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She looked away briefly at Maxime, seated at the back of the room, who was as motionless as a statue.

After a moment's silence, she finally answered in a clear voice:

"Yes, I do."

The priest nodded and turned to Dorian, a benevolent smile on his face.

"Dorian Valderic, do you agree to take Aveline Ardan as your wife, to love, cherish and be faithful to her until death do you part?"

Dorian remained silent, and time seemed to stand still.

The guests looked at each other, murmuring in low voices, clearly uncomfortable.

"Why doesn't he answer?"

"Does anyone know what's going on?"

"I have a feeling something big is going to happen."

Duke Valderic, seated in the front row, frowned, his expression shifting from incomprehension to annoyance.

Aveline turned her head towards Dorian, her heart suddenly beating faster.

After a moment, he exclaimed in a calm but firm voice:

"No, I don't want to."

A collective gasp ran through the room. Murmurs turned to shocked exclamations.

Luc Valderic stood up abruptly, his face flushed with anger.

Aveline froze, unable to move. Her hands trembled slightly, but her face remained impassive.

"Dorian!" cried her father, his voice thundering.

"Explain yourself at once!"

Dorian turned to his father, his features marked by cold determination.

"I'm sorry, Father, but as a gentleman. I refuse to tie my life to someone without true affection. It's not right, not for her, not for me."

The duke felt like killing his son on the spot, but forced himself to calm down so as not to create a scandal on the spot.

This was all to the delight of Duke Devron, who was sitting nearby with some of his family.

"Father..."

"It's happening just as you think it's happening," Duke Devron replied, extremely pleased.

"Let's have a feast tonight with all the members of the family."

"Yes."

For her part, stupor gradually gave way to a strange clarity in Aveline's mind.

Although shocked, part of her felt relieved. She turned her head to Dorian, searching his eyes.

"You could have warned me or tried to talk to me before you caused such a scene." she asked, her voice measured.

Dorian nodded, his gaze sincere.

"True, but I believed it until the last moment and I didn't want to resign myself to it," Dorian replied in a bitter voice.

"I couldn't find the courage either."

Aveline seemed to discover a new person when she heard him say this.

"Was I wrong all along? Was his reputation not reality?"

A feeling of regret began to sink into Aveline's heart.

Especially since her father had counted so heavily on this marriage.

A heavy silence fell over the assembly. Then, slowly, Aveline raised her head, her expression one of newfound pride.

"Then I suppose it will be a memorable day for all, but not for the reasons we expected."

She turned on her heels, head held high, and slowly left the altar under the fascinated and stunned gazes of the guests.

Maxime quickly followed in the confusion.

As they exited, they passed all the Saber-toothed Tiger mercenaries who saw Aveline quickly leave her own wedding.

Everyone was very confused.

"Andrew, take some men and watch Dorian's movements for me."

"Yes, sir!"

"The rest of you come back with us to the Valderic estate and stand by."@@novelbin@@

"Yes, chief!"

After giving a few orders, Maxime caught up with Aveline and returned together in no time.

When they arrived in front of their rooms, Aveline turned around.

"Do me a favor and get your men ready, Maxime. I hope to leave for my territory tomorrow morning."

"My father will reward you for the return trip, don't worry."

Maxime shook his head and replied:

"That's not necessary, in any case I was planning to pass through Count Ardan's territory to collect the wages for this mission before going to Plouta to see my men again."

Adeline nodded and locked herself in her quarters, keeping her thoughts to herself.

"I imagine it must be complicated for her," Maxime murmured before heading out to the training ground.

If there was nothing to do, he was still on the training ground with his men, practicing.

With such persistence and intensity every day, the servants began to admire these mercenaries and even spread rumors.

At first, the rumors circulated only on the Valderic estate, but gradually they spread to the capital.

Although it was a simple fact of life in the capital, it contributed to the fame of the Saber-toothed Tigers.

Soon night fell on the Valderic estate, and silence hung heavy in the air.

No one had come to see Aveline until now, nor had she left her room.

Maxime, wearing a dark cloak, slipped into a less-frequented wing of the manor. He had learned from Andrew that Dorian had retired there after the ceremony.

Soon he was walking through the wing's deserted and particularly dirty corridors.

It seemed as if no one had cleaned here for a long time.

Soon he found the young nobleman in a small library, leaning against a table, a half-empty glass of wine in front of him.

The place almost looked like a cellar, but somehow the room was particularly clean.

Dorian seemed lost in thought, his face closed, but he looked up when he heard Maxime enter.

"I knew you'd come." he said wearily. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire

Maxime was surprised.

"How could you know?"

"It's easy for me to notice a few apprentice knights who aren't very skilled at spying." he replied with a slight sarcasm but still looking at his glass.

Maxime shook his head a little embarrassed, but quickly returned to his normal self.

"Why did you refuse? You've ruined everything." asked Maxime, curious.

"Haven't I said it before, I did it because I didn't want to marry a woman who didn't consent."

"To others, now that I'm here and everything is already in the past you can tell the truth." replied Maxime, frowning.

Dorian slowly set down his glass, crossing his fingers in front of him. He seemed to hesitate, but finally sighed deeply, as if shaking off too heavy a weight.

"I did it to save Aveline."