Sold To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 23: To Marry Her

Theron’s hands tightened slowly at his sides.

Marry Aveline.

Love her.

The words lingered in the quiet study as if Theodore had set something fragile and unfamiliar between them.

Theron lowered his gaze for a moment, his fingers curling into fists.

What did any of that even mean?

His life had never been built around things like love or personal desire. From the moment he was old enough to understand the world, he had been reminded, again and again, that he was only a piece on a far larger board. A prince did not get to have interests and dislikes of his own. A prince did not get to pursue happiness simply because he wished for it.

His purpose was simpler than that.

Serve the people.

Strengthen the kingdom.

Make Greenvale the greatest power on the continent.

Everything else came second.

The only reason he had been allowed to leave now was because he had made a promise to his parents before he left. When he returned, he would marry whomever they chose for him. No arguments. No resistance. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

That was the bargain.

And now Theodore was asking him about love.

Was love even necessary for marriage? What was love, anyway?

Theron’s brow furrowed slightly as the question lingered in his mind longer than he expected.

Because there was something else there... Something that had lived quietly inside his chest for more than a decade now, refusing to fade no matter how much time passed.

A feeling that surfaced whenever he breathed too deeply... whenever his thoughts wandered... whenever he closed his eyes.

Was that love?

What was the tight pain in his chest when he saw her scars?

What was that rage in his heart when she offered herself as a mistress?

What was the anger that burned in him whenever she tried to run away from him, as if putting distance between them would somehow make things better?

Why did it irritate him so much to see her standing too close to another man?

Theron exhaled slowly.

No.

That could not be love.

Love was supposed to be gentle. Noble. Beautiful. What he felt for her was something far more stubborn and unreasonable... Selfish.

It was simply this: she was the one person who had once looked at him and seen nothing extraordinary at all.

Back then, he had been nobody.

Just another boy with no title worth mentioning, no influence, no expectations. And while everyone else measured his worth against his family name or his future responsibilities, when there was none, she had simply... stayed.

She laughed with him, she argued with him, and looked after him in small, careless ways that required no effort at all.

She never expected anything in return except the simple things he could give—his company, his smile, and the quiet comfort of knowing someone would still be there tomorrow.

That was all it was. Nothing more.

Love felt like too simple a word for what he carried toward her, and the truth was that he had never needed a marriage to remain by her side.

Theron lifted his head again, his expression composed, as if none of the questions that had passed through his mind a moment ago had left even the faintest ripple behind.

"What does that have to do with you?" he asked coolly. "What I do with her is none of your concern."

Theodore’s jaw tightened.

Until that moment, he had been trying to understand Theron. Trying to measure whether the man standing in front of him could truly be trusted with Aveline’s future. But hearing that indifferent tone... the careless dismissal in his voice, ignited something sharp in Theodore’s chest.

"Then I suppose I’ll have to marry her," Theodore said, his voice firm. "That was Uncle’s wish, after all."

The thought came to him with sudden clarity. If Theron intended to treat Aveline like nothing more than something he had purchased, then Theodore had no intention of stepping aside.

Theron had bought her.

Bought her like a commodity.

And now he spoke of her as if she were nothing more than an inconvenience.

How could Theodore trust a man like that with someone who had already suffered so much?

Perhaps he and Aveline had never felt that pull between them before. Perhaps their bond had always been closer to that of siblings who had survived the same storms together. But feelings could change. Time had a way of turning familiar affection into something deeper.

And even if that never happened, Theodore knew one thing with certainty: he would still protect her.

Theron’s head snapped toward him.

The shift in his expression was immediate. His jaw tightened, and for a brief moment, the calm composure he carried cracked enough to reveal the irritation beneath.

"You forfeited Aveline," Theron said sharply. "Have you forgotten?"

Theodore frowned, straightening instinctively. Though he lacked Theron’s imposing build, he still lifted his chin and squared his shoulders as if preparing for a challenge.

"What are you talking about?"

Theron’s lips curved slowly into a mocking smile.

"Back then," he said, "when we dueled, and Aveline was the prize... you lost."

Theodore blinked, momentarily confused.

"And another time," Theron continued with obvious satisfaction, "you traded away your right to marry her for the Snowbell fruit I had."

It took Theodore a moment.

But the memory eventually surfaced.

Two boys standing in the garden, arguing over something childish. A wooden sword duel that had seemed like the most important battle in the world at the time. A ridiculous exchange over a rare fruit he so wanted at that time.

Back then he had been what... eleven? Twelve?

The realization settled heavily in his chest.

He had never taken those moments seriously.

But now that he thought about it, neither of them had treated Aveline as anything more than a prize to be won or traded.

The anger draining from him left behind something far more uncomfortable.

Guilt.

Did he even have the right to be angry with Theron for doing the same thing he himself had once done so carelessly?

"You’ll be the lord of this estate soon," Theron said, his tone returning to its cold certainty. "And I’m taking Aveline with me."

He spoke as though the matter were already decided. Without waiting for a response, Theron turned toward the door.

"What would Aveline even do in Greenvale?" Theodore called after him.

Theron did not answer.

He simply walked past Theodore, brushing his shoulder against him with enough force to shove him aside as he left the study.

Theodore staggered half a step before catching himself. His hand moved instinctively to his shoulder, rubbing the dull ache that lingered there as he watched Theron disappear down the corridor.

Silence settled into the study again. After a moment, Theodore exhaled slowly. In the end, neither of them had the right to decide this for her. The choice had to belong to Aveline.

Straightening, Theodore turned toward the door. He needed to find her.

-----

Theron’s lips curved faintly when he saw his guards holding Theodore back near the corridor.

Good.

That would give him time.

He quickened his pace across the courtyard, the gravel crunching under his boots as he headed toward the small grove behind the estate where the old graves lay. By the time he reached the clearing, the lantern light flickered softly against the stone markers.

Aveline was there.

She was leaning against one of the graves, her shoulder resting lightly against the weathered stone as if she had simply grown tired while cleaning it.

Theron slowed to a stop.

For a brief moment, he simply stood there watching her.

The air in the grove was quiet, disturbed only by the faint rustle of leaves above them.

A shadow slipped forward beside him.

Kael, the Shadow Strider, appeared at his side as silently as he always did.

"Sire," he murmured quietly.

Theron did not look at him. His gaze remained fixed on Aveline.

"Yes?"

Kael hesitated.

The pause was unusual enough to draw Theron’s attention. When he finally turned his head, Kael’s posture had grown stiff, as though the words he was about to say were far more dangerous than any enemy blade.

"If I may speak freely, sire..." Kael began.

"Speak."

Kael swallowed.

"Sire... you might want to stay away from her."

That made Theron turn fully toward him.

"Explain."