Edmund's mouth was left hanging at the prince's question. The very topic that everyone dreaded. All the lies he had spun in his head suddenly vanished as if it weren't there a few minutes ago.
Ronan frowned at the silence and the king in general. From where he stood, he could hear the raging beats of their hearts, especially that of the old man beside the dark-haired girl. While his gaze remained on the king, he smiled.
While everyone was trying to stay silent, there was one person who didn't want to. "Why this quietness? Or am I not supposed to see my bride-to-be before our wedding?" He questioned. The moment he had noticed two of the king's wives present, he knew something must have happened.
"Why don't you rest and freshen up before we discuss your bride-to-be?" The king replied with another question. The only way they would be able to stop the prince from finding out about Lysandra's escapade, was to stall him.
Lysandra! He gritted his teeth in anger. She always calls trouble to herself.
Ronan smiled at the king's words. "Ah ahh," he waved his right index finger. "Not so fast, king Owen. Let's talk about it here. According to this man," he pointed to Edmund. "He just said that only Lady Victoria and Catelyn passed on. If my memories are still intact, she is my bride-to-be's mother, isn't she?"
Everyone inhaled sharply at this. Councilman Edmund was left speechless. He hadn't thought about it when he lied about the late women. Now, the same prince was using his words against him.
Pandora shifted on her feet as she grew impatient and bored. The welcoming was taking forever, and the prince wasn't even handsome to her taste. She groaned, gaining Ronan's attention.
His eyes lit up as he gazed at her in pure malice. The princess was the grumpy type. "Perhaps someone here is willing to tell me," he smirked. Pride evident on his face.
Queen Remi was about to tell off the prince, but Pandora held her arms. "Don't worry mother. I can handle this." The prince was arrogant and proud. He had called her ugly, which she won't take lightly with him.
Pandora stepped forward with boldness. Her brownish-blond hair was styled and draped into a ponytail. She donned a red silk ball gown, the bodice cinched in a corset that made her upper body look appealing. Her slightly tan skin was unblemished and smooth as a porcelain doll.
Her downturned eyes scanned the eastern prince in contempt before she spoke. "Prince Ronan Thorne, it is disrespectful to the royal family if a guest is left standing outside the castle."
"You must be the eldest daughter," Ronan replied with a grin. This was getting more interesting than he thought. "Is that so?" He then bowed to the royal household. "I'm sorry if you all feel disrespected. Yet, I will see my bride-to-be before anything else," he stubbornly said.
"My father, the king has welcomed you with open arms, but you have refused. This is not Darkville where everyone bows to your pathetic self. When in Rome, act like a Roman prince Ronan." Pandora's words left the household speechless. Even the Eastern prince.
Ronan felt the princess just slapped him on the face. Her words were polite yet sharp and uncanny. "My bride-to-be is all I request before stepping into the castle. Do I not have the right to ask for–"
He was cut off by Pandora's next statement. "Then keep waiting." She gestured for her mother to follow her as they marched away.
When the Councilmen saw that the princess had dismissed the royal guests, they followed behind the royal family and so did the others.
The eastern prince was left embarrassed and speechless at the scene that just happened. "How dare you?" He whispered to himself.
"Did you bring anything, Your Grace? A room has been set up for you in the king's quarter," the butler said from where he was standing. Although he was angry at the Councilman for lying about the ladies' death, he didn't like this prince.
Ronan shook his head, still reeling from what just happened. "I will take care of it," he replied.
"Then I have important matters that need my attention," the butler replied and stepped into the giant door.
While everyone finally went back to their daily activities, King Owen Flynn couldn't stop thinking about Lysandra. Throughout the prince's welcome, he was scared to speak. This wasn't how he planned things because now, they were backfiring on him. "Has the prince been shown to his room?" He asked the butler who was removing his coat.
"Yes, Your Grace," the butler replied stiffly. "May I speak?" He asked the king, who was now staring out of his window. His thoughts were in complete turmoil. He then nodded for the butler to go on.
The butler straightened up. "The eastern prince would find out about Lady Victoria and Catelyn. Not only that, but also about Lysandra and Albertina," he replied. The news was flying around in the castle and even a lie couldn't stop it. "It would have been wiser to tell the prince everything, rather than stalling him, Your Grace."
King Owen sighed heavily and turned to look at the middle-aged butler. "You are right, Frigg. But would the prince want to hear that? That his bride-to-be escaped? Councilman Edmund Fitzgerald clearly knew what he was doing. The illness lies would come handy in the future," he responded with a sullen expression.
"I have sent words to the king of Everia. They would return my daughters in good shape," he added.
Butler Frigg nodded in understanding. "What if the king rejects this negotiation? Won't it affect the political relationship between both kingdoms?" He asked.
"It would. If the king of Everia doesn't return my daughters, Riona would be given to Prince Ronan. Report to me on every movement of the prince. We don't want him snooping around, do we?"
The butler smiled and bowed at the king. "I will do so, Your Grace," he replied and quietly stepped out of the room.
***
Everia
After reading through the letter that was stamped with the Asta king's seal, Lord Kael Darkhaven threw the letter on top of his desk nonchalantly. Rubbing his eyes, he leaned on the cozy chair tiredly.
"Tch," the silver haired man shook his head and took his seat opposite the Lord. "The girls must be returned. They are troublesome. If we don't take them back, it would cause a strife with the southern kingdom," he tried to reason with the silver - eyed man, but the Lord didn't bulge.
Lord Darkhaven threw an irritated glare at the bothersome man. "There is already a strife, long before you were born, Arin. Another one won't make a difference. My kingdom, my rules," he replied and took another look at the letter. "The most important question you should be asking is, why is the king so desperate to get his daughters back?"
Arin's eyebrows twitched at this question as he thought about it. "Or why the princesses escaped from Asta. The last time we saw them was at Groove town. They had really gone far from Asta," he said as the scene last night played in his head.
Lord Darkhaven nodded before standing up. He walked slowly towards the hearth and squatted in front of it. He threw the letter inside the fire and watched it burn swiftly. "It has been two decades since I last received a letter from the Asta king."
"Do you think King Owen is planning something big?" Arin asked. A frown mar his face as everything started falling in place. "Caspian. He knew what the king was up to, and he was killed for it."
Kael stood and ambled towards his favorite spot. The balcony. "Caspian had sent me a letter a week before his demise. Do you want to know the content of this letter Arin?" He questioned as the breeze tousled his hair. The Lord was an enigmatic man, full of grace and elegance. His gloved hands were tucked into his pocket as he stared into the white scenery before him.
Arin came to stand beside him as he filled his eyes with the picturesque view of the city below. It had stopped snowing four hours ago. The moon has risen, giving the city a beautiful scenery to behold. "Yes."
A smug smile enveloped his lips as he stared, unblinkingly. "Lysandra should not be taken back to Asta," he told Arin.
"Really?" Arin asked in wonderment. "But why?"
"Something we are yet to find out would happen if the princess returns to Asta. The king and his council are going extra length to keep it low, don't you think?" Kael had made up his mind to honor Caspian's words. He was a good and rational man who never got tired of helping people.
Arin placed his right hand on his jaw as he thought about the Lord's words. "Perhaps if they fully arrive at Everia, we could question them. The red haired princess is beautiful on the other hand," he grinned to himself.
Kael's piercing gaze scorched him at the mention of the princess. "Don't even think about it, Arin. I don't joke with my responsibilities," he retorted in brewing annoyance.
Arin chuckled at this before waving it off, "I was kidding Kael. Don't tell me you don't find her attractive," he mused playfully.
Kael didn't respond to this as his thoughts kept drifting back to the scene when he licked her blood. "Indeed," he replied shyly. "Make sure they are both safe upon entering the capital. For now, let's focus on those greedy noblemen," he added and Arin nodded.
"Did I tell you, Arin, that she wasn't affected by my eyes?" Kael said to Arin who was now staring at him in doubt.
"Are you sure?" He asked. No one ever stared into the lord's eyes without having a reaction.
"Very sure. I'm starting to wonder who she actually is," Kael replied with anticipation in his eyes.