Determined to have her

Brock took slow steps toward the mansion where his parents were busy preparing to embark on a trip to Iduim kingdom to discuss about his supposed impending marriage to Rose, the daughter of the warrior king.
His parent had arranged his engagement to Rose Belmoth without his knowledge, indifferent to his thoughts and opinion on the matter. He had only learnt about it a year ago. At first, he thought it was a joke, a cruel joke at that. He had chuckled at the mention of his engagement to Rose upon his return to the palace for Daniel's birthday.

I mean which parent takes such life altering decisions on behalf of their sons without his knowledge and consent, he thought to himself.

But the stern expression of his father and the solemn look he saw on his mother's face left his mouth wide agape as the realization dawned on him that this was no joke.

Although arranged marriage had been widely practiced by the Royal House in time past. The practice had been phased away hundreds of years ago when a young girl attempted to kill herself by jumping off a cliff.
The young woman who brought about this drastic change in the way marriage was conducted in Zaza was known as Sofia. She was well famous for her beauty throughout the old Zaza Empire and had many suitors courting for her hand in marriage.
She was the only daughter of her parents who had wanted nothing but sons as daughters were considered less important compared to sons. Having sons meant having a chance at upgrading your social status in the society as you have the opportunity to be drafted as a soldier or serve in the palace as a guard which was considered as great honour in those days.

Sophia on the other hand had fallen in love with a young man from another neighboring kingdom and had wanted to marry him. Their love was a private affair and no one knew about it according to her father. She had wanted to elope with the man when she found out about her being engaged to Anthony whom was known for his wayward ways.

Anthony was a short man who was almost the same age as her father. He was short with a protruding stomach as he loved to drink himself to stupor. His wife ran away because of his excessive drinking habit and this was the man her father had betrothed her to, all just because he had a little money.
Even if Sophia disliked the man, she could not do anything about it as it was customary for fathers to arrange the marriage of their daughters to any man of worthy character whom they deemed suitable. The problem however was, her father didn’t understand the word “worthy character” as Anthony was far from being a worthy character.

She had protested the marriage but her father had refused and would not bulge on his decision. Two days to the wedding and frustrated with her fate, she had sneaked out of the house and went to the outskirts of the village. Seeing no more meaning to her existence she decided to jump down from a cliff and free herself from the impending marriage.

This incident caused a great stir in the old Zaza Empire and the news spread like wide fire across the entire kingdom. Whispers of despair by unmarried ladies who feared the same fate as the girl who was saved by a palace guard who happened to be in the village at the time could be heard.

"What if the palace guard had not spotted her on time?" asked a young woman to a lady who was standing beside her.
"We will no doubt be looking at a corpse right now" replied another lady who was also standing on the sideline watching the commotion that had erupted

When the news got to the palace, the king called his council in chiefs and passed a decree that without the consent of the individual involved, no marriage should be arranged or held in absentia. Brock remembered the story so well, as it was recorded in the archives of the royal house.

"Look who is back" Queen Malti exclaimed with a smile on her face.

"We were getting a bit worried as we couldn't reach you and you weren't at the hospital. I was told that even your new personal assistant wasn't at work either" she muttered.

Brock's interest piqued on hearing his mother's words. Something was definitely up with the way his mother was acting and the need to suddenly push his wedding plans forward without any warning. The surprise engagement was supposed to be held at the palace this weekend, but it seemed like his mother wanted to convert it to his wedding, Brock thought to himself.

"How wonderful that you're now paying attention to my interests and even my employees. What an attentive mother I have" commented Brock with a sarcastic smile.

This made his mother purse her lips. "Of course I've always paid attention to your interests, your likes and dislikes ever since you were a child" retorted Queen Malti, displeased with Brock's words. Although, what Brock said seemed like a compliment, Queen Multi knew that it meant the opposite.

Brock walked towards the chair at the opposite side of the room. He discarded his coat while massaging his forehead with his palms as he felt a slight headache, probably due to the stress he had gone through and with this sudden marriage that is being forced down his throat.

He wondered what it felt like to be free. To be able to make your own decisions without it being tied to the success or destruction of the kingdom. Did he really have to sacrifice so great a price for Zaza even at the expense of his own happiness? He questioned in his mind.

He felt like the girl Sophia in the story as he could relate to her situation. What will it take for his parents to realize how their actions is hurting him?

The answer to his questions came instantly in his mind and it was crystal clear to him that, although he may be willing to sacrifice many things for the crown but this was not one of them. He couldn't see himself with any other woman than Jess, and that was just the simple truth. He would be doing a great disservice to Rose if he married her as he wouldn't be marrying her out of love.

"If you really cared about my likes and interests, you will not be forcing Rose down my throat even when I've told you times without number that I have no interest in making her my wife. You wouldn't be making plans for my engagement and marriage without considering my feelings or asking for my opinions" Brock spat out in annoyance.

In time past, he had followed all his parent's wishes and instructions and had performed his duty both as a son and as the crown prince of Zaza. He had put the nation and his family's happiness before his. Not only has he dedicated ten years of his life to military service but also to his princely duties.

This was the only request he had asked of his parent. To allow him choose his own bride and there was no issue with his request or so he thought not until his parents and the elders of Zaza became interested in his love life

Fred had suggested that he becomes a playboy to throw his parents and the elders off his back until he was able to find the mysterious girl that had captured his soul just by the river back. Brock had discarded the idea as being unrealistic as this will give his parents and the elders more reasons to pressurize him into marrying Rose.

Brock took slow steps toward the mansion where his parents were busy preparing to embark on a trip to Iduim kingdom to discuss about his supposed impending marriage to Rose, the daughter of the warrior king.
His parent had arranged his engagement to Rose Belmoth without his knowledge, indifferent to his thoughts and opinion on the matter. He had only learnt about it a year ago. At first, he thought it was a joke, a cruel joke at that. He had chuckled at the mention of his engagement to Rose upon his return to the palace for Daniel's birthday.

I mean which parent takes such life altering decisions on behalf of their sons without his knowledge and consent, he thought to himself.

But the stern expression of his father and the solemn look he saw on his mother's face left his mouth wide agape as the realization dawned on him that this was no joke.

Although arranged marriage had been widely practiced by the Royal House in time past. The practice had been phased away hundreds of years ago when a young girl attempted to kill herself by jumping off a cliff.
The young woman who brought about this drastic change in the way marriage was conducted in Zaza was known as Sofia. She was well famous for her beauty throughout the old Zaza Empire and had many suitors courting for her hand in marriage.
She was the only daughter of her parents who had wanted nothing but sons as daughters were considered less important compared to sons. Having sons meant having a chance at upgrading your social status in the society as you have the opportunity to be drafted as a soldier or serve in the palace as a guard which was considered as great honour in those days.

Sophia on the other hand had fallen in love with a young man from another neighboring kingdom and had wanted to marry him. Their love was a private affair and no one knew about it according to her father. She had wanted to elope with the man when she found out about her being engaged to Anthony whom was known for his wayward ways.

Anthony was a short man who was almost the same age as her father. He was short with a protruding stomach as he loved to drink himself to stupor. His wife ran away because of his excessive drinking habit and this was the man her father had betrothed her to, all just because he had a little money.
Even if Sophia disliked the man, she could not do anything about it as it was customary for fathers to arrange the marriage of their daughters to any man of worthy character whom they deemed suitable. The problem however was, her father didn’t understand the word “worthy character” as Anthony was far from being a worthy character.

She had protested the marriage but her father had refused and would not bulge on his decision. Two days to the wedding and frustrated with her fate, she had sneaked out of the house and went to the outskirts of the village. Seeing no more meaning to her existence she decided to jump down from a cliff and free herself from the impending marriage.

This incident caused a great stir in the old Zaza Empire and the news spread like wide fire across the entire kingdom. Whispers of despair by unmarried ladies who feared the same fate as the girl who was saved by a palace guard who happened to be in the village at the time could be heard.

"What if the palace guard had not spotted her on time?" asked a young woman to a lady who was standing beside her.
"We will no doubt be looking at a corpse right now" replied another lady who was also standing on the sideline watching the commotion that had erupted

When the news got to the palace, the king called his council in chiefs and passed a decree that without the consent of the individual involved, no marriage should be arranged or held in absentia. Brock remembered the story so well, as it was recorded in the archives of the royal house.

"Look who is back" Queen Malti exclaimed with a smile on her face.

"We were getting a bit worried as we couldn't reach you and you weren't at the hospital. I was told that even your new personal assistant wasn't at work either" she muttered.

Brock's interest piqued on hearing his mother's words. Something was definitely up with the way his mother was acting and the need to suddenly push his wedding plans forward without any warning. The surprise engagement was supposed to be held at the palace this weekend, but it seemed like his mother wanted to convert it to his wedding, Brock thought to himself.

"How wonderful that you're now paying attention to my interests and even my employees. What an attentive mother I have" commented Brock with a sarcastic smile.

This made his mother purse her lips. "Of course I've always paid attention to your interests, your likes and dislikes ever since you were a child" retorted Queen Malti, displeased with Brock's words. Although, what Brock said seemed like a compliment, Queen Multi knew that it meant the opposite.

Brock walked towards the chair at the opposite side of the room. He discarded his coat while massaging his forehead with his palms as he felt a slight headache, probably due to the stress he had gone through and with this sudden marriage that is being forced down his throat.

He wondered what it felt like to be free. To be able to make your own decisions without it being tied to the success or destruction of the kingdom. Did he really have to sacrifice so great a price for Zaza even at the expense of his own happiness? He questioned in his mind.

He felt like the girl Sophia in the story as he could relate to her situation. What will it take for his parents to realize how their actions is hurting him?

The answer to his questions came instantly in his mind and it was crystal clear to him that, although he may be willing to sacrifice many things for the crown but this was not one of them. He couldn't see himself with any other woman than Jess, and that was just the simple truth. He would be doing a great disservice to Rose if he married her as he wouldn't be marrying her out of love.

"If you really cared about my likes and interests, you will not be forcing Rose down my throat even when I've told you times without number that I have no interest in making her my wife. You wouldn't be making plans for my engagement and marriage without considering my feelings or asking for my opinions" Brock spat out in annoyance.

In time past, he had followed all his parent's wishes and instructions and had performed his duty both as a son and as the crown prince of Zaza. He had put the nation and his family's happiness before his. Not only has he dedicated ten years of his life to military service but also to his princely duties.

This was the only request he had asked of his parent. To allow him choose his own bride and there was no issue with his request or so he thought not until his parents and the elders of Zaza became interested in his love life

Fred had suggested that he becomes a playboy to throw his parents and the elders off his back until he was able to find the mysterious girl that had captured his soul just by the river back. Brock had discarded the idea as being unrealistic as this will give his parents and the elders more reasons to pressurize him into marrying Rose.