The Cursed Prince

Chapter 940: King Draco Is Manipulating Liam

Rowena was dazed when she heard Jadeith say he would take her to meet the family she never knew. The idea that there were other people besides King Draco and she seemed like a wonderful idea that she hadn't even fathomed before.

However, Rowena looked around at the palace and remembered Julian. It made her remember what was important. There was no time for happy reunions if she couldn't even help her best friend.

Rowena smiled and bowed her head respectfully. "I appreciate you coming all the way here, uncle and I know I should pay my respects to my relatives as well… but I have a current obligation to my friend, Julian."

"Julian?"

Rowena closed her eyes and nodded. "Yes, my friend got in danger and fell asleep because of my mistakes—I need to help my friend."

Prince Jadeith's expression became serious. He looked at Raphael and knew for a fact that if the God of Healing could do nothing for Rowena… then even the Elven court could offer no help.

If the person in question was of the elven realm, then there might be a chance to recover their soul, but for a human, there was not much Prince Jadeith could help.

"Rowena, I need to talk to you." Liam suddenly called out.

***

"Father, please—I need to talk with you." Prince Liam knocked on King Xander's door.

And yet there was no answer. The tray of food lay outside of the man's chambers. Untouched and unwanted.

"Please, even if you don't want to talk or handle the duties piling up—at least take care of yourself." Liam begged. "Let me in or at least take the food! The maids said it's been days already."

Prince Liam's heart ached as he tried to open the door and found it locked. He shook the doorknob to no avail and gritted his teeth.

"Father, you can't abandon your own son!"

He tried to change tactics, it was a cruel thing to say after what happened with Julian… but somehow, it did work. Prince Liam heard the thunder of footsteps, and finally the door opened to reveal King Xander.

His face was gaunt and thin, a faraway look in his eyes. There were bottles of liquor that rolled down across the royal floors.

King Xander blinked and looked at him.

"Julian? Is that you—Gabrielle, where are you?"

"It's me, Liam, father. I am not... uhm, I am not my brother," Prince Liam said. "You can't… you can't keep this—"

"I can hear her, she's disappointed in me." King Xander smiled and shook his head. "I can't pay for my sins. I have to pray and fast."

"Father!" Liam shouted to no avail as the door closed upon his face again. Furious tears stung Liam's eyes as he brushed away the tears and knocked again.

"Father! Talk to me! You don't have to do this!"

Liam's fists were raw as he kept knocking all night.

***

"You must be the son of King Xander of Verona." King Draco greeted Liam with a respectful smile.

Liam looked at the man with a look of suspicion, he knew that Rowena ran away from her home.

And yet, a part of him was still in awe at the lengths of what a parent might do to find their child. Right now, Liam felt like t

he entire world was on his shoulders.

However, right in front of him was a man who would cross the world in an instant, call an elven prince just to see Rowena. It was an incredible feat, regardless of the circumstances.

"You… you must be Rowena's father, Your Majesty of Ashland. I have seen the letters that you've sent and the reward you promised. Your own daughter and to become heir to your kingdom?" Liam frowned.

King Draco waved a hand dismissively. "Now, now—let's put those things aside for now, boy. I've heard that there's been an incident here in Verona—"

"An incident is barely enough word to it." Prince Liam smiled flatly at him.

"I can see that right before me," King Draco said. "A terrible tragedy has struck… I merely wanted to give you some face. Be more delicate about the situation, but frankly, it's a disaster isn't it?"

Liam's smile faded. "I can't believe that everything could just vanish in an instant—one moment I was happy with my family. It was not the best, but now everything is destroyed."

"And it doesn't help that my daughter is quite dismissive of you either," King Draco commented lightly.

"No, you can't blame Rowena at all!" Liam instantly went to defend her. "This is none of her fault—I was the one responsible for all of this disaster, because I was so foolish to think that she might like me."

"Huh, my daughter's beauty is quite something isn't it?" King Draco chuckled.

"It's not just her beauty—she's a remarkable person. I'm not sure if you're aware of that, Your Majesty."

"I haven't seen her in a long time, so I cannot tell. But I'm bound to believe you."

"Yes, and I… I thoughtlessly endangered and ruined everything because I liked her." Prince Liam laughed in frustration. "Because I wanted to make her stay, my mother tricked me to kill my own brother—and so I've lost my father to madness, my mother imprisoned and my long-lost brother gone before we could even reconcile. I'm a foolish man. She can't even bear to look at me now."

"Nobody would even look at you if that is how you act," King Draco said coldly. "You should have a more powerful aura, something that exerts attention and makes everyone listen to you. Pardon me for my words, but Rowena needs a strong man and you… this tragedy has turned you into this pitiful state."

"Your Majesty, I did not come to talk with you in order to be berated for my flaws, I can see them very well enough." Prince Liam gritted his teeth. "I am unequipped and rattled. And yet I want you and this Elven Prince to kindly leave—"

"That is why I chose to converse with you, boy." King Draco placed a hand on Liam's shoulder. "Your family must have coddled you, and yet I will speak bluntly to you. Even if it hurts—especially if you are still interested in my daughter."

Prince Liam looked at him in surprise. "What?"

King Draco laughed. "You will not be able to lead a kingdom in this state. I'll give you advice on how to run your court and handle all the royal affairs, and perhaps you'll be a man worthy of my daughter?"

"That's…"

"Incredibly helpful. And you need all the help you can get right now, don't you?" King Draco said. "No father, no mother—and the girl who you risked it all for cannot even stand you."

"You don't know that!" Liam protes

ted. "Right now, Rowena is worried sick about Julian, but…"

"I may be wrong, but Rowena is hurting—and yet there's another man available to whom she can turn to." King Draco shrugged and reminded Liam about Raphael. "You need to step up, boy. If you don't act now, you'll lose everyone and what will be left for you?"

"You can't be serious." Liam looked at King Draco in disbelief.

"I'm simply giving you a word of advice. A boy without a backbone—who seems to have run into his mother's lap to be with a girl? It's pathetic." King Draco said with a smile. "I'll help you be more of a proper man, a proper king. I see potential in you, do not squander it, boy."