Irrevocable Decision

Bel wiped at her face, feeling the tears that refused to fall sting her eyes. She got out of bed and rushed to the door. Her heart pounded in her chest as she reached for the handle. With a deep breath, she pulled the doors open, her eyes widening as she came face to face with the King.

He stood in all his regal glory, barely three feet away from her, his towering presence casting a shadow over her petite frame. His piercing green eyes bore into hers, filled with a mixture of anger, disappointment, and disdain that sent a shiver down her spine.

Bel winced, feeling the weight of his emotions like a physical blow. She wanted to shrink away from him, to hide from the disappointment in his gaze. She tore her gaze away and looked at her feet, basking in the brief relief of not seeing the disappointment in his eyes.

She dropped low, bending her knees as she curtseyed to her father. "Your Majesty," she whispered. "To what do I owe the honor?"

"Spare me the feigned salutations," he chided, his voice cold and cutting. "Had you any respect for me, I wouldn't be here right now."

Bel shivered, feeling a chill that seemed to seep into her bones. His voice wasn't raised, yet it carried a coldness that sent shivers down her spine as if she had suddenly been thrust into the heart of winter without a coat. 

Her heart sank at his words, the pain of his disappointment cutting deep. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat, choking her.

But her father wasn't waiting for her reply. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he brushed past her, entering her room without so much as a second glance at her shrunken figure.

A guard moved to close the door, and Bel didn't stop him. She stood rooted to the spot, not turning around to look at her father. She couldn't.

"You're getting off easy this time," King Aaron started to say. "Despite your disrespect, the Royal Vampire family has decided to overlook your behavior and move forward from the situation. If you ask me, I'd say they are a little too forgiving about the matter. Therefore, you will not be allowed to disrespect any of us further. You are to remain in the castle until further notice. If I deem your behavior acceptable and worthy of my forgiveness, I shall call off the guards. Moreover, you're banned from the clinic."

"Father!" She spun around quickly, turning her gaze to him.

Bel stared at her father with panic in her eyes. She knew she had crossed a line, but she hadn't expected her punishment to be so severe. She didn't mind having the guards on her tail everywhere she went, but not being able to go to the clinic was cruel on her father's part.

He knew just how much it meant to her to be able to heal people. It brought an inexplicable joy to her that couldn't be expressed in words. She had nothing without her magic. For him to put an end to that was torturous.

"That would be Your Highness; I do not speak to you as your father. I speak to you as your King and as one who has wronged the King, the Kingdom, and important guests; you shall behave accordingly."

Bel swallowed. She knew better than to provoke her father any further. He had already restricted her movements. If she pushed him, he would most likely confine her to her room until the wedding night.

"Your Highness, please reconsider," she said with her head bent. "You can't keep me away from the clinic. I have people to heal."

But her father's expression remained impassive, his tone cold and unyielding. "Last I heard, Isaiah could handle them just fine," he replied curtly. "And since you will be getting married and moving to your husband's house, it's best they start learning to function without your presence."

Bel fought the urge to protest, to scream that she would not marry a stranger. But she bit her tongue, knowing that defiance would only worsen her situation. Instead, she chose her words carefully, hoping to appeal to her father's sense of reason. 

She could clearly see he was done being lenient with her, and she could almost understand Lord Landon's words as he urged her to give up fighting and give in to the marriage.

"You would truly marry me off to some stranger," Bel whispered with her head still bent.

She wasn't going to give up without a fight. If she couldn't be direct, she could tug at her father's emotions. She could play the perfect role of the victim that she was.

"I have tried to give you time to adjust to this; I have given you enough reasons to fill a book as to why this marriage is the best thing you could ever hope for, and not just for you but for the kingdom too."

Her father's response was firm and unwavering, leaving Bel feeling as though she had hit a wall. She knew that further resistance would only lead to more punishment, but the thought of marrying someone she did not love filled her with a sense of dread.

"It has only been three days, Your Highness; I doubt anyone would adjust to the fact that their life is about to change forever in such a short time."

Her father's gaze bore into her, his expression unreadable, and Bel's throat instantly went dry. Without a word, he stepped forward, his presence filling the room as he loomed over her, his anger filling the air.

Bel instinctively took a step back. She didn't fear that her father would hit her, but his aura was strong enough for her to worry for her safety.

"Being a Princess of the Kingdom of Landerfell, adjusting to such should be child's play for you, especially when it comes with such significant benefits to the kingdom. Acting as though you never considered the possibility of being in an arranged marriage is not only ignorant but selfish on your part."

She opened her mouth to speak, but the King held up his hand, silencing her words.

"This is the last time we shall discuss your agreement on the matter. Take as long as you may need to come to terms with it, but in seven days, you shall be wedded to Prince Davien of Darkcrypt."