slightly: "I quite liked the gift you gave me, so I gave you a little something in return. I hope you like it too."
Karina did not understand what Qiao Ying meant by a gift she had given. Could she be referring to when she sent people to kill her?
Karina's gaze was locked on Qiao Ying like daggers.
Qiao Ying's eyes shifted down to the black veil covering Karina's face: "Can't see clearly with this on, better take it off and have a look." As she spoke, Qiao Ying reached out towards Karina.
Before Karina could react, her vision went bright as her head was given a sharp pain—Qiao Ying had directly ripped off her black veil along with her hat.
Karina gave an involuntary shriek.
Everyone who looked over jumped in fright, as if seeing a ghost.
Karina's originally beautiful face was now densely covered in frightful red herpes blisters, with thick oozing matter that looked like either medication or pus, challenging people's physiological endurance.
Just looking at such a face made one nauseous.
Lai En closed his eyes for a moment, as if scalded. He had never liked Karina to begin with. If Karina was the necessary route for him to ascend the throne, then...then...Lai En even felt like giving up.
"Wha-what happened to Princess Karina's face?"
"Is it because of Princess Karina's face that Duke Lin refused the marriage alliance?"
Panicked, Karina desperately tried to cover her face, cursing the people she had sent to kill Qiao Ying for not succeeding.
"Qiao Yin!" Karina almost snarled.
"Naughty girl." Lin Cheng conceded defeat. Seeing Karina about to lose it, he pulled Qiao Ying along: "Let's go."
Time to swiftly leave this troublesome situation.
In the shadows, someone was watching as Lin Cheng led Qiao Ying away from the hall...
