The Dragon Prince's Bride
Chapter 46. Just this once.

Chapter 46: 46. Just this once.

Neriah could never have expected that the man would ask for something like that! The pride and ego of the man was beyond the roof. Of course she did not like the fact that her father was bowing down before a mere barbarian, and that was because she still believed she had done nothing wrong! He was nothing but a barbarian so bowing down to him was belittling! She could not believe her father would do that.

Elves were the greatest creatures to walk the earth, so she believed. Compared to them, dragon-bloods were nothing. And her father was apologizing? For what? What exactly was he apologizing for? What did she do? What was the great sin she committed? Just because she planned to use a mere barbarian to get what she wanted. Was that such a great sin?

But compared to her kneeling down before him, she preferred her father to bow his head because why in Avelah would she go on her knees before a barbarian!

The nerve of the man, the audacity, the effrontery to even think of seeing her on her knees before him, more or less suggesting it! What nonsense!

Even though her father had gone insane for a moment that day and slapped her, she knew he loved her because he had not said a word about the incident to her again since then. He did not even scold her, so she knew he still loved her. To her one of the meanings of love was; not being scolded for anything whatsoever. So with that she was certain her father would not agree to such a preposterous request.

"Ah, I see. I believed it was my duty as the father who failed to train his child properly to apologize. I had not thought about it from your perspective. Truly she has wronged you, it is only right that you demand and receive a sincere apology directly from her." Gerald nodded.

"Then it shall be as you have said. She shall seek your mercy at your feet."

"What!!" Neriah jerked to her feet, her face had quickly turned the color of her hair. "Father! What are you saying?" She cried.

"Mother, you always just sit there and watch without saying a single word. Why am I to kneel before that man?"

"Silence! I shall no more of your behavior before our esteemed guests!" Neriah flinched at the rage in her father’s voice.

"B_but—"

"I said silence! The only thing to escape those lying lips of yours are cries of mercy even though they shall be nothing but bitter lies, I want to hear it! You shall fall to your knees at his feet and beg for mercy. If you understand my words then do not tarry any longer. Do as you have been instructed!" You could see the anger in Gerald’s eyes. You could see the disappointment he felt. It pained him that she really felt no remorse. Not even the tiniest.

Only the sounds of the sole of Gerald’s shoe filled the room as he walked back to his seat next to his wife. Every other sound had disappeared. Neriah’s hands clenched onto her dress. Her eyes were blood red as she stared at her father and then her mother. Even her own mother had turned her face from her.

What sin did she commit? What wrong did she do? All she wanted was to sacrifice one barbarian for her happiness. What was wrong with that? How did she turn out to be the bad person in their eyes when the bad person was the wicked soul standing there with his hands crossed over his chest, resting his weight on the table with his legs crossed before him.

He was the wicked one in the room. So why did she have to be the one to kneel?

"We are waiting, Neriah. Go and beg for mercy." Erra finally spoke up. Neriah had never had to beg sincerely for anything from anyone who wasn’t her mother and father. So she had no idea how she was to even pretend to do this.

How could they be this way with her? How could they make their child kneel?

Ah, just this once. Just this once. Just endure the shame this once. You will have the chance to be with your love after all this is over. These were the words she was saying to herself to console herself.

She just had to get through that one last hurdle. Then she could be rid of those barbaric bastards. She was doing it for love. Yes, for love She was willing to do anything. Even kneeling before her enemy.

With a deep breath, and her chin held high, she took the bravest step of her life and slowly she moved toward him. The deadpan expression on his face not twisting or changing even once. His wicked eyes followed her every step.

Now she stood before him, green eyes glaring daggers at him. And his gaze matched hers with a ferry fury. No one was going to back down from the staring challenge. But someone had to. And since she was the one willing to do anything for love, her long lashes slowly fell over her eyes.

Her hands clenched to her dress so tightly that it could rip as she stiffly went down on her knees. "I, Princess Neriah Claudia Gerald of Avelah, have deeply wronged you." She bit her lower lip with disgust. She hated that she had no choice but to do this. "And I pray that you show me mercy and forgive my ignorant actions." There she said it. And she raised her head to look at his face and there she saw it, that look of victory, that smugness on his face.

Oh lords! She was going to make him pay! By the goddess, it might not be now but someday, soon, she would make the man regret the shame he has casted on her today.

"Forgiveness is not given just because you kneel and ask for it. It is earned. But I shall take your efforts to mind." He uncrossed his legs and arms. The damned man!