Atlanea isn't for me

The king nodded his head, and then the maids served the dinner. The atmosphere was a little tight from the last few days, so the whole family ate without saying anything else.

After dinner, all retire to their respective yards.

After dinner, Silja retired to her room. Two days passed by after that without any significant event.

Silja spent her days in her own courtyard reading and sleeping.

On the morning of the third day, Silja woke up early.

"Mira?.... When will the troops of the north leave?" Silja asked as she walked into the water. Mira, who was pouring the soap essence into the water, looked up. Her moment halted for a second before she resumed her work.

"I don't know princess. But I heard a few maids saying that they might not leave before the definite answer from the king." Mira walked around and sat behind Silja at the edge of the bath.

She poured some soap in her hand and started to rub her back.

"Why are you asking, princess?" Mira eyed the girl. She couldn't tell what was brewing inside her princess's head.

"Nothing. I was just curious." Silja said, closing her eyes and enjoying a bath. After the bath, she dressed in fine clothes and left her courtyard.

Mira, who followed Silja to the king's residence, had a bad feeling about it.

"Why are we going to the king's residence, princess?" she asked as she tailed behind Silja.

"To meet father of course?" The princess replied as a matter of fact.

"Why so suddenly?" The maid tried to ask the question another way since her princess wasn't giving the answer correctly.

"Do I have to think about it for a long time before meeting him? What do you mean suddenly? He is my father. I can meet him anytime." Silja replied and stepped inside the king's residence. It was about the time of morning and maids were running around to clean the floor and garden. If one were to say bluntly, Queen Doris was a very clean freak. She also believed in discipline so all the maids working in the king's residence were very cautious and punctual in their work.

Silja sat down in the garden as the maid informed the king.

King Evan was getting ready for the court when a maid informed him about Silja's arrival.

"Silja? Here at this time?" He was a little surprised. Since the day they received the letter from the Northern king, he has been busy with other matters; thus, he has been able to join them at the dinner table for the last two days.

"You weren't home; maybe she was worried about you." Queen Doris walked towards him with the outer coat in her hand. It was winter, and the wind was icy and harsh.

The king hummed and walked out to meet his daughter.

"Silja…" Silja was looking ahead at the sky, admiring the morning sky, which was filled with birds flying around.

"Father." She turned around and stood up.

"Good morning.." She hugged him with a lovely smile on her face.

"Good morning, my little princess. How are you?" Evan was above six feet, and Silja hardly reached his chest. She craned her neck to look up at her father. The man she admired the most.

"I'm good. You didn't join us at the dinner table in the last two days, so I decided to come and check on you." She said and grabbed his hand. Both father and daughter started walking towards the garden.

"I was busy with some matters. Sorry for making you worry." He put his hand on her head affectionately.

"What matters? About the invitation?" Silja looked up at her father.

"Are you worried? Don't worry; I won't let anything happen to you." Evan stopped and held his daughter's shoulder.

"I'm not worried, father." Silja shook her head and smiled.

"And I also don't understand why you all are worried too much about it," Silja replied.

"It's just an invitation to take part in the bride-choosing ceremony. Not that I'm selected to become their prince's bride." Silja shrugged her shoulders.

"You don't understand this matter. It's more complicated than it looks." King Evan said with worry on his face.

"How complicated it can be, father. It's just an invitation, and even if I go to the North with them, it doesn't mean their prince will choose me. Why offend a big kingdom like the North just for this small matter?" Silja reasoned, but King Evan's expression changed as soon as her word left her mouth.

"As I said, you are still very young to understand these things and In any case, you are not going anywhere." King's soft voice became severe, and he deadpanned.

King Evan turned around and started to walk ahead.

"What if I want to?" Silja tilted her head and spoke from behind.

Evan was shocked for a second as her blunt words sunk into his head.

"What did you just say?" He turned around, and Silja flinched, looking at his angry face.

"What if… what if I want to take part in that ceremony?" Silja stood her ground before fearing his father's anger, which was bubbling inside.

"Do you know what you are saying?" King Evan was lost for words. He couldn't understand what his daughter was saying.

"Did anyone say something to you? If you're saying to make things right, then you don't have to do that." He knew his daughter very well. He couldn't believe that she was saying that because she actually wanted it.

Silja wasn't like other girls of her age. She was intelligent and thoughtful.

"No one said anything to me. Actually, I was mainly here today to talk to you about this." Silja replied.

"Silja…" Evan wanted to say something, but Silja stopped him.

"Father, hear me out first. Please." She looked at him pleadingly.

"It's not that I'm Interested in marrying the prince of the North. But it was also true that I wanted to go to the North. I have read and heard many things about The North and have always wanted to see the world outside of Atlanea. Atlanea is beautiful, but still, one part of me has always been craving to go and visit other new places and kingdoms. I always feel that this place isn't for me. With this invitation at hand, I can do that. It's like an opportunity to me." Silja looked at him with her dreamy eyes.

"Are you out of your mind? Do you think this is an invitation for a world tour?" Evan was so angry that he couldn't even control his voice.

"Father…."

"I said NO. Now go back to your courtyard." His eyes were red, and his expressions were so ugly that Silja could feel all her previous bravery slipping away.