Chapter 8: Below me
The King's study.
"Father, I have something to discuss with you," Jessica announced her presence. King Lorenzo looked at his daughter and nodded his head, he knew that she might be angry with him for his decision to marry her off to the second prince, but this was for her own good.
" What is the problem? " king Lorenzo asked. Princess Jessica bit her lips and looked at her father. "the marriage proposal is between house Spurs and Tait, right?" She asked.
Though Lorenzo seemed to have understood what she was driving at, but he answered honestly. "yes."
"Then let Benedict marry the second prince, they are still part of the family anyway, and she accepted it on her own accord," Jessica added the last part, afraid that her father would think she was just running away from her responsibilities.
"Really?" the King did not seem surprised by her suggestion.
"yes, father, I do not want to marry him; I love another," Jessica decided to be honest with her father.
"Ramsey Balthazar?" the King raised his brows. Since his daughter mentioned it, he decided to stop acting ignorantly. Jessica's body was stiff; she had not expected her father to know. She has been keeping it a secret.
"Father, he is a good man; he treats me well and makes me happy," she immediately defended him when she managed to compose herself. The King narrowed his eyes when he saw her reaction. "Have I said otherwise?" he questioned. Of course, as a father, he could tell that Ramsey was not good enough for his daughter, but he would never say it.
"Father...." Jessica did not even know how to explain her behaviour till this time. She knew she was disappointing her father with her behaviour, but she was unwilling to let go. "Benedict can not take your place and marry the second prince," he declared, seeing that Jessica could not continue.
"Why? Father, how can father watch me throw my future happiness away? I am indeed in love with Ramsey, and he loves me back," Jessica let tears run down her eyes. She knew that her father could never watch her become sad, so she decided to use his weakness on him.
King Lorenzo could not stand her acting like that; he knew she was using his weakness, but yet his heart broke seeing her like this. "I have trained you to be a great queen in the future; what will people think if they saw you crying like this?" He said.
Jessica paused, but she continued to cry. "I don't care, father; I can not let go of Ramsey," Jessica declared. She believed that her father would not give in to her if she remained stubborn.
"Can you even hear yourself? I want you to be happy but have you thought about the fact that this happiness will be short-lived if we go to war?" The King asked.
"Father, since it is a marriage between the two families, I see no reason why Benedict can not take my place," Jessica refused to back down.
"The second prince wants you, and if I dare to trick him into marrying another, I am afraid of what he would do," King Lorenzo paused and looked at the Princess. "The second prince is not as simple as he appears on the surface," king Lorenzo explained. He knew the man was powerful; this was why he had jumped at the marriage proposal. If his daughter married the second prince, he would not fear death anymore, knowing that another would take care of her.
"I don't care what kind of a man the second prince is, but I don't love him, and I would never marry him," Jessica declared and rose to her feet.
"Then make the arrangement for my funeral," the King spat, and Jessica was forced to stop on her track. "Father, are you threatening me?" Jessica did not believe her ears. She had made the same threat yesterday.
"No, as a king, do you think I have the face to take back my words. I have agreed to this marriage, yet you do not care about my face; what else are you asking if not my death? King Lorenzo asked.
Jessica wanted to argue, but she knew her father was right, if he went back on his words, there would be no place to hide his face, so it would be best if he died.
" you can leave and think about it," King Lorenzo said. "With your permission," Jessica left the room.
"Come out," the King said when the door closed. " your Highness, " the King's right-hand man came out from his hiding.
"Did you find anything?" King Lorenzo asked.
"Ramsey Bathaze is very careful, I could not get any evidence, but I am certain he keeps a mistress," the guard said.
The King took a sharp breath; he knew that his daughter would only agree to marry if she saw the true colours of Ramsey. "If you can not find evidence, let's trick her into the marriage. I will pretend to be sick," king Lorenzo said.
"Your Highness, that will be putting too much pressure on her. Don't forget your brother kept his daughter around her," the guard replied.
King Lorenzo closed his eyes in frustration. For many years he had been blind, just like his daughter; he had taken his brother as a friend and allowed him into his secret. Years later, he discovered that his brother had his eyes on the throne. At this point, Jessica was already good friends with his daughter.
He tried to talk to his daughter about it, but the Princess felt he was overthinking. Nevertheless, she blindly trusted her cousin, so the King had no choice but to protect her.
"I have a suggestion," the guard said after the pause.
"Speak," the King said.
"Why don't you pretend to agree with her suggestion and trick her into marring the second Prince," the guard said.
"That is below me as a king," Lorenzo shook his head, but the guard could see that they had agreed.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone