Taming A Beast

NOWEL

Once the guards at the doors to the Hall of Grace announced my arrival, I stepped in with my mom behind me. Nothing could be more intimidating than having all the royal chiefs, councilors, and generals in one place and staring daggers into your soul.

When I got to the center of the hall, I kneeled and bowed to honor their presence. According to the ways and customs of being a proper princess, you dare not stand up while either the king, royal chiefs, or councilors and generals want to address you about something.

You either go on your knees throughout or you sit on the ground. It's the only form of respect that a princess must give to the heads and rulers of the royal court. So I went on my knees instead.

"Princess Nowel of Andromeda, How have you been these past few weeks?" General Kian greeted me the moment I was settled.

I looked up to face the person who asked me that stupid question. "How would you feel or expect me to be when I just lost My Father?"

My reply was unexpected and felt like an insult.

"Still with the same sassy attitude, isn't it?" Royal Consort Avana said, but I just looked away and ignored her. I have no time and strength to deal with these tormentors. It's best to remain calm and let them have their moment.

"She must be tamed!" Royal Consort Avana cried out.

"That's alright, Royal Consort Avana. We called her here not to debate her unladylike attitude. We have plenty of time to discuss that." General Kian said.

"Nowel, we called you here to let you know that from now on...no more knight training for you again." Illinois began. What? "We have decided to turn you into a proper princess and not some violent lady that sheds blood." He continued, Royal Consort Avana nodded her head in agreement beside him.

Who the hell are you all to decide what's best for me?!

"It's for the best. Trust me, Nowel when I say that you'll gain nothing from weaponry and shedding of blood,"

I train not because I want to shed blood and because I admire swords and axes. I train to defend myself.

"But there's more to await you once you become a proper Princess and future queen of Andromeda."

I was speechless at this. What is not good about a princess that knows how to fight and defend herself? So you find it desirable to make your future queen of Andromeda helpless and dependent on other people for her protection? Unbelievable!

"Speaking of the future queen, tomorrow night is the zodiac celebration of the eye god. All princesses and noblemen across the continent would be celebrating with us. So, do your best to make yourself inviting tonight, and provide us with a suitor who will rise as the future king of this kingdom, Am I understood?" Illinois fixed his brown eyes on me as he waited for an answer.

I held tightly to my tongue, and submitting to the will of other people was never my thing. I am rebellious whenever I sense that I am being forced to do something I never dreamed of doing in a thousand years. I know that females do not rule and I've gladly accepted that partially. But, that doesn't mean I have to marry just anybody so that Andromeda could have a king.

I'll never make the mistake of marrying someone I don't have any feelings for. Andromeda would be happy to have finally gotten a king while I would forever lose the opportunity to find love, romance, and most importantly a good husband. It's not about being selfish or not willing to sacrifice something as such for my country, it's about balance and equality.

If Andromeda can be happy having a new king, then why can't I be happy as well with finding love and a long-lasting friendship with the one I'll be joined with forever?

Gone are the days when princesses sacrificed their happiness just to provide a king for their country. But a new order would start with me. A balance between both parties. It's either both of us are happy or none of us is happy. That's it! Enough of sacrificing and sacrificing! And this change would happen to me.

A crown princess should be happy while she performs her duty, which is to produce a king when she is married and bring forth healthy royal seeds to claim the throne when her time is up. Not the other way around.

Princesses are also humans and we deserve to be blissful.

I later agreed to participate in the celebration of the eye god and not to find a suitor. Tomorrow night, I'll attend that celebration for religious purposes and not for anything else.

Thank the heavens that I am also good at turning men down, especially greedy ones. A devilish grin appeared on my face as I stared back at my reflection in the mirror of my dimly lit room.

Tonight is going to be fun!

.

.

.

In the evening, Royal Chief Illinois invited me to his chamber to chat and have tea with him.

"So, you've agreed to attend the celebration of the eye god?" He asked.

"Yes, my chief. I've given it great thought, and it would be wickedly selfish of me not to find a suitor and a future king for my country."

He gave me a nod of approval at my empty promises. If only he knew that I had other plans for tomorrow night, He would have murdered with his glares.

"And you have also agreed to stop that sword training of yours?"

"Yes, my chief."

"I'm proud of you."

"Thank you my Chief," I said while bowing a little at his compliment. It won't hurt for me to play along and have fun while leading them on only to stab all of them in their backs! A placid smile outlined my face, that's right! This princess would never be as helpless and pathetic as you imagined her to be. I would be strong and never depend on others for my safety.

"My Lord! The slave has arrived with the tea! Shall I send him in?" Someone announced from outside. And Illinois turned to face me and asked, "Are you ready to have some sugar-free tea with me, my princess?"

"That would be lovely," I answered with a false grin.

"Send him in!" Illinois ordered, and he entered. The most beautiful creature I have ever seen on earth. I thought he was feminine but his strong muscles and the hardness in his eyes told me otherwise. I gasped as my eyes landed on his gorgeous hair. It harassed the ground, and I marveled at his fullness. His eyes were dark and seductive and no female on earth should have such enticing red lips as his own. Enviable lashes and passionate eyebrows.

I forgot how to breathe when he came closer with the royal guards behind him. Is he that dangerous?

He got to our table and I was mesmerized. What color of eyes is this? I can't tell the color because I haven't seen such a combination before in my life. They were lustful and easy to seduce ten thousand females at once. Blue with traces of red in them. He didn't even glance my way, and why was I expecting any more than his closeness? He looks angry. It is so evident in his looks. What else could have angered a god on earth?

"Is he just going to stand there and not serve us our tea?" I swallowed as Illinois asked in anger. And I feared for his life. But, why?

"He is nothing but an adamant fool My Lord!" Perseus, the head of all knights in Andromeda said in anger while drawing out his sword and I was alarmed. "Serve them their tea or regret it with your life." He threatened with venom in his voice.

I shook in fear, but this odd slave remained calm and unmoving. As if daring them to do their worst.

Illinois sighed tiredly at his stubbornness. "I guess it's that hard to tame a beast,''

Beast?

"Kill him Perseus." He dismissed.

"Yes, my Lord."

Do they want to tame him to become a royal slave?

"Wait!"

Everyone froze at my intrusion. And I placed myself between the stubborn enigma and merciless knight.

"How do you expect him to listen to you while using deadly force?!" Everywhere stilled for a moment as I said that.

"You expect a wild beast to listen and dance to your tunes by threatening to take its life?"

Perseus shrugged.

"That can't even happen in a crazy town! You'll just make it worse and untamable! Try taming a beast with affection! And see the difference."

I turned around to leave to show that I was angry at them, which was not true.

The faint sound of Perseus putting back his sword in his sheath brought a smile to my face as I exited the room.

They won't kill him. My little act just saved his life. Very good Nowel.

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