The Dragon Prince's Bride
Chapter 47. Breaking the engagement… Or not.

Chapter 47: 47. Breaking the engagement... Or not.

At least that was over with. She stretched her hand to him thinking he was going to help her to her feet, but he scoffed and walked round the table and sat back down on his seat. A scoff left lips too as she saw the amusement on his father’s face.

Thank goodness she was not going to be mare jg into this stupid family. They were a nuisance. Father and son alike.

She pushed herself off the ground with as much grace as possible and strolled back to her seat like the poise princess she was.

"Now that things have come to this, I know receiving an apology will not be enough. So I have prepared two hundred barrels of the finest Avelian wine, two hundred bags of corn flour and fifty strong and sturdy horses, as a token of my remorse. I know it is nothing compared to what you have had to face but I pray that you accept these small tokens." Gerald announced. There was no reaction from Barak or Bashan so Gerald knew he had to say what they wanted to hear next.

"And as for the marriage engagement, it is only fair that it is called off. I know you would not want a deceitful woman as your wife and probably the future queen of Trago. I pray that you find it in your hearts to forgive us and if you desire anything more, please tell me. I will try my best to see that it is provided."

No one saw it but Neriah’s face was beaming brightly at her father’s words. No one saw how she seemed happy to hear those words. No one, but Barak whose eyes were fixated upon her.

She was happy the marriage was being called off, he could tell. Seeing how she was such a sweet liar, he had no idea what was true and what was a lie from that night. But one thing was certain, she indeed had a lover. One she had not even kissed properly. That mysterious prince she had spoken of that night.

That part of her story, he believed was real. That mysterious lover was the reason she was doing all this madness in the first place. Was the reason she was happy right now.

But what a pity, right now he had no intention of giving her any reason to be happy.

"All that will not be necessary." Bashan finally spoke and Barak almost laughed and coughed out the wine he was sipping as Neriah’s expression instantly changed at the voice of his father. That smile on her face had quickly twisted to confusion.

"Please King Bashan, I know how you must feel, but I will not want our long peace to be disturbed by this. Please accept my offerings." Gerald implored.

"You misunderstand my words, King Gerald. I mean there is no need to call off the engagement." Bashan explained and Barak was sure he would not be able to contain the laughter if she kept changing expressions like that. The look on her face was priceless. It was confusion and disbelief all at once.

"Although the princess is a little fiery than we expected, my son does not wish to break the engagement." Her gaze instantly shifted to Barak and he only raised his cup to her. Gosh she was turning red again.

"Is this true? Do you still wish to be wedded to my daughter?" Erra turned her gaze towards Barak as she spoke up with shock in her eyes.

"Aye, My Queen. I am a man of Trago, I cannot turn my face away from a woman I have marked. I had chosen her, albeit not intentionally, I chose her still. I have never heard of marking of a woman by mistake so I believe it was fate." The more words he spoke the more her eyes and mouth opened wider. She was totally shocked.

"It was the will of the gods and goddess. And I cannot leave a woman I have chosen. And besides, I can not help but wonder what will become of a woman who has been marked by a dragon blood in an elven land. I will take responsibility for her as my woman. If anything, I ask that we skip the formalities of engagement and proceed with the wedding by tomorrow, if that is alright with Your Majesty of course." There, he said it all.

The words were too much. Too many words! What in the world was he saying? She could understand the words and yet she could not understand what he was trying to say. What was he trying to say? Or better still, what was he saying?

"As much as I appreciate your words Prince, I fail to understand why you would want to marry a woman you hate just because you have marked her."

"I see you do not know about we dragon bloods. When we mark a woman as our partner, it is for life. We can choose no other. I never said I hated her. Of course I do not necessarily love her too. But I do not hate her either. And living together we would come to know more about each other, love might set in eventually some day."

Now she was slowly starting to understand but she was finding it hard to accept. How could he? Why would he? What was wrong with the man? What did he want with her?

Gerald and Erra stared at each other for long silent moments while Neriah was breaking out in cold sweat. She was starting to pinch her arms again. She was trembling vehemently.

This could not be happening, after all her planning, after all her hard work

After receiving those deafening slaps. This could not be happening!

What exactly was even happening? Her eyes met his and there was no expression on his face. He did not love her that much was established at this point. So why? Why was he trying to ruin her life? Why? Just why!!!

"If the King and Queen need time to discuss the matter then we—"

"Nay! There is nothing to discuss." Erra spoke up and Neriah breathed a sigh of relief. Her mother was reasonable, she would not agree to it. Thank the godd—

"We accept your proposal, Prince Barak." Erra announced.

"What!!" Neriah voiced but it was almost as if she did not exist in the room.

"I believe you do not wish for it to be anything grand seeing that you want it done by tomorrow." Erra continued.

"Aye, considering the entire situation, I do not believe there is need for any grandeur." Barak nodded.

"True. Well then, tomorrow by sundown, you shall both be wed in a simple ceremony right here in this hall. This is both mine and the King’s decision." Erra concluded.

"Mother!!"

"And of course, it is the princess’s desire too." She added.