Chapter 40 - Your decision

I followed him to one of the living rooms, where the king was sitting in a chair, and in another, nearby, was Lucas.

- Sit down, princess! - ordered the King with his roughest tone.

I followed up to the armchair in front of him, and Luke sat in the seat next to the King. Soon he started again:

- I need to inform you what my investigation has brought about your fiancé, - Luke pointed to me, - and which may or may not change Your Majesty's feelings about the princess's marriage.-  he finished looking at my father.

My heart seemed to stop beating. What could Lucas have discovered that would compromise the ceremony in three days? I had to concentrate to not hold my breath. The marriage could not be canceled. I want Phillip.

- Vampires have powers. They can easily seduce a prey. But Phillip has a few secrets that go beyond powers.

- Breathe, my daughter, I don't want to lose you. I couldn't protect you from the damn Claus, and who knows what else you didn't tell me, but of your nightly escape, I only knew where you were going when Phillip told me in the Carpathians.

- He built the Cottage to get closer to me. - I said as a murmur 

- So he probably told you everything about him? - Luke said with his arms crossed over his chest.

- I hope so...- another almost unheard whisper.

- Phillip was the youngest son of King John; his mother, Queen Helena, died giving birth to him. His and his brother's childhood was terrible. The king went mad when his love died and was cruel to his sons. Phillip was fleeing into the woods, one day he came riding his horse when he was about twelve years old to the limits of the kingdom. He saw the beautiful girl with golden curls playing in the garden. You, princess -  he spoke, pointing to me - he saw your happiness playing alone in the garden's middle.

- He didn't tell me that. - I spoke, putting my head in my hands

- He saw your joy. He came back countless times. Your happiness playing and running through the garden made him happy, too. The twelve-year-old boy had already spent more time here than in his kingdom, and his father was angry and sent him to complete his studies in Paris.

- That's why John never talked to me again? - The king said

- If he could, if his kingdom were more powerful commercially than yours, he would go into war with Your Majesty, but he knew that he would be defeated by your army. - Luke replied.

- How do you know all this?- I asked with tears rolling down my face

- Your Highness, I investigated the same way you did in Paris when you were looking for Claus. - Luke answered

- Did my daughter go after that murderer? - said the king, putting his hand on his head and rising up.

- She will explain it better to the King, but I have to finish - said Luke, approaching my father and laying his hand on his shoulder.

- Phillip isn't much older than the princess. He went to Paris to study, but his brother did not endure the loneliness or his father's cruelty and threw himself off the palace's highest tower. Phillip couldn't stand this loss and the distance of his great love anymore. It was at a moment of his weakness that Claus turned him into the vampire he is today. But unlike Claus, he only drank human blood once. He's not a cruel vampire. On returning, he searched for the princess and knew that she would be old enough to marry. It was at this moment that he came to the king to get the princess's hand... - Luke finished cleaning his throat and sat back.

- He told me almost everything... - I said in a lower voice - and I met him the night before the engagement. It was my first escape from the palace and the first time I saw the cottage. He saved my life in the woods, from wolves...

- Why did you go after Claus? - The king sat back in his armchair and looked right through me 

- Phillip was going to die. He got sick. Only Claus could help with the cure. I was afraid, but I couldn't lose it - I replied, looking into the eyes of the king

- My daughter, I need to know from you, do you want to marry the prince? - he asked me

- I didn't want it before, but I want it now. I risked my life for him... and I know I would do it again.

- That's right. I need you to rest. The ceremony will be in three days. Until then, you can't escape at night. No more risks. I'll put two guards at your door. Your Highness does not leave the palace until the end of the ceremony.

I agreed with my head and left the room towards the stairs. Lucas followed me and held my arm.

- You know I have feelings for you? - he spoke, coming very close to me. - You're sure you want to marry a creature like Phillip.

- He's not a creature! I'm getting married to Prince Phillip! - I said, freeing my arm from Luke's grip - You're like a brother to me.

I quickly went upstairs, entered my room, and closed the door. I was exhausted. I fell into bed and fell asleep quickly.