Keep Quite, You Moron!

A deep breath of courage fled her nose, and she turned around.

She strolled towards the door and pushed it open.

With no escorts following behind her, she proceeded toward her father's chamber and stood in front of it.

The guards quickly announced her presence, and the emperor gave his permission.

They pushed the door open for her, and she stepped inside.

They shut the door behind her, and she let out a deep breath as she stared at her father.

"Good morning, father." She greeted him, and the emperor brought down the book he was reading to look at her.

"Good morning, Daphne. Is there a problem?" He asked.

"No. But... I wish to discuss something with you, as father and daughter, and I really hope that you will listen and understand."

She said it in a pleading manner, and a warm expression slowly spread across the emperor's cold face.

"Have a seat."

He gestured to the chair opposite him at the table, and Daphne walked to sit down.

She took a long, deep breath and allowed a pessimistic smile to form on her face.

"So, what do you want to talk about?" The emperor asked.

"It's... about the marriage." She replied, and a slight frown immediately appeared on the emperor's face.

"Daphne-"

"Father, please listen to me! I don't want to marry him."

"You're my father! You are meant to think of my happiness first! I know that I am the princess, and I could acquire so much for you, but I am a human too. I feel emotions, and it hurts."

"Marriage is for life, and it horrifies me to imagine myself being with someone I do not love or even consider a friend. I would never be happy with him!"

"Father, I don't understand why you want to do this to me. You used to love me so much. You always protected and cherished me! I don't understand what changed. It's like you don't even consider me your daughter anymore!"

"No, Daphne, that's not—"

"No father. I have been feeling really hurt and sad these days, but you don't even care. You used to know when I was in even the slightest bit of an odd mood, but now it's like, I don't even exist. I don't understand why!"

She cried, and deeply hurt to see her sobbing like that, the emperor pinched between his brows.

"I see..."

He nodded and got up from the chair.

He pulled her up from her seat and gave her a warm hug.

"I am sorry, Daphne. You are right, I have been a terrible father. I guess I got so filled with the power I could acquire if I pledged that alliance."

He pulled back from the hug and gently patted her on the head.

"If you do not wish to marry him, then I will no longer force you. I will cancel the engagement later in the day, so you can stop being sad now, okay?"

He gave her a fatherly smile, which she hadn't seen on his face for a while, and patted her on the head.

Daphne's face switched to a huge smile, and she embraced him, filled with joy.

"Thank you, father."

————-

Emperor Sivanor and Yuri walked into the royal hall.

They bowed to Emperor Raman, who also bowed to them in return, and moved to take their seats.

"Raman, may I know what this meeting is about?" Emperor Sivanor asked with a half-smile on his face, and Emperor Raman let out a soft breath.

"Sivanor, what I am about to say may not sound good to you or sit well with you, but... I wish to withdraw the engagement."

He announced, and the smile on Emperor Sivanor's face immediately disappeared.

"What do you mean?" He questioned.

"Sivanor, listen, I may be the king and seek unending power, but I still have a conscience. My daughter's happiness will always be my top priority. She does not love your son and will never be happy married to him, so she does not wish to tie the knot with your son."

He explained, and a darkened expression formed on Emperor Sivanor's face.

"Raman! This is not about feelings! Have you forgotten? We pledged an alliance, and this marriage is a way to seal it. You had me travel from my empire to your empire to disgrace me?"

"Sivanor, that's not my—"

"Are you serious, Raman? My people are expecting my return with the crown prince's wife! Do you know how embarrassing this-"

"ENOUGH SIVANOR!!!"

Having had enough of his tantrum, Raman yelled, and a dangerous glint flickered in Sivanor's eyes.

"It's enough. I am trying to set things right with you here, but you are not making it easy."

"You have a daughter, and I'm sure you wouldn't want her to marry someone she won't be happy with for the sake of an alliance!"

"Maybe you are willing to do that, but I, Raman, am not willing to do so. I treasure my daughter, and I want nothing more than her happiness in this world, so I do hope you understand."

"This meeting is dismissed." He declared, and stood up from the throne.

He walked out through the side door with his escorts following behind him, and Sivanor's heart rose and fell in anger.

"It's okay, father. He is a good father who wants her daughter to be hap-"

"Keep quiet, you moron!"

He shut Yuri up before he could finish his sentence, and Yuri immediately went quiet.

"Tomorrow, we ride back to the empire, so prepare." He ordered, and Yuri nodded obediently nodded.

"Yes, father." He replied and stood up from the chair, then followed him out of the royal hall.