16 Not Him

Duke Callen Rosewood sat behind his desk with his glasses perched on his nose as he looked at the letter the messenger delivered. He picked up the glass of water to take a sip and then rubbed his temple with one hand while his other held the note.

*Knock! Knock!*

Duke Callen looked up as his aide's voice came from outside the door, "Lord, Young Heir is here to see you!"

Duke Callen sighed and said, "Let him in."

Then the door opened and his son walked inside. Duke Callen looked at Sylvan without saying anything until Sylvan came to stand before his desk. "Father, you called for me?"

"You have already heard about your sister's engagement to the Royal Prince, Rhys Crown. What do you have to say about it?" asked Duke Callen. He didn't go around in circles and straight went to the point which even Sylvan wasn't expecting.

"I have no opinion, Father," replied Sylvan.

"Your mother says I'm using my own daughter to curry favor with the King," told Duke Callen.

"Drusilla had always been very dear to you. I'm certain that you wouldn't do anything like that to hurt her. Besides, I also heard that the decision to marry Drusilla to the Royal Prince, Rhys Crown was of the King. As a subject, we can't go against the King. So, I can understand Father's acquiescence."

Duke Callen felt gratified to hear that. He might have loved his daughter more over the years but it didn't mean he ignored his only son. Sylvan was the hope of their Rosewood House. How could he not be thinking about his son?

It's just that Duke Callen just loved to pamper his daughter who had been a little delicate and fragile since young. Sylvan on the other hand was a sensible one who never gave him any worries and always made him proud. Even in the recent mission, he made Duke Callen's chest puff up with pride.

This was his son! His hope!

"How can one make your mother understand this," Duke Callen commented. "She is coming back and then she'll definitely have an argument with me over this once again. If it was in my hands, would I want to send my dear daughter to the palace?"

"Father, if you want, I'll talk to Mother," suggested Sylvan. "I'll make her understand that if you really wanted to stabilize the House Rosewood by sending my sister to the palace, you'd have chosen the Queen's son, The First Royal Prince rather than Prince Rhys."

Indeed, if anyone really wanted to curry favors with the Royals, they would try to get close to the First Prince. The son of the Queen. Not with Royal Prince, Rhys Crown who was notorious and feared everywhere.

Even the status of the Royal Prince, Rhys Crown in the palace was a little awkward.

And for that reason, even Sylvan couldn't understand why the King would choose his sister, Drusilla for Rhys. Was their House Rosewood losing its prestige and power? What exactly was the King planning?

However, no matter what he thought, he couldn't possibly go and question the King. Even his father, the Duke of Rosewood House had no right to question the King much less him.

"Yes, do talk with her," said Duke Callen. "I'm already worried about Silla's health. I don't have it in me to argue with your mother over what is right and what is wrong."

"Father, you should take care of your health," said Sylvan concernedly, "I'll try to talk to Mother. But you should also stop worrying about Drusilla. She'll get better soon. It'll hurt her more if she knew that you got sick worrying about her."

"I can't do anything about this," sighed Duke Callen. "I'm scared, Sylvan."

"Father?"

Sylvan didn't expect to hear this from his father. His father was always a figure he'd look up to. Someone who protected their Rosewood House. His father had always been brave and wise in his mind. So, he couldn't understand this situation.

"I don't want to think about it but unconsciously, the same thought has been haunting me. So many people told me that His Highness Rhys Crown is cursed after staying in a demonic place like The Icy Hellscapes. I really didn't believe it but what if it's true? What if he really has been cursed? What if his curse is reaching out to my daughter? It's just the talk about their engagement and our Silla is on the bed. What if something happened to her after the marriage?" Duke Callen was shaking as he thought about it more and more. He was scaring himself with his wild thoughts right now.

"Father, calm down," said Sylvan as he supported his father and helped him drink water. "You're overthinking it. How is it possible for this to be true? Those are just unfounded rumors. You shouldn't be scaring yourself with these thoughts. Drusilla had always been weak. This could be a coincidence too."

"How many coincidences there are in this world, Sylvan? asked Duke Callen. "If it was in my power, I'd do anything to stop my daughter from entering that devil's den. But I'm also powerless about it."

"A subject can't confront the Monarch," reminded Sylvan. "Since it's the King's order, you and I are powerless. Besides, let's not forget. We are not the only ones who don't want Drusilla to marry Royal Prince, Rhys. There are plenty of others who would try their best to stop this match. You should be patient. Maybe we won't even have to lift a finger and this match would be broken."

Duke Callen calmed down and nodded his head. Indeed, they weren't the only ones dissatisfied with the King's order. There was also the Queen's faction that wouldn't want to see anything good happening to Rhys. So, it was certain that they'd try everything possible to break this match. He should really just wait and watch for now.

"Also, you are forgetting," added Sylvan. "Prince Rhys hasn't met our Drusilla yet. You have heard about his bad mood. And he had always been someone who didn't mind going against the King's orders. In fact, he has a long history of doing everything against the King's order. So, it's also possible that he'd reject our Drusilla."

"He dares!"

Sylvan shook his head at his father helplessly. Just now he was concerned about how to reject this match and now, he didn't even want to see Rhys rejecting his dear daughter. So conflicting was his father's mood.