The Cruel Secret Hidden Inside My Royal Bride's Locked Wooden Barrel Changed Everything

The King's Trap

Before Gabriel could even process the terrifying warning, the heavy cathedral doors slammed shut with a deafening boom. The sound reverberated through the gothic arches like a death knell. King William’s cold, cruel laughter echoed through the vast space. Around the perimeter of the chapel, the King's personal guards unsheathed their swords, their cold steel gleaming in the filtered sunlight.

Gabriel realized with sickening clarity that this entire wedding was a trap. King William had already poisoned Gabriel's family back at their estate to seize their ancestral lands, and now, Gabriel was to be executed under the guise of a tragic wedding-day tragedy. Victoria sobbed muffled cries inside her wooden prison, her hands clutching Gabriel's navy blue sleeves in desperation.

"A tragic day indeed," King William sneered, stepping back as his guards closed in. "The young prince, driven to madness by his bride's hidden disfigurement, took his own life. My daughter remains the sole heir to your family's vast territories."

Gabriel’s fear instantly transformed into a burning, protective rage. He looked at Victoria, then at the heavy brass padlock still in his hand. He had no sword, but he refused to die like a sheep in a slaughterhouse. With a sudden burst of adrenaline, Gabriel grabbed a massive, heavy iron candelabra from the altar and swung it with all his might, striking the lead guard and sending him crashing to the stone floor.

Using the distraction, Gabriel wrapped his arm around Victoria's waist. Despite the heavy wooden barrel restricting her vision, she trusted him implicitly, moving in unison with his frantic steps. Gabriel dragged her toward the dark, arched doorway behind the altar—the entrance to the ancient cathedral catacombs. As arrows whistled past their ears, they plunged into the dark, subterranean tunnels, slamming the heavy iron gate behind them and locking it from the inside.