𝘾𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 (𝙔𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙚!𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙭𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧)

Chapter Seven: Answer

Five days had passed since then, and I already received a letter from yesterday morning from the prince himself, telling me to get ready for his arrival today to give him the answer.

Though, I felt that the options were unfair. It's either I lose my life to his hands or lose my family's life from the gallow-tree. I felt pinned from those choices, and I had no alternative but to take his hand in marriage.

When I finally announced my decision to my parents and Imelda, they rejoiced in ecstasy. They all felt ignorant to what my situation really was, but I didn't felt the need to explain so. To keep them safe from harm, I must do what I had to do. I also gave a brief answer to his highness as well, accepting his engagement.

My mother made sure to dress me up in one of the finest gowns, but I only wish to strip down from it. I wasn't one for extravagant gowns, and it made me think of how other ladies can stand the heat within these piles of fabric suffocating me.

A knock on the door was heard, bursting my bubble of thoughts. "Come in," I answered as Imelda went inside the room with a frown, "What's with that face of yours, Imelda?" I asked with a chuckle. I tried my best to lighten up the mood, as I was definitely not leaving without a single smile on anyone's faces.

I walked towards her and caressed both of her cheeks, "I'm going to miss you, your grace." she touched my hand, with tears that vaguely showed from her brown eyes and quivering lips. "Oh, I will too," I whispered and pulled her into a tight hug, gently doing a circular-motion from her back to calm her down.

We pulled apart, her hands fiddling with her fingers and eyes darting down on the floor. "Visit me, alright?" I asked with gleaming and hopeful eyes. Imelda smile and nod her head, wiping away the tears as she bowed her head. "I'll definitely brag about serving the future queen too!" she said as we broke out a laugh.

"As you should!" I replied back. "I'll...I'll be back, your grace. I must fix myself, I wouldn't want the prince to see you getting served by a maid whose a mess!" she sighed to herself as I tittered with a hand up to my mouth, "As you wish, Imelda." I replied.

The cheerful look on my face vanished once she exited my room, making me turn back to the window. It opened with a light push of my hand as the cold breeze greeted me good morning. The future queen. I never thought I would be that kind of lady, but here I am getting engaged to the crowned prince.

I heard he was setting on voyage to defeat one of the krakens that had wrecked the imperial family's boats and war ships. The knights had already set sail to vanquish the kraken, but came back a year later in surrender.

I glanced down on the window, my heart dropping down with my sweaty hands. The carriage pulled to a stop, with the Stormbore flag designated on the pole connected to the carriage. I walked back and turned around to see my mother in front of me, I jumped back and exhaled. "God, you scared me mother!" I yelled.

She closed her eyes and pat the corner of her eye with the thin, white cloth. "I can't believe this is happening, my dear (y/n)!" she looked at me with eyes softening. She cupped my cheek and smiled, "My little girl has grown into a fine woman, and now she'll be the future queen of Stormbore." she mumbled to herself, trying to not let her emotions take over her.

I bit down on my lip and pulled her into a tight hug, a tear falling down on my cheek. The warmth of my mother's love was the thing I yearned for all throughout this years, and it made me realize that I had picked the right decision.

"I love you, mother." I whispered, burying my face on her neck with her soothing touch patting my back.

She pulled me away and smiled, "The prince is here, darling." she announced and took my hand. When we walked down the stairs, I was greeted with the same oceanic eyes I saw before. I gulped back the itch to turn to my heels and run away, but I did not want to cause a fuzz.

I stood in front of him, his shining, formal attire of white and gold shun through my eyes with his perfect figure in front of me. "(Y/n) (L/n) greets his highness, the crowned prince." I said in a curtsy, while he bowed his head with a big smile.

"The Queen and King cannot wait to meet you, my dearest (y/n)! We shall waste no time and spend my last days here before I go to my expedition!" he took my hand tightly, kissing the top of it. I looked back at both of my parents at the corner of my eye, with Imelda bowing her head low from behind.

"Of...of course, your highness!" I chuckled nervously, snatching back my hand away from him. Nikolas wrapped his arm around my shoulder, facing in front of my parents. "We will be taking our leave now, lord and lady (L/n)," he said, pulling me beside him as I felt myself heating up.

"I promise to take the oath of allegiance to your daughter, no matter what." Nikolas chuckled, seeing my mother in awe was something I'd be happy with.

"Thank you, your royal highness. I hope you and my daughter have a safe trip to the royal palace." my father replied back.

Nikolas pulled me closer than ever as we turned around, striding me with his phase and into the carriage.

I looked outside the window with my parents and the other servants waving goodbye, my heart ache as I waved back with already the feeling of being homesick.

When the manor could no longer be seen, I gazed down on my dress instead while I sat across from the crowned prince himself.

I could feel his eyes burning through me with just a stare, but I did not dare look up. "We'll be having our wedding ceremony tomorrow, (y/n), I hope you're ready." he announced, making me look up in an instant with wide eyes. "P..pardon, did I heard that right, your royal highness?" I asked in disbelief while he rest his chin to his finger.

"Why yes you did, my dearest. Preparations had already been made, and so is our honeymoon before my voyage." he answered, his gaze not faltering away.

"Why must it be so sudden, your royal highness?" I frowned with clenched fists, "It is the queen's orders, my dearest (y/n)," he responded once more and smiled, "And why be engaged for such a long time when we could get married in no time!" he chuckled.