Valor P.O.V

  "You are going to be sore for a few days, but you are lucky. I do not suspect you caught any illness, My Prince.-" The healer explains, "But if any disease does sneak its way in. Do not hesitate to call for me. " While we had waited for everyone to be gathered this healer was summoned. To ensure that I am well. But the only treatment I need is time and sleep.

  The healer gathers his items, and at the same time he leaves, the last one we were waiting for arrives. "Your Highness." Captain Basin greets and bows. Finally, everyone is here. My father, Uncle Eiran, my sisters Zora and Malika. Even Duke Teival and Madam Eithne are also present. All of those who have been told about the curse.

  Two plates are placed on the table in front of me, my own half empty. The other intended for Lorelei had not been touched. There had been no request for these, but the staff knows what to do and promptly arrived with the meal, before my father even stepped into the dining hall.

  When my father came, he demanded an explanation, fouriously pointing to Lorelei. "What is the meaning of this?" Remaining calm, I tried to say I would prefer to wait with explaining to when everyone are present. Fortunately, Uncle Eiran had arrived with Father, and he convince him that it would be wise to wait. And after a few objections from my father, he indeed sat down to wait.

  As people arrived one by one. My sister Malika was the first to look happy at my return, while Zora nearly jumped over the table to yell at me. Duke Teival and Madame Eithne both said they were relieved to see me back home safe. Still, I was disappointed in a way, is it wrong that I expected a bigger reaction to my return?

  "Now that we're all gathered. I can tell what happened." I begin to describe the events surrounding my disappearance. About the elf Dolion, the potion that stole my voice. Loreleis and I's fight that caught her on fire.

  "You seem in pretty good health for someone being lit on fire." Uncle Eiran points out.

  "Dolion healed me-"Lorelei said straightforwardly. "There is something else, I think should be informed about before His Highness continues. I did not know Dolion prior to this week. He approached me with an offer I could not refuse for information about the royal guard's schedule and how to gain acces to the royal church."

  "Did he offer a way to remove the royal mark from your body?" Captain Basin ask. Lorelei replies with a short yes. She hadn't told me about this. I had no idea about his plans or that she did not even know him. I thought that, what did I think? That they were friends.?

  "Why would he want to enter the royal church?" Zora ask.

  "I suspect to intervene in the wedding, Am I right?" Uncle Eiran ask.

  I am not able to see Lorelei from where I am sitting, but I envision her standing upright, not showing any fear when responding. "Yes. He has been hired to eliminate Duke Teival."

  "Wait a moment, are you saying an elf, wants to kill me?" Duke Teival asked wide-eyed,

  "I bet that someone in Vouri is behind this. Perhaps the King himself." Father fumed

  "I will make sure security is double." Captain Basin announced.

  "See to that Captain,-" Having security double is a good thing, but it means a lot of the city guards will be pulled in to safeguard the castle. "With that settle. There is still the matter about her. Why did the traitor come to her senses and surrender?" My father questions.

  "We have come to an agreement that benefits us both?" I purposely saved the proposal for last. If I had started by saying it, they would not have listened to anything else.

  "What kind of agreement?" My father's glare makes me feel guilty, and he still has no idea what I have done.

  "We both have something the other can provide. Lorelei wants to save her friends. And I need her to be by my side so that she can lift the curse. That is why in exchange for letting her friends go. She promised to marry me."

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  For a brief moment, the room was silent, everyone staring at me. But my father the first to collect himself, screamed "Have you lost your God damm mind?" I feel my body tense, his wrath and loud voice instil a fear in me like nothing else. I look away, attempting to shelter myself from my father's rage.

  My father grabbed my shoulder and tugged on my shirt to force me to face him. "Look at me when I am speaking."

  "Brother, take your hands off him. We are going to talk about this in a civil manner." Father scowls but reluctantly lets go of my blouse. He is sending a dead glare towards his brother. Daring him to tell him what to do once more.

  My heart is beating against my chest, and I gasp out a few breaths. "I aa..am no..ot going ba..ac..ck on my Wo...ord." I stutter.

  A hand starts to stroke the top of my head. Only one person would do that. I turn to see Malika. She had walked around the table so that she could try and calm me down. Just out of the corner of my eyes.

  "Valor you are to marry a noblewoman for the good of this kingdom, not some woman of the streets," Father argues. Out of the corner of my eye I see Captain Basin make a scowl, but his face turns neutral almost immediately.

  Folding my trembling hands, I take a long breath before stating, "I am doing this for the good of the kingdom, she is my saving grace and I will marry her tomorrow." When I took this decision I knew father wouldn't approve. But even though every part of me wants to hide and cry, I need to stand firm.

  At this very moment, the curse returns to whisper in my ear. Take his head, your father must pay. Scratch it, pound it into the table till it bleeds. All though strange these murmurs give me strength. They remind me I need her more than I fear my father. Therefore his thoughts on this can go straight to hell.

  "Tomorrow? but I am getting married tomorrow?" Malika says. I turn to look at her, her arms are folded, and she looks towards the Duke. "I know, and I do not mean to interfere. Lorelei and I's wedding will be a private ceremony early, no one has to know about it for the time being. I simply want it done as soon as possible so that we are bound by God."

  "What about Alva? You love her." Zora butts in.

  I am not able to see Lorelei from where I sit, she is standing behind me somewhere, But I envision her reaction, is it confusion? Maybe shock or guilt? I doubt she be jealous.

  "Alva took the decision to leave us.- "Leave me. "So those feelings are of no concern."

  "Valor do you seriously think you can trust this woman, she is a traitor?" Father remarked.

  "No." I say honestly. I am not that stupid. "But I trust her loyalty." Not to me, but to her friends.

  "You idiot, she have no loyalty. She had no care when she abandoned her vow to protect the crown. What makes you think she will honour a wedding vow? I will not allow this woman to manipulate you into making this grave a mistake."

  "Settle down brother." Uncle Eiran interrupts.

  I shrink back into my seat, choking on my words "This is my choice, not hers, this is what I want."

  Anger boils out of my father. He orders every one of them to leave. "I need a word alone with my son. Basin, Eiran, you two can escort....our guest to the blue room."

  "I will make sure she gets there without incident," Captain Basin declared. "Should I have magic restraints put on her?"

  My father agrees to restrain her magic is for the best. I however wonder if it affects her ability to silence the curse. But My father then says "We need someone to guard her and a maid in charge of makeing sure she does not starve. Someone who will not gossip."

  "Yes your majesty, I will see to it." Captain Basin say.

  "I have the perfect maid for the job, she is foreign and have yet to pick up the language," Eithne tells.

  After that, everyone begins to leave. Lorelei does not even acknowledge me as she walks around the table and follows the Captain and my Uncle out. When Malika steps away, I reach for her hand but do not take it. I got myself into this mess, I have to face it, alone.

  Father sits down on the chair across from me, letting out a frustrated exhale, he seems to have calmed down. But that doesn't mean anything, my Father's anger is never far from showing.

  "Valor, you are not a smart man. But even you should be able to understand how this marriage can not be. She has no status. She is a no-one. The people will question her. They will question your crown. It has the potential to unleash rebellions."

  "I am well aware of all the troubles this marriage will cause. But I need her. I need her to sing for me, the same way I need air."

  "To marry her is erroneous. It not only puts you and the crown in danger, but her too. What will you do if you lose her? As your wife, she will be a target for many who wish the crown harm, not to forget you could lose her childbirth, What will you do then?" Same way we lost Mother I think, but I do not dare say it out loud.

  "She is strong, young and healthy, that is not a fear I have."

  My father shakes his head. "I think you are making a mistake. But I have never seen you stand up for something you want this strongly before. That is why I am allowing you to marry her." My father's agreement startled me. I was expecting a canning, a punishment. I can't convey the relief I'm feeling right now.

  "But mark my words, son. She will betray you. For your own sake, make sure she is with a child soon, that at least will give her a reason to stay."