Chapter XXI: The Princess' Fate...

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It had been several days since Donovan had rescued the Dwarf Princess, and since then, he had kept mostly to himself.

There were many reasons as to why he was doing this, but the main reasons were because he was still trying to figure out if he was still a good person, and if he was still wanting to go back to his normal life. He was also trying to figure out how he was going to live with himself from here on out, but that kind of thing tied in with going back home to Earth and living a normal life.

As he tried to solve these things, Donovan's thoughts shifted towards Angel and the rest of them and it wasn't long before he began to wonder if they had gone through something similar to what he's going through right now in the past, and if they were also wanting to return to Earth, or if they were wanting to stay in this world.

Not long after thinking about them did Donovan begin to think about Camillia, for he hadn't seen her since bringing her before her father, nor had he heard really anything about her either.

It was something he shouldn't be thinking about, for he had made it abundantly clear that she shouldn't concern herself with him like at all, but he couldn't stop himself from worrying about her. He just couldn't.

Becoming a little annoyed with himself, Donovan put his hands on his face and let out a frustrated noise before whispering into his palms. "Why do I do these things to me, and why can't I just say that I'm a good person?"

He had actually told himself countless of times that he was a good person, but he never believed the words. Almost immediately after telling himself this, did he recall what the dwarf boss said to him and all of the things he considered to be bad/evil.

As he grew more and more frustrated with himself, someone knocked on his door.

Donovan had heard the knock, but because he wasn't in the mood to speak with anyone, he ignored it.

Unfortunately, the person who was knocking was none other than Emperor Havel, who had urgent matters to discuss with the Black Knight, so he entered the room without his consent.

Hearing the door open, Donovan looked up and through his fingers only to see the Emperor enter the bedroom with a stern expression on his face.

"Can I help you, Your Imperial Majesty?" Donovan questioned without moving at all and a lack of enthusiasm which could have all been seen as a lack of respect.

However, the Emperor ignored these things, and said, "Exactly what does my daughter see in you?"

Donovan said nothing at first, and had thought about the question for a few seconds before shrugging and replying.

"I honestly don't know." He answered, his voice lacking emotions. "I think it'd be better if she forgot about me, but I'm guessing she hasn't done that since you're asking me about this."

"Yep, in fact, the reason why I've come here is because not even an hour ago she told me she made her decision." Havel started with traces of irritation in his voice as he crossed his arms. "Wanna know what that decision is?"

Knowing he really had no choice in the matter, Donovan said, "Sure."

"Hmph, well she told me that if she can't be with you as Princess Camillia Tethras, daughter of Havel Tethras, and heir to the Dwarven Empire, then she will give up her claim to the throne and just be Camillia." Havel declared in a slightly worked up manner.

Donovan's eyes widened at this, and he couldn't stop himself from saying, "Are you serious?" which managed to irritate the Emperor, for he had snapped at the Black Knight upon him doing this.

"Of course I'm serious! Do you honestly think I would have come here to talk with you if I wasn't!?" Havel yelled with irritation and rage in his voice. "I have a lot of fucking things to deal with at the moment, and can't afford to waste time with idle talks, okay?"

"Jesus, calm down." Donovan said to himself as the Emperor went on to tell him how he lost three of his kingdoms and how the ones governing them have declared for independence.

"Okay, I get it. You don't have to yell at me." Donovan stated in a slightly irritated voice as Havel got more and more fired up about all of this. "I understand you're very busy, but what do you want me to do? I already told her that we can't be together, so there's not much else I can do."

After narrowing his eyes, Havel closed them and took a deep breath, before saying in a much more calmer voice. "Speak to my daughter, and convince her to not do this. She is basically all I have left and needs to marry someone that is..."

Havel trailed off, for he believed Donovan got what he was trying to put down, and to his luck, Donovan did, for he finished his explanation by saying,

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"Someone that isn't from the Demon Kingdom and is of higher prestige than me?"

"Yes." Havel affirmed with a nod. "If she married you, then I'd basically be declaring to those you're at war with that I'm siding with you, and that is something I don't want or need, especially after recent events."

"I don't think everyone would see it like that, but I won't deny that most would." Donovan said to himself in a tired manner as Havel once again began to drone on.

"I understand, and will try to convince her to stop her from doing this reckless act, but what if she is stubborn and refuses to listen to me?" He asked after letting the Emperor talk for a good while. "What then?"

"She won't." He affirmed with a serious look in his eyes, which made him wonder what he had in mind should this happen. However, Donovan didn't voice his thoughts.

No, instead he said, "Understood, just give me a few minutes to collect my thoughts, and I'll go talk to her, Your Imperial Majesty."

"Good." Havel said with a nod before turning around and making his way to the door only to stop and look over his shoulder at Donovan while saying, "And thank you, for you know, being understanding about this."

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After about seven minutes of gathering his thoughts, Donovan paid the princess a visit. Of course, before he left his room, Donovan equipped his armor.

He was a little nervous, and was pretty sure he could convince her not to throw everything away for him, but a small part of him doubted himself. It was unfortunate, but it also couldn't be helped, for he had understood that love could make people do stupid things.

With a sigh escaping his lips, Donovan knocked on the door, and said in a slightly firm tone. "Camillia, may I have a word with you?"

Donovan's question was met with silence, but he did hear footsteps on the other side of the door.

After a couple of minutes passed, Donovan raised his hand to knock on the door again only to see it open slightly and see Camillia poke her veiled head out.

"Guess she was busy making her self decent." Donovan thought upon seeing her.

"F-Fane, what are you doing here? I mean, it's nice to see you again, I'm sorry for saying that, I was just startled to see you come here, at least through this way." Camillia declared after seeing Donovan, completely taken aback by his surprise visit.

"Hey Camillia, mind if I come in?" Donovan greeted before removing his helmet so that he could look her in the eye when speaking to her. "I have somethings I need to discuss with you in private."

"Of course, come in, come in." She welcomed as she opened the door more for him.

Not needing to be told twice, Donovan entered the room, and after doing so, Camillia closed the door behind him.

Upon the door closing, Donovan spoke. "Your father came to me today, Camillia."

Camillia was surprised to hear this, and was unable to hide the shock in her voice when she responded. "He did?"

"Yeah, and it's the reason why I'm here." He declared as he turned around to face her. "So, is it true?"

"Is what true?" She asked innocently, which only made him frown.

"What you plan on doing." He started in a serious tone. "I heard you plan on giving up your claim to the throne to be with me, and I wanna know if this is true."

"Do you think my father would tell you this if it wasn't true?" Camillia said in response, which caused his scowl to deepen. He already knew without a doubt that it was true, but there was a part of him that wanted her to confirm this.

"No, no I don't." Donovan stated after letting out a small sigh. "However, I thought I had made it clear that my feelings aren't the same as yours, so why do this? I don't like you in that type of manner, I only like you as a friend."

"... You didn't make it clear." Camillia declared after silently standing there with clenched fists for several seconds. "All you told me was that we live two entirely different lives, and for that, we could never be together, so I'm changing that. I'm going to change my life, so that we can be together."

"If that is how it came off then, I'm sorry." He apologized with traces of sincerity in his voice before scratching the left side of his neck as his eyes looked elsewhere. "I didn't think-"

"I want to do this, Fane." She interrupted in a stern manner, which caused his eyes to shift back towards her. "Even if you don't see me like how I want you to, I still want to be in your life. Not to mention, I want to see the outside world, so please don't try to stop me on this."

Donovan said nothing at first, but knew he needed to say something here. After all, the Emperor had entrusted him in making sure she wouldn't go through with this, so he had to do something, but he didn't know what.

Holding back the sigh of frustration he was tempted to let out, Donovan said in a slightly irritated manner. "What if I found somebody else then, hmm? Would you still want to be apart of my life?"

At this, Camillia was a little hesitant, but nonetheless, she said, "Yes."

"Really?" He questioned with a somewhat dubious look. "You would still want to be apart of my life despite knowing that I might never have the same feelings you have for me?"

"Yes," She affirmed almost immediately with a determined look in her eyes. "because I know that you're not that type of person. You're a caring-"

"You don't know anything about me." Donovan curtly stated in an attempt to stop her from going through with this reckless act. "You really don't, so stop talking as if you do."

Although she was a little reluctant to continue talking, Camillia continued to speak her mind. "I know enough, Fane, and even if you tell me to stop this, I'm not going to stop. Regardless of what you say, I'm going to give up my claim to the throne, and I'm going to see the world. Now, I could either come with you, and see it with you, or I could go off on my own. The choice is yours."

"You, you're really going to do this? You're really going to force me to accept your company now!?" Donovan asked with anger in his voice as he glared at her. "After everything I've done for you, you're-"

"No, I"m just telling you I'm going to give up my claim to the throne, and will be leaving the Empire with you, or without you." She said in a more casual manner, which managed to piss him off more.

Donovan was pretty sure she was bluffing, and wouldn't give up her claim on the throne should he refuse to let her accompany him, but what if she wasn't? What if she did plan on giving up her claim to throne, and left the Dwarven Empire by herself? What then?

He wasn't sure what would happen, but a small part of him couldn't help from being worried about her, for he didn't know everything about this world, and wasn't sure what would become of her.

This time he didn't hold back his sigh of frustration, and said in an exhausted voice. "Fine, do whatever you want. It is your life, but don't expect my feelings for you to change. If anything, they have become worse."

"I understand, and in that case, I will just have to do better." Camillia said with a nod and small smile.