The Noble Knot
READING AGE 16+
"You look remarkably calm for a man who just committed treason against his own bloodline," the King said, his voice deceptively low."I did what was necessary to fix your mistake, Father," Casper replied, his hands clasped behind his back. "Floris is happy. The Van den Bergs are satisfied. The monarchy is intact.""The monarchy is a laughingstock," Alexander Van den Berg spat. "You made a mockery of my daughter’s betrothal. You think you can just walk away now? Go back to your cows and your dirt?""I am the heir," Casper said, his eyes flashing. "I believe that was the point of the 99.99% match. You need me.""Oh, we do," the King said, turning around. A slow, cruel smile spread across his face—a smile Casper recognized from the mirror during his darkest moments. "And that is why your punishment will be as public as your betrayal."The King stepped toward Casper, gesturing to Elisa."You want to play at being a kingmaker? Fine. But a King cannot rule alone, and a Prince cannot be a bachelor forever. You humiliated the elder Van den Berg daughter. You will now redeem the family name by marrying the younger one."The world seemed to tilt. Casper looked at Elisa, who looked as if she wanted the floor to swallow her whole. "What?"
Unfold
The morning after the Restoration was not heralded by trumpets, but by the persistent, rhythmic clinking of silver against bone china.
In the Small Dining Room of Noordeinde—a space usually reserved for "informal" family gatherings, though it still boasted silk-paneled walls and a ceiling painted with frolicking cherubs—the air wa……
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