chapter 8

Soon, they were all seated in the king's study. Alera deliberately chose a seat as far away from Luke as possible,.She had no desire to sit anywhere near him.

From the moment they entered the study, Luke had looked as though he didn't want to be there. He barely spoke, and there was an unmistakable reluctance in his expression.

Alera couldn't help but wonder if his little fling had something to do with it.

She rolled her eyes at the thought.

Of course it did.

The man probably wanted to be anywhere but here. He probably wanted to be with Evelyn right now. He didn't want this but he had to for his land. In the book he really did gain a lot from the marriage but the fool couldn't even form a connection with Alera to keep it because of his obsession with that girl.

Everyone settled into their seats, but nobody spoke immediately as they waited for the king's permission.

King William sat behind his desk, his expression calm as he regarded the men from Firildia.

After a moment, he gave a small nod.

The men straightened.

The duke, who appeared to be the leader of the group, cleared his throat before speaking.

"Your Majesty, as you know, we aim to make the connection between our kingdoms stronger. So, we have come here to propose a marriage between the prince and Princess Alera."

The room fell silent.

Alera watched her father carefully.He didn't look particularly pleased by the proposal. In fact, he looked almost reluctant.

His daughter just turned twenty three, of course he couldn't let her go. His child, the only connection he had to his wife. He knew he would have to let go one day but he didn't want it so soon.

"Hmm."

King William leaned back slightly.

"I have no intention of letting my daughter go so easily. I have so little time with her as it is."

His words were gentle, but there was no mistaking the meaning behind them. He wasn't eager to send his daughter away.

Even in the story, they had to do a lot to convince him. In fact, Alera got involved and convinced him but at the end she was mistreated and killed. It took a lot for her father to stay under control. He wanted to march to Firildia and kill them all and he had the power to but he just grieved.

The men exchanged conflicted glances.They had clearly heard about the king's love for his daughter and they had probably anticipated an immediate rejection. Yet they came prepared to negotiate.

The duke quickly spoke again.

"Then we are willing to wait as long as required. It will be really good for both nations to come together."

There was an almost desperate note in his voice. Meaning they were willing to wait till the king wanted to let his daughter go. Very desperate

Alera watched him quietly.

They really needed this alliance, that much was obvious. Her father's hesitation had already confirmed what she remembered from the novel.

The advantage wasn't entirely on their side and that gave her room to maneuver.

The king appeared to be considering the proposal. Alera remained silent, she already decided what she was going to do.

She was no way she was marrying Luke. Not now, not in the future, not ever. She did not care how important the alliance was nor did she care what anyone expected.

She knew exactly what that marriage would eventually become.

They kept trying to convince the King somehow then someone cleared their throat.

Everyone's attention shifted, It was the princess.

Alera sat a little straighter.

"I have heard a lot about the prince, his feats and his reputation."

Luke's eyes shifted toward her.

She continued calmly.

"A good man to his people indeed."

The words immediately changed the atmosphere in the room. The men from Firildia relaxed. If she is impressed by what she has heard, Perhaps they thought she was going to make things easy for them.

The duke's shoulders loosened.

Perhaps they thought the princess had already accepted the idea. Luke remained quiet, watching her.

Alera almost smiled.

They had no idea what was coming.

"He is also rumored to have a very questionable, known relationship with..." She paused deliberately. "A count's daughter."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

The change in the room was immediate. The men stared at her.

The duke's expression froze.

One of the other men looked toward Luke.

And Luke...

Luke looked genuinely shocked.

Alera watched him closely.

How did she know?

The question was practically written across his face. His relationship with Evelyn was supposed to be a secret. He kept it hidden, so hidden that there was no way It couldn't have gotten out from Firildia.

His mind began racing.

Who could have leaked the information?....... did someone discover them? or did one of his men spoken? or the information somehow reached the princess through another source?

Luke just couldn't understand, he was very careful.

So so careful.

Yet Alera was sitting there, calmly exposing something he had gone to great lengths to hide.

She looked directly at him.

"Why would I marry a man who is already with another woman?"

Nobody answered.

Alera's voice remained composed, she wasn't shouting or accusing him angrily.

That somehow made her words even more effective. The duke opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Luke remained frozen.

The princess continued.

"I have no intention of suffering in a marriage filled with affairs."

Her words were firm and left no room for second thoughts. there was no hesitation no form of uncertainty.

She had made her decision.

Alera looked at her father.He looked shocked too by her words. They had come to convince him but his daughter seemed to know more than he could have.

Then she stared back at the men from Firildia. Her next words sounding absolute.....

"So I will not be marrying the prince."