The Devil's Betrothed novel Chapter 490

Chapter 490: Ancestral Tradition

Upon Arlan’s return to the Thistle Palace, an unusual buzz enveloped the entire premises, signaling the early commencement of activities for the Crown Prince’s wedding day. The diligent servants were already bustling with cheerful preparations.

"Your Highness, Good Morning," Roman greeted Arlan as he stood at the palace door. "Her Majesty will be arriving shortly."

Arlan regarded him with a questioning gaze, silently inquiring why his mother was making such an early appearance.

"There is a ritual that precedes the wedding, Your Highness. Your marriage to the designated Crown Princess signifies the formal transfer of authority over the throne from Your Father," Roman explained.

Arlan comprehended the significance of the moment and nodded before crossing the threshold of the palace.

Alex, who typically lingered outside for various missions or preferred the tranquility of Wildride Manor, shadowed his liege into the palace on this momentous occasion. His dual motivations were clear: it was both the wedding of his liege and a genuine concern for Arlan’s well-being.

"Imbert, I am worried," Alex confessed. His reserved nature made such expressions rare, but today, the weight of his concern compelled him to speak.

Imbert wore a somber expression as the preparations continued, including the crucial ritual that unequivocally marked Arlan as the next King. The weight of uncertainty hung in the air. What if Oriana failed to appear for the wedding? Such an absence would not only bring shame to the royal family but would expose Arlan to potential ridicule. The respected and formidable Prince could find himself the target of mockery.

"Will she show up?" Alex voiced the unspoken concern.

"I’m not sure," Imbert responded, his own uncertainty mirrored in his words. "It seems she may be unaware that today is the wedding day—or perhaps, she chooses not to acknowledge it."

"Why doesn’t His Highness talk to her? We could avoid a situation that shouldn’t unfold," Alex suggested.

"We don’t know what happened between them all of a suddenly, so we can’t pass judgment on their decisions," Imbert explained. "We can only stand on the sidelines and adhere to His Highness’s wishes."

Since past few days, Arlan’s close knights could only watch their liege in worry not knowing what happened and maintained since without daring to ask him anything.

----

At the break of dawn, the Queen graced the Thistle Palace with her presence.

The Griven Royal family had been faithfully following an ancient tradition instated by their ancestors. According to this longstanding custom, the Prince selected as the Crown Prince allowed his hair to grow longer from childhood, symbolizing the impending moment when its ceremonious cutting would mark his absolute authority over the kingdom as the Crown Prince. The wedding served as the initial step, turning a new leaf in the Crown Prince’s life, and the second step would be the sitting on the throne officially.

The ceremonial cutting of the long hair symbolizes the Crown Prince shedding not just his locks, but also relinquishing any trace of arrogance, pride, and personal desires. Instead, he embraces humility and kindness, dedicating his life to wholeheartedly serve the kingdom.

The ancestral mandate compelling the Crown Prince to marry the designated betrothed was established to prevent the possibility of a woman of lowly worth ascending to the role of Queen in the kingdom. The family carefully selected the worthy woman, and the Crown Prince was obligated to marry her to ascend to the throne as King. Only this chosen betrothed would hold the title of Queen and give birth to the next heir to the throne. Denial by the Crown Prince was not an option if he aspired to become a king.

Throughout the history of Griven, every Crown Prince who ascended to the throne had faithfully followed this tradition. Ailwin, upon assuming the throne, adhered to this practice as well. His first wife, Helana, was chosen by the previous King and Queen when he was a child. This tradition had been observed by all the Kings preceding him.

In the presence of the Queen, the ritual unfolded with the royal barber meticulously trimming Arlan’s long hair to a shorter length. Seated in the chair, Arlan maintained a composed demeanor, devoid of any discernible excitement on his wedding day. His gaze remained calm, fixated straight ahead, his mind seemingly devoid of any particular thoughts.