Kael and Eira sat on a couch staring at their only daughter. Eira's brother, Enos had also arrived. He was recently in the Kingdom of Inios spying on King Shoa. The tyrant King was fixed on trying to take over the world, but his military forces and finances were not enough. He was planning to marry Anya from Aonani to strengthen his military, only to be rejected. God knows what he's planning to secure more finances. He's been sending spies to Aonani to monitor the movement of Anya, probably to kidnap her and force their marriage.
Enos was Eira's younger brother and Anya's uncle. He had no interest in the throne, much like Anya. This worried Eira immensely, because they had no one to take over the throne if both of them didn't want to step up. Enos lived peacefully in his small hut in his apple orchard, planting new apple trees and selling the apples he has harvested. They were the best apples in Aonani.
Living peacefully didn't mean Enos was weak. His father was a great general. He was trained by his father along with his sister. Although he didn't like intervening in political matters, he sometimes went on difficult missions, just like this one. He was strong and could use magic, he was a royal after all. He just didn't expect his favorite niece (his only niece) would end up bringing a boy to his home!
"Little Annie, you've grown up! I can't believe you brought a boy home…" Enos said happily as he peeled an apple with his gold knife. Anya looked embarrassed as she peeked at her parents. "Uncle, it's not like that… I saved Levi-" Enos stopped chewing and cut her off, his mouth filled with apple. "Lass you call a King by his given name? Tell me more…" He said as his eyes lit up in interest.
"Enough," Kael grumbled. He didn't like thinking of his little girl with a guy. He was not yet ready. Eira laughed a little before patting his arm. "What's wrong? Our Anya did such a good job. She saved someone who was in need. Didn't we always teach her that, hm?" Anya looked at her mother thankfully before nodding her head at her father. "Yes father! I saved him! But I'm not yet sure if he is fine. If you would just allow me… I want to go to Baize and check on him!"
Silence blanketed the room except for the choking sounds coming from Enos. "Little Annie! You must be joking… You only met him once and you already like him?" Enos asked in disbelief before looking at his sister. "Wow, she's really your daughter. Didn't you also chase after my brother-in-law-" His words were cut off by a loud smack. Both mother and daughter were blushing. "Shut up Enos!" Eira grumbled as Kael held his wife to comfort her, but his lips were already drawing up in a smile.
"I…I-I don't like him… It's just that I'm worried his wound is not yet fine." Anya stuttered as a red dusted her cheeks. Eira looked at her blushing daughter and sighed. "Anya, you can tell the truth." Anya looked up to her mother's earnest eyes and deflated a little. "I…I… I think I do like him mother." She admitted as she avoided her father's eyes.
Kael snorted as he looked at his blushing daughter. "You like him? What's so great about him? He's just a pretty fa-" Eira glared at her husband, cutting off his words. Anya looked at her father and felt a bit annoyed, "Father, you don't know him! How can you judge him like that?" Enos watched the exchange with glittering eyes. Ah, it was like seeing his sister in love all over again.
"Yeah bro-in-law! How can you judge him?" Enos said as he happily munched on his apple. This earned him a glare from his brother-in-law. "He is kind and-" This time, her mother cut her off concerned, "Anya, you barely know him. How do you know he is kind? Don't you think you should spend some time with him before drawing a conclusion?" Enos snorted, "Big sis, you really act like you weren't saying similar things to father back then about bro-in-law."
Anya looked at her uncle with thankful eyes as he winked at her. Her uncle was always on her side! Kael and Eira both glared at Enos as he ignored them and peeled more apples. "Father, Mother, I think he is the one! Please allow me to go to Baize and propose marriage." Anya clasped her hands into a bow as she said her request in a strong voice. Though it was not a normal thing for girls to go and propose marriage, Aonani was one of the kingdoms that did it. After all, her mother had done the very same thing to her father.
Kael and Eira watched their daughter with wide eyes. Even Enos paused in peeling his apples. Eira looked at her little brother pleadingly. Anya usually listened to him more. Enos cleared his throat, "Little Annie, don't you think it's a little too quick? Why don't you invite him over first so we can-" Anya shook her head. Since she was young, she's never changed her mind after wanting something.
Now, even Enos was a bit hesitant. "Do you think he will agree to the marriage?" Anya smiled and shook her head. Her mother, father, and uncle stared at her like she had another head. "Then why are you going there to propose marriage if you know he won't say yes?" Her mother asked. When she went to propose marriage to Kael, she was very sure he would say yes. Looking at her daughter's shining eyes already told her they had lost.
"I just want him to know that I like him, and that marriage is on my mind." Anya said as she blushed once again. She had heard from the maid that Levi had carried her all the way to her room. Thinking of him made her smile. She knew this wasn't love, but it could be in the future. One thing she was sure of was that Levi made her heart flutter. Her mother always told her stories on how she felt when she first met her father. She felt like she was experiencing the same thing. She always followed her heart, and her heart was telling her to go to Baize.
Eira was a bit reluctant. Once foxes set their hearts on someone, their mate, they will only love that person in their lifetime. She looked at her husband and sighed. She was a naïve girl back then. If she had fallen for the wrong person, it would have been a tragedy. Thank god the person she fell in love with, loved her too. But she was worried for her daughter. Her daughter was quite innocent and she wasn't sure it was a good idea to let her pursue the King of Baize. She has always taught her to follow her heart, but this time, her heart was set on someone known to be cold and had a stone for a heart. She didn't want her daughter to suffer.
Kael seemed to be thinking the same thing as he gazed at his wife. What were they to do if their precious daughter fell in love with someone who didn't love her back? Wasn't that asking for tragedy? Looking at his daughter now, she already had feelings for the King of Baize. If they didn't allow her to go and further her relationship with him, won't it be protection?
Anya looked at her parents pleadingly as she clasped her hands together. If her parents said no, then she would have to think twice about going to Baize. She wanted to go to Baize and pursue Levi, but she doesn't want to hurt her parents either.
Kael was observing his daughter when he remembered something. The King of Baize had put his daughter behind him and drawn his sword when he thought he was an enemy. At first, he thought the King had recognized him and was using Anya to threaten him. But not only did the King of Baize not recognize him, he also held Anya behind him to protect her. It made him believe that maybe… just maybe there was a little chance for his daughter. He would monitor the events when she went to Baize and take her back home, the minute he hears something unsatisfactory. He looked at Anya's pleading eyes and sighed.
"Alright. Do whatever you want to do. You have my permission." Eira looked at her husband with wide eyes. Was he crazy? Why is he allowing her? She thought he would be the one most against their daughter's plan. Enos laughed merrily and tossed an apple at Anya.
"Little Annie, looks like you can go and pursue the King of Baize." Anya smiled brightly at her parents while looking at her mother expectantly. Eira looked at her husband doubtfully before turning to Anya. "Alright. You can go. Don't forget proper decorum. Don't…. Ha… Just be good, alright?"
Anya smiled so wide as she curtsied to her parents. "Mother, Father, Uncle… You are the best! I will go and prepare for my journey!"
Anya was already leaving the room as her parents looked at her retreating back. Kael and Eira looked at each other helplessly as they wished their daughter luck in pursuing her love. Enos just laughed and continued to peel more apples.