Chapter 257 CHAPTER 257 - FINAL CHAPTER

Chapter 257 CHAPTER 257 - FINAL CHAPTER
Lisa stood still as the attendants finished the last adjustments, her fingers lightly gripping the edge of her dress before she let them fall again. The fabric settled around her in soft layers, simple but elegant, the kind that didn’t try too hard and didn’t need to. She glanced at her reflection briefly, then away, her breath leaving her in a quiet exhale.

“You’ve been doing that for the last five minutes,” a voice said gently behind her.

Lisa smiled without turning. “I know.”

Queen Helena stepped closer, her hands resting lightly on Lisa’s shoulders before smoothing down a fold that didn’t need fixing.

“You look ready,” Helena said.

Lisa let out a small breath. “I feel ready,” she replied, then paused. “Just… a lot.”

Helena’s hands lingered for a second longer. “It’s allowed to be a lot,” she said softly. “It means it matters.”

Lisa nodded, her fingers brushing together once before she straightened.

“Is he already there?” she asked.

Helena smiled faintly. “He hasn’t moved from his spot,” she said. “I think if anyone tried to move him, he’d fight them.”

Lisa let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head slightly. “That sounds like him.”

A soft knock followed.

“It’s time,” one of the attendants said from the doorway.

Lisa inhaled slowly, then turned.

“I’ll walk you out,” Helena said as she took her arm in hers.

Lisa nodded once.

Together, they stepped out.

The courtyard of Mooncrest had been prepared before sunrise, but now, under the steady glow of the evening moon, it felt alive in a different way. Lanterns lined the stone paths, their light warm against the cool night, while the open sky above stretched wide and clear, the moon resting high as if it had chosen to witness the moment.

The kingdom had gathered.

Guards stood along the edges, in honor of their commander’s big day. Citizens filled the space beyond, their voices low, expectant, the quiet hum of people who had come not out of obligation, but because they wanted to be there.

At the center…

Liam Blackthorne stood waiting.

His posture was steady, his hands loosely at his sides, but his gaze never left the path ahead.

When Lisa appeared, everything else seemed to soften.

He didn’t move immediately.

He just watched her.

Lisa stepped forward slowly, the sound of her steps light against the stone as she made her way toward him. Her gaze met his halfway, and something in her expression eased the closer she got.

“You took your time,” Liam said quietly as she reached him.

Lisa tilted her head slightly. “I wanted to give you enough time to make a run for it. Now it’s too late.”

He huffed a soft breath. “Not going anywhere.”

“Good,” she said.

A faint pause settled between them.

Then a voice carried gently from the side.

Priestess Celestine stepped forward, her presence calm, her gaze moving between them before addressing the gathered crowd.

“A year ago,” she began, “this kingdom stood at the edge of something uncertain. Today, it stands whole again—not because of power alone, but because of choice.”

The words settled easily.

He turned back to them.

“You stand here not because a bond forced you,” he continued, “but because you chose it.”

Liam glanced briefly at Lisa.

She met his gaze.

“I choose you,” he said, his voice steady but quieter now, meant for her more than anyone else.

Lisa’s lips curved slightly. “I know,” she replied. “And I choose you too warden of the realms.”

Celestine nodded once.

“Then let the bond be sealed,” she said.

The space around them grew still.

Liam stepped closer.

His hand lifted, resting gently at the side of Lisa’s neck, his touch grounding, not rushed. Lisa’s breath shifted slightly, but she didn’t move away. Her hand came up to his arm, steadying more than holding.

“Still sure?” he murmured.

Lisa nodded once. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

That was all he needed.

He leaned in.

The moment wasn’t sharp.

It wasn’t violent.

It was quiet.

Intentional.

When his mark found her skin, Lisa’s grip tightened slightly, her breath catching before settling into something deeper. A warmth spread through her slowly, not overwhelming, just present, moving through her chest and settling somewhere steady.

Liam stilled for a second after, his forehead resting lightly against hers.

“You alright?” he asked softly.

Lisa let out a small breath. “Yeah,” she said. “I am.”

She pulled back just enough.

Then her hand lifted to his shoulder.

“Your turn,” she said.

Liam’s brow lifted slightly. “You’re not going to let me have all the glory?”

Lisa smiled faintly. “Not a chance.”

He didn’t argue.

When she marked him, it carried the same quiet certainty, the same steadiness, her hand anchoring him as the connection settled between them.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then Liam exhaled slowly.

“I can feel you,” he said.

Lisa tilted her head slightly. “That’s because I’m right here.”

He shook his head faintly, a small smile forming as he put his hand on his chest. “No,” he said. “I mean… here.”

She stilled.

Then nodded.

“Me too.” She said softly.

Around them, the crowd broke into applause, the sound rising not in chaos, but in something warmer, something relieved.

Lisa turned slightly at the movement.

Near the front, Isabel sat beside King Ethan, leaning slightly toward him as she whispered something that made him huff a quiet breath.

“You planned that?” she murmured.

Ethan glanced at her. “Some of it.”

She smiled. “I knew it.”

A few seats away, Jocelyn sat beside Helena and Lora, their heads close together as they spoke in low voices, the kind that carried ease rather than tension.

“And look at them now,” Helena murmured.

Jocelyn smiled softly. “They deserve this.”

Laura nodded a soft smile spreading across her face. 

Back at the center, the noise softened again.

Liam glanced at Lisa.

Then, before she could say anything…

He stepped back slightly.

And dropped to one knee. He took

Lisa blinked.

“Wait…. what are you doing?” she asked, a soft laugh already rising.

Liam didn’t answer immediately. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, holding it for a second before opening it.

The ring shone under the moonlight, simple and elegant.

Lisa’s smile stilled.

“We’ve done things in the right order so far,” he said. “But I think I skipped something important.”

Lisa’s smile faltered into something softer.

“Lisa,” he continued, “will you be my chosen mate? Not just by bond… but by everything else that comes with it.”

For a second, she didn’t speak.

“Lisa Ashvale, Princess of Mooncrest…” He continued, “Will you marry me?”

Then she shook her head lightly, laughing under her breath as her hand came up to cover her mouth.

“You’re really asking me this now?” she said.

“In front of everyone,” he replied.

She let out a small breath.

Then stepped closer.

“Yes,” she said. “Of course I will.”

Liam stood, closing the distance between them as he took her hand, his fingers steady as he slid the ring onto her finger. It fit, like it had always belonged there.

He pulled her into him, his hand resting at her back as she leaned into him without hesitation.

The kiss was gentle.

Certain.

Her hand rested lightly against his chest as his arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her just a little closer as the moment settled between them.

For a heartbeat, the world felt still.

Then the courtyard erupted.

Cheers rose, laughter followed, voices overlapping in a wave of warmth that carried through the night as they pulled back, still close, still holding onto each other.

Across the seats, Ethan leaned slightly toward Isabel whose eyes were already tearing with emotions.

“Don’t get too emotional, the next one is ours,” he murmured, his voice low on her ear.

Isabel glanced at him, her smile soft but certain.

“We’ll see.” 

He leaned in, pressing a light kiss against her cheek.

THE END

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