“What?”
“I don’t want you to get involved with this. It’s not our place to interfere in their lives. Oren knows what’s best for his daughter.”
Cadence completely disagreed of course. “No he doesn’t and I wouldn’t be getting too involved. I just want to get Vera to stand up to her father and tell him what she wants to make her happy.”
“Cadence, please.” I begged with my hands together. “The King is going to know that this wasn’t all her idea. She doesn’t tell him what to do to make her happy every day, you know?”
“But I can’t do nothing, Seth. You know how I am.”
“Yes, I know all too well.”
“Then just let me. It couldn’t hurt to try.”
I paused for a moment and sighed. “All right. Do what you have to do but what am I going to do with Rory in the meantime?”
“Just do what you were going to do. Keep him under wraps in case it doesn’t work.”
“That’s not going to be easy. He’s going to hate me.”
“Then let him hate you. He won’t know otherwise.” I nodded and we kissed. “Good. Now, it’s late. Let’s get some sleep and worry about this tomorrow.”
Worry? Great.
Chapter 39
Cadence
I got up early and started my plan to get Vera and Rory together. They were so sweet together. It just had to work.
I walked down stairs and saw Vera sitting alone in the dining hall picking at her food with a fork. “Good morning, young Princess.”
“Morning, Cadence.”
“What’s the matter?” I sat with her, sensing her downed mood. “Are you all right?”
“Been better.”
“Is this about Rory?”
Vera dropped her fork and quickly looked up. “Who said anything about that?”
“Just a lucky guess. I know about you two.” Vera sighed and sat back in her chair, putting her hand over her face. “Oh, don’t be like that. There’s no shame in being in love.”
“In love! I’m not—I mean, I can’t be in—I’ve only known him for—there’s no way I could really be—”
She paused I smiled to her incomplete response. “Then how do you explain that?”
“Well, I—I—I—”
“It’s all right. You don’t have to. I know.”
Vera was still in awe to even think that she might be in love when it really was a good thing. “You really think I’m—”
“That’s really for you to decide but Rory is probably going through something similar right now.”
“How do you know?”
“Just something he said to Seth last night. He tells me he’s in love with you.”
Vera sat back in her chair and started taking deep breaths. “This can’t be happening.” She leaned forward and rested her head in her hands.
“You should be thankful. Fate has blessed you with your soul mate. Rory will prove to be great in his future.”
Vera sighed. “I know he will. It’s just—”
“Right, your prior commitment.”
“Exactly. My father has had this planned since I was born. He wouldn’t approve of these feelings.”
“But he loves you. You think he would reject your happiness?”
Vera paused. “Well, I guess I never really thought about it. I’ve always just come a custom to accepting my fate.”
“This is not your fate.” I reached across the table and took Vera’s hands. “Your fate is your own and can only be made by you. Life is full of choices and this is one you need to make on your own.”
“But where I’m from, it’s dishonorable to request something that would affect the course of my future.”
“As where I’m from but I’ve also learned that it’s no life to live that way. Women should get the right to decide their lives as much as any man. That’s what I’ve gotten by living out here and you can just the same.”
“But my father—”
“What would he really do? You wouldn’t be giving up your title, you’d just be changing the one you’d share it with. He should see honor in binding with Kalu. It’s one of the top countries in the world.”
“I know you’re right but I wouldn’t know where to begin. I’ve never done this before.”
“Just speak from the heart and tell him what you feel. Unless you want to live the rest of your life without love than you have to do it.”
Vera sighed as she pulled her hands away but knew I was right. “This isn’t going to be easy.”
“No one said it would be but your happiness is on the line here and you have to show him what the true meaning is, sooner rather than later.”
“Well, he did want me to join him today. Maybe I’ll do it then.”
“Whatever you decide.” I stood up. “I’m going to see Seth and make sure he keeps Rory out of the way.”
Vera smiled and nodded as I walked out of the dining hall and headed to the stairs when Zayden, Darius and Troy were just walking down.
“Cadence.” Zayden called.
“Yes, Zayden?”
“Where’s Seth?”
“Still sleeping probably. Why?”
“Get him up and have him bring Dirk and Bryce down to the conference room.”
“Sure, Zayden. Is everything all right?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine.” Darius answered.
“We just need to talk.” Troy added.
“Okay. I’ll get him up now.”
“Thank you.” Zayden replied.
They kept walking and I took the news up to Seth.
“Your father wishes to see you.”
Seth sighed as he rubbed his eyes, trying to wake fully. “Oh, great. Now what?”
“I don’t know. They said nothing was wrong.”
“All right. I guess I better get dressed and get down there.”
He walked into his closet as I rolled to the edge of the bed and laid on my stomach. “He wants you to bring Dirk and Bryce with you.”
“Yeah, I figured. I’m going to need you to keep an eye on Rory while I’m down there. He’s probably still sleeping from being up so late last night but I’d still like you to.”
“Sure. I’ve already talked to Vera this morning.”
Seth sighed as he continued to put his clothes on. “Is that where you went this morning? What did you say to her?”
“Just what we’ve talked about last night. She sees knowledge in what I was saying and plans to talk to her father today.”
“That soon? Couldn’t it have waited a little longer to look less obvious?”
“It will be fine. I think he’ll understand.”
“Let us hope. I’m going to get Dirk and Bryce. Please, remember to keep Rory away from Vera and do not tell him a thing.”
“I won’t. You just go.”
Seth smiled back as he put on his crown and left the room. He was beautiful. I missed him already.
Chapter 40
Zayden
We waited patiently in the conference room for our boys to meet us but only two of them did.
“It’s about time.” I said.
“Where’s Dirk?” Darius asked.
“He said, it doesn’t matter. Pick a day and he’ll be there.” Seth explained. “But we came to argue about it.”
“This doesn’t have to turn into an argument, Seth.”
“Are you still going to push this?”
“We just think it’s time for you to do something about it.”
“We have less than a week before we’re ready to send Rory home, why can’t it wait?”
“I think we’ve already had this discussion.”
“Father, I’m begging you. Give us more time. I promise it will happen but first I would like to get this other distraction out of the way. This too much to handle, right now.”
“I see, so you think this is a lot to handle and yet this is nothing compared to what you will face later in life. It’s time you started to handle such
pressure.”
“Father!”
He was reluctant to listen and I was tired. “You will learn to abide your place! For you will need to deal with such challenges far from what you see to be stressful! It’s your fate!”
“But do you not see my reasoning for this? It’s not just my future I’m trying to balance here. It’s our responsibility to get Rory where he needs to be and we only have six days left to do it.”
“I understand that but you also have a responsibility to your country to provide a solid foundation for its future and I will not allow you to put it second!”
“Whether you’re allowing me or not. I am.”
Everyone seemed shocked by Seth’s statement, even Bryce who has yet to say a word but I was just getting angry. “So, you put this task above my will, do you?”
“Don’t you see what’s happening? You’re becoming just what you didn’t want to be. You’re becoming your father by making these choices for me. You once told me that great Kings have to make tough decisions for what’s right and father, this is the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make.” Seth took out his sword and placed it on the table then took off his crown and placed it next to it. “But I can’t stay here and let you punish me for what he did to you. I’m done.” He turned his back to me and walked out of the conference room.
I was not pleased with this decision but I didn’t know what to say while I stared at his sword and crown across the table. Bryce still hasn’t said a word but he slowly backed away to leave.
“He’s right.” I said when we were alone. “Look at what I have become. I’m my father and like my father, I just lost the very thing I needed to secure the future.”
“Perhaps.” Troy replied. “But if that is true, then remember that he got it back.”
“That’s right.” Darius added. “You must have faith that he’ll be back.”
“Oh, he will. If we could ever come to an agreement.”
“And you know what that is.” Troy replied.
I sighed but nodded. I didn’t want it to come to this but he never even knew why I was doing it.
The answer came right into the room and Adele’s face struck sincere worry when she saw Seth’s sword and crown sitting on the table.
“No.”
I sat emotionless but slightly nodded. Is this what she wanted to come from this? He was gone from us now.
Chapter 41
Seth
I couldn’t believe what I had just done. My friends were all around me in my room but I found no comfort in anything they had to say.
“Leave us.”
I looked up from packing and my mother was in the doorway, moving so everyone would get up and leave.
“What are you doing, Seth?”
“I’m sorry, mother but I can’t stay here.”
“This isn’t like you. What did he say to make you decide this?”
“Just trying to run my life for me. I know what I have to do for my future but he’s pushing it to be sooner while we’re trying to get Rory set for his. I just can’t take it right now and he won’t accept that.”
“What is he pushing for?”
“Marriage.”
“And why do you think that is?”
“I know why, mother. I just wanted him to give us more time until we get Rory back home but he insists that it has to be now and I want it to be, I’m not saying I don’t want to marry Cadence because I do but to do it right now would take our focus off training Rory and we’re running short on time as it is.”
“But do you know that it wasn’t your father’s idea?”
“What do you mean?”
“It was mine. I’m the one that wanted it so I had your father push for me, thinking you would consider it if it was at his request.”
I dropped what was in my hand and sat down on the edge of the bed to the sudden realization of my actions. “What have I done?”
“You couldn’t have known.” My mother said, joining me at my side.
“He’s not going to accept me back after what I just did. Why couldn’t he have said it was what you wanted?”
“Let me talk to him. Maybe I can get him to give you the time you need.”
“No.” I stood back up. “I think this is something I’ll have to do on my own. If he’s going to accept me back I want it to be because of me.”
“If you feel that it’s necessary.”
“I do, mother.”
“Then you better go to him before he decides to let you go.”
I nodded and we both walked out of the room. The others were waiting in the hall and all looked up but I went right passed them. I had something else to do and I had to hurry.
I rushed down to the conference room in an instant and our fathers were still in there, more importantly mine. He was still in his chair and looked directly at me.
I didn’t know what I had to say to him but I knew I had to stay until it was resolved.
My father moved his eyes and looked to his sides at Darius and Troy with a nod. They got up and walked toward me but looked rightfully disappointed as they passed to exit.
“I really wish you would reconsider your decision.” My father said. “Though great Kings have to make tough decisions for what’s right, sometimes they have to suffer through the hard times for what is truly right.”
“What are you saying, your majesty?”
I was trying to be respectful but he didn’t seem to think so. “Seth, please. I’m saying, I don’t believe you feel giving up your title is what’s truly right but as a great King, I stay behind my decision and it’s time to see if you’ll stand behind yours.”
“I don’t know if there’s any reason why I shouldn’t. You gave me no choice.”
“But you’re back. You must have been thinking of something.”
“Mother told me it was her will to push the engagement.”
“Ah, I see. So, do you think we could come to a mutual compromise on the situation or do you still plan on going through with it?”
“What kind of compromise do you have in mind?”
He stood up and started to walk around the table towards me. “I give you the time you requested and push it no further and in return, you must resume your full duties as Prince and accept this future for yourself with the understanding that you are to stick to it and never lead your country astray again. Great Kings have to make tough decisions for what’s right. To be great, you will have to make this decision on your own. You will always be my son but whether you wish to remain a part of me is your own will.”
I stood silent through my father’s proposal but had begun to understand. He was right. “Forgive me, father.” I fell to one knee and bowed. “I was wrong to deny my place as I never should have.”
“Then it’s done. Take back what can only belong to you and we’ll never speak of this again.” I looked up and my father held out my sword to me by the blade. I stood up fully and took it, putting it back in its sheath then my father held out my crown. “And this.” I remained on my feet but bowed my head and my father placed the crown upon it. “You’ve made the right choice, son. You should never doubt it or my intentions for you but for now you have another task to fulfill so go. See to the young Rory and get him ready for his upcoming trial. You only have six days left.”
“Thank you, father and don’t worry, I’ll immediately follow through on your will the moment I return.”
“No need to rush it. When you’re ready will do.”
“You know I’d be ready now but—”
“I understand. How about you worry about it when the time comes, hmm? Now, go.”
I nodded and left my father’s side to return upstairs to pick up where I left off and get Rory ready for the days ahead.
It only lasted a moment but that moment of falling was the worst. I was glad that my father accepted me back so quickly and I would never intent to betray him again.
Chapter 42
Vera
It was
time to confront my father. While we went on a midmorning ride through the city, I hesitated many times about telling him about my feelings for Rory and what I truly wanted.
That is, until my father started to mention my trip to Rugis. “Six days left, my daughter. Then you will be on your way to be the proud wife of Prince Ellis. Are you ready?”
“No, father.” I answered truthfully.
“No? Why ever not?”
I paused. Since he asked, I knew this was the time to tell him. “I can’t marry him, father.”
“But it’s your duty. You know that. This has been planned for some time now.”
“I know!” I accidently raised my voice. “But I can’t marry Prince Ellis, father and I won’t!”
He stopped his horse and looked at me. “How dare you raise your voice at me? You have never once shown resistance to your future with him so why now?”
“I do not love him, father. I do not even know him.”
“But you will and that’s when you’ll learn to love him.”
“No, father! He will never hold my heart because someone else already does.”
“Someone else? Who?”
I paused for a moment and took a breath. This was it. “It’s Rory, father.”
“Rory!” He was not please just as I feared. “He’s not the one for you. He’s just learning how our world works and could never prove to be good enough for my daughter.”
“Father, please. You haven’t even given him a chance.”
“I don’t need to. His attitude has done it for me and the way he treats his elders is disrespectful.”
“But he is not like that all the time. He’s kind and sweet and knows how to make me laugh.”
“Make you laugh? I have not heard you laugh since your mother died.”
“See, father? He’s special to me and if you’d just give him a chance, I know you’ll—”
“No!” I thought it was working but he turned it around fast. “No more about this! At our vacation’s end, I will be taking you to Rugis where you’ll wed Prince Ellis as arranged.”
Despairing Tides (Fate's Intent Book 12) Page 20
