She listened attentively as her parents told her that it was not true that they had a happy vacation but they were actually captured by Prince Andrew and were coerced to tell the truth about her. They told her how Prince Andrew physically tortured her father while her mother was almost violated just to force them to expose what they knew about her. They did not hide anything from her even their several failed attempts to escape and the true reason why her mother come home earlier and let her father stay behind.

"I am sorry, Beatrix! Father failed to protect you! You and your mother, I failed both of you!" General Ardor seriously told his daughter.

"Do not feel sorry, Father! You did the right thing! I am glad that you protected Mother with all of your might. I could never forgive myself if something bad happened to her because of me." She expressed her emotions. It seems that Prince Andrew owed her more than she expected. He even dared to hurt her father and mother!

Beatrix told them that Prince Andrew threatened her about the schemes that they did several years ago to break the engagement. She also told them how she miscarried and the nature of Zander King's death. She has suspicion that Prince Andrew killed him but she lacks evidence to make him pay. Finally, she shared what happened during her wedding and how she was fooled by him. She also included what happened in the throne room. Her parents sighed heavily after they heard everything. It seems that they encountered a huge and heavy boulder that they cannot easily move!

The case of the bride swapping spread like wildfire to the whole Sky Empire and Cloud Empire, especially inside the capital of Sky Empire. It appears that some unknown individuals deliberately spread it to the people. It became a laughing stock and a huge slap to the imperial family of Sky Empire and Cloud Empire as well as the Lamoreaux and Marvel families so the Emperor tried to fix it as soon as possible.

The Emperor made a serious investigation of what happened. The result of the investigation was not exposed to the public but later, he angrily changed his imperial decree indicating that Princess Madeline is now the Imperial Wife and Princess of Prince Anders while Beatrix is now the Imperial Wife and Princess of Prince Andrew.

Prince Anders does not want to receive the decree and declared that everything is so unfair! He left Sky Empire and cut off all of his connections to the imperial family. The Emperor and Empress tried to look for him but they never found him. They only knew that he is constantly traveling from place to place and seemed to deliberately avoid being found.

Princess Madeline started to live in Prince Anders' Mansion but she lives like a widow because Prince Anders left and abandoned everything.

Prince Andrew accepted the imperial decree but before he could officially receive it, first he needs to receive two hundred lashes. He is punished with two years of no salary and also ordered to perform two years of community service.

After Prince Andrew received the two hundred lashes, he immediately asked for the imperial decree and went back to his mansion to tend to his wounds and immediately changed into new clothes to pick up his wife, Beatrix!

When he arrived in the General's Mansion, General Ardor and Lady Andrea glared at him fiercely. They did not greet him and want to throw him outside if not for the imperial decree he is currently holding, informing them that Beatrix is now his Imperial Wife and Princess!

Beatrix was already informed about the Emperor's decision. She was defeated by him again and her great scheme ultimately failed! Everything is a mess now and she caused harm to several people. She does not want to create more trouble so when Prince Andrew arrived to pick her up, she did not make a fuss. She bade farewell to her parents. Her mother is crying because of worry while her father clenched his fist wanting to personally punch someone!

Beatrix shook her head to her father, indicating to just let it go and not cause any more trouble on her behalf. She bowed to her parents and directly went inside the carriage, not saying anything to anyone anymore. She did her best to escape Prince Andrew in this lifetime but her best was not good enough!

"We will go now, Father and Mother!" Prince Andrew said goodbye to her parents.

"Do not call us Father and Mother! You are not our son!" General Ardor angrily spat.

"Yes, Father-in-Law!" He said then join Beatrix inside the carriage.

© 2021 Jezel Mandin Sapata-Gentiles. All Rights Reserved.