Seated on one of the side chairs in the room, Simon had a hand pressed to his forehead with a tensed look on his face he thought about all the chaos happening in the kingdom. For the first few weeks it was not a problem since only one kingdom was against them but now their enemy kingdom had allied to several of their neighboring states making them thrice as powerful. With the low military power and the haggard conditions of the remaining of them, the chances of their survival in the battle were meagre. Moreover, He had this feeling in his heart that something very bizarre was on its way for him.
Esme could no longer take the miserable look on her husband's face. Placing one hand on his she removed it from his forehead and with the other she cupped his cheeks,
"Honey, what's wrong? Why do you look so tensed?" asked Esme in her soft voice. "Nothing, Its just about the war situation our kingdom is facing, There seems very low chances of our survival." spoke up Simon in a stressed voice. Hearing her husband's worries about the kingdom, Esme pulled him in a comforting hug. Lowly, she whispered "Did you forget who my husband is, Its not the first time he is facing such circumstances. He was the one who brought countless victory to our country even in the battles where we were doomed to lose. Don't worry so much this time too, we will find a way out of this"
" I Know honey, but this time I have a feeling that this war is going to take something very precious of our away from us." he responded dejectedly. "ours?" asked Esme in a puzzled tone.
Before he could answer her, they were interrupted by the guard's announcement. "Your Royal Highness is entering"
Pulling away from each other they awaited for the King's arrival. Simon couldn't get one thing in his head.
Since this has never happened before then why did the king troubled himself to walk up to his chambers? Has anything happened that he didn't paid attention to? Is the kingdom in some grave danger?
Without his knowing a troubled look crossed his face. The hunched figure of the king, his slumped shoulders and the guilty look on his face, everything screamed to Simon that there was something very wrong with the kingdom right now.
Bowing their head in courtesy the King, Simon and Esme shared a glance that said 'what's -going -on' look. Simon warmly spoke up when he saw the strange glance from the King, "Welcome to our humble abode, your majesty. Is there anything I could help you with ? Why did you even troubled yourself to walk up here, just one message and I would be in front of you . Did I do something wrong?"
"Would you forgive me?"
Hearing the king's strange and unfamiliar words a frown made its way up to Simon's face. " I don't think I know what you are speaking about your majesty." spoke Simon with a perplexed expression.
On the the other side of the palace
Rose carried a basket full of ripe mangoes in her left hand, with her right swayed along with her hips as she walked. Her long cape dragged along with her on her back making her look like the next empress of the palace. If not for her innocent face, she would be mistaken as the arrogant princess of the palace.
'These mangoes have turned perfectly ripe, if I pass them to mom and dad, they would be able to savor its perfect taste. Let me just go and give it to them' thought rose to herself.
Soon she was standing in front of their chamber gates, she was about to knock when she was stopped by the guard present there. "Pardon me for my insolence, but the King asked me not to let anyone disturb them. If possible would you mind to wait for some time here itself."
The royal highness was inside her parent's chambers?!
What was going on? To know it she need to wait here outside. Maybe she would be able to catch on their conversation?! she smiled to herself and turned to nod at the guard, "Yeah why not, I'll just wait here, you can continue your work."
Her smile faltered when she overheard King's voice the next second. Why in the world royal highness was asking for forgiveness from her father?!
"I think I should better take my leave. I'll join you soon with refreshment" came out her mother's polite voice. She saw as her mother moved to walk towards the gates, "Shit!" cursed rose. Just as she was about to run she and her mother halted on their steps on king's next words
"I traded her. I traded your daughter, Rose for my kingdom safety. I agreed to marry her off to the King of the Roosevolt Kingdom in exchange for their military support."
Hearing his words, a deep rage flickered inside Simon's heart but he didn't allowed it to show on his face. Now he knew why he was feeling that way since morning, The King whom he followed blind folded has stabbed him in his back.
Marriage with the dark lord?!
Why don't he simply ask for the life of his precious?!
Esme glanced at the King with a hostile gaze, Sensing their gazes the look oh King's face became more guiltier. Esme couldn't believe her ears, Seeing the indifference of Simon towards this matter she grew more angrier. "Did you just said King of Roosevolt, the Dark Lord?! How could you?! How bizarre! Did you wanted the death of my daughter all along?!!" roared Esme forgetting all the decorum.
It was the matter of her daughter's life, how could he take the decision for her rose, when just a few days ago she asked rose to make her own decision. She remembered her Rose's words,
"I believe you will always choose the right for me."
Oh how wrong their choice was, How in the world she would face her daughter after this, Most importantly ,How could she give away her fragile daughter to such a predator!
Amid all these mayhem, Rose had an unreadable expression on her face, 'Dark Lord, did they said DARK LORD?!' she was going to marry him. Finally after years of waiting she got a chance to see him, know more about him, THE NOTORIUS DARK LORD. What would be more better than to just marry him?!
All her plotting went to water when she heard her mother's shriek, "NO! NO WAY, I disagree to this, you are our King but Rose is my daughter, As her parent I refuse to have her used as a sacrifice."
"-_-"
Could someone please make my mother understand?!!
"I understand your concern Lady Esme, but I had no choice, between one individual and the kingdom, I chose to look for the welfare of people in mass. You have to underst-"
"No! I don't want to. You know she is our only child, and how much we both dote on her, how much you doted on her, Think about it Your Royal Highness, Rose respects and loves you so much, How would she react once she listens to this?!" Esme's tone maybe impolite, but it seemed to have an effect on the King since he fell deep into his thoughts.
'She would feel elated, Your majesty. DON'T, Don't let my mother manipulate you. Why is my mother being so keen on sabotage my meeting with Dark Lord?!' thought Rose with a fake-dejected expression.
After being silent for so long, Simon finally mustered up the courage to speak, "Forgive me your majesty, But I cannot let you take my daughter, I promise as long as I have a single drop of blood in my body, Wasum soldiers would never be able to cause any damage to the kingdom. I give you my word-"
"I will marry him"
Three heads snapped at once in the direction of the voice, it was so hard Rose wondered if any of them break their neck while doing it.
Seeing Rose standing in front of them, Their face paled. With the way she said it, she seemed to have heard their whole conversation. Before anyone could interrupt her she hurried her way to the King's side, squatting down in front of him, she hold his hands and spoke with a 'innocent' and 'understanding' expression,
"Your Highness, You always knew I loved and respected you as my blood father, and you too never failed to show me affection and love, sometimes even more than my blood father. Now that you need my help with something, how could you even think I would turn my back on you?" She sobbed dramatically but continued nonetheless, "For the wellbeing of this kingdom, For helping you to get out of this misery I will marry the King of Roosevolt." Rory's heart ached as he watched her tears and her sacrifice for him, Pulling her in his arms he patted her head, With teary eyes he said, "I and the whole Liliac Kingdom would be forever grateful to you."
"Rose" whispered her mother, as her heart ached, when did her small fluff ball turned so mature and selfless. "Mother, Father you both promised me that you will forever support me whatever decision I make for myself. I need your support on this." Her mother rushed forward and engulfed her in her arms, "Forgive me dear, I failed to protect you" she sobbed.
She didn't knew why she did this, but she was happy. He may be heartless, cruel, monster and whatever they called him but she could see the loneliness and the hunger in his eyes for true love.
She knew he needed love and she had a lot to give.