My Fiancé Secretly Desired My Sister — So I Married A Beggar In Front Of The King

Part 2

The biting night air pierced straight through my delicate silk ceremonial gown.

I followed Dan along a narrow, winding forest path far away from the glittering palace.

We had left the royal grounds with absolutely nothing but the clothes currently on our backs.

My expensive silk skirt snagged painfully on every low-hanging branch and thorny bush.

Dan had thoughtfully draped his thick, worn cloak over my violently shivering shoulders.

That simple act of kindness had caused my heart to flutter in an entirely unexpected way.

Truthfully, I owed this mysterious stranger far more than a simple word of thanks.

He had bravely stepped forward to save me from a lifetime bound to Craig’s endless deceit.

Before departing the palace, I had managed to complete one incredibly crucial task.

I spotted my late father’s loyal old steward, Giles, hiding among the shocked spectators.

Pulling him aside into the shadows, I pressed a hastily scribbled letter into his weathered hands.

I instructed him to deliver the urgent missive directly to Master Farrow, my trusted financial advisor.

The old man had nodded grimly, tucking the dangerous message safely into his vest pocket.

My letter contained strict instructions for Master Farrow regarding my massive inheritance.

He needed to confirm if my hasty mating to a commoner legally voided my claim to the estate.

More importantly, I commanded him to lie to anyone who inquired about my financial status.

He was to spread the rumor that I was completely cut off from my family fortune.

Craig would never stop hunting me if he believed he could still get his greedy hands on my gold.

Trudging through the darkened forest after a man I’d known for mere hours filled me with terrifying uncertainty.

The newly formed mating bond pulsed steadily between us, a heavy reminder that there was no going back.

Whatever awaited me at the end of this muddy path was my new, permanent reality.

Every time Dan turned his head to ensure I was keeping pace, the moonlight caught his striking gray eyes.

A small, foolish thrill ran through my veins at his protective gaze.

Hope blossomed quietly in my chest, whispering that this hasty union could become something genuinely beautiful.

His deep voice finally broke the silence, promising that our destination wasn’t much further ahead.

Just beyond a dense clearing, the ancient trees opened up to reveal a tiny, dilapidated cabin.

The structure was nestled precariously against a steep, rocky hillside.

Moonlight illuminated the weathered, rotting planks and a severely sagging front porch.

Drawing closer, I couldn’t help but notice several massive holes gaping in the thatch roof.

Dan pushed the sticking door open, offering a quiet, almost sarcastic welcome to our new home.

The interior consisted of a single, drafty room containing a rough-hewn table and one wobbly chair.

A small, soot-stained fireplace sat against the wall with merely a handful of logs stacked beside it.

A narrow, uncomfortable-looking cot was shoved haphazardly into the far corner.

He offered a stiff apology, noting the hovel was far from what a noble lady required.

His broad shoulders were tense, his posture almost painfully expectant.

His gray eyes remained fixed intensely on my face, studying my reaction with unsettling precision.

A terrible, crushing realization suddenly crashed over me like a tidal wave.

He had accepted my impulsive proposal because he fully believed I was a wealthy heiress.

He was standing there waiting to see if I would magically produce gold now that we were safely away.

The thought stung infinitely more than it logically should have.

I had foolishly begun to imagine that his help stemmed from the same inexplicable connection I felt.

Like Craig, this incredibly handsome stranger saw me as nothing more than a convenient path to a fortune.

Bitter disappointment quickly hardened into a protective shell of absolute resolve.

I refused to let myself be used and manipulated by another greedy man.

Forcing a sweet smile, I calmly informed him that my noble status had been legally stripped away.

I loudly declared that by choosing a commoner, I had forfeited every single copper of my massive inheritance.

I watched his face like a hawk, searching for the telltale signs of furious disappointment.

His eyebrows merely rose in a display of mild, confusing curiosity.

If I had truly lost my fortune, he questioned why I hadn’t just married another nobleman.

He didn’t believe a word I was saying, assuming this was some elaborate test of his character.

My chin lifted defiantly as I informed him that my previous fiancé only wanted me for my coin.

His eyes narrowed slightly, sweeping over my features as he leaned casually against the broken table.

He mockingly suggested that I would soon be begging for a legal separation to reclaim my wealth.

A muscle twitched violently in his strong jaw as he waited for my response.

My heart sank even further into my stomach at his clear desire to be rid of me.

He had hoped for a rich wife, and now that I claimed poverty, he wanted me gone.

If he wanted me to leave, he was going to have to force me out the door himself.

Failing to honor my betrothal to Craig meant I would be dragged back to the palace in chains.

I would rather sleep in the muddy forest than ever face that traitorous snake again.

Squaring my shoulders, I firmly stated that asking for a separation was never my intention.

I challenged him right back, asking if he was the one planning to throw me out now that I was poor.

A half-smile played on his lips as he pointed out the holes in the roof and the empty pantry.

He trailed off expectantly, clearly trying to scare me into admitting I had money hidden away somewhere.

I refused to break, offering a bright, brittle smile as I promised we would manage together.

Dan tilted his head, directly challenging my ability to chop wood or fix a leaking roof.

I snapped back that I was perfectly capable of learning how to survive.

The intense mating bond pulsed between us, completely at odds with our mutual, fiery wariness.

Shaking his head, he finally turned away to start a meager fire in the hearth.

Once the small flames caught, he straightened up and approached me with deliberate, measured steps.

He noted that I must be freezing, reaching out to take my trembling hand in his.

I hesitated for a fraction of a second before allowing the intimate contact.

The second our skin touched, the mating bond flared to life like a sudden, roaring inferno.

While his thoughts remained hidden, I sensed a chaotic storm of wariness, curiosity, and grudging admiration.

His reaction to the touch was far more dramatic than mine.

His eyes widened in genuine shock, his lips parting slightly as he stared down at our joined hands.

He abruptly demanded to know if I possessed some sort of hidden magic.

Blinking in confusion, I asked what on earth he was talking about.

He repeated the question, his voice laced with genuine bewilderment.

Suspicion flared in my chest as I asked if he was hoping I could magically fix all his problems.

He quickly denied it, though his gaze remained fixed on where our hands were connected.

I firmly stated that we were mated now, and I wasn’t going anywhere.

His jaw clenched tightly as he agreed, warning me that he expected me to pitch in and work.

I shot back that he shouldn’t expect me to share his tiny bed, claiming it entirely for myself.

We stood there facing each other, the powerful, electric magic of our new bond humming violently in the small space.

The small fire crackled weakly in the hearth, casting long, dancing shadows across the cramped room.

Who exactly was this mysterious outcast whose touch set my very soul on fire, yet kept his mind perfectly hidden from me?