Chapter 970: King Draco's Demands Raphael To Marry Rowena
"The letter you sent me last night. I came as soon as I received it. You said you wished to see me," Raphael smiled. "Did you end up forgetting everything after last night?"
What letter? Rowena wanted to say the words but decided against it. Rowena immediately realized that King Draco set things up.
She tried not to make a horrified expression. Her own father did this.
While Rowena was happy to have been connected and intimate with Raphael, this was not how she wanted things to begin.
She didn't mean any of this to happen and yet she couldn't say a word.
However, she didn't even need to let out a single sound, a loud thunderous bang erupted at her door and then King Draco barged in with several knights.
"How dare you! I let you here into my abode with welcome arms and this is how you treat me and my daughter?" King Draco sounded furious, his entire face was red as he pointed at Raphael.
Rowena couldn't believe what was happening.
King Draco was lying and yet it was so convincing.
"You dare take advantage of her simply because she feels indebted to you? You must take responsibility and marry my daughter if you wish–"
"Father!" Rowena cried out. "Please, don't do this..."
She was so embarrassed and she wished the world under her would open and swallow her completely. She couldn't face Raphael after this. The man must feel so insulted and embarrassed.
"Rowena, this is not how I raised you!" King Draco spoke curtly. He raised his hand and motioned his knights to leave Rowena's chamber. "Leave. I need to talk to my daughter."
They all bowed down and stepped back. They closed the door behind them. Now, only King Draco stood facing Rowena and Raphael who were in bed with the blanket covering their intertwined bodies.
Raphael was shocked by what happened. He was still processing the fact that Rowena couldn't remember how he got into her bed and now suddenly King Draco barged in, catching them in bed together.
He was horrified. This was not how he wanted things to happen. He wanted to celebrate his love with Rowena in a beautiful and private setting, but suddenly King Draco had to barge in like this. He felt humiliated.
"Father...." Rowena was in tears. She couldn't believe her father would do such a trick to trap a man into marrying her. Now, Raphael would feel trapped and betrayed. Perhaps, he would even think she was in on it and hate her.
Raphael was humiliated and uncomfortable, however, when Rowena's tear
s fell on his arm, he turned to see her and realized how she was horrified and broken.
Did she cry because she thought he didn't want to take responsibility? But he just said he would marry her.
Ah, maybe she was worried he did it out of obligation. Maybe she was scared that his opinion of her would change and he would think that she was a loose woman, or worse... a temptress.
No, he must not let her think that way.
The Seventh Prince touched Rowena's hand and clasped it with his carefully and he gently asked. "Do you regret what happened last night? Do you… do you not want to marry me?"
Rowena pursed her lips. Of course, she would love to marry him, but not like this. Not because her father made him do it.
Weakly, Rowena shook her head and looked up at Raphael.
"No, I love you, Raphael, and I would be happy to be your wife." She wanted to say 'but, I don't want you to feel trapped and hate me in the future,' however, she couldn't say anything.
She looked down in frustration.
Raphael smiled happily when he heard her agreement. He brushed off his discomfort and humiliation and pulled her into his embrace. "Then, you just make me the happiest man in the world."
King Draco was happy to see and witness the outcome finally bear fruit, even though it didn't show on his face.
"Very well. Since you have expressed your desire to take responsibility and my daughter has accepted, I have no choice but to agree." He scoffed and showed a very offended expression. "I will let you two get dressed and we will talk about the details outside."
He turned around and left Raphael and Rowena alone. He had got what he wanted, he must give them a bit of time to make sense of what just happened.
After the door was closed, Rowena pushed Raphael away from her and she clutched the blanket to cover her body all the way to her chest. "Raphael, go! You can still go now. You can fly, can't you? You did it when you saved me from the tower in Verona. You must leave now and I will forget this ever happened."
"Huh? What do you mean? Why are you pushing me away, Rowena? I already said I love you and I will take responsibility for you." The man was surprised by Rowena's sudden reaction.
He was confused to see her crying without a sound. Rowena's tears were streaming down hard even though she tried to regain her composure. She had thought about this quickly. She realized she wouldn't be able to handle another loss.
It was better to be alone and suffer on her own than to
bring Raphael into her misery. He would only see who she really was if he married her and then whatever love he had for her would be replaced by hatred.
"Go, now!" She wrapped the blanket around her naked body and went to the floor to get his clothes. She pushed them to his lap frantically. "I will talk to my father. You don't have to do this. This is all my fault."
It was her fault for not having the courage to run away again. She was so dumb to think she could live in Ashland like this. She should have never returned. Perhaps, it was better if she stole Julian's body and gave him a proper burial, and then she killed herself.
Then, it would all be over.