Elliot pov

“So, Sir Elliot. I have a daughter who is turning twenty years old soon. She wants me to find a good partner for her and my first choice is you. I would like to offer my daughter’s hand in marriage to you, Sir Elliot.”

Just a couple of sentences made me go completely speechless. I stared blankly at him. My breath and my heartbeat were both bizarre. I felt as though the whole environment dissolved and only me and the duke of South were remaining in the room.

I wasn’t blinking. How could this happen? I had my life carefully planned and it didn’t include a sudden, arranged marriage to someone I had never met. This was so unexpected.

“Son? Say something,” my father’s voice took me out of my shocked state. I blinked. However, I couldn’t move, nor form a single word. I simply sat frozen on my seat like a mannequin, staring blankly at the stranger who sat across the table. I could see how he shifted in his seat, perhaps because I was not showing any reaction.

“Give him time. He most probably wasn’t expecting something like this.” He said, smiling at my father. I kept constantly staring at him. How could he sit so calm as though he had not shaken my entire soul from the core? How strange was it that something that sounded so simple to others meant everything to me? My eyes started to sting, reminding me to blink. I blinked a couple of times. Yet, the reality in front of me didn’t change.

He was right. Never had I thought that I would have to face something like this. Not even in my dreams.

“I…would leave for now. I hope to get an answer by the time I leave. Then I could tell her what I had learnt.” He stated and looked at the king as though he was asking for permission to leave. He stood up from his seat when the king nodded in his direction.

“Think about it, Elliot. His daughter is talented and beautiful. She is not a bad choice.” The king said when he left, closing the door behind him, standing up.

“Cassandra” the queen called. My breathing hitched at the mention of her.

Slowly, I turned to my right, where my love sat. My heartbeat was still uneven with the sudden shock I had received. My gaze met with hers. I could see her confusion, pain and uncertainty. It was just tonight that she had told me about her fears. She feared that we might not be able to be together.

She feared that the obstacles in front of us would cause us to go separate ways. And this incident confirmed how true it was. Her rosy cheeks were now completely pale. It was apparent to me that she was trying her best to keep herself calm and collected.Material © .

Nothing besides despair ruled on her innocent face.

“Cassandra?” The queen repeated to herself, making her break eye contact with me to look at her.

“Let’s go. It is very late already.” She said and walked towards the exit with the king.

I looked away from her and stared at my hands which were intertwined on the desk. I was still shaken up. I knew she was leaving with the king and queen and with each step she took, I felt as though she was taking my heart with her.

Elliot pov

“So, Sir Elliot. I have a daughter who is turning twenty years old soon. She wants me to find a good partner for her and my first choice is you. I would like to offer my daughter’s hand in marriage to you, Sir Elliot.”

I cannot live a happy life without her. That was for sure.

“Son?”

My father was now standing behind me, with his hand on my shoulder. It was only then that I was able to breathe. I took a couple of deep breaths before replying.

“Yes, dad.”

“Is everything okay?” he asked.

No! Nothing was okay. I don’t want this. I want to be with my Cass. My love. All my dreams and hopes were connected to her. Not someone else.

“Dad? Do I have to?” I asked, hoping that he would say no.

“Why? I met his daughter. She is witty and shy. Pretty too. You won’t know until you give her a chance, will you?” he said.

Frowning, I sighed and leaned back on the seat, covering my face with my hands.

“But dad…… I already like someone else,” I told him. My heart was weeping and my soul yearned for her. Even my lycan kept protesting in my mind. He had grown very fond of her over the days.

“You do?” he sounded flabbergasted. Well, blame my secret relationship with the queen’s relative.

“But why didn’t you tell me before? I would have said no at once.” He said. “I thought we shared secrets.”

Okay, now that makes me feel bad. But would he be cool with me dating someone who he thought I was supposed to train? And that someone was the one who had specifically told me to look after?

“I am sorry dad. I was going to tell you. I …..” I trailed off when I saw that he was hurt that I had kept my relationship a secret from him.

“It’s okay, son. Maybe I was being a little too strict for you to feel comfortable sharing with me,” he let out a humourless chuckle.

“No! No dad.” I refused. “It’s just……. I wanted to wait until her lycan woke up. I was going to tell you anyway.” I told him quickly.

“You’ve been the best dad ever,” I added. It was the truth. Ever since mom died, he has given his all for me. Mom’s death had been hard on him. However, he was an amazing dad. He tried his best to make me someone he and mom could be proud of.

He sighed. “Let’s go home. Think about what you are going to tell him tomorrow. You should have said that today when he was here. The sooner the better.”

“I was stunned,” I murmured. “I was so shocked that I forgot to speak,” I told him.

“Okay. Just prepare yourself for tomorrow. You have the whole night,” he said.

We went back to our place and tried to sleep. But I couldn’t. All I could think of was ways to politely decline the offer. I just hope it doesn’t become a mess.

I looked at my phone and wondered if it was too late to call Cass. The clock had struck midnight. However, I was itching to speak with her, even for a few minutes. This must have stunned her too. I wonder if she can sleep.

I stared at her number. Should I call? After much hesitation, I dialled her number. It rang for a long time with no answer. I just hope the reason is that she was asleep and not because she was too heartbroken to speak.

The call was disconnected. I felt as though my heart plummeted deep down into the deepest pits.

“We will face this, my love,” I whispered, frowning worriedly. I didn’t know for how long I lay, staring at the blank screen of my phone until finally, I fell asleep.

***

The next morning was worse. Cass was still ignoring my calls. Lack of communication was making me lethargic. I didn’t feel like doing anything. After arriving at the palace, I learnt that she had not come out of the room ever since she went to sleep last night. The queen had excused her, saying that she had not been well.

My heart was already shattered into a million pieces. Was she thinking that I would agree to it? There was no way that I would. I was in love with her. How could I live with someone else? All I wanted to do was to break her door open and claim her, announcing her as my chosen mate. However, I couldn’t. Belonging to the duke’s family was sometimes a curse. You cannot do anything, however you please.

I had to be respectful at all times. Since it was a weekday and I had to attend to my duties, regardless of what situation I was placed in. However, even during my training, and while I attended my duty as a general, I couldn’t shake it off of my mind. It was a pity that I had to wait till night fell to meet the duke of the South again.

I knew what I wanted to say. I have already chosen a mate for myself, although I haven’t announced it. Whether he liked it or not, I cannot accept his proposal. It was a long day for me. I couldn’t wait to go back home and prepare to meet the duke of the southern province.

When night fell, I was informed that the duke had another important meeting to attend, meaning that meeting me had to be delayed.

Damn!!! I needed to end this soon, but it looks like fate is against me.

But…where is my love? I need to see her now! She had been ignoring my calls and texts. At least we could talk, right? After I received the information that the meeting was delayed, I walked right up to her room. My nose told me that she was inside. I knocked on her door. No answer.

“Cass!” I called, loud enough for her to hear me.

Come on. Cass. I need to see you.

However, I couldn’t hear even the slightest sound.

“She went in early tonight. She had not been well the whole day. So I told her to sleep early.”

I heard the queen from behind. I turned around. Does this mean I cannot see her tonight? I wanted to plead to see her just once. But since the queen had told me that she was unwell, it simply meant that I should leave her alone for now. .glancing one last time at the door, I silently left and didn’t stop until I walked out of the palace and to my room.

I slumped onto my bed, heaving deep breaths of despair. This was stupid. We need to talk! Picking my phone, I wrote down one last text to her.

I need to see you, Cass. Stop ignoring me.

I pressed send and closed my eyes as my heart continued to weep, hoping that time would heal this pathetic rift created between us.