As Adeline stood before the young King of the Havenbridge Kingdom, her face held a glint of surprise and bewilderment, her intense gaze locked onto the King's face with a hard glare. At the news she just received, she only had one question in mind, "Why me?" She asked brazenly, completely disregarding the King's position and the consequences of her words.
But she could not help it. Why her? Why couldn't he sacrifice another person for this so called 'truce of peace'?
Her father, the duke of the Grimwood duchy, and the uncle to the King, stood by her side with an ugly expression on his face. But unlike Adeline's impulsiveness, he was very composed and didn't forget his place, and that of the person sitting above them on the throne. Adeline's brother didn't have the best expression either and it was very clear that these three were not ready to accept this sudden news.
But the King did not get offended like he was supposed to. Rather, he had a slight smile on his face as his eyes shifted from one person to the other, before finally settling on Adeline. He could clearly see the unconcealed displeasure in her eyes, and her clenched hands that rested on her sides.
"Why you?" He repeated her previous question, uncrossing his legs and leaning forward, clasping his hands together.
"I do not need to remind you of the ongoing battle between our Kingdom and the Darkfrost Kingdom. You know as well as I do that they're much more powerful than us, and as thoughtful as I am…" he paused, his smile stretching further with pride at the way he was presenting his rehearsed speech.
"I decided to find a solution. We have nothing to offer them so I sat down with their King, and we came to a decision that will end the feud between our Kingdoms. His son needs a wife and you Adeline — you're my first female cousin. I am certain that you'll make a good wife."
Adeline felt her ears burn from listening to King Michael's speech and if he was not the King, she would have already yelled at him to get to the point. But despite her anger, she knew not to cross the line because the consequences would be severe.
Michael also seemed to be getting tired of talking too much so he decided to cut out the superfluous details. Sighing, he crossed his legs again and leaned back on the backrest of the throne chair.
"As the Duke's daughter, and the King's first female cousin, you should be ready to sacrifice this little thing for the sake of your people. So you are going to marry the Prince of the Darkfrost Kingdom, and it is decided."
Adeline was not pleased with this explanation and she didn't fail to show it in her brown eyes that were burning with rage, because she couldn't voice it out loud.
"It's not as bad as you think. Through this marriage, our people can stop suffering from the wars, we'll get support in the future from the Darkfrost Kingdom, and… you'll finally be a married woman." His tone was taunting at the last statement and he knew he hit a nerve. Sure enough, Adeline's nostrils flared and her nails dug into the flesh of her palm.
Her brother, Adler, had no less of a reaction as his jaw clenched and unclenched, his eyes glaring hard at the King.
However, the Duke said nothing and remained standing like a statue, as if what was being discussed did not concern him. But he was also having an internal battle, despite knowing the ending of this battle. He was annoyed when the King mentioned that Adeline would finally be a married woman because he knew people had been talking about his daughter's marital status. She was already twenty-four and showed no sign of getting married any time soon.
As a lady of nobility possessing rare beauty, Adeline had been approached by many men but had rejected all of them. She always found faults in each one of them and cleverly declined their approaches, with the excuse of not wanting any drama. Her father had always been patient with her and her older brother had always supported her because what mattered to them was Adeline's happiness.
When they received the summoning letter in the morning, he had known that something must have gone wrong, but he would have never guessed that the King had already arranged a marriage for Adeline, and the wedding was to be held in a week's time. All in all, they couldn't do anything about it because it was not a request.
Michael observed their faces in amusement and when no one questioned him further, he dismissed them and continued to plan in his mind the benefits he would get out of this marriage.
As a guard escorted them out, Adeline's pace was faster than that of her father and her brother Adler, her hands clutched together at her front and her face taut with many emotions.
When she reached the carriage, outside the palace, she didn't wait for the coachman to help her and climbed in on her own. The carriage had two seats facing each other and she sat at the farthest corner, close to the window. Adler and the duke followed inside and the wheels of the carriage started rolling. Adeline kept her gaze fixed outside the window, a deep frown marring her forehead.
"How can he do that without even asking?" She asked, her silence unable to contain her frustration.
"He's the King, Adeline," her father responded, keeping his head lowered.
"I know he's the King. He's the King but he does not go around planning marriages for every unwed twenty-four year old woman in the Kingdom!" she complained, her voice rising with every word.
Duke Sage sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He understood his daughter's frustration, and at the same time, he was glad that she understood they didn't have a choice and she didn't question his power as a father to defend his child.
Adler kept his mouth shut, having no words to pacify his sister's anger for he was also not pleased with the King's decisions and actions.
"He's so annoying! Does he just want to get rid of me? How does our family matters even affect him for him to interfere in that manner? If I die an old maiden, that has nothing to do with him!" Adeline continued venting, not minding that neither of the two men were responding to her.
"I don't think it's to get rid of you. You haven't offended him in any way, have you?" Her father questioned, and a flicker of doubt flashed across Adeline's eyes. Has she? She wouldn't know because if she had offended the King, then it was not a deliberate act because she knew her place. But when she was angered or provoked, her mouth would turn vulgar and she could blurt out anything that came to mind.
Had she perhaps said anything bad about the King and he got to know of it? But that was unlike Michael. If someone talked ill of him, he would make sure to teach that person a lesson in front of everyone, whether family or not. So what exactly had she done?
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