Chapter 25: The King of the West is betrothed to the first princess of Valyria!

Caro couldn’t keep his smile off his face. It would be an understatement to say that he was extremely overjoyed with this particular news. It was like the king made it easier for him to have a genuine chance at wooing his daughter. For the past few days, no matter how hard he tried to start a conversation with her, she was always cold towards him and shunned him off. Now he had a solid reason to visit her and pester her without getting shunned off. He was her fiancé, after all. It was like all of the universe had conspired together in a bid to join them.

He was grinning like a fool, overjoyed and jubilant and suddenly feeling a warm affection and brotherhood towards the King. He frowned as he realized that he was the only one in the court who was excited by this news.

The first princess looked simply horrified by her father’s decision, which hurt Caro’s sentiments deeply while the Queen maintained a straight face and seemed to be pondering over something intently on her mind. As for the concubine and her daughter, they were absolutely appalled and dismayed by the King’s declaration.

Caro narrowed his eyes at the King as he realized that it wasn’t just him who was kept in the dark. He hadn’t even bothered to check with his own family and daughter before decreeing her marriage to a stranger. Though the King and Caro was of similar age and they had trained under the same mentor, he found himself ashamed of his acquaintance’s irresponsible and domineering behavior. Yes, it was in his deepest wish and his purest intention to wed his daughter, but he wanted to do so with her permission. He was old enough to be her father and she was still a young vampire who had just begun her journey. He didn’t want to dump his feelings on her and make her feel overwhelmed. He wanted her to slowly open up to him sincerely. Caro was old fashioned when it came to courting and was a very chivalrous gentleman. For centuries, no one had caught his eye except for this first princess who turned to be the other twin, Selena…….


Vanessa rushed forward and Caro found himself frowning at her unconsciously, an uneasy feeling creeping into his stomach. He narrowed his eyes dangerously at the vile woman in front of him who had just kneeled before the king. He had no doubt in his mind that she was indeed up to no good. Caro hated women who threw themselves at him with no sense of shame or upbringing and he despised Vanessa especially for her despicable and vain attempts at courting him.

Vanessa literally started wailing in front of her father, shedding a few fake tears and Caro grimaced at her acting skills.

“Royal Father, everyone knows about my infatuation towards the King of the West. He is someone I adore and who inspire me and I wish to spend all of my eternity with him. So, I beg of you father to reconsider your decision and take back your decree. Please don’t break your daughter’s heart and stand in the way of our true love.”


Caro shook his head disapprovingly at Vanessa but frowned as he realized that the first princess suddenly perked up excitedly after hearing Vanessa’s woes.

Selena smiled smugly at her lovesick half sister who was wailing desperately at the center of the court, hope slowly seeping its way back in.
She trudged froward confidently and bowed to her father.
“Royal Father, Vanessa is my dear sister who I adore most and I can’t bear to hurt her sentiments over such a matter so I beg of you to reconsider your decision. I don’t want to stand in the way pf their happiness. Father, I beg of you not to tarnish our sisterly affection and love for each other”

Vanessa shot a surprised look at the first princess and she whispered in into Vanessa’s ears, “Play along with me if you want to keep your man. For the first time, we find ourselves strangely allied.”

Caro who was an original vampire and had the ears of a bat caught everything and scowled at the first princess, offended that she had gone to such lengths to ensure that her marriage with him gets called off. It was obvious to everyone in this kingdom and out that there was no love between the sisters. They rarely see eye to eye on anything but looking at them now, it was as if they were the closest of sisters.

Caro frowned at the first princess wondering what it was that made the first princess so disinterested in him when all the women were after him? Was it the age difference that irked her out? But vampires rarely dwell too much on age differences as they live for eternity unless they are of course murdered or die of unnatural causes. Or did she perhaps have an eye on someone else.

Caro’s eyes immediately travelled to her guard who followed her everywhere she went. He had found out from his spies that it wasn’t the Queen nor the General who had appointed him as her royal guard. He had volunteered himself. And given his talent and expertise under the General’s command, he could easily have been a commander of a battalion but instead he insisted on becoming a mere guard dog for the princess. And Selena hadn’t even hesitated for a second before stepping into the Labyrinth of Death when she had found out that Demetri was in danger. That image was still fresh in his mind and he found himself scowling at the bewildered royal guard.

The King tutted exasperatedly at his daughters. Never once had they ever seen eye to eye in any matter and when they finally did, it was to make trouble for their father.
He took several steps forward and indicated both of them to get up, which they did immediately upon command.
“In Valyria, the word of the King is the rule. I have already spoken. Don’t try to embarrass yourself by creating unnecessary troubles. I have spoken. Caro shall wed Mia at an auspicious time as declared by the council of elders.”

Selena cursed internally, put off by her father’s domineering rule and without even excusing herself formally, ran outside the throne room, not being able to bear it any longer. After she had entered the royal palace, not once had things ever gone her way. Everyone tried to control her and force their decisions upon her without her prior consent and she was fed up with it.
As a person who had craved freedom from childhood, she found the palace to be a horrifying prison which had completely enamored her in.