Chapter 70

Something was changing.
Heather was able to feel the shift inside her. Despite her best efforts, it became increasingly difficult for her to free herself from the guards' grip.
The fire in her throat completely drained her, resulting in heaviness inside her body. She did everything in her power to prevent the liquid from getting into her food pipe and traveling throughout her body, but she was powerless to resist the impact.
Despite her best efforts, the venomous liquid surged inside her veins, burning her throat. She screamed at the top of her lungs. To a third party, the view was similar to a person's body being lit on fire.
Everyone in the room flinched back in response to the blistering heat of her flesh and her piercing scream.
Heather was burning. As red flames engulfed her skin, everyone around her took a step back with squinting eyes, trying to protect their own vision.
However, instead of the faces of the guilty surrounding her, Heather was seeing red. Her vision was blurred with anger and pain, with a series of moments flashing right through her eyes.
“Grab her and kill her right this instant.” The woman who poisoned her ordered.
Guards warily and obediently approached her, but when Heather fixed them with her open stare, they fell backward and to the ground.
“Heather, breathe,” The familiar voice of a man made her stand still. “My child, please close your eyes and take a deep breath.” She obediently shut her eyes in response to the man's voice. Her body reacted reflexively to the tender voice guiding her.
While Heather was trying to calm herself down and place every piece of the puzzle together, Alexander stood in the chapel alongside the priest and his brother, waiting for Diona Gonzales to walk down the aisle. Since it was a private affair, the wedding was held in the castle with only a few close associates.
He knew that taking the extreme step of getting married to Diona Gonzales could impact every aspect of his life, but he had no choice but to accede to his mother's request.
He dared to cast a glance at her, desperately praying for her mother to change her vivacious mind, but instead, he saw her victoriously grinning at him. He still had trouble accepting the actions of his mother. How is it possible that his mother deliberately sent Heather to prison in order to fulfill her obstinate wish?
If not for his mother’s speaking with the guards about Heather's presence in the dungeons, he would have never come to know about her cunning deed. But to say he was furious would have been an understatement. He wasted no time in confronting his mother since he was boiling with wrath.
Unfortunately, apart from complying with his mother’s demand, he had no other choice left. He still did not hold the reins to the decision that his parents made, and until he marries Diona and is formally recognized as the town's ruler, he would not be able to overpower his parents' decisions.
He did wish to have one glance at Heather in the cell, though, and his heart went out to her and their situation, but he could not take the chance and alert his mother of his willingness to see Heather.
If he did, then his mother would not think twice about breaking their deal about not hurting Heather.
His marriage to Diona is the only way to safeguard Heather. His mother had assured him that no harm would come to Heather if he completely detached himself from her. Once he married Diona, she would safely release her. Hence, he decided to follow his mother's instructions.
Heather’s safety is his top priority, and if being married to Diona is the solution, then so be it.
He was so preoccupied with his thoughts, visions, and anxiety that he was completely unaware when Diona appeared in front of him and the priest. He had no recollection of the time of the initiation of his wedding ceremony. Every second of his time was passed in a daze, his only thought being Heather's well-being.
He was aware that Diona Gonzales would become his wife in a matter of minutes and that he would be powerless to prevent it.
He paid little attention to the priest's words as if they were foreign to his ears. He was aware that he was being disrespectful to Diona, but there is only so much one can do to suppress their emotions. He was unable to prevent himself from recollecting the memories of the time he had spent with Heather, and his destroyed dream of getting married to her was the product of his own family while he was getting married to Diona.
As he took a deep breath to bring his focus back to the ceremony and Diona, the floor abruptly began to shake.
Alexander was alarmed by the situation and looked all around him. He saw that people were trying to gain their balance with a terrified look on their faces. It felt similar to the beginning of what happened during his engagement announcement with Diona. But what shook him most was the white beauty walking towards him and Diona.
When he first saw her, he was shocked. Her face was covered with bruises and had blood streaks all over it. Her attire was soiled and tattered. She was dressed in the same outfit that she had worn when he had taken her, against her will, to accompany him back to Warsavor.
He gasped, "Heather."
As he marched towards her, the ground began to tremble erratically, keeping him steady on his feet.
Instead of approaching him and demanding an explanation, she chose to stand before Diona. Heather had entirely blocked him out of her eyesight, and it would be an understatement to say that it pinched him.
As Heather stood still, the quake came to a sudden halt, and before anyone could have comprehended anything, Heather slapped Diona right across the face.
“How could you?” She asked Diona Gonzales. Her voice was dripping with rage.
Diona was fumbling with her words, "Heather... I,” but Alexander could tell that his lady love was adamant. He had no idea what was happening or why both women's behavior had changed abruptly, but he knew he needed to speak with Heather and explain everything to her.
“Heather… Please listen to me..." Alexander tried to intervene, but her look of distaste shocked him, making him go silent.
He winced at her response. He had never witnessed Heather act coldly, and he found it hurtful.
“Alexander Diadem, I hate to inform you that your alliance with the Gonzales family will no longer take place. This marriage would not happen under any circumstances, and if anyone tries to do or say otherwise, he or she would not see the light of the day.”
“Heather Crown, who do you believe you are? You have no power to threaten any one of us? Leave Diona right this instant, or else…” Contessa Diadem marched towards her in an attempt to intimidate her, but Heather shot her a scornful glance.
“Contessa Diadem, you strongly believe that I attacked your palace on the day of your son’s engagement announcement to Diona Gonzales. Do you not?" Heather took a silent pause before continuing. "Imagine what I could do right this instant. With one wrong move, I can destroy each one of you, and none of the people present here would be able to do anything. Not even your beloved son or your so-called daughter-in-law.”
“Heather, you are threatening the queen of this place. You are calling for trouble.” Heinrich warned her, ready to attack if she hurt his wife.
“You have touched the wrong leaf, Heinrich Diadem. Nobody in this room has the power to intimidate me, particularly your queen. So, take a step back and do not try to stop me.”
“Heather, you have got it all wrong,” Alexander tried to speak to Heather. He touched her hand in an effort to calm her down, but he felt burned just before she slapped him right across the face.
“You have given me the ultimate betrayal, Alexander Diadem. Right this instant, I sever all links with you, your family, and this community. Enjoy ruling your destructive kingdom.” After saying her last words, Heather seized Diona's arm and hauled her out of the room.
He made an attempt to run after her, but an elderly man stopped him.
“Alexander! Dare not approach her or follow her. I stand by my daughter. Do not try to contact her unless she asks you to do so.”
“Daughter? Who are you?” Alexander inquired while frowning.
"Arkin, the proud father of Heather Crown."