Chapter 4 Everyone bowed when the Crown Prince walked in . ] Except me - he caught me before I could kneel ]] He looked at me and said , " I heard what happened the moment I got back to Luminara . - three years of injustice . " [ ] I wanted to see you myself . " [ ] We barely knew each other back then . [ ] Just a handful of formal greetings , since I was once engaged to his younger brother , Alistair . I never imagined the first person to stand up for me would be him . [ ] But instead of being touched , all I felt was suspicion . ] I'd learned the hard way not to trust anyone . So I kept my voice polite , distant : ] " I'm not exactly innocent , Your Highness . " [ ] " I did assume the identity of a Heartford daughter for years . That alone is a crime . " ] ] Out of the corner of my eye , I saw Alistair and Lord Edmund both flinch slightly . Maybe I said what they'd been thinking all along - but never dared say aloud . [ ] Because the Queen had invited both the Heartfords and the Westfield royal family to a dinner in the Prince's honor . ]] And the Prince had personally asked for me to attend . [ ] So I cleaned up , changed into fresh clothes , and followed them to the palace . ] I didn't ask anyone to help me get ready . [ ] I walked beside the carriage with the servants . ] But that wasn't enough for Seraphina . [ ] She looped her arm through Alistair's and smiled sweetly . " Some people sure picked up a few tricks somewhere , " she said , loud enough for me to hear . " Even managed to wrap the Crown Prince around their finger . " ] Alistair's brow tensed . He glanced at me , conflicted . ] Then turned to Seraphina and muttered , " Don't talk like that here . This is the palace . " ] Eventually , we arrived at the Queen's private reception hall . [ ] After the usual small talk , Queen Eleanor got straight to the point . [] " His Majesty and I agree , " she said . [ " Our Crown Prince has returned from the battlefield after three years of victory . " ] " It's time he chose a bride . " ] " Does anyone have a suitable candidate in mind ? " ] ] Silence Then the Crown Prince stepped forward and dropped to one knee . ] " Mother , " he said . " Ive already made my choice . " He held up a portrait and presented it to her . Queen Eleanor looked at it , then blinked in surprise . ]] They Chose Blood Over Love Now They Cry at My GRAVE 1148 Chapter 4 " Isn't this … one of the Heartford girls ? " ] Alistair stood up suddenly , forgetting every ounce of royal decorum. ] " Mother ! Seraphina and I are engaged- " ] Queen Eleanor waved him off . ] ] " Not Seraphina , " she said calmly . ] " Evelyn Heartford . " ] ] Alistair froze . He didn't speak He just stood there , then let the crystal goblet in his hand fall to the ground . [] Shattered glass scattered across the marble floor . He stared at the Crown Prince . ] ] Then at the velvet curtain hiding me from view . Like someone had ripped his heart out . [ ] The Crown Prince didn't flinch . ] " Mother , " he said , " I offer all the honors I earned these three years - every medal , every victory - for the right to marry Evelyn Heartford . " [ ] " NO ! " Both Alistair and Lord Edmund spoke at once . ] ] Day Chase Blood Over Love Now They Cry at M GRAVE