12 The Betrothal (1)

After cleaning myself up and getting ready, I started heading toward my father's office with Cas following me.

In the past three years, I've only had a handful of conversations with my father. Other than that, we stayed out of each other's way, fine by me I say.

"What does he want with me now?" I grumbled to myself as we neared his office.

"Maybe he wants to show that he cares for you." Cas answered.

"Yea, and I'm the hero destined to save the world." That was my sarcastic reply.

"Why do you always assume the worst?" She asked after a second.

"My dear Cas." I began "When you assume the worst then it's harder for you to be taken by surprise when the worst happens." I finished as I stopped in front of my father's office.

Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door three times, and exactly three seconds later the door opened.

Walking in I noticed not much has changed in the past three years. My father was still sitting at the desk going through paperwork that never ended, Sarya was just behind him looking beautiful as ever.

"Father." I said as I stopped in front of his desk and refused to bow.

"Tell me." My father began. "How do you treat an ally?" He finished not even looking up at me.

"First…" I began after taking a few moments to think it over. "I would see which category my ally falls into before continuing." I paused as my father looked up at me

"Category?" He questioned.

"Yes, I have three categories an ally could fall into. The first is an ally that you can use and when their usefulness is done, toss them." I paused as I held up a finger.

"Second…" I said holding up a second finger. "An ally you can use, but you don't want to get rid of them yet as there are still useful."

"Lastly…" Holding up my third finger. "An ally that has gained your trust, and you know that they can make you stronger in the long term." I finished and slowly put my hand down.

"How would you treat each category?" He asked as I finished talking.

"Simple, use the carrot and the stick approach." I said confidently.

Putting a hand on his chin, my father thought for a minute. What he was thinking I did not know, but I was starting to get a bad feeling.

Sure enough, after a few moments, my father confirmed my fears.

"Very well." My father began. "We will go with your way; I will inform Marquees Rosenwen that I have accepted his request." He finished as he looked at me.

"Anything else you need from me father?" I asked, not realizing the trap I had just walked into.

"Yes, you will be there when the Marquees, his wife, and his daughter arrive." My father said and waited.

I thought I could see a smile threatening to slip from his lips. Impossible I thought, what he could find so funny that would make him laugh.

"Why would I have to be there to meet the Marquees and his family?" I asked not understanding.

"How else would you propose to the Marquees daughter?" That was my father's question.

"Understandable, I have to be there to pro…pose…." I started before finally understanding what my father had said.

WHAT?!?!

My mind went to a complete standstill, I couldn't think straight. I still had at least eight months before this was supposed to happen. All my planning to avoid the betrothal was now destroyed. What could have caused this to change the storyline?

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Lying in bed I couldn't help but think, I had caused this.

By giving Lucia what she needed to destroy the earl. Marquees Rosenwen was coincidently in the right place at the right time to devour everything that was left by the former earl. Only for the Marquees to turn around and offer everything to my father.

"You are a tasty carrot." My father said when I asked him why me.

My father planned all of this when I asked for all the evidence on the earl.

The reason why I was trying to avoid this marriage with the daughter of Marquees Rosen?

She is the childhood friend of the protagonist.

Yep, in the game, she was the easiest love interest you could capture because she already had a history with the protagonist.

Now that I was stuck in this position, I thought about how I can use this to my advantage. She is the friend of the protagonist, and all the information she has on him could help me in the future. The only thing was how was I supposed to turn her against him?

Feeling the bloodlust rising in the corner of my room, brought me out of my thoughts.

"Cas, Stop it." I said my voice turning cold.

Ever since my father said I was to be engaged, Cas had been in a bad mood and wouldn't talk to me.

"We knew this was going to happen." I told her "Now we just have to figure out how to use this to our advantage." I finished as I watched her shoulders slump.

"Your father is just using you as a tool to keep his allies close." Cas said through clenched teeth.

"True, he is." I said not denying it "But if we are smart, we can benefit from it." I said cryptically.

"How so?" She asked.

"My soon-to-be fiancé is close friends with the current princess of the kingdom, among other important figures." I spoke.

"So, you plan on wooing the princess too?" Cas asked as I could feel the bloodlust rising again.

I chuckled. "If I need to."

Completely ignoring my answer Cas asked. "So, what's the plan with miss fiancé?"

"Simple really." I paused

"How so?" she asked

"I just become friends with her, and everything will work out." I finished.