章 38: Rejecting the Prince
The next day, the sun rose high in the sky, casting its warm glow on Titi's family home. Excitement filled the air as Prince Cobra, his guards Pell and Chaka, and his uncle, Lord Marcellus, arrived in an extravagant convoy. Titi's family greeted the royal entourage with warm smiles and welcoming gestures.
Prince Cobra emerged from his carriage, his eyes immediately seeking out Titi. As their gazes met, his expression softened, love and adoration shining in his eyes. "Titi," he breathed, his voice filled with emotion. "I have been eagerly anticipating this day."
Titi, unsure of how to respond, looked beside her but Jack was right next to her, offering silent support. Titi's family exchanged pleasantries with the prince and his entourage, inviting them inside their home.
As they all gathered in the sitting room, Prince Cobra began to explain the reason behind his visit. "Titi, when I visited your city some time ago, I was fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of you. Your beauty and grace captivated me, and I knew at once that I had to meet you." He paused, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Upon returning to the palace, I spoke to my father about you and how I had fallen in love. He agreed that I should come and ask for your hand in marriage as soon as possible."
Titi's eyes widened in surprise at the heartfelt confession, and she glanced at Jack, who remained composed and stoic. She could see the calm blue of his eyes, reassuring her that he was with her every step of the way.
Lord Marcellus chimed in, his voice warm and friendly. "We understand this is a lot to take in, but we hope you will consider our proposal. Our kingdom would welcome you with open arms, and our family would be honored to have you join us."
Titi's mother, her voice filled with emotion, spoke up. "We are honored by your proposal, Your Highness. But Titi has already made a decision regarding her future."
Prince Cobra's face fell, and he looked to Titi for confirmation. She took a deep breath, her voice steady as she spoke. "It's true. I have decided to join Jack on his travels and explore the world."
Lord Marcellus's face turned red with rage, and his voice boomed throughout the room. "How dare you, girl! You reject our prince's proposal for some commoner's foolish fantasies?"
The guards and some of the prince's entourage bristled with anger, their eyes narrowing as they glared at Titi and Jack. Prince Cobra, however, raised a hand to silence them. His gaze remained fixed on Titi, his expression filled with sorrow.
"Titi, please reconsider," he implored, his voice tinged with desperation. "I am willing to do anything you desire, even if it means traveling the world together. I love you, and I only want your happiness."
Titi feels bad for the Prince for a moment, but as Jack said, she will pursue her own dreams. But she had made up her mind, and she shook her head. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. My heart lies elsewhere."
Lord Marcellus, unable to contain his anger any longer, leaped to his feet and grabbed Kadar's collar. "You promised!" he snarled. "You told me she would open her arms for the prince! How can we remove this stain from Prince Cobra now?"
Titi's parents looked horrified, but Jack stepped forward, his eyes turning into a raging deep blue. "Let him go," he commanded, his voice as cold and sharp as ice. Lord Marcellus hesitated, then released Kadar, who stumbled backward, gasping for air.
Prince Cobra held up a hand, signaling his uncle to stand down. "Enough, Lord Marcellus. If Titi has chosen a different path, we must respect her decision."
Lord Marcellus clenched his fists, his face still flushed with anger, but he reluctantly nodded. The tension in the room was palpable as the prince's entourage exchanged furious glances with Titi, Jack, and her family.
Finally, Prince Cobra spoke again, his voice soft and filled with sadness. "Very well, Titi. I will respect your wishes. I only hope that you find the happiness you seek." With that, he turned and left the room, his shoulders slumped in defeat.
His entourage followed suit, casting one last glare at Titi and Jack before exiting the house. Lord Marcellus lingered for a moment, his eyes filled with venom as he spat out, "You have made a grave mistake, girl." Then he, too, left the room, leaving Titi's family to process the events that had just unfolded.
Titi's mother wrapped her arms around her daughter, her eyes filled with worry. "Are you sure about this, Titi? You're turning down a life of luxury and privilege for a life of uncertainty."
Titi nodded, her voice filled with conviction. "I am, Mother. I want to explore the world with Jack and make my own choices. I believe this is the path to my happiness."
Her father sighed, his eyes sad but understanding. "Very well, Titi. We will support your decision. Just promise us that you'll be careful and stay in touch."
Titi hugged her parents tightly, tears streaming down her face. "I promise, Father, Mother. I'll make you proud."
As Titi and Jack prepared to leave, Kadar approached them, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and resignation. "I still don't understand why you're throwing everything away for this… this adventure. But you're my sister, and I want you to be happy. Just… be careful out there, alright?"
Titi nodded, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Kadar. I promise I will."
With their goodbyes said, Titi and Jack set off towards the next city, Rainbase. The journey was filled with laughter and lighthearted conversation, both of them excited for the adventures that lay ahead.
As they walked, Jack's curiosity got the better of him, and he asked, "Titi, I've heard rumors about these ancient stones called Poneglyphs. Do you know anything about them?"
Titi's eyes lit up with interest. "Ah, yes, the Poneglyphs! There's a rumor that there's one hidden here in Arabasta, most likely in the palace."
Jack raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? That would be quite a find. But I suppose with what just happened, the chances of us getting anywhere near the palace are close to nil."
Titi giggled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, you never know, Jack. Life has a funny way of surprising us when we least expect it."
Jack chuckled, his calm blue eyes reflecting the humor in the situation. "True, but I don't think Prince Cobra would be too thrilled to see us snooping around the palace."
Titi laughed, shaking her head. "No, probably not. But who knows? Maybe we'll find a way to see the Poneglyph without causing any trouble."
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