THE GREAT LADY OF ALKION

CHAPTER 21

"What !" Charles exclaimed when Astrid and Julian delivered the news to the family for the second time in a year. Everyone at the table remained silent. This time Aretha excused herself and left not wanting to hear more.
"He just came back and you're already jumping back into an engagement ?" Anthony asked.
" We love each other your majesty,"Julian said. He detested the king but there was nothing he could do about it. He still needed his permission to marry her.
"Is this what you want ?"Charles asked. Astrid hesitated for a while and Julian tapped her and that was when she replied.
" Yes father," she said and smiled at him.
" This is preposterous," Anthony said as he banged the table with his fist. There was no way Astrid was thinking of marrying Eugene's son. Something was definitely wrong with her. He wanted no ties with Julian and when he had broken off his engagement to her, he had been very happy." Did you hear that Therese ? She is just like you. She's now jumping at the engagement without thinking twice about marrying this boy just like you did with Charles. Look what happened to you. He was unfaithful to you and you have been miserable. Now your daughter is going back to him."
"Enough father," Therese screamed."That's enough. Don't throw things into my face like that. Astrid is mature and she can make decisions about her life by herself so don't compare me to her," saying this,she left. 
The air was tense and Astrid excused herself and Julian. They went outside.
" Your family doesn't seem to like me after everything. I understand their feelings though. If I had a daughter and her intended one abandoned her like I did, I'd not accept him as well. My intentions with you are pure," he said as he cupped her face with his palms.
" Just give them some time to adjust to all of this. I am adjusting myself as well."
" We will get back to how we were,won't we ?"
"We will," she smiled to assure him but was she convinced that that was the ideal relationship for herself ?She didn't know what to do because hurting him was out of question so she decided to go with the flow.

At night her father barged in her room and found her brushing her hair in front of her mirror. She did not turn to look at him but only did though the mirror.
"What was that about ? How dare you rush into something like that as soon as he returns ?"
"I like him father and restoring our engagement is a natural progression in our relationship."
" Like ?Did you just listen to what you said ? You said that you like him not love him and there's a clear difference between that."
" He has apologized father and he was hurt at the time. I'd so the same thing if I was in his place."
" You are not even happy about it. Just look at yourself in the mirror. That is not the happy girl you were when you first announced your engagement. You are not happy and I won't let you marry someone you're not happy with."
" I shall retire for the night. I'm tired father," she stood and kisses his cheek before getting in bed.
She was stubborn. As stubborn as her grandfather.
" Goodnight," he said and blew off the candles before leaving.

In his room, he found Therese already in bed waiting for him.
" You really are against her union with Julian."
" Of course I am. I don't think he's right for her. I understand that he was hurt because of his father's execution but she had nothing to do with it. I don't know Therese but something is not right about him. What do you think ?"
" I don't know what to think honestly. Father thinks that Astrid should marry a prince from a well off family. Someone who has the potential to be a king. He has had those dreams for her since she was young and he trained her to be a fit queen. As a mother, I want the best for her. I liked Julian. He is a fine young man but those three moons when he was away, I felt my daughter's pain and it made me have second thoughts about her marrying him. I have now settled on the thought that she should marry whoever she wants. It's her life and it will be her future."
"I agree with you Therese but she can marry someone else except Eugene's son."
" You sound like father,"Therese laughed." Did you hate him that much ?"
" Of course I didn't like him. That man was lusting after you when Elspeth was still alive. Don't you dare try to hide it because I know that it's true."
" Well finally my husband noticed something related to me."
" What do you mean by that ?"
" You never paid much attention to me once Astrid was born. You were absent and when you were around, you only spent time with the children."
" Therese," he said as he scooted towards her and turned her face so she could look at him. " I don't want to be that man anymore. I want to be a husband to you. You still matter to me. I love you Therese."
" I don't know what to say Charles."
" I know that you don't believe me but I meant everything I said to you."
He had to do more to gain her trust back but he really meant what he had to say. He had thought his life through but he was not satisfied with how he had lived it. He deeply regretted the time he lost with Therese when he was busy conducting his numerous affairs. It was common for upper class men to have mistresses but that was not the life he wanted anymore.