'I read this part where she asks Owen to help her refuse the marriage proposal from the king.' He mentally said to himself.
"I'm fine, little sister. How is my dear lady?" He asked with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
Why?
Because he knew what was in this lady's mind, marriage. This is when the demon king will come to fix the dates and the dowry will be settled.
"Your sister is not doing well, Owen," she replied, crocodile tears streaming down her face as she approached Owen.
She bit her lip before speaking, "The king has decreed that I must marry the Demon King. They say he is old and hideous. I long to escape this place, I already have..."
"Someone else," he finished her sentence, gazing at her before lowering his head, for her not to be suspicious.
In the novel, Owen was too afraid to make eye contact with his sister or to bully, shout at, or harm her in any way. He was simply a timid, innocent young man , which reminded Neil of himself.
Owen thought to himself, 'I almost got caught, so close. I can't pretend to be timid, weak, or tolerate deceit and betrayal.'
The fairy smiled at him and said, "But you must act like one and tolerate it if you want to have a peaceful life, here."
"I know you have someone else. Tell me, how can I assist Lyra?" he asked, smiling at her while disregarding the fairy.
'My cheeks are starting to hurt. I can't keep up these forced smiles much longer.'
She cleared her throat and directed a smile at her brother.
"Please help me prevent Dad from arranging my marriage to the king during the gathering today, as the King is visiting to finalize the marriage."
'I understand now. This is the moment when Owen angered the Demon King and faced his wrath. I should stay out of this. I'll go for a horse ride instead.'
"Alright, I'll be there. Don't worry," Owen said with a smile as he stood up. "Now, dear sister, I'd like to have my chamber to myself."
Lyra chuckled, "Of course, brother. Thank you." She laughed softly and left, leaving Owen to sigh.
"How much longer must I keep up this charade? I'll proceed cautiously; for now, I'll refrain from getting involved. A warm bath is in order," he mumbled to himself.
Surveying his lavish chamber, he felt disoriented. A bath was essential to help him think clearly.
"Where is the bathroom?" he muttered, scanning the room for an exit.
Suddenly, a gentle knock on the door interrupted the quiet. "Your Highness?" a soft sweet voice inquired.
Owen turned to see a young lady curtsying in the doorway. "Your bath is ready, Prince Owen."
He hesitated, unsure of what to do, 'but I didn't call out for my bath.'
"Uh, lead the way...?" Then he paused and asked, "What's your name?"
The maid was taken aback, as the prince had never shown interest in the servants' names before. She wondered if she had misheard.
"I'm asking for your name," Owen insisted, frowning as he brought her back from her reverie.
"Forgive me, my Lord. My name is Nyx," she said as she bowed her head.
"What a beautiful name. I hope we can be friends. Don't worry about my father," he smiled, waiting for Nyx's response.
Still shocked, Nyx nodded. This was the first time she had seen Prince Owen smile and engage in conversation, let alone ask for her name.
"I will strive to be a good friend, my Lord," she said, curtsying.
"Great, please show me the way. I'm looking forward to your tour," he encouraged her.
The maid smiled and motioned for him to follow. "Of course, Your Highness."
She guided him through a door and down a brief corridor to a luxurious bathroom.
Steam rose from the tub, which was adorned with scented water and flowers. Owen's eyes widened in amazement.
"Thank you..." he started to say, but the maid curtsied and left before he could complete his sentence.
"Quite impressive for a Royal bathroom."
Owen approached the tub, feeling a mixture of relief and confusion as he pondered how to adjust to his new life.
He undressed and eased into the warm water, releasing a contented sigh.
As he soaked, he contemplated the unexpected twists of his royal existence. Would he find peace here without any turmoil?
He touched his chest, still feeling a twinge of discomfort from the memories, but the soothing bath helped alleviate the ache.
"What should I call you?" He asked, not looking at the fairy as he enjoyed his bath, aware that the fairy had followed him to the bathroom.
"Indigo," the fairy replied bluntly.
"It suits you perfectly, for a fairy who is as stubborn, calming, and mysterious. I better enjoy my bath and hurry up," he said, his voice sounding sleepy.
"You should, as a more unexpected turn might come your way," the fairy blurted out before disappearing.
"Such a waste of words," he muttered. He soaked in the warm bath for over 20 minutes, letting his mind drift away from the stresses of his past life.
"It's time to move on, but the pain still hurts."
The warmth of the water seeped into his muscles, relaxing his tense shoulders and calming his racing thoughts.
As he looked up at the ornate ceiling, his eyelids grew heavy, and he let out a contented sigh. The soft lapping of the water against the tub's edges created a soothing melody, lulling him into a peaceful reverie.
Owen chuckled as his stomach growled, shattering the tranquility. He realized he needed to eat and hoped the palace staff would bring food to his chambers soon.
Just as Owen was about to leave the bath, a servant, not Nyx, knocked on the door and entered the bathroom. "Your Highness, forgive the intrusion, but the King requests your presence in the throne room."
Owen's heart sank as a sense of dread washed over him. He wasn't prepared to face the former host, father, the King, yet. He still had much to learn about his new role.
"Will he suspect that I'm not his son?" he wondered silently. However, he realized that his father wouldn't notice anything amiss, as his parents rarely paid attention to him. He couldn't claim to be his father's favorite.
"Let him know that I'm...unavailable," Owen responded, hoping to buy some time.
The servant nodded respectfully. "I'm sorry, Your Highness, but the King's request is pressing. He is expecting you right away; he will not be pleased if…"
Owen sighed, understanding that he couldn't postpone the meeting any longer.
"Very well, I'll come at once," he said lazily, interrupting the servant.
'Why the sudden summons? This wasn't mentioned in the book I read,' he thought to himself.
"You have no choice but to go," the fairy said, appearing out of nowhere with a yawn.
'I'm sure you'll get used to appearing and disappearing,' he casually remarked to Indigo.
The servant bowed and left, prompting Owen to quickly dry himself and put on a robe. He felt a sense of unease as he followed the servant to the throne room, wondering what his father had planned.
As they approached the throne room door, the servant halted and signaled the guards to open it, which they did promptly.
The servant encouraged Owen to enter, and as he did, his head hung low. Owen strolled casually into the throne room.
As he stepped inside, his eyes widened in amazement at the lavishness that surrounded him. Gold embellished every corner, from the intricate designs on the walls to the sparkling chandeliers above. However, what truly took his breath away was the golden throne itself, positioned on a platform at the room's far end.
The throne gleamed like a guiding light, its golden surface adorned with precious gems and symbols representing the kingdom's authority. Owen couldn't help but be captivated by the throne's grandeur, experiencing a blend of awe and trepidation.
This must have been quite expensive. If the king was so wealthy, why would he marry his favorite daughter off to a Demon King? Neil asked himself.
Prince Owen has three sisters, two of whom are pure-blood royalty living with them, while the third is a slave daughter.
Rumors suggest that the king couldn't stay faithful, leading to him having two stepmothers.
His real mother passed away after giving birth to him and his twin sister.
It appears that the second wife holds the final decision-making power here, as Neil suspected. However, why didn't the King show him the same affection he showed his sister Lyra?
Was it because Owen was born differently? Rumor has it that after his mother gave birth to his sister first, Neil, as the second child, caused his mother's death during childbirth.
This tragic event fueled the King's deep hatred towards him.
Neil, now inhabiting the former host body, no longer sees the King as his father. Changes are expected to occur soon.
The King, Owen's father, sat regally on the throne, his intense gaze focused on Owen. His robes were adorned with intricate gold embroidery, and his crown shimmered with diamonds.
Owen's eyes shifted between the grandeur of the throne and the stern expression of his former host father, who bore a striking resemblance to his own father back on earth. Despite his inner conflict, Owen approached the dais, attempting to exude confidence.
As the King approached, his voice filled the room, "Ah, Prince Owen, I see you have finally joined me. I trust your bath was refreshing?"
Owen lowered his head, attempting to conceal his nerves. "Yes, Father. It was... enlightening," he replied hesitantly.
'How can an old man like me stutter? This man resembles my father so much, stern and unsmiling. His indulged daughter always managed to make him smile. I sense the former host's envy.'
Clearing his throat, Owen raised his head slightly and asked, "Father, why have you summoned me?" with confidence.
Owen's father looked at him with surprise, hearing his son sound confident for the first time. "Maybe my ears are deceiving me," he thought to himself.
"You will be getting married on the same day as your sister," his father's voice thundered.
Owen's eyes widened in shock. He had been planning to live a peaceful life, but now this old man was making things more difficult for him.
'Marriage? This isn't even part of the novel. What's going on, Indigo?' he asked himself mentally.