Not So Sweet Candyland

LXXII: Friends Close, Enemies Closer

There was a knock at Chase's door the next morning. It wasn't Berry's knock. But, it wasn't a soft knock either.

Chase opened the door and then was greeted by a few servants.

"The king is waiting for you in the private parlor on the first floor, southeast corner. Do not keep him waiting."

Chase freshened up a little bit and then followed a servant which was waiting outside for him. They went down some stairs and then through a hidden curtain to a glass door made of many different colors. The servant opened the door and the king was sitting there.

"Good morning, your majesty." Chase bowed.

"I see that you're so respectful. Jenelle, you're dismissed."

"Yes, sir." She bowed and then closed the door.

"Have a seat." The king touched a seat.

Chase hesitated for a second, and then looked down, he soon went to the seat.

"No need to be nervous, it's only me."

"No sir, you're just the king, you are a very important figure."

He laughed.

"How cute are you?"

There was an awkward silence.

"So, do you know why I called you here?"

Chase shook his head.

"Ok, I will tell you. It's because of my daughter, Berry. You already know her. I mean, she is a little bit of a nut and she has some very bad attitude problems."

"Attitude problems?"

"Acting out instead of in. She can be aggressive. Has she hurt you in any way? Let me see."

The king took Chase's left wrist and examined it.

"I see. You have some bruises on your arm. Are they from her?"

"Well, they were. But only because he's called me weak."

"I am so sorry for the way that my daughter treats you. And you as a human, no less. Humans here are special. We treasure them. And speaking of which, the reason you were called here and spawned here is because I wanted to find a husband for her, and you seem like the perfect fit for her. She can be a little hot headed and aggressive. She needs a calmer figure for her, somebody to hold her back. And, I was examining you from the real world. I saw what you were like. I know everything about you. From your hometown to your shoe size. I know everything about you. I saw how empty your life was and that's when your friend found that candy Pearl and you touched it and now you're here. For now, I can't force a wedding due to Berry. But, I know that Berry will one day, crack. I know her well because she is my daughter after all, and she won't admit some things to you."

Chase's wrists were white, he was clenching them like crazy.

"I can tell you're tense. Of course, you humans never want to run into a relationship. The last queen was like that as well. I let her never marry me, even if it made a hole in my reputation. You know? I loved her and I waited for her, but she didn't feel the same way and left."

"Did you really?"

"I did. It was a scary kind of love, it was very possessive. Nobody was allowed to see her unless she was right by my side. Because there are wolves that would have stolen her. Not actual wolves, but some bad people."

Chase just nodded.

"My daughter sees me as this bad guy when I'm not. She never lets me hear my side of the story simply because she uses it to boost her ego. That's one thing we have in common. We have terrible ego issues. I know, you'll say "I don't see what it is." It's not visible most of the time. What does Berry say about me?"

"Well, how you hurt her feelings." Chase lied.

"I know I was never right there for her. I had another daughter to take care of as well. But, I do love her, she is my blood after all. There were times where I made terrible mistakes as a father that I regret. But, I grew up from those and I grew as a person too. Character development even happens to the bad guys."

"But...."

"What I'm trying to say is that you were always meant to be with Berry. I just want to warn you about a few things about her. How she can be violent and a little bit of a brat. She'll get her way in any means possible. I'm scared that she'll hurt you. My daughter is really like her mother with just a dash of me. The relationship that they had was like no other. But, her mother left and she screams bloody murder at me for making her leave when it was her choice. I loved her but I let her go because i cared for her."

"Berry never told me that."

"Of course she never did. She only wants to tell you what she wants you to hear. How I made her mom leave after years of trauma. I know all of her stories, and I know where she leaves all of the time. But, the truth is, even if I'm not as lovey dovey as with Taffy, she still is my daughter and I care for her. Why wouldn't I? Oh! I kept you for too long, you must head off now. Thank you for letting me talk to you."

Chase was escorted out of the room by a few servants and when he was nearing a hall and alone, that's when Berry came out of nowhere and pinned him to a wall, her head down.

"What did that dickbag of a man tell you?"

"He... he..."

"Is he back at it, making some sob story that he loved my mother? He never did! He favored her, but never loved her. He had more chemistry with some poor harem lady than her. What he does with the humans is scary, and if you fall for his tricks, you'll be sacrificing your species."