King Armen continued, “The Kingdom of Abetha owes the Kingdom of Megaris, and I would like to offer my gratitude by giving what the King of Megaris wants.”
Drayce looked at the older man, his red eyes asking a silent question over King Armen’s last line—what the King of Megaris wants.
King Armen smiled lightly after getting that gaze and added, “Of course, this offer does not include the throne of Abetha. You can have anything that won’t cause heavy loss or harm to Abetha. As a father, although I am thankful, this action also carries political intent as this is a gesture under my name, Armen Ilven, to make the relationship between our two kingdoms stronger.” He was not the kind of king who would blindly offer something to anyone.
“Is King Armen sure that you will grant what I want, as long as they fall along the conditions you have mentioned?” Drayce asked. “Not the throne, not causing harm and will strengthen the alliance between our kingdoms?”
King Armen’s offer was already something he had consulted with his trusted officials, and once made public, it would receive the praises from the public as an act of benevolence from their king. After all, with the war and the series of events for the past few weeks, the atmosphere of the kingdom had been terribly low. People were filled with worry and fear. Once the people of Abetha found out that they had gained a strong and rich ally like Megaris, the mood of the people would be lifted.
King Armen had made sure that no matter what, Drayce’s demand wouldn’t be against the betterment of his kingdom. As long as nothing would harm his kingdom and the people, he was fine with giving anything to Drayce.
King Armen nodded. “As long as it complies with the conditions I mentioned.”
“What if King Armen doesn’t agree to it?” Drayce questioned.
“We, royals of Abetha, never go back on our words.”
Drayce looked like he had already thought about what he wanted, and King Armen asked, “It seems like King Drayce already has a demand in mind?”.”
“The Third Princess!”
King Armen felt like he had heard something wrong. “Third Princess? Are you talking about—”
“You did not hear me wrong. I am asking for your daughter’s hand. I want to marry the Third Princess, Seren.”
King Armen looked like he had got the shock of his life. He abruptly stood up, not even realizing that the chair behind him had fallen.
“No! It’s not possible!” He had barely gathered his wits as he tried to speak slowly. “Sincere apologies, King Drayce. You cannot ask me to compensate you with my own daughter. Other than this, anything would be acceptable.”
Drayce stood up as well, but he was calm and collected, a complete opposite compared to how anxious and angry King Armen looked at the moment.
“I have fulfilled all the conditions that King Armen had mentioned. I didn’t ask for the throne; marrying the Third Princess will not harm anyone—it will even relieve the people of Abetha as we know no one wants her in this kingdom—and lastly, a marriage alliance will help strengthen the relationship between our kingdoms.”
King Armen could only look at Drayce in pure disbelief. Never, not even his wildest imagination, did he expect Drayce to demand something like this.
“Just now, King Armen said, Abethan royals never go back on their words, so I will consider that an agreement has already been made and King Armen had granted what I had asked for. Do not worry; I will take her as my only queen, and I will not accept any consort or concubine into my harem.”
Before King Armen could say a word, there was a knock on the door. Lord Eudes entered the study in a hurry, not even bothering to greet the two kings as per etiquette demanded.
“Your Majesty! Third Princess is awake!” Lord Eudes informed his king, but instead of a relieved or cheerful expression, the old advisor looked worried and anxious. Otherwise, he wouldn’t dare enter the King’s study to interrupt him without getting permission to do so.
“Tell me, what is wrong with my daughter?” King Armen asked.
“Her Highness doesn’t look well. His Majesty’s presence is needed at once.”
Without another word, King Armen stepped out of his study and headed towards her chamber, not even bothering with the two who followed his anxious steps.
Just as they reached the door of Seren’s chamber, King Armen stopped and looked at Drayce. “As her father, I would appreciate it if King Drayce stays out of the matters of our royal family.”
Drayce stood back as King Armen entered, and the two knights guarding the chamber closed the door behind him.
It was not like Drayce would listen to someone so easily, but he knew his limits to not go against certain things. Moreover, he had his ways to get what he wanted. Drayce went to his bedchamber as he trusted his fine hearing sense to let him know what was going on inside.
——–
When King Armen entered the bedchamber along with Lord Eudes, the two nurses looked troubled while the Head Royal Physician paced around the room, sneaking worried glances towards the curtained bed.
“Your Majesty! You are finally here!” Heath Leuven bowed as soon as he caught sight of the King.
“Is she awake?” King Armen asked. “Seren?”
His vision was blocked by a wooden screen kept in the middle of the room, dividing the bed from the rest of the chamber.
“Your Majesty,? the Third Princess, is awake, but you cannot approach her hastily. She seems to be still scared and not allowing anyone, not even the nurses, to approach her.”
King Armen went past the wooden screen towards the bed that had netted curtains hanging, not allowing him to see his daughter directly. But he could see a delicate figure curled like a ball, sitting at the one corner of the bed, her back against the wall, her face buried in her arms that were hugging her knees.
