Chapter 59

Princess Isla

Isla was standing from the side, watching her sister's dance with her partners.

Both were good and the ones with problems; in this case, Edaline and Fallon are still trying to figure that out.

While the rest were good for now, she envied them, she wished she could go back to that happiness and calmness, but inside she knew she couldn't.

Flashback

"Tell me the truth Isla?" Said Randolph; he had been asking Isla what had happened because he needed to know the truth.

"Papa, we had an argument about what you guys talked about behind my back." She said, angry but still hurt as her father only looked confused.

"What do you mean by that? You like him, don't you, Isla?" He asked her.

"I do, papa, but... it seems like you are selling me because he is paying you." She said, annoyed.

"Isla, sweetie, these were the rules of Glidonia, and do you know why?" asked Randolph as Isla nodded.

"It's because this is how the kingdom gets some of the money; it's an agreement to pay if there is no marriage because if he didn't take you, he wasted time when someone else could have proposed to you; it saves the kingdom from being ruined. We get money or alliances by marriage. I thought of any of all people you would know this?" Said Randolph sternly.

Isla said nothing and only thought for a moment.

"Isla, I need to know if he was fully courting you?" Her father asked as she closed her eyes to hide away her forming tears.

"Why does it matter, papa?" She said.

"Because it determines your future and happiness. I know happiness when I see it, and you two have it but are too stubborn to realize it." He said.

As Isla turned her head aside far away from her father and slightly nodded her head up and down.

"He asked me a few days after I was better from when Levi made the attack; he was courting me and said that he wanted to make official with you, Derek, and Genevieve.

But then I told him to wait till the trial was over, then when we came back, we were on bad terms, and well then this happened, and now it's Christmas Eve. it's another year that I'm alone; I'm sick of all the bad luck coming to me." She snarled and was frustrated.

"Last question, my dear, Was there ever a kiss in between all this?" Asked her father as Isla pulled her head up; tears were noticeable as well as her puffy red eyes.

"Yes." She said as another tear fell, and her father smiled broadly.

"Very well, you shall marry him then; that will be my final word till now." Her father said as she quickly protested.

"What?! Why?!" She exclaimed.

"Because I know that boy, and he's a great suitor for you, plus I know you won't want another suitor; any royals we find will be discarded, and I don't want you to be alone for the rest of your life. I am not leaving this world without seeing all my daughters happily married; as for the triplets, I know Derek will make the right decision. But while I live, I will ensure you will get your happy ending just like your mother made me promise her, so you are marrying Tobias unless you find someone else, which I doubt you will, end of discussion Isla." Said Randolph as he left his daughter to do what she needed for the party.

End of flashback

In the end, she knew she couldn't complain because she did love Tobias, but it still hurt her that he tried to buy her, and even though no one saw it like that, she still felt like they treated her like an item.

When she saw Tobias coming her way again, she panicked; he had asked her recently to dance with him.

But she denied it and said she had to wait for most of her sisters to dance because that was their tradition; it was oldest to youngest after the king and queen.

"Isla, would you dance with me?" Said Tobias as he gave her a soft smile.

She knew she couldn't avoid him forever, and it would be rude and not princess-wise to accept a dance from her 'fiancé,' but she had no choice; she looked at his charming eyes and simply nodded a yes and followed him to the dance floor.

The next song began, and they started dancing; she wasn't looking at him. However, she was looking at her sisters; they were all officially dancing.

"Why won't you look at me, Isla?" Said Tobias, as this only made her question herself.

"Maybe because I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do since most of my life is already sold." She said as she finally looked at Tobias; he was confused.

"What do you mean, Isla?" He questioned again?

"You'll find out soon enough." She said as the dance ended, she would walk away.

"Wait, don't you want to have another dance?" Asked Tobias.

"No, thank you. You may be the person I will be stuck with, but that doesn't mean I have to dance with you all night; I'd rather be alone or with someone else." Said Isla as she left Tobias.

Isla walked away to the tables to get something to drink, then she saw someone come her way; it was Brandon, one of the new guards Derek hired.

"Hey Isla, what are u doing here all alone?" He asked her.

"Hey Brandon, it's fine. I'm tired; the whole preparations and the royal dance I had has me tired out." Said Isla as he smiled at her.

"Is that all, Isla?" He asked as she knew what he meant.

"It's ok that you don't want to tell me, but anytime we need someone, I'm here for you." Said Brandon as he softly stroked her cheek; this made Isla feel a bit uncomfortable.

She was set to be married; it wouldn't be, or does it look right for a guy to be this affectionate with her,

"Do you want to dance?" He asked her as she looked over to see Tobias, he seemed to not like this, but her duties as the princess didn't allow her to deny him at least one dance.

"Alright." She said as she thought that one dance wouldn't hurt.

As she danced with him, she could see Tobias standing there, not liking this; when the song ended, she was about to leave, but Brandon held on to her.

"Oh, come on, Isla, one more dance?" Said Brandon as she was about to respond, but Tobias came in between.

"May I cut in?" Said Tobias as Isla was starting to worry.

"Dude, don't you see that she's dancing with me?" Said Brandon.

"The rule is that no princess can deny at least one dance, and she gave you one dance. Now I believe it's someone else's turn." Said Tobias angrily.

He then pulled Isla a bit closer to him and asked her, "Is this what you meant? Is he the reason why you didn't want to dance with me? Now I see why you were so bothered about marrying me!" Said Tobias frustrated.

"What?! Of course not!" Exclaimed Isla.

"Get your hands off her; she doesn't want to be with you!" Said Brandon as he wanted to throw a punch but threw a plate instead, and it missed Tobias.

Crash!

Oh no! Though Isla they were going to have a huge fight, she had to do something quickly.

"No! Stop!" Said Isla as she got in between them and tried to convince Tobias to stop; she then saw Phoenix and Hadley head towards them as well as Derek, Genevieve, and her father.

"Hey Brandon, buddy stop, come with me." Said Phoenix as he tried to calm him down and took him away from Tobias. "

What has happened here?" Asked Randolph worried.

"I agree; I will need to hear both sides of the story tomorrow, Brandon; meet me tomorrow at my office, but for now, I suggest you and Tobias stay away from each other." Said Derek.

He nodded and left with Phoenix, while Isla looked annoyed and took Tobias outside. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" Exclaimed Isla.

Prince Tobias

Tobias was so upset with what had happened that he didn't know what to think; he thought Isla loved him, but then this and what happened when he wanted to court her was officially too much.

"What is wrong with me? You should start with yourself; you say you love me, but then you get upset that I want to court you and start talking to Brandon!" Said, Tobias

"First of all, you have no control over my life, you may have won, but for now, I am free to do what I want!" She exclaimed; as this confused him again.

"There you go with that again; what do you mean? I have no idea what you're talking about?" He asked her.

"Don't act so innocent you agreed with my father; well, congratulations, you know I don't see why you would get so jealous? You're going to marry me either way or what are you going to have me locked up all the time like your brother did with my sister?!" She exclaimed as it all clicked.

"I never agreed to anything with your father; I did indeed wish you could become my wife, but because you want to not have to! And do you believe I would keep you locked in like my brother?! What kind of person do you think I am?!" He told her.

He had enough of this; it was all confusing; this had to stop. "You know what, I can't take any of this anymore; whatever happens in your future, it's because of you. I'm done with this! You're free to go and do what you want! Be happy with whoever you want." Exclaimed Tobias as he left, not looking back.

But he could hear a soft cry, and he knew exactly who it was from; he wanted to turn around, so many times to hug and kiss her.

But now he knew she wanted nothing to deal with him; he made his way to Derek and Randolph.

"I want out; I need to get back to my kingdom as soon as possible I might have a plan to trap my brother once and for all." Said Tobias as they looked at each other and seemed interested.

"Tobias, are you sure?" Asked Derek.

"Yes." He Said.

"Well... then whenever you have your plan fully complete." Said Derek but was cut by Tobias.

"I already know it; I just need to know how desperate you want to capture him. And what are you willing to do?" Said Tobias as he saw Derek look over to see Genevieve and Henry.

"Anything." Said Derek, as Tobias nodded, "meet me tomorrow at my office to discuss this plan." Said Derek as Tobias nodded and left.

King Levi

Levi returned to his lair from hunting; it had been a couple of days since he escaped from prison.

When Willard had visited him, he sent him a present but didn't think he was going to be the one getting surprised; all his food was wearing out and clothes.

His job was now hunting and stealing; he was still in Glidonia, but it was far from the end; he knew it would be only a few days before Derek would know his location and would trap him.

Luckily, he moved places every time he found a new home; he had to return to Thraas.

But since everyone knew he killed his father and tried to kill his brother and tried to take over another kingdom, he's a wanted man; he needed some new allies and needed them fast.

Just then, he saw some guys walking his way; it was Angel, the one that had found him when he fainted a few weeks ago and carried him to this cave.

"Angel, my dear friend, how are things going?" Asked Levi smiling.

"Eh, you should go and join the Christmas party; you could see your brother enter his first fight." Said Angel smiling as this caught his attention since his brother never fought.

"What do you mean, Angel?" Questioned Levi.

"He was going to fight one of the guards. I think Brandon was the name; apparently, they both like the princess Isla, and we will have a duet. But Derek and Phoenix came and stopped them along with the princess, and I think they had made an arranged marriage together because Randolph wanted to make the union with that kingdom in honor of your father's last wishes." Said Angel as he took a bite of the food he had brought.

"What does that old man mean?! Me and Courtney are still married!" Exclaimed Levi.

"That's the thing, you two aren't married anymore. Duke Reynolds called a separation in your matrimony since you were convicted of violence with her. The throne was also passed down to your brother; he would be the official ruler, but he's under Derek's protection until you are found." Said Angel as Levi took a bite of his food.

"How can this be?! The throne belongs to me. I'm the oldest; what about my 'dear queen'?" Asked Levi as Angel laughed.

"Which one?" He Said.

"Courtney was dancing with Duke Bailey; I think that's his name; it seems to me that they are going to become something. While Genevieve, well... let's just say she's been very moody lately and paranoid, you can't be with her without her freaking out, but she's still happy with Derek." Said Angel as Levi threw a vase across the wall, and it made a considerable eco noise.

"They think that I will let them be happy?! Well, they are so mistaken, go back the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow you need to contact every villain you can from here and any area that would join me in taking my kingdom back. Even if you have to offer them the most gold, they could have!" He said as Angel was taking notes.

"They will regret the day they decided to mess with me because if it's till the day I die, they will never have their happily ever after." He said as he turned away and headed to the dark shadows.