Chapter 0212
Ella POV
“The castle,” Elizabeth said for at least the third time in the last five minutes, her voice full of awe. “I can’t believe I’m actually going to get to visit.”
“I can’t believe you haven’t already,” I admitted, glancing at her with a smirk. Elizabeth, the only daughter of the Alpha King, had access to places most people could only dream of. If anyone should have been able to walk through those gates without a second thought, it was her.
The fact that Alexander had managed to secure the venue when no one else had was… curious. I had no trouble believing that he and Christopher Slater had crossed paths–two successful businessmen and eligible bachelors were bound to end up in the same circles.
But Alexander’s hesitancy when it came to Slater was hard to miss. There was more to their history than he let on, but I didn’t push him on it. Whatever it was, he would tell me when he was ready–or not at all. I could live with that.
What mattered was that Alexander had spent the last few days coordinating closely with Slater to make everything perfect, and I could see the weight of it in the set of his shoulders and the tightness around his eyes.
People didn’t realize how much effort went into planning a wedding until they were in the thick of it, and Alexander had stepped up in ways I hadn’t expected, shouldering burdens I hadn’t even asked him to. I appreciated it more than I could say.
“You didn’t even call and tell me,” Elizabeth said, her tone edging toward mock indignation. “I had to find out from the invitation. Just like everyone else! I thought we were best friends.”
“We are best friends,” I replied, rolling my eyes but smiling fondly. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Well, you certainly accomplished that,” she said, a teasing grin spreading across her face. “You could’ve given me a hundred guesses about where you were moving the wedding, and I never would’ve imagined this.”
“That was the idea,” I said with a shrug, though I couldn’t help the flicker of nervousness in my chest. The castle was a bold choice, one that would undoubtedly draw attention, but it also felt right. It was timeless, elegant, and distinctly different from anything Amanda could dream of copying.
Elizabeth and I were wandering through the bustling streets of the capital, browsing boutique after boutique in search of the perfect dress for her to wear to the wedding.
She had been busy helping her father prepare for the holiday season, so she hadn’t had a chance to shop until now. It worked out for the best, though–it was far more enjoyable to do this together than for her to go off on her own.
As we stepped into yet another store, I glanced at her with their RSVPs,” I said, carefully steering the conversation in
teasing smile. “So, Damian and his parents sent in new direction.
Elizabeth’s face lit up with an adoring smile, “I know,” she said, a dreamy note in her voice.
“You’ve gotten pretty serious, haven’t you?” I asked softly studying her expression.
She nodded, her cheeks tinged pink. “I have. I even told my father.”
I stopped in my tracks, staring at her with wide eyes and an open mouth. “You what?” I asked, my voice pitching higher in disbelief. “Elizabeth, that’s so exciting!”
“He approved,” she said, her radiant smile bright enough to rival the glittering display of gowns before us. “So Damian will be my date to the wedding,‘
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Chapter 0212
I barely managed to suppress the urge to squeal with delight, but the excitement in my voice was unmistakable. For Elizabeth to openly see someone was a huge step, and getting her father’s approval? That was monumental.
My heart leapt with joy–and a touch of relief. Elizabeth had become incredibly dear to me in such a short time, and I knew how isolating her life could be due to her status. For her to find someone who truly made her happy, someone she could be with openly, was a rare and precious thing.
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Chapter 0213
Chapter 0213
