{Music Recommendation: Wicked Game ~ Ursine Vulpine & Annaca}

The awkward silence that followed Freya’s outburst was unsettling, and the smiles on everyone’s faces faltered. All eyes turned to Rowan, expecting him to be offended or embarrassed. But instead, a mischievous grin spread across his face, his eyes sparkling with amusement and something sinister lurking behind them.

Louis cleared his throat, trying to intervene. He nudged his daughter, "Freya! Keep quiet! What do you know about marriage?"

Freya furrowed her brows, "Why, Pa? I don’t want to marry someone like him...and I already like someone..." She trailed off, her gaze darting around the group, as if waiting for them to ask who that someone was.

"Hahaha...the children want to sleep; let’s take them inside." Oriana, sensing the tension between father and daughter, decided to end the conversation entirely. She gave Adric a knowing look, signaling him to change the subject.

Walter, who had been quietly observing the exchange, protested, "But Auntie, I don’t want to..."

"Shh! Walter, if your Auntie says you want to sleep, then you want to." She tugged him by the hand, and the women quietly left with Freya.

Rowan’s grin didn’t fade, his eyes following the girl who had not only openly rejected him but also claimed she had feelings for another man. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"I’m so sorry, Sir Rowan...you know, children..." Louis turned to apologize, feeling ashamed of his daughter’s actions. "I’m sorry for not training her better."

Rowan shook his head, "Mmm, it’s all good. I like that she knows what she wants." He smiled, finally moving his eyes away from the girl and settling them on her father. "And you don’t have to call me ’Sir’ Rowan; you’re also a minister now."

Fidelis touched Louis on the shoulder. "It’s all good. Rowan is like my son, and trust me, you don’t need to apologize. Let’s not deliberate over a matter like this for long. Let’s enjoy the night. Come, sit; there’s lots of food and drink." He gestured for them to sit down.

Meanwhile, the women who now stood not so far from the men gathered around Freya after the maids had taken Walter and Kai to their rooms.

"Freya..." Madame Rosalie started with a small sigh. "You shouldn’t have told him outright that you won’t marry him... I mean..."

Jasmine cleared her throat and added. "I mean, you’re lucky to have someone like Rowan want to marry you. A lot of women would gladly accept without thinking."

Freya raised her eyes, looking at the princess who had just spoken. She hadn’t forgotten what she saw Rowan and the princess doing the first time she encountered them. To know that the princess was married, with her husband well and alive under the same roof, yet she was with another man and now standing in front of her, telling her to accept that man’s offer was too much. Freya was really trying not to be disrespectful to the princess, but she was getting annoyed.

"Why is she looking at me like that?" Jasmine asked nobody in particular. "Why do I feel like you’re cursing me in your head?"

Sophie touched Jasmine, trying to calm her down. "That’s just how she is. Freya is a sweet girl. She would never curse you in her mind, right, Freya?"

"Yes, Princess Sophie," Freya replied, looking away from the princess.

Oriana touched her neck, feeling tired already, and yawned. She noticed that one person in their midst wasn’t supposed to be there. "Galen, you know you can sit with the men, right? Following Sophie everywhere..."

The Charmer, who had been standing behind Sophie since the night celebration started, chuckled nervously. "I’m sorry, Your Majesty...I didn’t know I was following her; it has become a habit, I guess," the young man replied.

"It’s nothing to be sorry about," Oriana replied. "I’m actually glad that my sister now has a secure man. It’ll be lovely to watch you both grow together."

Galen bowed deeply. "Thank you for your blessings, Your Majesty..." Oriana gave the man a small nod.

Madame Rosalie, who had been lost in thought, turned to Freya. "You said you already have someone you like...I’m really curious, who is it?"

Freya cleared her throat, looking around the hall. She tried to avoid everyone’s eyes that were now on her. "It’s... um..."

"Freya! Don’t tell me-" Oriana widened her eyes, with her mouth hanging open. "It’s not, right?"

Everyone turned to look at Oriana, their eyes darting from Freya to Oriana.

"Sister, you know who she likes?" Sophie was the first to ask, her eyes shining with curiosity.

Jasmine scowled, folding her arms across her chest. "I’m sure the person is not even close to Rowan. Have you seen Rowan training with the guards without his shirt?"

Freya almost screamed that it was because the princess was sleeping with the man, but she pressed her lips tightly, stopping herself from saying anything.

"Tell us, who is he? You’re the youngest here, and we have to protect you." Madame Rosalie continued, nudging Oriana. "Tell us, who is he? Is he from Avon or Orion... or wait, a minister’s son?"

Oriana rubbed her temples gently. It had already been a long night. "If I’m right, the only person Freya has ever told me she likes was a man we met at the market... who she also claims was a thief."

"A thief?" the three women chorused.

Freya bit her lip, now fumbling with her hair. "He was also handsome... and he stole my heart too-ah... ah... ah, Madame Rosalie!"

"I should beat some sense back into your head!" Madame Rosalie scolded, hitting Freya’s back. "A thief! What is wrong with you?"

Freya rubbed her back. "Ah!! It hurts, Madame Rosalie! Isn’t he human? Or just because he is a thief, then-"

"Why would you want to marry a thief! Freya! Think of your father; you shouldn’t follow dangerous men. I always knew it! Girls that are innocent usually want the wild part of life. You remind me of myself when I was young...It doesn’t end well. Someone like Rowan is perfect enough! He is good for you!"

Freya threw her head back and started laughing. "Good? Madame Rosalie, I’m not sure we know the same person."

"Did she just laugh at my words?" Madame Rosalie said, pointing at the girl. Without waiting for a reply, she started hitting Freya again.

Back at the table where the men were sitting, Rowan sucked the sauce off his hand as he watched Freya trying to avoid Madame Rosalie’s hits. The corner of his lips pulled up slightly.

"So...Rowan, are you really going to let the girl go?" Adric asked, noticing that his friend’s eyes were still on the girl.

Rowan reclined in his chair, making a smacking sound as he sucked his fingers before wiping them off with the tablecloth. "What do you think?"

Adric hummed. "I know I’ve seen that look in your eyes somewhere..."

"Then you must know what it means," the king’s personal guard remarked. "And one more thing, about the Minister’s envoy, I’ll go. Send me to Eridor."