Chapter 125: The King’s Request
Ivan, on the other hand, felt a shockwave run through his body at those words. His eyes blazed molten orange at the mere thought of someone else marrying Eve...his Eve. Yet, even amidst the burning anger, a question pierced through him: did he even have a right to stop it? And if he did, what would he do?
He clenched his jaws tightly at the answers he didn’t know, yet his very soul screamed...that no way in hell would he ever allow that to happen! Not now. Not ever.
Even though Eve and he had just started their relationship, something entirely new to both of them, he knew that when these three years had passed, she would eventually have to return. Though not much time had gone by since the start of the new semester, he felt as if he’d known her forever...as if some invisible thread bound them together. And he would allow no force in this world to come between them. Reining in his fury, he closed his eyes briefly to calm the storm raging inside him. When he opened them again, they were back to being molten red as his gaze fell on Eve, who looked positively pale.
Questions swirled in her mind like a hurricane, ’Why?! Why now?! After so long, I’ve finally felt alive...free from that cage, wanting to live and grow on my own terms...to make my own decisions. Wasn’t it his decision to send me here in the first place?! Am I some kind of toy with no feelings, to be pushed around with absolutely no regard for my will? Well, I already know that...that man who is my father is heartless. But the question is, will I allow him to keep treating me like this? After suppressing my powers since birth, after abandoning a child who had just lost her mother in that cold, dark place, after inviting a new family into our home when we were supposed to stand by each other...now that I’ve finally found some respite, he just wants to take it away from me?! Marry me off?? No! I won’t allow it anymore! I won’t be at his beck and call ever again!’
Her powers hummed in response, and for the first time, she willingly accepted their call...it comforted her.
She met Headmaster’s eyes fiercely, "Headmaster Charles, you can respond as you see fit for this academy’s best interest, not what King Solan demands. But if you want to hear my response in this matter, then I’ll say this: I was sent here to complete my education, and that is exactly what I intend to do. I will not abandon everything midway just to be married off to someone I don’t even know."
Charles was momentarily left speechless, seeing the fiery determination burning in her eyes. Then a small smile tugged at his lips, "Very well, I shall keep that in mind."
His gaze then shifted to Ivan, who appeared deep in thought. "Is there something you would like to add to, Your Highness?"
Ivan met his gaze evenly and asked, "You said he’s requesting that one of our excursions take place in the Kingdom of Dartmouth, correct?"
"Yes, that is correct," Charles confirmed.
"Then I would request that you accept his request."
His words stunned both Charles and Eve, who snapped their heads to look at him in disbelief.
Charles thought, ’I just told him that King Solan wants to marry his daughter to the Prince of Dartmouth, does he not care if they met? Was I wrong in assessing their bond and the possessiveness he just showed over her sometime back?’
Quickly regaining his practiced composure, he asked, "Are you...sure about that?" His eyes darted to Princess Evelyn, who continued to look at the prince with disbelief.
Ivan replied, "Yes, I am sure."
Charles studied the prince for a good second longer before finally saying, "Alright, I’ll accept his request then."
Eve found herself utterly confused by Ivan’s words. Why would he say that, knowing full well that the place her father wanted her to go was where she was meant to meet the prince, he intended to marry her off to? She couldn’t help but wonder, did he not care whether she was married to someone else or not?
Eve knew that one day, they might drift apart, but did that mean Ivan had no attachments to her now? The thought of being temporary clawed her chest painfully. She gritted her teeth and clenched her hands into a tight fist until her nails dug into her skin. Then, without looking at Ivan, she looked straight at Headmaster Charles and asked evenly, "Is there anything else you need me for?"
"That would be all, Princess Evelyn. Thank you for your time," he replied. She gave him a small nod in response.
Ivan also got up, but Charles stopped him, "Prince Ivan, if you could stay a little longer, I’d like to discuss some other matters with you."
Ivan gave him a curt nod, and when he turned to tell Eve to go ahead, she didn’t meet his gaze. Instead, she walked straight to the door and exited without sparing him another word, leaving Ivan stunned for a moment.
He stared at the closed door for a few seconds before narrowing his eyes slightly, wondering what that was about.
Headmaster Charles, who watched Prince Ivan staring cluelessly at the door, completely unaware of what he had done wrong, couldn’t help but press his lips together to suppress a smile. The sight of the usually composed prince looking so utterly jilted amused him. ’Ah, it takes me back to my own days... every time I had an argument with my wife,’ he thought with faint nostalgia.
Regaining his composure, he subtly cleared his throat and called, "Prince Ivan?"
Ivan’s expression immediately returned to its usual indifferent calm as he sat back down, showing absolutely nothing on his face.
...
While Charles and Ivan continued their discussion, Eve, who was wearing a dark expression, stepped out of the headmaster’s office, only to be met by the rest of her friends. Not expecting anyone to be there, surprise flashed across her face as she asked, "You all are here...?"
"Well... we were a little too impatient to know what happened inside, so we decided to wait until you were done," Cece replied.
"Oh...I see," Eve said with a faint smile, even though she felt far from cheerful at the moment, as Ivan’s words still echoed painfully in her mind.
Cece noticed her somber expression. Eve was trying to hide and asked cautiously, worry evident in her tone, "Is... everything okay? Did you get in trouble?"
"Ah, no...I didn’t get in any trouble..." Eve replied. She looked at them and noticed how none of them seemed convinced, so she let out a soft sigh, "Actually...there’s something else he had called me for. Why don’t we get some tea, and I’ll tell you about it?"
"That’s how I would like to do it!" Damien clapped his hands together, clearly eager for some fresh gossip. He then glanced at the door and asked, "By the way, did our prince charming cause any trouble in there? Is that why he’s not out yet?"
Eve’s expression sank for a brief second before she quickly schooled it. "No...the headmaster wanted to discuss some other matters with him." She looked at everyone and added swiftly, "Anyway, I’m heading to the dining room, as I feel particularly parched after my fight. You all can wait for Ivan if you want, but I’ll be going ahead."
Giving them a small smile, she turned and started walking away, leaving the rest of them extremely confused about what exactly had happened there.
Damien watched her walk away and mumbled, "Oh dear...looks like trouble in paradise."
Cece nodded in agreement. "I wonder what Ivan did this time," she sighed.
"Why do you think Prince Ivan did something?" Edward asked curiously.
"Because if you know Ivan, you’ll know exactly how clueless he is in this area of his life," Damien replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
Cece added, "Well, anyway...I’m going after her. I know she has a tendency to overthink."
"Well, I’m coming too...I want to get all the details." Damien said cheerfully.
"Count me in," Edward added.
"Me too," said Oliver, and the group followed after Eve.
Later in the dining room, all of them wore a grim expression as Eve disclosed what Headmaster Charles had told her about the letters from her father.
Cece and Damien didn’t know about the strained relationship between Eve and her father, but the way she spoke in a detached manner about him gave them a clear hint that things were far from good between them.
However, Edward and Oliver, knowing the little ins and outs of Luminear royal dynamics, understood that the situation was not so simple to resolve once the King had made a decision.
Damien, who was usually his witty self, remained quiet as he pondered over the situation. He mumbled thoughtfully, "Prince of Dartmouth, huh? I wonder why, out of all the suitors in the world, he would pick this particular one?"
