The King’s Outburst

"You're punishing me for not falling in love with someone like Hazel did," Bel whispered, her voice breaking with emotion.

King Aaron appeared utterly horrified at Bel's accusation, taking several seconds to regain his composure.

"No, Bel. Absolutely not. I am saying your heart is a blank slate. There is nothing to erase and if you give him a chance, he will be engraved in it."

"I won't fall in love with just anyone," Bel said with conviction.

"You never know," King Aaron softly said. "Love is as fickle as it is fierce, as subtle as it is jarring, and most importantly, you tend to find it in places you least expect."

"Your poetic citation isn't going to reel me in."

King Aaron laughed, "You think I speak from some book."

"No, I am simply mocking it," she replied with folded arms.

King Aaron shook his head, "Some days I wonder how I got such a rude child. Why are you against getting married?" he asked, his tone suggesting he was addressing a child who didn't know what was good for her.

"I am not against getting married," she said darkly. She didn't like the way he was treating this as though marriage was the issue and not who he was marrying her off to.

"Then you shouldn't have a problem with this," he said.

"I don't want an arranged marriage. Why would you even want me to marry a vampire? I don't think they marry humans in the first place."

"You want a love marriage like your sister's?" Her father asked.

"Yes," Bel responded softly, nodding eagerly. "Just like Hazel's."

She smiled a little, Hazel's relationship with her fiancé Chance has always been the dream for her.

Bel watched her father's face puff up and for the first time in all her years she couldn't help but think she might have overran her father's patience.

"You don't always get what you want! Don't you think you have acted spoiled enough? You're much older, a woman. You are no longer a child. You're the second princess of Landerfell and it is about time you put your selfish interests aside. Everything we have ever done for you has been catered to your wishes. Without listening to the whys you have closed your mind to the idea. You have been disrespectful, you have walked out on me and your mother and you keep acting like a child. If only the situation was reversed, Hazel wouldn't give us such a hard time. You want a love marriage but you've never ventured in that direction. You won't attend balls, you reject invitations, and all you care about is the clinic. Do you think I would marry you off to just anyone? I have tried to be understanding and listen to you but you still won't consider it. All you say is no, with flimsy reasons why."

Bel's expression slowly changed from shock to horror. She didn't know what to say to her father's outburst.

Her eyes watered. Bel didn't think, she fled. She burst out the door, the guards looked shocked and tried to offer some assistance but she passed right through them.

Her shoes made a loud sound as they hit the floor. The heels made a clicking noise as she sped her way to her room.

Bel got into her room with tears streaming down her face. She closed the door, turned the lock, and threw herself in bed as she sobbed.

She must have laid there not more than three minutes with her head buried in the pillow when she heard a soft knock, followed by her mother's soft voice.

"Bel," she called. "I am sorry. Your father didn't mean any of that."

Bel didn't respond. She just sobbed harder. It was difficult not to think about what he said and the implications. Was this what her father thought of her?

"Please open the door, we need to talk." Her mother tried again, knocking harder this time.

"Leave me alone!" Bel screeched.

"I am sorry sweetheart," her mother said and Bel heard her lock turn.

She sat up immediately, she knew what that sound indicated and she couldn't believe her mother would do that but at this point, she couldn't put anything past them, not after her father's outburst.

She wiped her tears as the door handle turned. There was no reason why her mother should see her with a face full of tears.

The door was pushed open and Queen Eleanor walked in. She was cautious, her footsteps barely making any sound as she walked into the room.

Hazel was right behind their mother and Bel's heart squeezed as she realized there was nobody on her side.

"I can't believe you used the master key," Bel barked out.

"I am sorry, I will explain in a minute," her mother said, approaching her as one would a wild dog. "Your father didn't mean any of that," Queen Eleanor whispered.

Bel laughed, "I heard him clearly. I bet you think the same of me."

"No," her mother said adamantly. "I love you and that will never change."

"Then why do you want to marry me off to some strange vampire? Why does it seem like I am being ridiculous by disagreeing?"

Bel sniffled, even though she had been adamant about not crying in front of her mother, she could feel the tears flow.

"Your reaction is expected, even I had mixed feelings when I heard I was to marry your father. Davien is the first prince and this marriage would be good for not just you but the kingdom. An alliance with vampires is better than anything we could ever hope for."

Bel blinked, for the first time she realized she had not considered why her parents wanted this marriage aside from the fact that it looked like she would remain unmarried for unforeseen years if they let her do as she wished.

However, she had no intention to throw her life simply because it would be better for the nation.

"What if he is a terrible husband? I will be stuck in a marriage that I hate. Why do I have to do this? Surely, we can have some alliance with them without me marrying him?"