Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale 164 Summary
In Chapter 164 of “Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows,” Nathaniel grapples with the emotional turmoil of receiving an imperial decree that grants him a union with the renowned Star of Fortune, Margaery. The joy of this announcement is bittersweet, as he feels the weight of familial loss and the distance from his sister, who has formed a bond with another. Despite the decree’s restrictions on physical contact, Nathaniel’s heart swells with hope and destiny, marking a significant moment in his royal standing. He accepts the edict with reverence, yet a shadow of doubt lingers, particularly in the eyes of Warren, who seems to harbor unspoken concerns.
Meanwhile, the Wallen family home is engulfed in tension as Joshua and Clyde deal with their injuries while awaiting news about Raul. Tessa, overwhelmed with anxiety, tries to care for her brother Clyde, but their conversation quickly turns to anger directed at Margaery. Clyde’s frustration with Margaery’s actions leads him to declare that he will sever all ties with her, feeling that her disgrace has tainted their family. Tessa, driven by jealousy and resentment, fantasizes about Margaery’s downfall and the potential chaos that could ensue from her new title.
As the chapter unfolds, Tessa’s emotions intensify when news arrives from the palace. Warren announces that Margaery has been betrothed to Prince Nathaniel, a revelation that shatters Tessa’s hopes for Margaery’s ruin. The jealousy that consumes her is palpable as she struggles to maintain her composure, masking her inner turmoil with forced smiles. The sudden shift in Margaery’s status from a disgraced daughter to a potential Crown Princess ignites a fierce rivalry in Tessa, who had envisioned Margaery’s fall from grace.
The chapter encapsulates a turning point for both Nathaniel and Margaery, as well as the brewing tension within the Wallen family. Nathaniel’s acceptance of his fate intertwines with the chaos surrounding Margaery’s newfound title, setting the stage for a clash of emotions and ambitions. As Tessa grapples with her jealousy and the implications of Margaery’s rise, the narrative hints at the complexities of loyalty, power, and familial bonds that will shape the characters’ futures.
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**Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale**
**Chapter 164**
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Nathaniel stood there, grappling with the weight of the decree that forbade him from any physical contact upon his arrival. The implications were lost on him, but the overwhelming joy of being granted a union with the illustrious Star of Fortune was a beacon of his father’s affection and support. This marriage was not merely a personal bond; it was a symbol of his standing within the realm, a testament to his place in the royal hierarchy.
His heart swelled with happiness, a rare feeling in a life often shadowed by loss. His mother had left this world too soon, and his younger sister, raised alongside Alicia, had forged a bond with Marcus that Nathaniel could only observe from a distance. As her elder brother, he had always felt a chasm between them, an emotional disconnect that left him feeling more like a guardian than a sibling. Now, the King had become his sole anchor in this turbulent sea of familial bonds.
With tears shimmering in his eyes, Nathaniel stepped outside, his knees hitting the ground as he accepted the imperial edict. “I accept the imperial edict,” he declared, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions within him.
“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Here is the Lady of Glowsend, the Star of Fortune, a match made in heaven with the Crown Prince of our dynasty. A special marriage is granted, to be completed on New Year’s Day!” The proclamation echoed in his ears, filling him with a sense of destiny.
“I accept the imperial edict,” he repeated, rising with the official document clutched tightly in his hands, his eyes still glistening with unshed tears. “Please convey my gratitude to His Majesty,” he requested, his voice tinged with reverence.
Warren, standing beside him, nodded, but his expression was anything but warm. There was a distance in his gaze, a flicker of something unspoken that Nathaniel couldn’t quite place.
“Prince Nathaniel, please return. I must visit the Wallen family,” Warren instructed, his tone brisk and dismissive.
Nathaniel, still holding the precious edict, turned away with purpose. “Prepare to welcome the Crown Princess starting tomorrow!” he ordered, a newfound determination coursing through him.
Warren shook his head, a sigh escaping his lips as he departed to find Margaery. It was no secret that Nathaniel was not the King’s favored son, a fact that lingered like a shadow over his joy.
But the King was in his prime, a ruler who understood the nuances of power. Some matters took time to unfold, and some people needed patience. Impatience, after all, was a fool’s companion.
*****
The Wallen family home was steeped in tension.
Joshua had just finished wrapping his wound and was seated beside Clyde, who was waiting anxiously for Raul’s return. The atmosphere was thick with worry.
Tessa knelt beside Clyde’s bed, her hands trembling as she changed his bandages. “Joshua, Clyde, both of you are hurt. Russell and Avery have already left, and Andrew hasn’t returned yet. The New Year is fast approaching. What are we going to do?” Her voice quivered, tears threatening to spill over.
“If I had foreseen this calamity, I would have stayed away,” Joshua lamented, a heavy weight settling in his chest. “Perhaps my absence would have spared this family from turmoil. It’s all my fault…”
Clyde, sensing Tessa’s distress, frowned. “Why are you crying?” he asked, irritation lacing his tone. The sight of her tears only fueled his anger towards Margaery.
“The chaos Margaery has caused is not your doing. If you ask me, Father should publicly sever ties with her. Our Wallen family should not be associated with such a daughter,” Clyde asserted, his voice rising with indignation.
He was well aware of the disgrace that Margaery had brought upon their family. The shocking events at the party had left him utterly astounded, and he longed to confront her, to deliver a few well-deserved slaps. But his injuries rendered him immobile, leaving him to simmer in his frustration.
Clyde’s fury boiled over when he heard Tessa attempting to shift the blame onto him. “How dare you?” he seethed, feeling as though his wounds might burst from the intensity of his rage.
Tessa, sensing his agitation, felt a twisted satisfaction. “You know, Margaery was raised in the Chancellor’s estate. Perhaps Father is too soft-hearted to admit it, but deep down, he still cares for her,” she said, her voice dripping with malice.
“That’s how parents are. Even when their children bring ruin upon the family, they find a way to forgive…” Her words were designed to provoke him, to drive him to the brink of madness.
In her mind, she envisioned the Chancellor’s estate severing all ties with Margaery, and she fantasized about silencing her for good. Once Margaery and Russell were out of the picture…
Tessa’s cold laugh echoed in her thoughts.
She could almost see the Wallen family, who had once trusted and protected her, facing execution for treason and collusion. The day would come when she would emerge unscathed, transformed into someone powerful.
But for now, her immediate concern was to keep Russell and Margaery from uttering any more nonsense that could lead to her downfall. She needed to find a way to meet with Callum; this was a burden too great to bear alone.
Clyde’s fury ignited further at Tessa’s words. “Forgive? Not a chance!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the room.
“Tomorrow morning, I will have the word spread. From this day forth, I have no sister named Margaery Wallen. Let’s see what she becomes without the Wallen family!” His declaration reverberated with anger.
The room vibrated with his furious shouts, leaving Joshua with a throbbing headache. Yet, he couldn’t help but agree with Clyde’s sentiments.
“Margaery doesn’t grasp the value of family. If she truly leaves this home, what does it matter if she is the Star of Fortune? She will be at the mercy of others. With her reputation in tatters, if she cannot enter Prince Dashnell’s residence, she will have no choice but to seek refuge in a convent.”
Tessa nodded in agreement, her heart heavy with emotion. “Indeed, Prince Dashnell mentioned today that he was with Margaery at Pero Cela. If he cannot marry her, she will inevitably find herself in a convent.”
“After all, no one else would dare to marry her now,” she added, her mind racing with thoughts of Margaery’s downfall.
Would Dashnell truly marry Margaery? Tessa doubted it. After all, Callum had pointed out that marrying her was fraught with risks. The King would never allow it.
The only future awaiting Margaery was that of a nun, a fate far removed from Tessa’s own path.
As Tessa contemplated this, a secret smile crept onto her lips. She had Callum, after all.
Suddenly, a voice broke the tension. “Lord Joshua, Chamberlain Warren has arrived, carrying the imperial edict and seeking Lady Margaery!”
Tessa stiffened, her heart racing as she turned toward the doorway.
“Why are people from the palace here before Father has returned? The imperial edict was just issued today. Why has the King sent another decree for her?”
The title of ‘Star of Fortune’ attached to Margaery ignited a fire of jealousy within Tessa, her eyes narrowing with envy.
Today, if Raul hadn’t intervened, she could have faced a brutal beating at Dashnell’s hands. Yet, Margaery had been honored with the title of Lady of Glowsend by the King.
Tessa’s mind raced with the hope that the imperial edict would serve as punishment for Margaery, blaming her for Lady Sophia’s death and plunging the court into chaos.
She followed Joshua outside, her heart pounding as she asked Warren, “Chamberlain Warren, did Margaery do something to anger the King?”
Warren’s gaze fell upon Tessa, and the faint light from the red lanterns cast a soft glow on her face. She appeared fragile, yet there was an undercurrent of servility in her demeanor, a hint of inferiority that belied her outward appearance.
Warren chuckled softly, “No, the King has arranged a marriage between the Lady of Glowsend and Prince Nathaniel. I am here to announce the imperial decree.”
He had come from the palace, where he had encountered countless beauties and low-borns alike. Tessa, with her tricks and schemes, was far too inexperienced to impress him.
As the realization sank in, Tessa’s smile froze, her heart racing. “How can this be? Margaery is already entangled with Prince Dashnell! How could the King bestow her marriage to Prince Nathaniel? Wouldn’t that make her the Crown Princess?”
Her voice trembled with jealousy, the facade of innocence she had tried to maintain crumbling under the weight of her emotions.
Warren’s gaze bore into her, laced with mockery. “Aren’t you happy for her? I heard you still refer to her as ‘sister.'”
“H… Happy…” Tessa stammered, forcing a smile while her nails dug painfully into her palm, her stomach churning with distress.
Just moments ago, she had been lost in fantasies of Margaery’s downfall, envisioning her sent to a convent, never to rise above her station.
But now, the harsh reality struck her like a thunderbolt: Margaery had suddenly transformed into the Crown Princess.
Tessa was consumed by jealousy, yet she struggled to maintain her composure, forcing a smile at Warren, masking the tempest of emotions swirling within her.
Conclusion
In the wake of the imperial decree, Nathaniel’s heart brimmed with a mix of joy and uncertainty, as the promise of a union with the Star of Fortune painted a new chapter in his life. He had long navigated the treacherous waters of familial expectations and personal loss, yet this moment felt like a turning point, a chance to redefine his place within the royal hierarchy. As he stood resolute, the weight of his father’s love and the hope for a brighter future enveloped him, igniting a determination that had long been dormant. The echoes of the proclamation rang in his ears, a reminder that destiny, though fraught with challenges, was finally within his grasp.
Conversely, Tessa’s world spiraled into chaos as the news of Margaery’s imminent marriage shattered her carefully constructed dreams of revenge and superiority. The jealousy that coursed through her veins was a bitter poison, tainting her every thought as she grappled with the reality of her sister’s rise to prominence. In her mind, Margaery had been a pawn in her game, but now she was the queen, poised to ascend to a position Tessa had long coveted. The imperial edict was not merely a decree; it was a harbinger of Tessa’s own downfall. As she masked her turmoil behind a forced smile, the chasm between her aspirations and the harsh truth of her circumstances widened, leaving her to confront the unsettling realization that power was as fleeting as it was coveted.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**
As the tension within the Wallen family reaches a breaking point, the next chapter promises to delve deeper into the intricate web of envy, ambition, and betrayal that binds them. Tessa’s simmering jealousy over Margaery’s newfound status as the Crown Princess is set to ignite a fierce rivalry that could shatter the already fragile bonds of family loyalty. With the arrival of the imperial edict, the stakes have never been higher, and Tessa’s machinations may take a darker turn as she plots to undermine Margaery’s position. Will her schemes succeed, or will they lead to her own undoing?
Meanwhile, Nathaniel’s joy at his impending union with the Star of Fortune will be tested as he navigates the complexities of royal expectations and familial dynamics. The shadow of his relationship with Warren looms large, hinting at deeper conflicts within the royal court that could threaten not only his happiness but also his very place in the hierarchy. As the New Year approaches, the intertwining destinies of Nathaniel and Margaery will unfold against a backdrop of political intrigue and personal vendettas. Will love triumph over jealousy, or will ambition tear them apart before they even have a chance to unite? The unfolding drama promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats, eager to see how these whispers will shape the distant tomorrows of all involved.
