Secretly Married for 4 Years, He Regrets to Tears After the Divorce-Chapter 207: Wedding in Five Days

Barton put heavy emphasis on the words "new chief."

Adrian Lancaster pushed himself up, his movements deliberately stiff.

He lowered his gaze, letting his long hair hide his all-too-lucid eyes. When he spoke, his voice held just the right amount of hoarseness.

"Thank you, Chief and elders, for your concern."

Barton’s face was expressionless. "I am not the chief now. You are."

Adrian Lancaster knew perfectly well that Barton’s words were filled with hostility, not genuine consent. Their true purpose in coming here was to test him.

"Chief Barton, please believe me. I’ve never had any thought of seizing power, nor do I have the ability to challenge your position as chief. The rain that day was merely a coincidence. You are the true leader of Sarankal."

Barton seemed somewhat mollified by his words. He tilted his head back haughtily and shot Adrian Lancaster a disdainful look.

"At least you know your place."

"However," he said, his tone shifting abruptly, "the will of the River God cannot be defied by anyone, including me. What’s more, the people of Sarankal now all support you as the new chief. With divine will and popular support on your side, I would be the one in the wrong if I objected."

"So, I now agree to yield the chieftainship to you."

Adrian Lancaster: "..."

’So Nia was telling the truth.’

Just then, the one-eyed elder standing beside Barton spoke, his voice low and aged.

"Since the River God has chosen you, it is only natural that you lead Sarankal. However..."

He paused for a few seconds, his single, cloudy eye narrowing slightly, glinting with a dangerous malice.

"The leader of Sarankal has always been someone who can wrestle a crocodile with their bare hands. I wonder, would you dare to try?"

Adrian Lancaster: "..."

The air inside the hut suddenly grew tense.

’This test is far more direct and brutal than I imagined,’ Adrian Lancaster sneered inwardly.

He broke into a violent coughing fit, his shoulder blades shuddering.

Nia rushed over, steadying him with a worried look.

"Tarn, are you all right?"

Adrian Lancaster shook his head. "I’m fine. Don’t worry. Let me finish speaking with the elder."

Nia murmured her assent and fell silent, no longer interrupting.

Adrian Lancaster looked up at the one-eyed elder.

"You must be joking, Elder. In this frail body of mine, forget wrestling a crocodile—I can’t even make it out the door without help. I wouldn’t dare covet the position of chief."

His tone was sincere and firm. "Sarankal needs a valiant protector like Chief Barton, not me."

"But the divine will is not to be defied," said another elder who had been silent until now.

"To defy the River God’s will is an act of great sacrilege. Sarankal would be punished, and no one dares risk becoming a pariah to the tribe."

’Good cop, bad cop.’

Adrian Lancaster knew perfectly well what they were doing and let out a troubled sigh.

"In that case, let’s find a compromise."

"What compromise?" an elder asked.

Adrian Lancaster answered, "I will serve as Sarankal’s interim chief, but only after I have fully recovered. Until then, Chief Barton will remain in power."

Barton’s pupils constricted. He turned to exchange a look with the elders.

In the end, they nodded in agreement with Adrian Lancaster’s proposal.

"However, your wedding to Nia cannot be delayed. Five days from now is an auspicious day."

When Nia heard this, she shyly lowered her head, a sweet smile gracing her lips.

Adrian Lancaster tried to refuse tactfully. "Chief Barton, there’s no hurry to get married. I still haven’t recovered my health. I’m practically an invalid. Why don’t we discuss the marriage after I’ve fully healed?"

Nia looked up. "Tarn, you’re not an invalid. After we’re married, I’ll continue to take care of you."

Adrian Lancaster felt a headache coming on.

He found the prospect of marrying Nia even harder to accept than becoming the tribal chief.

"Nia, this isn’t fair to you. I don’t want to be a burden."

Nia’s gaze was clear and unwavering. "I don’t see you as a burden."

"..."

At that moment, Barton took a step forward, his massive frame casting an oppressive shadow over Adrian Lancaster.

"And how long will it take for you to ’fully recover’?"

"Since you have acknowledged the River God’s will, you have acknowledged that you are a member of the Sarankal Tribe. Therefore, the marriage cannot be delayed."

Adrian Lancaster’s fingertips dug deep into the animal-hide bedding, but he forced a weak smile. "Chief Barton, you misunderstand me. I’m simply worried that marrying in my current state of health would tarnish Nia’s purity."

"The women of Sarankal have never feared caring for the wounded." Barton cut off Adrian Lancaster’s every avenue of retreat with a sharp wave of his hand.

He turned and pointed out the window. In the tribe’s main clearing, a huge bonfire was now burning, its sparks fluttering like golden-red moths toward the azure sky.

"Our people have already begun preparing for the celebration. The River God’s will must be affirmed with a wedding, and the tribe’s unity must be bolstered by this joyous occasion. This is not just about you—it is the will of all of Sarankal."

Adrian Lancaster frowned. "Chief Barton!"

Barton gave him no more room to argue. His booming voice was like a final sentence, leaving no room for doubt.

"You will marry Nia in five days. Be prepared."

The cheers of the tribespeople flooded in through the window like a tidal wave, filled with fervent expectation.

"Congratulations to our new chief and Nia!"

"May the River God bless you with a lifetime of happiness and keep Sarankal safe."

...

Barton and the elders led Nia out of the hut.

According to Sarankal custom, the bride and groom were not to see each other for the five days preceding the wedding.

Nia returned to her own quarters. Still worried about Tarn, she arranged for one of her trusted servants to bring him his medicine at the same time each day.

Inside the hut, Adrian Lancaster was alone.

His expression was dark and icy. Rage burned in his chest, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged.

’Being forced into a marriage is a disgrace for any man.’

Adrian Lancaster found this impossible to accept.

’I can’t just sit here and wait to die. I have to do something. I have to find a way to escape this place.’

That afternoon, Nia’s trusted maidservant pushed open the door and entered, carrying two bowls of herbal medicine.

"Chief Tarn, Nia sent me to bring you your medicine. She brewed it herself."

Adrian Lancaster nodded for her to set the medicine down, then asked casually, "You’re one of Nia’s attendants?"

"Yes, Chief Tarn," the servant girl answered respectfully.

Adrian Lancaster sized her up. "I don’t believe I’ve seen you before."

The servant girl explained, "Without Nia’s permission, servants are not allowed near this hut."

A humorless smile touched Adrian Lancaster’s lips. "I see."

"Please drink your medicine, Chief Tarn. It will get cold," the servant girl urged.

Adrian Lancaster drank both bowls of medicine right in front of her.

The servant girl picked up the empty bowls and turned to leave.

"Wait a moment," Adrian Lancaster’s voice came from behind her.

The servant girl stopped at once, turning back with her head lowered. "Do you have an order, Chief Tarn?"

Adrian Lancaster said, "Since you call me chief, you will answer whatever I ask."

"Yes."

Adrian Lancaster didn’t bother beating around the bush and got straight to the point.

"In five days, Nia and I will be married, making Sarankal my home. Yet, I’m completely unfamiliar with the lay of the land here and the surrounding area. Tell me about it."

The servant girl didn’t dare disobey the chief’s command, so she began to diligently describe the geography of Sarankal.

Adrian Lancaster listened with rapt attention, committing every detail to memory as he began to plot his escape route.