Chapter 54

Princess Isla

Isla was walking towards the library alone; she had just come back inside from being with her twin sister Hadley; she was thinking about what her sister had told her and wondered if she was right or not.

Tobias had told her to stay away from him at the trial; he told her she had no business intruding, that it was family business, and that she should stay away.

She loves him, so she had to respect his wishes, but what if he only said that because he was frustrated?

But still, that was no excuse, he had hurt her, and even if they talked it out, she wasn't sure what she wanted.

Because her sister was right, he won't stay here forever; the day he leaves, she will be crushed, and what if, with the distance, he forgets about her?

Maybe it's a pass time for both; after all, she never leaves the castle that much and rarely attends balls.

The only time princes came up to her was when they threw the Christmas ball; sure, maybe some village boys came, but she didn't seem interested, and most did it because they wanted the throne, not her.

She was deep in her though that didn't notice that she bumped into her father until she looked up.

"Oh, Papa? I'm sorry, I need to be paying attention to where I go, don't worry, papa, I remember princesses need to look to not bump into people." Said Isla,

while her father only frowned in confusion. "Isla, darling is ok. The real question is how you are feeling?" asked her father.

"Why do you ask papa?" said Isla as she tried to look happy, but she knew her father could see her perfectly.

"Isla, I know when you're feeling sad, I'm your father, and I can probably guess why too. But don't worry, I won't bring it up, but I am going to ask if you are sure you're making the correct choice by not listening to that boy?" asked her father.

"Papa, how do you know about...?" she said but then was interrupted by her father's smile and chuckle.

"Isla…. Everyone in the castle knows how you feel about that boy and what he feels for you except you two; I know something must have happened because he's usually with Derek or the guards now. I'll give you some advice as your father, listen to the boy, but if you want a mother's advice, I think we both know where you should go." Said her father.

"Genevieve," they both said, as she remembered her older sister was now a mother, but to her and the rest of her small sisters, she was always like a mother, especially when Rowena was here.

She cared for them as if they were her own daughters; hopefully, she and Derek will have a girl soon.

"Ok, thanks, papa," said Isla.

"You wanted to know how I know…. The boy came to me, Derek, and Genevieve one afternoon. We talked two weeks before the trial, but I think that's something you two should talk about." Said her father and then left.

This was something she wanted to know, and she went to look for Tobias; she raced and found him coming out of the door from where Derek was at.

"Tobias? We need to talk." Said Isla.

As Tobias turned around and looked a bit worried but simply said, "Yes, we do, Isla; I'm sorry the I should have never talked to you like that. I was just frustrated with what happened and my brother, but I know that's no excuse; that's why I'm going to prove to you that I am sorry." Said Tobias.

"Tobias, I heard you had a talk with my father and sister; what was that about?" she asked as she just froze.

"Who told you?" he asked, worried as she just got surprised.

"So, it is true then?" she told him.

"Yes, I promise I was going to tell you, but…." He said but didn't dare to say the last word.

"Tobias, tell me what that was about." Demanded Isla getting worried.

"Isla, I will tell you, but… you need to listen and know that I am so sorry," said Tobias.

Flashback

It happened two weeks before the trial; it was in the library, and someone had just called me.

"Tobias? Come in, my dear boy; we've been expecting you," said Randolph.

"Good afternoon, your highnesses; what can I help you with?" said Tobias.

"I think some things need to be cleared up." Said Genevieve.

"Tobias, firstly, I want you to know you aren't in trouble; I just want to know your intentions. I know your brother betrayed and hurt you. But since you turned 17 a week ago, you're the next ruler of Thraas and need to pick on a wife soon, and I see you're very close with my daughter Isla." Said Randolph.

"We just want to know if you have any plans on courting her?" asked Derek.

"Because if you do, we want to know sooner than later." Added Genevieve.

"Well, to tell you the truth, yes. But at the same time, I don't know; I know I will only stay here for a while, then I must return to my kingdom, and I don't want to hurt her when I return." Said Tobias.

"I see, but like I said, you will need to find a bride soon." Said Randolph.

"I understand that I also don't know how things run in this kingdom, but I would like to make some arrangements," said Tobias.

"You mean like an arranged marriage?" asked Genevieve, looking at Derek with concern as Tobias slightly nodded.

"We don't do arrange marriages in this kingdom anymore; when I stepped in as king, I banned from doing that to any of my sisters-in-law. They will only marry the person for love, not for any arrangements the kingdom needs, because I as their king is my responsibility, not theirs." Said Derek as Genevieve simply smiled at what her husband had just said, and Randolph looked proud as he knew he picked the perfect pair to run the kingdom.

"It's not a complete arranged marriage; I would simply like the honor to court Isla the right way. And when I return, she will stay here, but she will be off the market, and if everything goes well, I would love to have her as my wife, but if things don't turn out like expected, I will repay you with some money for your trouble and wasting the time she could have had to look for someone else." Said Tobias as the three of them stayed there thinking about what he had said.

"You're basically asking if you could rent her then?" said Genevieve.

"Not exactly." Said Derek as she just gave him a look.

"How could you guys not see this? It sounds like that." Exclaimed Genevieve.

"Genevieve, I know you care a lot for your sisters, but I think this sounds like a good idea; we both know they are interested in each other. I don't see how this could go wrong; they will be getting to know each other, and if it doesn't work, he needs to pay for what happened." Said Randolph.

"Papa?! How can you allow this? Derek?" asked Genevieve as she turned towards Derek.

"Honey, I agree with your father that you care a lot for your sisters, but this is a family manner, and as long as it isn't an arrangement I made, I can't do anything." Said Derek.

"Genevieve, it's basically an arrangement or an agreement they will do if they want to; all that matters is that we know about it. You have my permission to fully court my daughter, but if you hurt her in any way like your brother did to Courtney, I will hunt you down." Said Randolph as he looked over at Derek and nodded.

"I'm sorry, Tobias, I have nothing against you; it's just…. It's my sister; to me, this sounds like an arrangement, and it seems wrong this is something you have to talk to her about, so it seems like you both would want this. Even though I know, she won't like this." Said Genevieve as she smiled broadly.

"Thank you, your majesties, and don't worry. I believe this will end up great, but may I ask a favor? Please don't tell Isla any of this. I want to tell this personally, and when the day comes, I want to be the one to tell her." Said Tobias as they all nodded before he bowed, excused himself, and left the room to go with Isla.

End of flashback

"So, there you have it, Isla, that is what happened." Said Tobias; Isla couldn't believe what she heard; her father, sister, and Derek knew and didn't tell her anything.

But then again, her father was right when he told her that this was something that she and Tobias needed to talk about, she wasn't mad with them, but she was with Tobias.

She mainly was astonished; she couldn't believe that the boy she loved would do that; Genevieve was right; after all, that didn't sound right.

"Isla, says something, please." Said Tobias worried.

"Tobias, how could you? I thought you were better than this?" said Isla as tears formed in her eyes.

"I'm so sorry at the time I wasn't thinking, but now I see and.." he said but was interrupted.

"You were renting me! That's what it sounds like; what if I did end up getting married to you? Would you have still paid them?!" said Isla as tears strolled down her cheeks, as he only looked down, ashamed, which only concluded what Isla had thought, which was worse; she least expected this from Tobias.

"You would have bought me then! You would have bought yourself a bride! Do you know what that means?!" she said, frustrated.

"Yes, I do know what that means, and I'm so sorry, but why I don't see why you're getting mad? If you'd be my wife in the future, it's because you want to; no one is forcing you." Said Tobias.

"Yes, it would be my choice, but you still be paying my family if we end up getting married and if we don't! I am not a prize or some furniture you can buy Tobias. If someone told me this about you, I would have never believed it, Tobias; I can forgive you for what happened the day on of your brother's court day." Said Isla as she wiped a tear and tried to get the courage to speak again.

"But I don't think I can forgive you for trying to buy or rent me; I just can't, especially not today." Said Isla as she was prepared to leave, but Tobias stopped her.

"I know what I did was wrong, Isla, and I don't expect you to forgive me so easily, but I will try like hell for you to forgive me, and I will fight for you, Isla." Said Tobias as Isla looked at him with anger and disappointment.

"Get the hell away from me, Tobias!" exclaimed Isla as she raced away and went to her room crying.