The air in Emily's room was thick with tension as King Albert, Prince Jade, and Prince Adrian entered. Emily stood by the window, her fingers nervously clutching the windowsill, her back rigid as she gazed out at the sprawling gardens below. When she turned to face them, her eyes betrayed her inner turmoil, though her lips tried to form a brave smile.
"Are you okay?" Adrian asked, his voice soft with concern as he stepped closer to his sister.
Emily's gaze flicked to him for a moment, then back to the floor. "I am," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. But the truth lingered just beneath the surface—she was far from okay, and all three men in the room knew it.
King Albert, standing tall with his hands clasped behind his back, let out a quiet sigh. His mind was racing. He had never wanted this for his daughter. No father should ever have to weigh his child's happiness against the safety of his kingdom, yet here he stood, caught in a dilemma he couldn't escape. Clearing his throat, he spoke with the gravity of a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"We've received another scroll."
The moment the words left his mouth, Emily's eyes shot up, wide with alarm. Her heart pounded in her chest, the rhythmic thudding echoing in her ears. Another scroll? Was it from Niklaus? Was this yet another move in his twisted game?
Adrian's hand tightened into a fist at his side. He had hoped that the nightmare from Emberlyn would give them a moment to breathe, but the look on his father's face told him otherwise.
Emily's voice came out shakily. "From Emberlyn again?"
"No," King Albert said, shaking his head. His jaw tensed as he glanced at Adrian and then back to Emily. "This one comes from Eldoria."
The shock of those words hung in the air like a heavy fog. Eldoria? Why would Eldoria be involved now? Emily's mind raced, piecing together possibilities, none of which brought her any comfort.
"The King of Eldoria has requested your hand in marriage for Prince Griffin," King Albert continued, his tone a mix of concern and resolve.
Emily's blood ran cold. Her thoughts immediately flew to the unsettling way Prince Griffin had looked at her during their last encounter—his eyes had lingered far too long, filled with a predatory gleam that had made her skin crawl. The idea of marrying him was as terrifying as the idea of marrying Niklaus. How had her life become so unbearable so quickly?
Adrian's protective instincts flared. His mind immediately went to the dangers that lurked behind Griffin's charming façade. He had seen the prince's lustful glances, the way he regarded women not as equals but as prey. His hand itched to reach for his sword, the urge to protect his sister overwhelming him.
But before anyone could speak, Jade's voice sliced through the tension like a blade, his tone sharp and dripping with sarcasm.
"Two kingdoms asking for your hand in marriage, on the same day no less. You must be the luckiest woman alive," he taunted, his voice laced with bitterness. "Too bad you're putting our entire family at risk in the process."
Emily's heart clenched at Jade's words. How could he say that? She hadn't chosen any of this, yet here he was, treating her as though she had willingly placed their lives in jeopardy. It wasn't fair—none of this was fair.
Adrian's face darkened, and for a moment, he looked like he might strike Jade. His hands balled into fists, the veins in his arms tense with fury. But before he could act, King Albert's voice thundered through the room.
"Jade, get out!" he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Jade's face flushed with embarrassment and anger. His lips pressed into a thin line as he shot a venomous glare at Emily, as though she were the source of all his frustrations. Without another word, he stormed out of the room, the heavy door slamming behind him with a resounding crash.
The silence that followed was suffocating. Emily stood frozen in place, her body rigid and her mind spinning. She felt the weight of everyone's expectations crushing down on her, their eyes watching her every move. The walls seemed to close in, trapping her in a situation she had no control over.
Her voice wavered as she finally spoke, her words barely audible.
"Father… I'm going to die in nine months. What's the point of any of this? There's no use in me getting married."
King Albert's expression softened, the hardened exterior of a ruler fading as the worried father emerged. His heart ached at the sight of his daughter, standing there with her future in the balance. He stepped closer to her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, his eyes filled with sorrow.
"You will not die, Emily," he said softly, though the weight of his words hung heavy in the air. Could he truly protect her? Could anyone stop the curse that loomed over her like a storm? "I promised you, didn't I?" he added, his voice quieter now, as though he was trying to convince himself as much as he was convincing her.
Emily wanted to believe him, to cling to the hope that somehow, her fate could be changed. But how could she? Every day, the curse that had plagued her since birth felt closer to fulfilling its cruel promise. The fear of the unknown gnawed at her, a constant reminder that her time was running out.
But her father wasn't finished. "I've come up with a plan," King Albert said, his tone measured, as if he had rehearsed this moment a thousand times. "Your powers have been stable for the past few months, which means something good could be happening."
Emily's heart skipped a beat. Was he right? She had noticed it too—her powers, once uncontrollable and chaotic, had been dormant lately. But the uncertainty that came with their unpredictability still lingered in the back of her mind. Was this calm a sign of hope, or was it the calm before the storm?
King Albert took a deep breath, his face hardening as he delivered the final blow.
"I've sent a proposal to Eldoria. You'll marry Prince Griffin in two weeks."
Emily's world spun. Two weeks. Two weeks until she would be bound to a man she feared, a man whose lecherous gaze made her skin crawl. Her legs felt weak beneath her, but she forced herself to remain standing, even as the weight of her father's words crushed down on her.
"I informed them that it's an emergency," the king continued, his voice steady, though there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes. "When Niklaus arrives next week, we'll inform him that you've already been promised to Eldoria."
Her heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming in short gasps. Was this really happening? Was she truly being sacrificed for the sake of the kingdom? Her throat tightened as the full reality of her situation hit her like a tidal wave.
Her life, her freedom, her very future—all of it had been bargained away, and she hadn't even been given a choice. Two kings, both more dangerous than the other, were vying for her hand. Her fate was sealed, and there was no way out.
Emily's heart felt like a stone, heavy and unyielding. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, drawing in a deep breath before steadying herself. Her mind raced, the weight of her decision pressing against her like a vise. With her voice trembling, but filled with resolve, she looked at her father and spoke.
"I will marry him, Father. I will marry Prince Griffin."
King Albert's eyes softened as he pulled his daughter into a tight embrace. His heart ached for her, but he knew this was the only way to ensure their survival. His voice, though kind, carried the burden of a ruler forced into an impossible situation.
"I'm sorry for putting this on you," he said quietly, stroking her back. "But we have no other option. Griffin… Griffin is a good man." The words sounded hollow, and both of them knew it. He didn't know the true nature of Prince Griffin's intentions, but in this moment, he needed to believe there was some shred of decency in the arrangement. If only he knew the truth.
Emily swallowed hard, forcing back the wave of fear and sadness that threatened to consume her. This was for the kingdom. For Aquarion. She had to be strong. "It's okay, Father," she said softly, her voice trembling just slightly. "We need to save our kingdom."
King Albert exhaled deeply, his grip on her tightening for just a moment before he pulled away. There was an unspoken understanding between them. He knew she was sacrificing her happiness, but there was no other way. Not if they wanted to avoid the wrath of Emberlyn.
Sighing, he stepped back, looking at her with a mix of pride and sorrow. "After your marriage," he began, his voice low and filled with grim determination, "if Niklaus doesn't stop… we will wage war against him. It's the only way."
Emily's breath caught in her throat. The idea of war with Niklaus was terrifying, but perhaps even more terrifying was the thought of being bound to Prince Griffin. There was no way out, no escape from the storm closing in on her.
After a few more comforting words, King Albert left the room, leaving Emily standing there, the weight of the world pressing down on her slender shoulders.
The moment he was gone, Adrian crossed the room in swift, long strides and wrapped his arms around his sister. The usually stoic prince, always strong and composed, now held her with a tenderness that belied the turmoil swirling in his heart. His voice was thick with emotion as he whispered, "Let it out, sister. I'm sorry for being so helpless."
His words shattered the final wall she had been holding up. All the fear, the anxiety, the grief she had been bottling inside came rushing out. Her body shook with silent sobs as tears finally streamed down her face, soaking into Adrian's tunic. She clung to him, her face pressed against his chest, unable to hold back any longer.
"I don't know what to do," Emily whispered between her sobs, her voice broken and full of despair. "I don't want to marry him… but I have to… I have no choice."
Adrian's heart ached at her words. He wished he could shield her from all of this, take away the burden that had been unfairly placed on her shoulders. But he knew, just as she did, that there was no simple way out. He pressed his forehead to the top of her head, tightening his embrace. "I wish I could take this pain from you," he murmured. "But you're not alone in this. We'll get through it together."
Emily nodded weakly against his chest, her sobs slowly subsiding as she clung to her brother for support. Though the road ahead was dark and uncertain, in that moment, she found comfort in knowing that, at least for now, she wasn't facing it alone.