Chapter 17: 16
Dedicated to all you wonderful readers out there, making me smile. Storygirl and Mandee, thanks for the powerstones and comments.
PLEASE READ THE NOTE BENEATH THE CHAPTER
***
The princess arrived in her training outfit, with her newly appointed maids and guards, as well as Leonard following her. Although they stopped outside the door, while the princess moved on into the throne room. It was silent and the councilmen rose on their feet to bow to the princess.
She merely gave them a nod as she headed for her throne seat. She wondered what could have warranted her presence when it was almost time for her training. Her father knew she didn't joke around when it came to training. Yet she was disturbed just as she was getting ready to leave. She sat back admiring her beautiful fingernails, waiting to hear what they had to say that was so important.
Councilman Sebastian wasted no time in beating around the bush. " We have heard from the king that you've refused to consider the Lord of vampires as a possible suitor. "
Her hands froze as did the expressionless look on her face.
Everyone but councilman Sebastian held their breath expecting the worst.
She turned her head to her father, expression unchanging. " I thought this discussion was over. "
" They demanded to speak to you... " he said looking at her.
Councilman Sebastian winced not liking the way it sounded.
" ...perhaps you should give them a chance to say what they want to. " the king pleaded with his eyes.
Clarissa knew her father could have easily brushed them off if he wanted to, but the fact that he agreed to their demand, things must have been more dire than she thought.
" Fine, " she said, turning to the Councilman. " because of my father. I'll hear what you have to say. "
The tense air in the room became slightly relaxed.
" Your highness, you might have to reconsider that decision. "
" And why would I do that? " she stared straight at him with narrowed eyes, waiting for his reply.
He gulped and then replied. " We received news this morning. A village in the northern part of the kingdom was attacked by the dark witches. No one who was there at the time of the attack survived. The place has been turned into a haunting ground. They invoked the spirits of those whom they killed to haunt the village. A sister of light who went to the village to visit a sister of hers there, had to save a man who suffered severe hallucinations after entering the village and she almost lost her life in the process. "
" And how does this have anything to do with accepting the vampire Lord? "
" We have reason to believe that the dark witches have issued their final warning. The sisters of light found out that the dark witches have been using portals. "
The princess's eyes widened in unbelief. " Only the sister of light can do that. "
" Not anymore. They've found a way to use blood sacrifice to open portals and apparently they get stronger during the full moon just like the sisters. They can also harness the power of the moon as well as summon the full moon two weeks after it has risen. As we speak now, we have only two weeks or less before they attack. " The Councilman stared at the princess who was still quiet in thought, even her father sat back looking at her wondering what was going on in her mind.
" Your highness, I ask once more that you reconsider your decision. "
She thought about getting married to someone she didn't know. She thought about the feelings she had for Leonard. She desperately wanted to believe that he loved her too. But most importantly, she was scared to make a wrong choice and lose the chance to be happy. Despite the fact that at times their thoughts and beliefs seemed to clash, she knew without a doubt that he made her happy. He was her shield from this cold world. Apart from her father, he was the only one she could trust. " I still refuse to marry him. "
Councilman Sebastian was tired, all the councilmen were tired of everything that was going on. Their unease and the anger they could not show so easily as with anyone else was written on their faces. But councilman Sebastian refused to back down.
" You might be the princess now but in two weeks time, we won't even have a kingdom, talk less of a royal family if you don't agree to marry him. I'm sorry but I have to say that you're acting like a child... "
His words had her back up and her temper was slowly tilting to the edge.
Even the king did not look happy at the tone and words which the councilman was using to speak to his daughter.
" …you need to understand that in life, we need to make sacrifices. If you're the princess of Haven's Peak, then prove it by your actions. The title of royalty is not just the crown you carry but the duties, responsibilities, obligations and sacrifices you have to endure is a part of it all. "
" Sacrifice? " the princess asked with a cold laugh. " Was my mother's death not enough sacrifice for you? "
She stood up and looked around the throne room at the council who didn't understand that they were asking her to throw away her last chance at happiness. " Now you want my happiness as well. You're nothing but greedy fools who care for nothing other than yourselves. Killing you would be a waste of my time. " she stormed out before she changed her mind.
A thick silence reigned in the room.
The king glared at the Councilman who had upset his daughter. " That is the last time you will speak to my daughter with such disrespect. "
" My king, I apologize for the manner in which I spoke to her but not for my words, she had to be told the truth. "
The king was still angry but let the issue go, worrying about his daughter's state of mind.
***
The minute the princess stormed out of the throne room, her maids and guards tried to follow her but she ordered them to stay there in a cold tone.
Leonard though, was not to be deterred and so followed her despite her foul mood.
When she stopped at the balcony, where she and her father had always had their tea time. She paced in anger. She tried to keep the anger within her from spilling over. She didn't want to do something stupid and irrational.
How dare that old fool call her a child? And they asked her to make a sacrifice? Why not ask their daughters and then see how they'd feel being forced into a marriage of convenience.
Leonard waited until she slowed down her pacing before speaking. He knew that by now she would have stopped thinking and would simply be trying to get over her anger.
" What happened there? " he asked calmly.
His calm tone got to her and she relaxed even more. But she didn't turn to face him. " They want me to marry the Lord of vampires. "
Author's note
Thank you so much for reading. Don't forget to vote, comment, share, rate/review, add to your libraries and reading lists. Thanks again💜
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