Walter had arrived in the Holy Tower and walked towards the king, lazily. No matter what he said, Lady Steinhouse would not let go of his sleeve. The king stood inside the hall and watched them approach, as a frown took over his face. They were yet to marry, but still walked around like that?
"Helen, return," the king instructed her, but she looked to Walter as though asking for permission.
"You are yet to marry him, but have already forgotten this king?" he asked, his frown deepening.
"Return," Walter said and she reluctantly let go and walked away, not forgetting to throw the king a glare.
"I guess she only listens to you now," the king said, but Walter remained silent. The king accessed Walter with a frown. The blank look on Walter's face did not make him happy. Still, he remembered that this was someone under Lady Wickshire. Those high up the rank by the lady's side did not bow to royalty. The more confident they were, the more weary one ought to be.
"You are close with Lady Wickshire, but I want to know how close. The lady is not one I wish to offend, but my niece is someone I will only give to one who has the power to protect her. That means if you are just some lackey and not her right hand, I may still reject this marriage," The king said sternly.
"Who said I had any intentions of marrying your niece?" Walter spoke at last. He was somewhat angry. Sure, he may have some feelings for Lady Steinhouse, but not one that would make him stupid enough to think of her as his possession. He had only messed with her because she basically begged for it by trying to seduce him. Why are they assuming marriage comes next?
Of course, he understood the king's point of view. Lady Wickshire was not someone he could stand against. Why? He had never understood. But he always knew she was a dangerous person. That may make the king weary to act against him, seeing his niece has lost all sense of reason was one thing, giving her to him in marriage, was a different matter altogether. That only means Lady Wickshire had intervened.
But how did she know about him and the lady? Did the two lords tell her? Nevertheless, the king had no choice in this marriage, so why did he have to take talk as though he did?
"You don't?" the king asked.
"Truthfully, your niece is a wonderful woman, but not one I thought of as a wife. Lady Wickshire wants this marriage to happen and I have no objections to it. If you really have issues, the lady is the only one that can stop the wedding," Walter said.
"Oh, there are those who can stop it too, you know. If they get here, the lady might have to come conduct the marriage herself for them to let it go," the king sneered.
"Then why are they not here? If it was possible for the lady to allow anyone to interfere, they would have already done so. That means you have difficulties of your own," Walter said.
"Not me, my niece. She has an identity bigger than the princess of this kingdom. She is the direct descendant of the Ligrel clan; one of the Ancients," Walter was confused, as he had never heard of such people before; yet he maintained his blank expression. He had no intention of giving the king the satisfaction of suppressing him.
"She may be Princess Jia Ahn here, but that identity, she will take till death. It's not too late to tell Lady Wickshire to give up on this marriage," the king warned. Walter did not think himself a brave man in some situations and this was one of those times. He knew this was dangerous, and the way the king spoke, this Ligrel clan must be powerful. He was just someone that kept what he was thinking inside. The only one that had ever seen that he was afraid was Lady Wickshire, the night they met. He knew she would not push him into a fire like that. If she wanted this marriage, it must be important; that meant he was important; therefore, she would not let him get hurt.
"What date have you planned. It must be soon, as Helen has already told my mother she will be her daughter-in-law and she did this before a crowd of people," Walter said. The king did not like his answer, but he knew he had lost. Resigned, he looked straight at Walter.
"Lady Wickshire wanted the wedding handled quietly. Since she has made it known, that the faster the wedding, the better. Midday, tomorrow," the king said and Walter nodded before leaving.