Chapter 4 Louise POV

4

Father had moved from his seat to walk towards me; it wasn't required for the King to pull any noble lady's chairs. Fear filled my heart, and I was determined to win my father's favor. Yet now I was conflicted: would my heart ever belong to Irvan?

These feelings-were they right? I had a right to my heart to learn if there was a slight chance. Stepping to follow Father to my room, he extended his hand toward mine and asked, "Is there more of which my little princess desires to know?" I smiled at hearing my father call me his little princess; I forgot I was a young child. Taking his father's hand, his little girl took my bravery in asking him, "Father, I don't wish to anger you." He caressed my hand with his thumb as we walked towards my chambers, saying, "You can't anger me, my daughter. I had never wanted this for you; only the best for my little lady. Speak to me, my child." We arrived a short distance from my chambers.

I entered and waited for the doors to close. Father stayed in as the doors were closed behind him. "I recall that privacy is of the utmost importance with subjects such as one's mate, Louise; you can love a human, and it shall not matter to me. Not even your mother, whose best friend is a human himself," he pressed the matter, Father, but what if my mate wasn't a human? What if it could be a much bigger disappointment?" I started playing with my fingers, the uncontrollable fears of disappointment from my father running through my veins like a water stream. "Fate belongs to no land ruling Louise. However, the ideas I'm beginning to receive are frightening. Just swear to me, my child, that you will not allow such things to take away your choices. Perhaps an alliance could bring peace. For now, my child has to fear perfection, for you will never reach it." My father petted my head.

Like Marquess Irwin, his Beta, his father's Beta Ben, and Elder Councilor Cameo's father, he was a slim, tall man with white hair, dark snow skin, and moon eyes like mine, a contract of our clan's exterior trademarks. My father was a man of his word, but was he in love with the idea of another clansman for a son-in-law? Or had he just spoken in hopes of comfort?

Father had said his last words as he sat on the small sofa in my dining room. I quickly rang the bell for assistance to comfort my father. I only hoped for him to be joyful. I was already his disappointment in being a daughter; he had no sons to take the throne. He may have spoken with honesty about his love for my mother, but words can't change the destiny I have to live.

My doors opened once more to receive the servants, and as they went on their way, I walked to the garderobe, after which I instructed for a bath to be heated. Father was enjoying a good book with Mother by his side. "Oh, Mother, I did not know you had joined us!" I exclaimed at the sudden surprise.

Mother was being caressed by her hair by Father, and as she raised her sights towards me, she patted between Father and her, indicating for me to join. As I went, I felt as if I were just a pup, cuddling in between both my parents, who were reading me a bedtime story. I could hear them purring in affection towards me and between themselves.

"Father explained what had come to pass through your mind, my child; have no fears or dwell in confusion; a mate bond is sacred to us both; we don't have the power to stop who it chooses for our little one." Mother kissed my head after her words; she spoke the truth, which Father could not. But did Father accept them?

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It had come in the morning; it was now the evening as we traveled to the meeting at the Howls Temple. It was a sanctuary for our goddesses and gods. Not a soul would dare anger the god's on their ground. When we arrived, we had come to meet a man with two sons by his side and an older woman who was blind.

I couldn't place my finger on who the man was, yet it nagged me like a towed coin from a witcher. Those were nasty hunters; they hunted our kind like they had no other life to destroy. Today, Mother set her sights on ensuring I learned my etiquette classes. My prominent role as a Lady was to master my skills in my social course; I had mastered music, arts, literature, and linguistics.

Mastering social mannerisms was difficult, but I had a role to uphold. Isabella played cards with me during our walk and spoke fondly of our meeting yesterday. I teased her on the accords that she may have a thing for her King to be, and twice she got struck for bad manners.

It was clear Isabella had a hard time accepting she was just my servant, mine to do as I please, yet for her, it was apparent she detested it. Upon arriving, she quickly returned to her role as my servant, and Irvan walked from his carriage towards us. It was common to bring the family along to these meetings.

As our things were being moved in, the man whose elder sat in a rocking chair spoke to his father, "King Legolas, Queen Lizabeth, it is my honor to receive you both." He stopped as he saw me behind my parents; his eyes shined as he saw me and a crippling feeling ran through my skin. He bowed, as did the twins and the elder woman while she sat.

We returned their greetings with a soft nod: "Duke Jaxon, it is our pleasure to have you welcome us; I see you have come with your own family, Duke. Mother Jaclyn, it is a pleasure to have you here," said Father with respect. Mother smiled kindly at my father, yet for a blind woman, I could feel her piercing evil eyes towards my mother. "My King, you sound as healthy as the last of our meetings; you bring joy to this old mother." She replied to Father.