Chapter 84: Chapter 84
Killian, Alia, and Cyrus arrived back at the castle without Fraser and the others.
"I shall see you tonight," Killian whispered to Alia before walking away to take care of important matters.
Cyrus, who was unaware of the conversation Alia had with Killian was confused as to why the two would be eting tonight. Was it for dinner or for Killian to help her sleep? "Have you started to feel sothing for him?" He asked after Killian left.
"I don’t know," Alia honestly replied. "I certainly do not love him. It was just my enemy not too long ago. I am trying to understand my future husband before we get to the north which ans I have to open my heart to him. I don’t know what the feeling is. As princess of the castle she took control over, does that make
a bad person? Am I letting down my people?"
Cyrus heard so people badmouthing her for being so close to the man who killed her father while others were grateful their sons no longer had to fight thanks to this upcoming marriage. "You cannot please everyone," Cyrus said as the best answer he could offer her.
"No, I cannot," Alia faintly smiled as she rembered the expressions of the people when her marriage was announced. "One day, they would all understand why I made this decision. I need to see my grandmother," she switched the direction she had been going in.
Alia knew the only person who could ease her mind was her grandmother. Her grandmother had to deal with trying to do what was right for the kingdom and trying to please the people at the sa ti.
Alia practically ran to her grandmother’s bedroom, ignoring the stares of the servants, guests, and the remaining northerners who were staring at her.
"Grandmother," she pushed open Margaret’s door as soon as she reached it.
Cyrus closed the door behind her to offer the two won privacy. He didn’t know what suddenly triggered Alia to want to run to her grandmother but he hoped the older woman would be able to offer her so guidance from the long road Alia had ahead of her. Perhaps the weight of everything that happened in the last few days had finally fallen on her.
"Alia," Margaret looked at the door, surprised to see Alia back so soon after she heard there was a trip to the town. "What are you doing back so early, child? Did things not go well? What’s with your expression? Did soone hurt you?"
Alia shook her head and quietly walked toward where Margaret sat on the bed. Without a word, she sat down and laid her head on her grandmother’s lap.
"You have not done this for many years," Margaret said as she imdiately knew there was sothing wrong. "What is on your mind? Is it your father’s death, your future marriage, or the throne?"
"All of it," Alia replied.
"I see. You had been walking around seemingly fine and I thought you were handling it well."
"Many of the people didn’t look too happy with the fact I have chosen to marry Killian. I am doing this to keep them safe," Alia whispered but it was loud enough for Marget to hear.
Margaret combed through Alia’s hair with her fingers to help ease her mind. "The people only see what is in front of them but royals see far ahead for the future. We are called nas when they don’t understand why we have done sothing but when it pays off in the future no apologies are given and the past is long forgotten. They have no idea how much the north is a threat to us. The north has never revealed the power they hold."
"If the north did that, they would either be crying for
having to marry a monster or crying tears of joy that the demons will leave them alone since they got the princess. As much as they should know the truth there would be too much panic. That is why you have told no one about demons right?" Alia asked.
Margaret smiled. "Yes, not even your grandfather. I suppose you would like to know how I found out about demons."
Alia nodded her head.
"Well, it has sothing to do with the previous high priest. Those that were around when the first king claid this land to belong to the Blackwells. Those priests are my ancestors," Margaret revealed sothing that many people around the kingdom did not know.
"What?" Alia sat up from Margaret’s lap. "Isn’t your family lineage known for being blacksmiths? Isn’t that why you and Grandfather were arranged to be married? The Blackwells wanted the finest blacksmiths to be a part of their family."
"That is true," Margaret replied. She was chosen to marry the prince because her family made the best weapons in the Blackwell and other kingdoms. There were offers from all around for her family to make weapons. Luckily, her family remained loyal to the land they were born on and had her marry the Blackwell prince. "My family has a long history of being blacksmiths but that started from when they were priests hunting down evil."
"Evil as in demons like Killian?"
"Yes. The world was much different a long ti ago according to what my father had told . Things like demons were not a secret and there were normal folks like us who had to step up to protect others. My family was those that stepped up and learned to make special weapons to fight against people like Killian. Over ti as demons and other creatures went into hiding, the world forgot about them," Margaret explained.
She continued to say, "Those priests settled in temples in many different lands to help protect the innocent from evil by offering them prayers. My family made it a rule that a temple must be made in the castle if I were to marry the prince. If sothing that does not have blood like
or you attacks the castle, the priest would protect us."
"But the temple is closed and the priests are not coming out. I was not even aware of the fact you were related to the high priest. Well, I am related to the high priest. I am always avoiding him and bored out of my mind when that man is around," Alia thought about her run-ins with him.
"We’re not related to the high priest or any of the other priests in the castle. They used to work under my family and were tasked to care for the temple. They’ve proven themselves to be cowards and after this is all done, they won’t remain in the castle. One of my relatives will have to take their place as high priest."
Alia now realized where her grandmother’s power in the castle ca from. Outside of being a forr queen, she would have the high priest on her side. There were certain tis a king could not do without informing the priest. If one of her relatives beca a high priest while Fraser beca king, he would have two powerful people blocking him from making terrible decisions.
"So, your family has always told you about the existence of demons. I bet it must have been hard for you to believe their words. How did this lead you to et Killian?" Alia wondered. Coming from a family who once killed demons, how did her grandmother and Killian have such a peaceful relationship?
"My family had nothing to do with
eting Killian. I first t him when there was going to be a fight between the two sides. I knew that if the entire north army ca down from that mountain our land would be covered in blood so I sent soone who was able to travel back and forth between the two lands to deliver a ssage. You were not the only one in this castle to save a northerner and keep him by your side," Margaret smiled as she revealed she once had soone like Cyrus by her side.
"Nothing surprises
when it cos to you, grandmother. So, what happened when Killian decided to et you?" Alia asked.
"We t at the border where no one would see as and as scary as he looked, I remained the queen that I was. That man said that I intrigued him and decided to not engage in war if I convinced my husband to leave the north alone so I did just that. I think Killian is a demon that likes humans or more specifically, humans who do things he does not expect. Perhaps that is why he has taken a liking to you."
"I believe it as he has stated he is intrigued by . Now I have to find out if that ans he once liked you and if you were not married, he would have married you. The complications of marrying a man who doesn’t age. His answer better be no or I will view him differently. I cannot marry anyone who once liked my grandmother," Alia shuddered, grossed out by it.
"I thought you would have been more grossed out by the fact he is far older than I am," Margaret chuckled.
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