Once Upon A [Hidden] Time - [Stolen] Series IV

CHAPTER 48

EDWARD
29 JUNE 1415

"Goodness!" Myra said as she studied the man. "It's Andrew!"

I looked at the man carefully and realised she was right. He had so much resemblance to my father—the shape and colour of his eyes, the way his eyes darted from one person to another, and worst of all, the way he looked at the bride.

"Jasmine," David said, creating a distance from his wife, "this is my brother Andrew."

"Half-brother, I must say," smirked Andrew, his eyes roving over her in the same manner my father ogles at Myra. So much darkness in him, I could hear Jasmine's thoughts aloud. I was certain that Myra could hear them, too. Jasmine had disliked the man instantly.

With a smile and as much pleasantry as she could muster, Jasmine turned to her brother-in-law. "Welcome to the wedding."

"My brother never informed me about the wedding, though," Andrew snickered. I also disliked him instantly. He could be a person who was willing to stab his own brother to gain power and control—and what was more powerful than the Queen of England?

"I knew you would still come," replied David, his gentle voice edging to stern. "It was too sudden to send you a message."

"How delightful it was," Andrew said, clapping his hands, "that I got to be in England today." His eyes raked over the bride. "I heard the wedding bells, and I was taken by surprise that the Queen of England chose to marry my brother."

Jasmine masked a fake smile on her face. I knew that if she faked it just a little more, her face would crack like an eggshell. Still, she maintained the pleasantries.

"Your Majesty." Andrew bowed in respect. "Allow me to introduce myself." Like his brother, he seemed to be someone who would not need the Queen's permission. "As my brother said, I am Andrew Hue. David and I share the same father, but people tell me I am the bastard child." There was a murmur among the crowd. How could he use this language in the chapel?

"Brother, our father gave you the title," David said. "I never considered you illegitimate."

"Really? Is that not why you never invited me to your wedding?" Andrew argued, gesturing towards the crowd. "Such a grand wedding that the entire kingdom was invited to."

"They are my guests, brother-in-law," interjected Jasmine. "Had I known about you...we would have extended our invitation." I could see in Jasmine's eyes how uncomfortable she felt under Andrew's watchful gaze.

"Pervert!" Myra commented. Perhaps she was holding her tongue, but I knew she wanted to say out loud that this man acted like my father.

"As my husband said, the decision was quite hasty, and if you happened not to be in England, you would not have made it at all."

"Indeed," Andrew answered.

"So, welcome to our wedding," David said, his abrasive tone quite evident.

David and Jasmine stepped down from the altar, with David's hand on the small of her back. The way Andrew was looking at the couple made it quite obvious that the man was jealous, and he would do anything to own Jasmine.

"Next, we have a ball," Jasmine announced, glancing at her new enemy. "If you have a partner, feel free to bring her with you."

David smiled lovingly at Jasmine. "Shall we?"

"That's it?" Myra asked, looking in my direction. "That's how they met and got married?"

"What were you expecting?"

"I heard that they both came in and worked for Jasmine, and later on, Andrew proposed to the Queen first. Jasmine chose his brother and not him, and that's what chafed him."