Chapter 45 Chapter 45 "Thank goodness, a lifesaver!' Margaery thought, quickly turning her head toward the door. 45% 38) Dashnell rolled in smoothly on his wheelchair, looking as composed as ever. "Lord Bernard, I get that you're in a rush to get married. Since we've known each other for a while, I'll head to the palace this afternoon and ask Father to grant you Princess Valeria's hand in marriage." Bernard's eyebrow twitched. He said, "Prince Dashnell, your jealousy is showing. Aren't you even going to pretend anymore?" Wait, I like Margaery, and now Prince Dashnell wants to make me his brother-in-law?' Bernard thought, feeling a little dazed. 'Princess Estelle has been chasing me for years. If she keeps it up, I'll have to hide out in my estate just to get some peace. And now if Princess Valeria joins in, maybe I should just move to another country,' he grumbled inwardly. Bernard could only stare in disbelief. Dashnell chuckled. "You're not exactly subtle about trying to win her over, either." Bernard choked, unable to come up with a comeback. The two men stared each other down, while Margaery, stuck between them, felt her cheeks flush and her heart race. She never expected Dashnell to barge in and crash a scene like this, looking for all the world like he was terrified she'd actually run off with Bernard. His words seemed aimed at Bernard, but every single one of them felt like they were really meant for her-as if he was confessing his feelings to her right in front of everyone. 'I like Dashnell too, Margaery thought. 'Does that mean we both like each other?' she wondered, her heart skipping a beat. Dashnell watched her blushing face, then rolled his wheelchair right up to her, tilting his head as he studied her closely. A teasing smile tugged at his lips, his voice low and tempting. "What, you're not even going to thank me?" Margaery's heart was pounding so hard that she thought it might burst. She hurriedly picked up her coffee cup and stammered, "T-Thank you for helping me today, Prince Dashnell." As she spoke, her cheeks grew even hotter. Bernard was just about to pour coffee for Dashnell. But before he could even finish, Dashnell reached over, snatched the cup right out of Margaery's hand, and took a bold sip from it-like it was the most natural thing in the world. Margaery's face flushed bright red, her blush spreading all the way to her neck. That was the cup she had just drunk from, and her lipstick mark was still on it. Bernard's hand shook, spilling coffee everywhere. He stared at Dashnell in utter disbelief. "Prince Dashnell, are you really that parched?" Dashnell set the cup down, looking completely at ease. "If you had a pretty lady in your arms for half an hour and still couldn't get a taste, you'd be even thirstier than I am, Lord Bernard." 1/4 1103 Thu, 21 Aug Chapter 45 45% +38) As he spoke, he draped his arm around Margaery, giving her a mock-aggrieved, playful smile. "Margaery, you nearly tore my clothes off. My reputation's in shambles now. Aren't you going to make it up to me?" He'd missed his chance with her before, but this time, he was determined to act when it mattered, and he wouldn't let anything go wrong for her again. His mind was in turmoil, but his gaze was utterly bewitching. Margaery was wrapped up in his arms, his strikingly handsome face just inches away. Remembering how Dashnell's shirt had been half open when she was fully awake made her utterly embarrassed. But since he was the one she liked, she mustered her courage and played along, asking, "And how exactly do you want me to make it up to you, Your Highness?" Before she could even finish her sentence, Dashnell suddenly bent down and captured her lips with a kiss. "Your Highness..." Margaery whispered breathlessly. Her mind was completely swept away by the thunderous beat of her heart. Her hands gripped the edge of the table so tightly that her knuckles turned white, palms damp with nervous sweat. His breath was fresh and sweet, just like his kiss. It was the taste of a heart racing with love. "That's just too much, Dashnell," Bernard said, drumming his long fingers on the table and calling Dashnell by name. "I invited you two for coffee, and now you're just making out in front of me." Dashnell finally let go of Margaery, still looking reluctant, and grinned. "Don't worry, Lord Bernard. I'll invite you to our wedding soon." With just a few words, he made it crystal clear that Margaery was his, crushing any hope Bernard had left. Bernard was at a total loss for words. He and Dashnell had always gotten along, and in the past, Dashnell was the definition of unflappable-nothing could faze him, not even if the sky was falling. He'd never done anything even remotely out of line. But Bernard never expected him to lose his cool like this. If someone didn't know better, they'd think Dashnell was a total womanizer. After Dashnell stirred things up like this, there was no way Bernard could just take Margaery away anymore. Bernard looked at him, his expression a tangle of emotions. "She's about to marry Dominic." Dashnell lowered his gaze, his eyes lingering tenderly on Margaery. She was so petite sitting beside him, it made him want to cherish her even more. He wrapped his arm around her, holding her close, and declared with quiet certainty, "She won't." "And how can you be so sure?" Bernard challenged. He let out a soft snort, clearly not convinced. Dashnell gazed scoffeedily at Margaery, catching the shy blush on her cheeks and the unmistakable affection in her eyes. He knew she was totally into him. With a soft smile, he said, "I just know she won't." Before Bernard could say anything else, Adam's voice came from the doorway. "Your Highness, His Majesty has summoned you..." 2/4 Q 11:03 Thu, 21 Aug 6 G70 Chapter 45 ི་ 45% 38) Dashnell released Margaery, giving her a meaningful look. "Margaery, don't forget your promise to me." Then he shot Bernard a glance. "Thanks for the coffee, Lord Bernard." With that, he turned his wheelchair and rolled out of the room. Margaery watched him leave, feeling as if his silhouette was seared into her heart, making it race and burn with longing. "Hey! Margaery!" Bernard tapped the table, giving her a conflicted look. "Do you have a thing for Dashnell?" He'd thought that if he seized the chance today, he could find a way to break up Dominic and Margaery, then run away with her and start over somewhere far away. But he never expected Dashnell to beat him to it. And judging by the way Margaery was looking at Dashnell, she was totally lovestruck. It was obvious this wasn't some new acquaintance but something much deeper. Margaery snapped back to her senses. There was no point hiding it anymore, so she just admitted, "Yeah." Bernard was at a loss for words. "Ouch, that really hurts. Couldn't you at least sugarcoat it a little for the sake of my fragile single heart?" Margaery looked a little embarrassed. "Thank you for everything you did for me today, Lord Bernard. I'm really sorry about all this. It's just that..." She paused, then finally looked up at Bernard, forcing herself to speak the truth. "Earlier on the third floor, I was drugged, and Dashnell was the one who took me away. I wasn't myself at all, and I... I did something to him that couldn't be undone. So..." Then, with a look of utter disbelief and a hint of teasing, he blurted out, "Wait, did you just have your way with Dashnell?" "No, that's not it..." Margaery stammered, her face turning scarlet with embarrassment. She hadn't expected Bernard to be so forward and quickly shook her head. "It's not what you think! I just... acted a little out of line, and he used his inner strength to help me get rid of the drug..." "Well, at least he's still a gentleman," Bernard muttered, half teasing, half resigned. He was left completely speechless-how was he supposed to compete with that? It was going to be even harder to steal her away. Any man could see that Dashnell was crazy about Margaery. He was so into her that he'd stop at nothing to win her over. But for someone that ruthless, when Margaery was drugged, he actually used his inner force to help her get rid of it instead of just going with the flow. Bernard couldn't help but mutter, "If he's not, you know, incapable, then honestly, I've got to respect the guy." He looked at Margaery, half teasing, half serious. "But Lady Margaery, have you ever considered that Dashnell might actually be... well, incapable as a man? That he might not be able to father children with you?" "That doesn't matter," Margaery replied, shaking her head without hesitation. "If we can't have children, we can always adopt. Or not-it's fine either way. There are so many orphans in the Eastvale Empire. Adopting one would be a good deed. And if we take in a few more, our home could be filled with laughter and warmth, just like a big family," she said, her voice gentle but resolute. "You're hopeless," Bernard muttered with a sigh, giving Margaery a complicated look. 3/4 - 11:04 Thu, 21 Aug 60 Chapter 45 ཊཱི 45% +38 He let out a long breath, his expression conflicted as he stared at her. "But what about your engagement to Dominic? I heard the Hadley family already sent betrothal gifts to the Chancellor's estate, and both your father and brothers accepted them." AD Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!