Chapter Four - Royal Confrontation.

Kael's POV 

I stood in the grand throne room, my eyes fixed on Elaine, my betrothed. She was a vision of beauty, with her golden hair and piercing blue eyes. But her expression was far from lovely.

Elaine stood in front of me with so much rage in her eyes. Her fists were clenched tight as she spoke with so much disdain laced in her tone. "Kael, I demand to know what is going on between you and that...that slave girl." She spat, her voice venomous.

I could not help but scoff. I hated how Arianna was addressed as a slave girl to everyone. She was nothing close to that. As a matter of fact, I expected everyone in the kingdom to see her as a noble person, after all she was going to sacrifice her life for the betterment of the kingdom, whether she did it willingly or not did not matter.

"Slave girl? Do not address her as that Elaine. Her name is Arianna." I said. 

I watched Elaine scoff at me, she shaked her head in disappointment. "Do I look like I care about what her name is? To me she is a slave girl!" Elaine yelled at me. She was beginning to irritate me with the harshness of her tone, I was one step away from snapping at Elaine. 

"Why are you getting yourself worked up over nothing?" I snapped at her, adjusting my posture on the throne. 

I watched Elaine's eyes widen in shock. "You take everything so lightly Kael and it is not funny at all! I saw the way you killed that guard just because he addressed her as a slave girl yet you call that nothing?"

Oh- 

Was Elaine now acting out of jealousy just because I had saved Arianna from the hands of that despicable guard.

"He needed to be put in his place and all I did was make that possible. Is that why you are so worked up?" I raised a brow at her.

"Put in his place just because he tagged her as a slave girl? Give me a break Kael, I know there is more to that. Why have you let the walls you built around her collapse?"

I furrowed my brows in confusion at her, feeling a spark of annoyance. "What are you talking about, Elaine?"

Elaine's eyes flashed with anger. "Do not play dumb with me, Kael. I know all about Arianna. She is nothing more than a tool for you to unlock your powers. You need to distance yourself from her. Now. Make it clear to her that her duty is to sacrifice her life for you to rule the kingdom. Nothing more or less than that!" 

I felt a surge of anger at her demands. Who was she to tell me what to do? "I do not think that is any of your business, Elaine. Stick to minding your own business so you do not anger me." I said, my voice cold.

Elaine's face turned red with rage. "How dare you!" she shouted. "I am your betrothed, and I will not be ignored!"

To begin with, Elaine and I were only childhood friends. It was my father's idea to spark up the whole marriage idea with her. I had never for once felt any romantic feelings for Elaine but who was I to protest against my father's orders?

I rolled my eyes, feeling a sense of boredom. This was exactly another reason why I did not want to marry her. She was too clingy, too possessive. 

"I refuse to be ignored Kael, mark my words." With that, Elaine turned around and walked away. I choked out a small laughter and shook my head at her drama. 

Why would she think that far about I and Arianna? 

I rested my head comfortably and shut my eyes close for a quick nap.

Sooner than later, my nap was interrupted when the door to the throne room opened wide causing a loud thud to erupt. I snapped my eyes open to gaze at my father.  

He entered the room. "Kael, I need to speak with you," he said, his voice firm.

I nodded my head in agreement. I already had a feeling that Elaine had said a lot but what exactly had she told him to get him this serious?

My father stood in front of me with a straight face. He cleared his throat and turned to ask me. "Elaine reported you, Kael. She is concerned about your relationship with Arianna. What sort of relationship is going on between you and that girl if I may ask?"

I snorted. "There is no relationship, Father. Arianna is just a means to an end."

My father's eyes narrowed. "Do not lie to me, Kael. I know you are drawn to her. But you need to focus on your duties as king. You can not let your feelings get in the way." My father spoke so confidently. It made me confused, was he taking Elaine's words over mine?

I felt a surge of anger at his words. How did he know how I felt?

Before I could respond, my father continued. "You need to marry Elaine, Kael. Arianna may be the key to unlocking your powers but Elaine is the key to securing our alliance with the neighboring kingdom. And you need to love her, truly love her, or risk losing everything we have worked for."

I felt a chill run down my spine at his words. Love Elaine? It was a joke.

But as I sat still, trying to process my feelings, I could not help but think of Arianna. Her fiery spirit, her determination, her beauty...

What was it about her that drew me in? And why could I not seem to shake her off?

As I stood there, lost in thought, my father's words echoed in my mind. "You need to focus on your duties as king..."

But my heart seemed to be telling me something else entirely.