Chapter 6
Unlike the king stated, it wasn't anything close to what it felt like when she danced with the prince. It felt as though he hated the idea completely and not just because he was a reluctant groom. There was something else in his eyes, something that gave her pause. She turned the thoughts over in her mind, trying to pinpoint the cause of her unease.
"He also doesn't know you as well as he should, and that may be contributing to his distance," he added.
Lily considered his words for a moment; now he might be right about that. "I suppose I should try to know him better, so he doesn't feel distant," she said hopefully.
"If it still bothers you, I can help you talk to him myself."
The king's words caused Lily's eyes to widen, and she shook her head repeatedly. From what she had been taught, it was considered inappropriate for a king to act as a mediator for a married couple. "You can't do that; I would be overstepping boundaries," she said quickly.
"I understand," he said with a smile. "And I wouldn't want to intrude on your marriage, but I am always here if you need my help or advice."
Lily nodded, appreciating the king's willingness to help, even if he couldn't get directly involved. "Thank you," she said, her voice sincere. "I am grateful for your offer." The king was truly deserving of the praise that her father bestowed upon him, and speaking of her father, her gaze shifted back to the king, and she could not help but ask. "You mentioned something earlier about a promise you made to my father, why is that?"
"Your father did tell you?" he asked.
Lily thought for a moment, trying to figure out what her father might have told her. She tried to recall their past conversations. The Duke had indeed spoken a lot about the King, but nothing about a promise came to her mind. "I am not sure," she said, feeling a little embarrassed. "I am sorry I wish I could remember."
The king smiled, and then he said, "That's quite alright. I don't wish to burden you with questions, but if you just know. Your father, Duke Nolan, and I were good old friends. We went through our training together at the academy and also worked together in the army. We were as close as brothers." He paused.
"Years later, after your father and I had established our kingdoms, the Queen gave birth to Prince Alexander. A few years after that, your mother gave birth to you. Even before you and Alexander were born, there was talk between the two of us about the possibility of uniting our families through marriage. Although I brought up the idea, it was a shared dream.
"I had no idea you were so close," Lily said, touched by the king's words. Her father had only reigned praises on the king whenever he spoke about him, but never once mentioned anything about the deep bond they shared. If they had known each other for that long, it means her fate had been sealed to get wed to the prince since the beginning of time. However, it left her wondering why she was only made aware of it two years ago.
The realization struck her like a sudden gust of wind. Perhaps that was the reason she was never introduced to the public. Maybe the king wanted to remove the eyes of all possible suitors, ensuring that the path set by their parents was followed without any hindrance.
"I understand your reaction," King Frederick said as soon as he noticed the stunned look on her face, and as if reading her thoughts, he quickly added, "The Duke wanted to keep this all secret until the time was right. The pressure of being married to the crown Prince is something that is best presented after a gradual introduction to the life of royal."
"And what about Prince Alexander? Did he know about this from the start?" She asked, wondering if her now-husband had also been aware of the predestined union.
King Frederick sighed, his expression turning more somber. "No, the Prince was a small child when the idea was first presented. I never had a serious discussion with him until he reached the age of maturity. Your father and I agreed to reveal the truth to both of you when the time was right. It was a delicate matter, and we wanted you both to have some semblance of a normal life before the weight of your responsibilities became apparent to you. We wanted to give you a chance to grow into the people you are today without being burdened by expectations."
It was indeed a lot for Lily to process, but she couldn't help but feel a little relieved and grateful that the king had prioritized her personal development and well-being. "Thank you for being so open and honest with me," she said, looking the king in the eye. "I feel a little better knowing that this was done with our best interests in mind. But I still want to know, did the prince have any say in the matter?" She asked, curious to know if he was given a choice as she was.
"It was not an ultimatum," the king said with a sigh. "But I do not believe that the prince felt he had a choice in the matter, given the implications for refusal."
Lily couldn't understand what the king meant, but before she could ask further, King Frederick began to cough. It wasn't the typical cough one might expect. It was more strained and prolonged, leaving Lily concerned. The king gestured to reassure her, but his face bore signs of discomfort.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?" Lily inquired, genuine worry etching her features.
"It's alright," Frederick tried to say, but his voice was weak and raspy. "I am just feeling a little under the weather."
He pulled out a handkerchief, covering his mouth and turning to the side not to be noticed by Lily. He continued to cough violently, and soon enough, unbeknownst to Lily, blood was coming out of his mouth, creating a red stain on the handkerchief he held to his mouth.