Chapter 7 Arranged marriage

Axel got to the palace with only on thing on his mind, Erys. She was such a strange creature. The entire Kingdom thought she was some sort of evil demon, but now that he'd met her in person, he understands that she was just a misunderstood person.

Erys wasn't any of the things they called her, she wasn't evil, and definitely wasn't an ugly demon. She was a sweet person, an innocent and naive creature who also appeared to be extremely pretty too.

"Where is Haisley?" he asked the maid who kept her gaze on the floor as it was a crime for a non royal to look into the eyes of a royal unless asked to.

"Princess Haisley is in her chambers, your highness" She replied with her head still bowed.

"You may leave" he waved.

"Thank you my prince" She bowed and hurried out of his sight.

Axel took a deep breath and began walking towards the princess chambers. Everyone he came across bowed and greeted him and Axel rolled his eyes. He didn't like any of this, more reasons why he doesn't want to be king.

He got to Haisley's chamber in no time and the guards stationed at her chamber bowed immediately they saw the prince.

"My prince" they bowed simultaneously as if they had planned it and made way for the prince who walked into the room.

The room was unusually dark but Axel could see as the moon shone brightly. He saw a figure standing in front of the opened large window. He didn't need anyone to tell him that was Haisley.

"Haisley?" He called and she turned around to look at him with glossy eyes. They were filled with sadness and unshed tears.

"Are..are you okay?" Axel asked as he stared at his sister, she was sad and crying.

"Were you crying, what wrong Haisley?. Who hurt you" he asked concerned.

"Mother" She muttered lowly.

"Mother? What did mother do?" Axel asked confused.

His mother would never hurt her own daughter?

He wondered what had happened that made Haisley so unhappy.

"Axel" She burst into tears as her brother pulled her into a hug, holding her as her tears wet his chest.

"Its okay Haisley, I'm here with you" He patted her soothingly.

"Mother.. She (hiccup)...she"

"Its okay Haisley" he pulled her towards the bed and made her sit on it.

"Now tell me what's wrong" he said calmly squatting in front of Haisley.

"Mother, She sold me out" Haisley said as waves of sadness washed over her.

"Sold you out?!" Axel looked at his sister horrified.

"She's getting me married Axel" She said, tears pouring out of her eyes.

"I.. I don't want to get married, I'm not ready for that" She shook her head vigorously and tears blurred her sight. Axel frowned, he wasn't used to seeing his strong cheerful sister sobbing.

"I'll talk to mother " He said wiping her face but they both knew that talking to Queen Adalyn was the same as talking to a wall.

"Who did she say you would be married to" Axel asked curious to know who had decided to court his sister.

"King Declan of Valeria" She muttered and Axel nodded.

"At least he's not an ugly old fat king with plenty wives and mistresses" he said trying to cheer her up.

He had heard of the newly crowned King of Valeria. King Declan was only few years older than him. He had met him once or twice and Axel had to admit, the young king was quite good looking.

At least his mother was wise enough to not get his only sister married to some fat old ugly king and become another one of his many wives.

"That doesn't make me feel any better" She muttered and I passed a sad smile.

"Go to bed Haisley, Goodnight" I patted her head and walked out of the room to my own chambers.

King Declan had only been crowned king few months ago and he hasn't married a wife yet. With the way things are going, it looks like Haisley would be crowned as queen except he has plans to marry another wife and make her queen.

The guards in front of his room bowed and immediately opened the door.

He walked towards the bathroom for a shower as staying under the sun in the forest had gotten him sweaty and dirty.

All Axel wanted was his sister's happiness and nothing more.

*********

Away from Devon Kingdom, in the Castle of the King of Valeria, a maid stood in the garden in the arms of the king of the kingdom, King Declan, weeping under the light of the moon that shone brightly.

"Anna" The deep voice of the king sounded in the frail maid's ears and she shivered involuntarily, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Y.. You promised me" Her voice was broken and throat sore due to continuous crying.

"My mother..... You know she would never approved of it... Of us" Declan sounded miserable.

The maid shook her head violently "N.. No.. No! No you are the king... Y. You ca..."She couldn't complete her word as she burst out in tears again.

"A.. Are the rumors true? Are you really going t...to marry her? The princess of Devon Kingdom " She choked on her tears as Declan remained silent. He didn't know how she knew about his marriage to the princess of a neighbouring kingdom.

This was all his mother's fault for sending a proposal on his behalf and now he's forced to marry someone he didn't know and spend the rest of his life with her when he was clearly in love with someone else.

He brought his hand to wipe her cheeks

"I'm sorry" he whispered.

Anna opened her mouth and was about to say something but someone beat her to it.

"Declan! " someone called with authority and power.

They both turned to the direction of the voice only to see a furious queen mother marching into the garden.

"Mother" Declan called immediately she reached where they were standing but the furious queen mother raised her hand and hit anna, slapping her across her face.

"Lady Theresa" Anna gasped and bowed moving away from the king as tears welled in her eyes from the hard hit she received.

"So the rumors are true Declan, that you are seeing a maid! " She breathe furiously glaring at her son.

"Mother-"

"A maid! A dirty palace maid Declan! This is not who I raised you to be. She" she pointed at Anna who still had her head bowed, trying not to spill tears in front of the arrogant mother of the king.

"She is the reason you refused to send marriage proposal to princesses and ladies from high families?!" She chuckled dryly .

"A king and a maid. What do you think the people of Valeria will think? Do you think they will happy with their king fooling around a dirty palace maid? Are you trying to drag our family name into mud?! "She yelled.

"And you! " she said turning to Anna.

"you will be beheaded the day after tomorrow, that will serve as a lesson to other maid's to stay away and respect the royal family"

"Queen Mother, please " She got on her knees

"Don't take his highness away from me. I... I.. I. Love him" She cracked.

"please stop the wedding " Anna cried.

"And why should I? For a maid?! " The Queen Mother snarled.

Anna shook her head. "I... I.. I am p.. Pregnant for his highness " She said and both Declan and his mother looked at her in shock.

"P..Pregnant! " Declan exclaimed in surprise as he was not aware of this.

"What sort of joke is this! "Queen Mother Theresa yelled as she didn't like what she was hearing.

"Do you not value your life that you dare to speak such nonsense in front of us! "

"No... No.. No. Your highness. I am not telling lies, I wouldn't dare! I really am pregnant for his highness " She sobbed.

"Y... You took a maid to your bed!" The queen mother exclaimed.

"You have brought shame unto our family Declan. If your father was alive, he would have disowned you" She spat.

"Guards!!" She yelled and two men in uniform came running to her.

"Seized her and take her to the dungeon "

"N.. No p..please queen mother I.. I am not lying. I swear I am saying the truth" Anna pleaded for her life.

"You will stay in the dungeon until I figure out what to do with you and that thing you carry" She glared. "Take her away!"

"Y... Your highness P.. Please" She pleaded as

they dragged her away.

"Mother you can't keep her in the dungeon. What if she's really carrying my child" Declan said to his mother who glared at him.

"You should be ashamed! If she's carrying your child, then I will find a way to get rid of. If the king of Devon hears of this, then your marriage with the princess will be canceled!" She yelled at her son. "Do you know what that means?"

"But I don't love her mother, I don't want to spend the rest of my life with someone I do not love" he sounded frustrated.

The queen mother suddenly let out a chuckle. A dark dry chuckle. "You are as foolish as your father Declan. Who said the marriage was about love. You are royalty. You are a King. Your kingdom comes first before your feelings. This marriage will benefit our kingdom and help us form an alliance with Devon and you must do what is right for the kingdom" She said darkly.

"I didn't marry your Father out of love, I did it for the benefits of my kingdom. I was a princess and it was my duty to. You are a king and you must do the same" She hissed and started to walk out. Her heels making sharp noises as she walked away. Declan watched his mother turn her back and walk away but she suddenly turned to look at him.

"Oh..and prepare yourself. Next week we would be travelling to Devon.... To meet your new bride" and with that she walked away.