Chapter 64 Escape.
I couldn't believe what my father had just said. Marry Giron? And worst of all, rule beside him?
My father is trying to make Giron king! Does he realize what that means? Does he realize that making Giron king would automatically mean more suffering for the humans?
Why would father go that far? I know he wants to protect Domenic as best as he could, but making Giron king will not help, not in the slightest.
I glared straight at Giron, who was still smirking at me. He looks extremely pleased with the decision, but he is definitely wasting his time because I will not be getting married to a monster like him. Over my dead body.
I decided to study the faces of the elders one after another. Orion obviously doesn't care whatever the outcome becomes. Julio looked pleased by the decision. Luciana looks uneasy, and Karina was obviously displeased by the decision.
If only the elders were brave enough to speak up, I could tell that most of them do not agree with Giron becoming king.
If they can't speak up, then I will. "Father, you don't mean that! This was never part of the plan!"
"It is now." He answered simply and strictly, like he was somebody else and not my father. "You will marry Giron, and nothing you say will change my mind."
"I refuse to do as you said, father!" I spoke without fear. If they all think I will agree with this so easily, then they have another thing coming. "I can't marry Giron."
"And why not?" Giron asked pleasantly. The smile on his face made me want to rush forward and strangle him until he was out of breath and begging for his life. "I don't see anything wrong with me, Your Highness. I've got the looks, and I think I'll make a very good king because I adore our kind. I'll never choose another over our kind."
My fist clenched. I knew exactly what the bastard was getting at. He was indirectly hinting that Domenic and I were no good as rulers because we have sympathy for humans.
Giron is nothing but a fucking monster, and I would rather die than give in to being his wife.
"There's a lot wrong with you, Giron. First of all, you're old enough to be my great-grandfather."
He scoffed out a laugh. "Don't make me laugh, princess. We both know that among us vampires, age is just a number."
"Not for me. It's not just about your age, you're ugly as hell." The smile on Giron's face vanished at my words, and Orion coughed like he was trying to hold back his laughter. Luciana's lips twitched a bit. It was only Julio and Karina that remained passive.
Father cut through the moment. "That's enough, Camille. I don't care what you think. Tomorrow you shall marry Giron, and that's it."
"I refuse. I will return back to the mountains. It was actually a mistake coming back here!"
I turned to leave, but my father gestured towards the guards, and they blocked my path.
"You can't leave, Camille." Father spoke calmly, and I turned to stare at him in disbelief. "Even if that means keeping you under house arrest until the wedding is over."
My eyes widened. "You can't possibly mean this, father!"
"I mean every word, Camille." To the guards he said, "Escort the princess to her room."
I stared at my father for a while longer, but his expression remained the same. Hard and determined.
Is he really going to force me to marry Giron?
In anger, I stomped off past the guards, and they quickly followed after me just to make sure I don't escape.
I don't know what has suddenly come over my father, but I'm definitely not going to marry him, even though that means escaping.
I paced about in my room, not knowing what to do. Half the guards were already stationed outside my room just so I won't escape. Father knew me too well. A few guards won't be enough to keep me locked up.
It doesn't matter. I will fight as hard as I can just to get out of here. I know father is trying to protect Domenic. I want to protect him too, but I can't do that at the expense of other people's lives.
Giron is a demon, and I know him all too well. I know how many lives he would ruin if he ascends the throne, and I'm not going to let that happen.
First of all, I'll have to escape this stupid palace and find Domenic. I know he cares too, deep down. Maybe if we join our hands together, we can fight Giron and put an end to the suffering the humans are going through.
My door opened, and father walked in. I quickly wheeled around to glare at him. "Father, what was the meaning of what you did back there?"
His eyes no longer held the harshness they held earlier. They were softer now. "I'm sorry, Camille, but it was the only way to get Giron off your back and Domenic's. I had to protect you both."
"By selling me and the throne to him?!" I couldn't help but raise my voice. My father didn't look pleased by my statement, but he had the decency to look guilty. "Father, is it even worth it? Do you know what would happen if Giron takes the throne?"
"I've thought about it, Camille." He defended. "Giron will make a good ruler. He only hates the humans."
"And you think that's a good thing. Father, we are all children of the moon goddess. The shadow monsters are already enough problems for us to face. We shouldn't be causing more torture for others just because they are weaker than us."
"It was the only way." He argued, and I couldn't help but look away from him in disgust.
"You have always been a coward." I said in a low voice filled with pain and disappointment. "I learnt what love really is from you, but you're always so scared of the elders to show everyone that love you taught me. If you had been brave, Domenic's mother wouldn't have died."
"I know." He agreed solemnly. "But I did everything I did to protect my children."
"It doesn't seem like it. Because of your excuse to protect us, we grew up unhappy. Is it worth it to you?"
He turned away from me. My words were probably too painful for him to bear. "Say what you want, Camille, but I have made my decision. You will marry Giron!" With that, he walked out.
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair in distress. This is not the father I knew and trusted. How could he make such a reckless decision?
I sat on my bed and thought of what to do. Just then, the door burst open, and I was shocked to find Lysander standing there holding a black cloak and his sword.
"Lysander!" I exclaimed, shooting up from my seat.
He took a step forward and threw the cloak at me. I barely caught it.
"Wear that quickly, princess. We don't have much time."
I smiled in gratitude. Of course, I should have expected Lysander to save me. I didn't wait to thank him. I quickly wore the cloak over my clothes, and we hurried out of my room.
The guards at my door were all unconscious. Lysander seems to have done a lot of work to be able to get them to sleep.
"Were you planning this all along?" I asked in awe.
He shook his head. "Not really. I got help."
"From who?" I couldn't help asking.
Lysander smiled. "Someone who doesn't want Giron taking the throne." He didn't let me think as he pulled me along quickly. "We must hurry before anyone knows about this."
"Where are we going now?"
He smiled at me and replied, "To the portal that leads to the human world. We have to find Prince Domenic. If there is anyone who can handle Giron, it's the prince."
I couldn't help but agree.
Domenic is really who we need right now.