Chapter 898: Will You Marry Me Then?
Rowena still couldn"t believe she did what she did. If she was in her right mind, she would never dream of laying a hand on royalty in a palace of a foreign kingdom.
However, the thought that a mother would lay a hand on their own child hurt Rowena. She was reminded of her own father who attempted to slay Lucent and her body reacted on its own. It suddenly came to her and triggered something in her brain and came out as a reflex to protect Liam.
Rowena was worried about how the king might react and what it meant for Julian since they required the royal family"s favor, but the king of Verona slowly shook his head. The man didn"t look angry at all. He probably understood that Rowena didn"t mean to do what she did.
Also, he would have done the same if he was closer. His queen was often troubled and this was not the first time she had shown such outburst.
"There is no need to go through such lengths, young woman. You and your friend," King Xander"s gaze lingered over to Julian. "...are guests of my sons, and I am at ease to know that the two of you are willing to risk your life for my son."
"I-indeed." Prince Liam slowly nodded after he got over the actions of his mother as he looked at both Rowena and Julian. "I think it is us who should apologize for the reckless actions of my mother. She does not mean any harm. Please forgive her… I think what happened just now was quite intense. Trust me, that doesn"t happen often. She is usually very... caring."
"She is only quite suspicious of your intentions." King Xander sighed tiredly and rubbed his face. He focused on the two people and then cleared his throat. "I will ask the major domo to prepare rooms for the two of you. We can discuss this once things have settled and calm down."
"Thank you for your graciousness, Your Majesty." Rowena quickly bowed and then urged Julian to do the same. Luckily, he did just that despite everything that happened.
"Father, I can handle the personal arrangements," Prince Liam tried to offer. "Let me take care of them since they are my guests."
King Xander shook his head. "No, let the major domo handle it… If you can, Liam, do check on your mother. You know as well that her anger only has overcome her, but she would never lay a single finger on you."
"O-of course," Prince Liam nodded and rea.s.sured his father. While he wanted to take the time to say his grat.i.tude to Rowena for saving him, he also knew that he needed to visit his mother after she calmed down a little.
He nodded at his new friends and said, "Make yourself at home. I will see you soon."
"See you lat
er, Liam," said Rowena with a smile. Julian didn"t say anything.
***
After the series of events that took place in the morning, both Rowena and Julian received two rooms for both of them. The accommodations were far more grand than what they had paid for the inn, and it was something that Rowena actually felt unused to now.
When Rowena mentioned the fact that they left some of their things in the inn, the crown prince himself ordered for them to be retrieved and brought back to the palace. That was the special treatment of being the guest of the heir to the throne of Verona.
However, once Rowena was finished settling in her room… she immediately went next door. "Julian?"
She knocked once, then twice.
There was no response and only silence answered her. Rowena felt a bit panicked and called out. "I"m coming in, excuse me."
She stepped inside of the room and came across Julian seated on his bed, silent and even solemn as he had been earlier. Rowena didn"t know what was wrong with him… or whether he was just in a state of shock, but she knew that this wasn"t normal.
Rowena plopped down beside him and sighed aloud. "Ah, this place is quite comfortable isn"t it?"
"..."
There was no response from Julian.
"Julian, I said, the accommodations here in the palace are quite comfortable, is it not?" Rowena repeated again with a frown. She looked at him and asked again. "Or is it not comfortable for you?"
"Hmm... it is." Julian nodded numbly. "But I"m sure that you"re used to it, you"re a princess after all."
Rowena"s eyes widened and she immediately looked over towards him. "Julian…"
"Did I say something wrong?" Julian asked. "I didn"t lie, did I?"
The two of them both agreed to never bring it up but now he just did.
However, she was willing to let it slip since Rowena could tell that everything was still shocking. She bit down on her lip and tried to imagine what it must have felt like to be abandoned by your parents.
The two of them were as different as night and day. Rowena hated the fact that even until today, King Draco hadn"t stopped looking for her… but Julian probably wondered why he was abandoned as a baby.
Rowena folded her hands together and took a deep breath.
"You know, Julian…"
"You and that crown prince, Liam or whatever – the two of you look good together, right?" Julian started, and once
he did, the next words came out without any filter. "I mean, he"s probably better at your side than me."
"Julian!" Rowena looked at him in shock. She didn"t expect that the reason why he was so silent wasn"t because of his family but because he was thinking of her and Prince Liam.
"What?" Julian said glumly. "I"m right. The two of you are way better–"
Rowena quickly hit him in the back and glared at him furiously. "Julian, you have no right to say something like that. You"re worth more than a thousand princes to me."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes!"
"Will you marry me then?"