The holy ruler

Chapter 4 - A Father's Stubbornness

Adam's POV:

The next morning, I paced restlessly outside my father’s chambers, the weight of my thoughts pressing down on me. I had to do this. There was no other choice. The tension between my duty and my desires was growing unbearable. I had no intention of marrying Anastasia—of being forced into an alliance that meant nothing more than a political bargaining chip. Yet, that was precisely what my father, the King, was demanding of me. I had to find a way to change his mind.

I knocked, the sound echoing through the cold stone halls. A servant opened the door, and I entered, my heart racing in my chest. The King was seated behind his grand desk, surrounded by maps, letters, and piles of paperwork, his brow furrowed in concentration. The room, dimly lit by the morning light filtering through the high windows, felt cold despite the heat of the day creeping through the palace.

“Father,” I began, my voice steady despite the storm inside. “I must speak with you about the marriage arrangement.”

The King looked up, his eyes narrowing. "We have already discussed this matter, Adam. I trust you remember what was agreed upon."

“I do,” I replied, trying to keep my voice calm, “but I cannot marry Anastasia, Father. I cannot do it.”

The King’s eyes darkened, and he put down his quill with a sharp movement. “What are you saying? You know the importance of this union. We have spoken of it at length. You will marry Anastasia. There is no room for discussion.”

I felt a familiar frustration well up inside me, but I swallowed it down, forcing myself to remain composed. I knew better than to challenge my father’s decisions head-on, but this—this was my life. My future. I could not let it slip away for the sake of an alliance.

“Father,” I continued, my voice low but firm. “It is not just about the marriage. It’s about more than that. Anastasia and I... we don’t want this. Neither of us do. I’m sure you can see it as well. She does not desire me, and I certainly do not desire her.”

The King’s lips tightened, his expression hardening. “Do not speak in such a manner, Adam. This marriage will strengthen our ties with England, and it will benefit our kingdom. You will fulfill your duty.”

“But what of my happiness?” I asked, the words escaping before I could stop them. “What of my heart? Do I not deserve the chance to choose my own path?”

I watched as my father’s face flushed with anger, the veins in his neck throbbing as his eyes narrowed to slits. “You are the Crown Prince. Your happiness is secondary to the welfare of the kingdom. Do not forget that.”

I gritted my teeth, unwilling to give up just yet. “And what of Mary? What if I told you that she’s using me for her own ambitions? That she’s seeking power, and I am nothing but a pawn in her game?”

The King’s eyes flickered with something—interest, perhaps? I pressed on, sensing an opening. “Mary flirts with me, plays with my affections, but she has no true interest in me. She wants the throne for herself, and I fear she will stop at nothing to achieve it. You are giving her power she does not deserve, Father. She’ll turn on us when the time is right. If we marry Anastasia, we risk creating a dangerous enemy.”

For a moment, silence hung in the air, thick and heavy. The King leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping against the wood of the desk as he considered my words. I thought, just for a moment, that I had struck a chord—that perhaps he was beginning to see the threat I had laid before him.

But then, the King spoke, his voice colder than ever. “I understand your concerns, Adam. But I will not be swayed. Anastasia is the chosen bride, and you will marry her. I believe in the strength of this alliance with England. And beyond that, I find myself growing quite fond of her. She has a certain... spark about her that I find quite endearing.”

I felt a cold chill run through me as his words settled in. My father was not only refusing to listen, but now he was starting to fall for her himself. Anastasia had charmed him, just as she had charmed every other man in the room. She was playing a careful game, and I was losing.

“Father, you cannot—”

“Enough!” His voice boomed, cutting me off. “This is not a matter of emotions or affection. You will marry Anastasia, and that is final. You will fulfill your duty to this kingdom, and that is all.”

I stood there, stunned and defeated, my words lost in my throat. The last of my hopes seemed to vanish in that moment. How could I convince him when he was so set in his ways? How could I change his mind when he was so taken by the charm of his chosen bride?

“I... I understand, Father,” I muttered, turning on my heel and walking toward the door. My heart ached with the finality of it all. It was over. The decision had been made, and I was powerless to stop it.

As I left the King’s chambers, a sense of helplessness washed over me. I had failed. I had failed to convince my father, and I had failed to protect my own future. Now, I was bound to a woman I neither loved nor desired, all for the sake of an alliance. What would become of me? What would become of my heart?

I glanced down at my hand, a symbol of the commitment I was being forced into. I wasn’t sure I could go through with it. But what choice did I have? The weight of my responsibilities crushed down on me, and I realized that I was more than just a prince— I was a pawn in a much larger game.

It wasn’t over yet, but it felt like it was.

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This extension deepens Adam's internal conflict, showing how trapped he feels in both his duty and his emotions. It also sets the stage for the larger struggles ahead. Let me know if you like it