Olivia swiftly returned to her room, making sure to conceal the evidence.
With relief, she found herself alone. She quickly changed out of the cloak, carefully returning it to its rightful place.
As she sensed someone approaching, she hurriedly climbed into bed, pretending to be fast asleep.
The door creaked open, revealing King Charles. He looked at his precious daughter, peacefully sleeping, and a wave of emotions washed over him. He sat by her side, gently patting her head, his heart filled with love, tenderness and pain.
His anger had washed away, and he felt a deep sense of regret for shouting at her. He let out a sigh, feeling a heavy weight on his heart.
"Olivia, all I ever wanted was to protect you. I couldn't bear the thought of those demons harming you," he said, his voice filled with sadness. He stood up, preparing to leave.
Turning back to steal one last glance at her, he couldn't help but smile at her adorable flushed face. With a bittersweet feeling, he walked out of the room.
Olivia's eyes slowly opened, waiting until she was certain he had gone. She released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
Her heart ached at her father's words, but she couldn't comprehend why he spoke of demons wanting to harm her.
What demons?
She had never been privy to the affairs of the palace, thanks to Mila's secrecy. Olivia let out a sigh.
She rose from the bed and settled herself, her mind suddenly flooded with the image of the man from the lake. He was undeniably handsome, and the memory of his naked body made her cheeks flush with embarrassment.
If Mila ever found out she had seen a man's nakedness, she would surely be furious. Olivia giggled at the thought and playfully grabbed the pillow behind her. She had never encountered a man more striking than her father or her personal guards. They paled in comparison to the beauty of this mysterious man.
Although she forgot to ask for his name, it didn't bother her. She secretly hoped to meet him again in the future.
With his thought still clouding her mind, she lay still on the bed and fell asleep.
....
Olivia woke up to the bright sun shining in her eyes. Startled,
she sat up and rubbed her eyes. As she looked around, her gaze landed on a dress hanging on a hanger. She couldn't believe her eyes!
Was a it a wedding dress?
no, it wasn't a wedding dress, silly.
It was a stunning red dress adorned with sapphires and crystals. She was in awe. Just as she reached out to touch the dress, the door swung open, revealing her father standing there.
He had a cake in his hands and she soon realized what the day was!
Olivia's eyes widened in surprise as she realized it was her birthday. She had completely forgotten that she was turning 20 today! A joyful smile spread across her face as her father entered the room with a cake in hand.
"Happy birthday, princess," he greeted her. Olivia blew out the candles and shared a bite of cake with her father, expressing her gratitude.
Little did she know, deep down, her father carried a heavy secret. He knew that today marked the day he would have to part with his beloved daughter and hand her over to the demons.
The elixir within her body was the reason for this sacrifice, a thousand-year arrangement. He vowed to retrieve her, even if he had to fight his way through the depths of hell.
King Charles handed the rest of the cake to the maids and left so she could prepare for the day. Mila greeted Olivia with a happy birthday and helped her get ready. She had to start her etiquette classes in the morning before the party at night.
Night soon fell, and the guests arrived at the grand ballroom, dressed in their finest attire. The room was filled with an air of elegance and anticipation. Olivia, now 'well-versed' in etiquette, greeted each guest with grace and charm. However, her father couldn't had a hint of sadness in his eyes, knowing that the time was about to come and her laughter, would soon be gone. As the night unfolded, the atmosphere was a mix of celebration and bittersweet emotions, as King Charles watched his daughter interact and laugh with Ariel.
They were absolutely stunning in their exquisite ball gowns, giggling and chatting about Ariel's recent adorable antics.
"Ariel, how does being married feels like?"
Olivia eagerly awaited Ariel's response, her eyes wide with anticipation, wondering what Ariel would say about the experience of being married.
Ariel smiled at her little sister's question, understanding her curiosity. She admitted that being married was wonderful, but marrying a busy king had it's challenges. Sometimes, she felt tired and sleep-deprived due to his demanding schedule. But despite the challenges, their love and the honor of being a queen made it all worthwhile.
"Livi, it's a wonderful feeling and I can't explain the feeling to you because you'll definitely feel it one day" Ariel replied with a knowing smile.
Olivia nodded.
"Tell me, why did you ask? Do you want to get married? Have you found yourself a boy?! Who is he?"
There goes Ariel again, always filled with curiosity. She's definitely got a knack for asking questions!
Olivia's mind suddenly flashed with the image of that special someone from the lake, causing her cheeks to turn rosy. Ariel's eyes widened, sensing something exciting was happening.
"Livi you're seeing a boy?!!"
"Shhh.... I'm not seeing any boy silly, how will I even leave the castle to see a boy when dad is always like that?" Olivia responded with an eye roll, expressing her frustration, while Ariel nodded thoughtfully, understanding the situation. Their father's protectiveness limited Olivia's freedom, which was understandable but still challenging for her.
But Olivia was quite mischievous! She might have pulled off some secret antics behind the scenes.
"Olivia!" Ariel gave her little sister a narrowed-eyed look, clearly skeptical of Olivia's mischievous nature.
"Who is he?"
"Who? I don't know what you're talking about" Olivia feigned ignorance and turned away with her ear smoking hot.