Forbbiden Love Princess & Guard☑️

Chap #12 The Royal Family

The grand dining hall of Valorian Castle was a room built for grandeur, with towering marble pillars and crystal chandeliers casting a soft glow over the opulent space. Seated at the long table were King Edmund, Queen Seraphina, and Princess Elara, their quiet meal punctuated only by the soft clinking of silverware.

Despite the setting, the tension in the air was palpable.

King Edmund sat at the head of the table, his posture as straight and commanding as ever, his expression a mask of firm control. To his right, Queen Seraphina's features were calm but watchful, her keen eyes occasionally darting between her husband and their daughter. Across from them, Princess Elara sat with a grace that had been drilled into her since childhood, her hands folded neatly in her lap, though her heart was far from still.

She knew what this dinner was about. The weight of expectation hung heavy over her, and she could feel the unspoken pressure from her father.

After a few more moments of tense silence, King Edmund set his goblet down with a definitive thud. "Elara," he began, his voice deep and authoritative. "It's time we discuss your future."

Elara's chest tightened, though she had expected this. She forced herself to meet her father's gaze, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Your mother and I have spoken with Prince Lucien's family," Edmund continued, his tone leaving little room for argument. "We've come to an understanding. The marriage between you and Lucien is all but decided. This union is what is best for Valorian."

Elara's breath caught in her throat, but she remained silent for a moment, carefully weighing her words. She knew better than to defy her father outright, but she also knew she couldn't hide from this conversation forever.

"Father," she said slowly, keeping her tone respectful, "I understand the importance of a marriage alliance. But I do not... share those feelings for Prince Lucien."

King Edmund's eyes darkened, his expression hardening. "Feelings are irrelevant, Elara. This marriage is about the stability of our kingdom. Lucien is a strong, capable prince from a powerful neighboring kingdom. He will be a fitting match."

Seraphina, who had been quiet up until now, finally spoke, her voice gentler than Edmund's but still laced with expectation. "Elara, your father is right. This alliance would strengthen Valorian and ensure peace for generations to come."

Elara's gaze flickered toward her mother, hoping for some sign of understanding. Seraphina's face remained calm, but there was a softness in her eyes that Elara clung to.

"Mother, I respect both of you deeply," Elara said, her voice trembling slightly. "But what about my happiness? What about what I want?"

King Edmund's fist tightened around his goblet, his brow furrowing. "You will find happiness in your duty, Elara. This is not a matter of personal desire; it is a matter of the crown, of responsibility. Your wants do not outweigh the needs of the kingdom."

Elara swallowed hard, her hands gripping the edge of the table beneath her. "But I can't marry someone I don't love."

The king's face grew cold, his eyes flashing with impatience. "You are a princess, Elara. Love is a luxury we cannot always afford. You must think of your people, your duty—"

Before he could continue, Seraphina reached out and gently placed a hand on Edmund's arm. "Edmund," she said softly, her eyes never leaving their daughter. "Perhaps we should give her more time."

Edmund shot her a look of disapproval, but Seraphina remained composed, her gaze calm and steady. "Elara is not opposed to the idea of marriage, but she is still young. She needs to come to terms with this in her own way."

The king's expression softened slightly, though his frustration was still evident. He leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. "Time," he repeated, as if considering the word. "There isn't much of it."

Seraphina's hand remained on his arm, a subtle but powerful reminder of the unity they needed as a family. "I agree with you, Edmund. Lucien is a strong choice. But forcing her into this could lead to... complications we cannot afford."

Elara felt a flicker of hope as her mother spoke, though she knew it was a fragile victory.

After a long, tense silence, Edmund finally nodded. "Very well. We will give it time. But understand this, Elara," he said, turning his piercing gaze back to her. "The kingdom's needs will always come first. Whatever you feel now, you will come to understand your place. Lucien is the right choice for you—and for Valorian."

Elara lowered her eyes, her heart heavy with the weight of the decision looming over her. She wanted to scream, to argue, to tell her father that her heart belonged elsewhere, that she had already given it to someone who could never sit beside her on the throne. But she remained silent, the words dying on her lips.

"Thank you, Father," she said quietly, though the gratitude she expressed was hollow.

Queen Seraphina, sensing her daughter's turmoil, stood and made her way around the table, gently resting a hand on Elara's shoulder. "We only want what is best for you," she whispered, her voice laced with motherly affection.

Elara nodded, though her eyes stung with unshed tears. "I know, Mother. But sometimes, what's best for the kingdom isn't always what's best for me."

Seraphina's face softened, but she said nothing more. There were no easy answers, no simple paths forward. Elara was bound by duty, just as her parents were, and the weight of the crown pressed down on all of them.

As the dinner came to an end, Elara excused herself from the table, her thoughts swirling. She needed air, a moment of solitude to clear her mind. But as she left the dining hall, one thought lingered more heavily than the rest.

Her heart was already lost to another. And in the world of crowns and kingdoms, that was the most dangerous secret of all.