" Well, I guess you'll have no choice but to entertain them this time." Rex replied, looking calmly at his son. He also decided the sooner they talk about this the better.
He knew Levi has been against the idea of a choosing ceremony since the beginning but he couldn't help but think that this is the only way to overcome their present situation. Their are just lots of people looking for a chance to snatch the kingdom away from him.
" This time? What do you mean this time, father? Did you already arranged the ceremony without talking to me first? " Levi asked, hoping to all the gods that his father hasn't done such a thing.
" Hmm actually, what I arranged isn't a choosing ceremony. It's more like a banquet. Remember, there's going to be a dinner banquet for the kings and nobles after the auction next week. And since you're so against the idea of a choosing ceremony, I have no choice but to everyone attending to come along with their daughters although I didn't tell them why. You simply have to choose one from among them " Rex replied.
Levi felt his stomach churn in frustration. " Heavens, father! How could you arrange something like that without telling me first? "
" Isn't it obvious? Of course it's because I know you wouldn't agree to it. Everytime I try to talk to you about it, you always find a way to dismiss the idea and wiggle out of it. You aren't probably thinking I'll be so dumb as to make that kind of mistake again, are you? " Rex replied looking pleased with himself.
He'd known Levi would never agree to his arrangement if he knew about it. So he'd been very discreet when sending out the invitations although he has his own reasons for making that decision as well. He doesn't like the fact that he's forcing his son into doing something against his will but there's no other choice since he hasn't found his mate yet.
" I thought I asked you to give me more time, father. How can you ask them to bring their daughters without telling me first? How do you expect me to handle this?" Levi looked at his father in frustration. His mood has been sour already before he came here and now it's even more worse now.
" Which is why I've made it easy for you. King Drake of the Seggotan Kingdom has proposed that you marry his daughter before but you refused. Now I've invited him also. This is an opportunity for you to check the princess out. If she's to your liking, you can choose her. But if she's not, you can choose someone else. Surely, there has be one of them princesses that'll peak your interest."
Levi looked at his father with a mixture of disbelief and a tinge of anger of anger on his face. His father really has had it all planned out..
" And may I remind you, young man, that your time has already been used up since a couple of months ago? I didn't bother you because I know you have a lot on your plate and because I wanted to give you more time to find her and I still wouldn't have said anything yet, if this golden opportunity that presents itself in the form of a banquet did not appear. Since you're never going to agree to a choosing ceremony anyway, It would be stupid of me to miss this chance " Levi explained looking at his son's sullen expression.
Levi wished he could be angry with his father but he knew he couldn't because he knew why his father was doing all this, which is why he's currently trying very hard to hold his temper in check. Still his aura was already leaking out.
" I did ask you to give me some more time, father. How can you do this to me?" He asked through clenched teeth.
" Anybody listening to you now will think I do something wrong to you, Levi." Rex said looking at his son who right now has a mixture of betrayal and hurt portrayed on his face. " I'm only trying to help you."
" You're not helping me, father. You only add more to my problems. I can already see how those stupid kings will try to exploit this opportunity you've given to them "
Levi watched his son in silence for some time. He knew what Levi was thinking. " How much longer do you need to find her, Levi? How much longer? It's been three hundred years already. How much longer would it take for her to appear? I heard Vader's already amassing his power and even trying to break the seal. What if he did manage to break the seal and fuse together with the power of Alduin? Do you still think you'll be able defeated him then without unlocking your God bloodline first? "
Levi looked at his father in defeat he knew he's already hooked this time.
" And you think I would be able to do that by mating with some random princess. Even if I do that and unlock my bloodline, what about my Blue flame? Can she help me with that too or have you already forgotten that is the only thing that can destroy Alduin's power once and for all? Do you think I'll get the blue flame without the help of my mate and the power of the magic stone which will come along with her? Or do you think the magic stone will appear miraculously after I mate with some random bitch?" Levi was clearly agitated now. He stood up from his seat before he really blew his top.
" This conversation is ridiculous. You can invite as many princesses as you want but maybe you'll be attending the dinner alone since you organize this event. The thought of even trying stand the lewd presence of so many superficial women who're after nothing but wealth and power already disgusts me. I won't attend the banquet. You'll have to entertain your guests by yourself." Levi finished and turn around to leave but was shocked by what his father said next.
" Do you like men, Levi? "
What the hell? Of all the things Levi expected his father would say to stop him, he hadn't expected this at all. Where was this coming from?
He stopped, frozen still on the spot before turning slowly around to look at his father. All traces of anger replaced with a mixture of shock and confusion on his face.
" What did you just say father? " he asked hoping he'd heard wrong the first time.
" I asked whether you like men " Rex replied calmly, looking at his son who's eyes is as wide as saucers now.
Levi looked at his dad for some more minutes before bursting into laughter. Oh, he felt all the anxiousness and stress leaving his body immediately. It's been a long time since he's laughed like that and it felt refreshing.
" What does that even mean, father? Why would you even ask me that?" He looked at his father incredulously.
Rex saw his son's expression soften a little bit. He'd initially thought he'd be angry at that question " Your aversion to women is a serious cause for concern, Levi. I don't know what is it about them that you hate so much. Except your sister, Nerida, I haven't seen you seriously interact with any other women talkless of forming a relationship with them. You don't even allow them to get close to you. Seriously, what is going on with you? you're a king, you know you can have any woman you want before you find your mate, which is totally normal. Nobody will blame you. Even I, had my fair share of women before I found your mother. So what is really wrong with you? I've heard the rumors out there and I've been thinking about it lately, if it's a problem with your sexual orientation, you can tell me and we'll find a way to fix this. You don't have to carry everything alone."
Levi looked at his father's serious expression for some minutes and then burst out laughing again. This is really hilarious. Of all the things he was expecting his father to say, he didn't expect him to say this at all.
" Don't tell me you're listening to the rumors out there" he said and laughed again. He walked back to his seat and sat down.
" As much as I like to see you laugh since you haven't been doing enough of that lately, I'll really like you to answer my question, Levi. I'm really worried about you" Rex replied.
Although he didn't believe those rumors but he just has to make sure it's not true. Had to make sure his son was okay.
" Father, you are worrying for nothing. I'm perfectly okay and I don't like men. If I did like men, I won't be so hell bent on looking for my mate all this while. You must not listen to those rumors out there. I decided not to do anything about it to keep the leeches away." Levi explained. This conversation had really headed the way he wasn't expecting at all.
" You don't seem to like women either."