Chapter 16

LIAM POV

“Father, I am not sure if I can follow through with this marriage.” I said as my father walked in and sat down on his bed. He was given a guest chambers separately and so was I. I had been waiting for him for a while now.

“My son, what are you doing here? When did you get here and more importantly, what are you saying? We can’t cancel the wedding. You have to get married to Princess Audrey. You told me you always had a thing for her, didn’t you? Why the sudden change?” He said facing me as I raked a hand through my hair and said,

“I just feel like we are rushing the marriage. It would be better if we can take things slow for a while. Maybe for months then by the next festival that approaches, we can get married.” I said casually hoping he wouldn’t get angry. But I was wrong.

“I don’t get where you are coming from, Liam. What is all this long talk about postponing the engagement. If news of this leaks out, King Conrad would think I was just toying with him and other suitors would clamour for her hand in marriage. You know she is the beauty of the town. All kingdoms apart from ours all wishes that had her. And now we are weeks away from being the luckiest kingdom in the area, you want to postpone it. This is ridiculous, Tell me you are joking.” He said as I bit my lips. He was making a lot of sense but Princess Audrey hated me and my guts. I didn’t want to be in a sad marriage. Would I beg her for sex?

“But father, what about love and affection that is needed in a marriage. It is void here, all we have is contracts and agreements. It feels like a slavery.” I said but he stood up in anger.

“Prince Liam, do you have someone else in mind? Are you in love with some other girl? Is she a commoner? If I find out, I will have her executed.” He said pointing at me angrily and I stood up too.

“No father, it is not about any other girl. I am talking about Princess Audrey. She said she doesn’t love me.” I released the cat out of the bag. He looked shocked for a moment and then burst out laughing. I felt anger shimmer through my veins, how could he possibly laugh at something this important. This was serious and he was making mockery of me. I allowed him to finish laughing.

“Is this why you want to call off the wedding?Because Princess Audrey doesn’t love you? Who cares about what she thinks. You are going to be her lord and head. She has to bow to you for the rest of her life. Why are you troubling yourself over this. She has no choice, she is bound to marry you. There is no such things as love. Love is for the commoners. They don’t have gold and trinkets like we do, so they settle for the least and affordable one which is love. Can love take care of her citizens during a famine or war. I raised you better than this. What a good thing you didn’t meet King Conrad directly. He would feel ashamed and wondered if you are really the one for his daughter.” He said as I kept quiet.

I didn’t want to say anything else. My father was still stuck in the ancient times.

“Where is your bodyguard?” He asked as I replied.

“Seth? He is in my chambers. I left him there, why?” I asked wondering why he would bring up my best friend.

“Oh nothing. Just wanted to know. My son, if the princess doesn’t like you, make her like you then. It is easy. Ask the maids to prepare dates between you two, go for a walk in town, debate with her who was the greatest king to ever live between our families. She is a scholar, she isn’t going to be swayed easily. Show her that you belong in her world. If she sees your attempt, she will begin to give you some slack. That was how I won your mother. She hated me, even cried at the wedding, didn’t speak to me for two weeks then my father, your grandfather may his soul rest in peace, pulled me aside and said,

“Roland, I am dying soon. You have fulfilled all duties to become the next king. But now that you have pleased your people. Please your wife also so that she can be happy here or you won’t get a heir. I took his advice, she loved pottery and sewing. God knows my hands were a wreck, cause I injured myself because of my clumsiness. But it worked. She started hanging out with me, teaching me some things, we became friends, I didn’t pressurize her for sex. I didn’t ask her to be present at presentations. We were getting along just fine. Then I went to battle and was badly injured. Luckily I was saved but during those agonizing moments, she realized that she was in love with me and did all she can to save me. We ended up making love on my deathbed and then you came along. And we are inseparable till I lost her to death’s cold hands. Most of the kings you see now, were in a forced marriage with their wives, we all looked for ways to make them happy. And now it is your turn. Don’t back down so easily. Court her. We will soon be leaving soon to get back to our kingdom and you will see things will change for the both of you.” He said patting my shoulders.

“Wow, I never heard this from you before. I wished mum told me before she died. I see what you mean now.” I said as I nodded my head.

“Good boy, now that is my prince I am proud of, and your mother is proud of you too. Don’t let us down.” He said as I smiled and hugged him.