Just as the sun was starting to rise, the meeting that we had been waiting for for 7 days finally arrived. Mixed feelings were clearly visible on their handsome faces. They are the four young men who want to propose to Princess Cerllynda, and today is the day Princess Cerllynda will choose who will be her husband from the four men.
The door slowly opened, revealing King Carlin with Princess Cerllynda beside him. Behind the two of them walked the maidservants and man who accompanied them all. Everyone who was sitting quietly stood up and saluted the king and his daughter very politely.
King Carlin sat in his chair followed by Princess Cerllynda in the seat beside the king. The atmosphere was quiet, anxiously anxious to hear the answer from Princess Cerllynda.
"Alright my daughter, tell me which of them you chose!" said King Carlin waiting for his daughter to determine the person who would be her future husband. Princess Cerllynda saw one by one, she was trying to be as normal as possible and not look nervous in front of them all. Princess Cerllynda nodded slowly in response to her father's words.
"Okay Dad, I will say it," said Princess Cerllynda trying to steady her heart to say what she wanted to say.
He had been thinking about how to tell his father for too long, but the day had come. Princess Cerllynda had no reason to delay this election. His hands were drenched in sweat, but somehow he had to say this even though it was most likely that his father would never agree to it.
"I would say, if I don't choose any of the four of you," said Princess Cerllynda calmly, more accurately trying to calm down even though her voice slightly trembled with fear of her father.
The four youths were wide-eyed, widening their eyes in disbelief at what the princess had just said. Could he have loved someone? They all thought, because only a girl who loves someone else who is not in front of her can refuse this proposal.
"Did I mishear my daughter? Say it one more time so your father is absolutely sure if you say that!" said King Carlin trying to be calm and not too surprised by what his only daughter said.
"I'm sorry Dad, I can't choose any of the four, Dad. I know you will be surprised and will not like my choice. But, I beg you, Dar. I have loved another young man," said Princess Cerllynda while lifting her face looked at his father's face.
Princess Cerllynda had expected, at this time her father's face was bright red with anger. He really didn't like his daughter's choice.
"Is that poor young man you met recently that made you fall in love, Princess?" asked Prince Cardwell suddenly. He had been waiting for the princess to choose him to be her future husband.
"Is it true what Prince Cardwell said, my daughter?" asked King Carlin with a look of anger on his face. He wasn't going to destroy his pride because he was the one who scolded the princess in front of his special guest.
Princess Cerllynda just kept silent with her face down, she was too scared to see her father's face which was now holding back anger. He was sure, after leaving this room, he would definitely get a tantrum from his father.
"Prince Cardwell, do you know that young man? Tell me who he is!" said King Carlin firmly. The young man named Cardwell smirked faintly, so that he couldn't see if he was grinning.
"His name is Gressylia, Your Majesty the King. She works as a firewood seller, also including Dario's family who are regular customers. She lives in village D, her house is located near the border forest of your country, Your Majesty the King."
Prince Cardwell now said it all, all about Gressylia's background. In her heart, Putri Cerllynda wanted to say something to her father, but for some reason her tongue felt numb just to talk.
"Tell me how my daughter met him!" said King Carlin again firmly.
Prince Cardwell nodded in understanding, he began to tell how Princess Cerllynda met Geressylia, even to the conversation between Gressylia and Princess Cerllynda he narrated with a little disdain for King Carlin to hear.
"My daughter Cerllynda, did you really choose a poor young man like him?" asked King Carlin who apparently wanted to solidify his heart with the choice of his only daughter.
"It's true, Dad, I love Gressylia. He is a brave young man, he also saved my life from bandits a few months ago. He is very kind and hardworking, Dad. I beg you, please bless me to marry him," said Princess Cerllynda, daring to declare all of these that had long kept him alone.
"Not!" King Carlin's insistence made Princess Cerllynda widen and surprised by the refusal that sounded so loud.
He had prepared all this, but still he felt sad and tight in his chest because of his father's rejection. He just doesn't want to choose those he doesn't love.
"I am your father, rejecting your wish is Cerllynda! It should be one of them you have to choose, because not only to be your husband, but to be your father's successor, Cerllynda, keep this in mind!"
Princess Cerllynda lifted her face which had been downcast, looked at her face with teary eyes, she couldn't hold back the tears any longer to escape from her eye bags.
"Why did you have to choose a prince? Son of a noble? People who have wealth and belong to a high caste? Why don't you allow me to love poor people who are kind? Is it all just because of caste? This caste makes me really sick !" said Princess Cerllynda who then run out of the room, ran to her room which was located on the top floor.
King Carlin inhaled slowly. He really wanted to scold his already disrespectful daughter. The child he had been proud of, but today crushed his hopes of marrying her off to a prince or noble's son.
"Forgive my daughter's impolite behavior, for today I invite you to go home. I will immediately share this good news with you all," said King Carlin, still trying to calm down and invited them to leave the kingdom.
After seeing everyone leave, King Carlin stepped into the room of the princess who was now crying on her bed in a prone position and a pillow covering her head. He was still trying to calm down and not be angry with Princess Cerllynda, hoping that she could gently persuade him.
"My daughter, Cerllynda. Father did this because the young man would tarnish our honor. You should have known about this, but why did you choose that young man anyway? My daughter, I love you so much, I want to see you happy marrying the peia I chose."
Princess Cerllynda immediately got up and sat in front of her father. Her eyes were red and her face was wet with tears. A father's heart will hurt when he sees his favorite child cry, but this time for some reason he doesn't feel sorry for his crying daughter.
"Caste, caste, and caste! Why does caste separate everything? Why Dad? Why do you always underestimate people from that low caste? Why Dad? ? I only choose a man who will take good care of me as well as you Daddy. Everything he will take care of Daddy. Why is caste only on Dad's mind? Don't you know that love can't be forced right? Then why did you force me to love someone else!"