The Cursed Prince

Chapter 973: King Draco And Rowena Are Invited To Cretea

"Your Majesty, my family is…" Raphael hesitated and looked at Rowena. Would she think he was not sincere if he said it would be difficult to bring his family over just to propose to her?

Raphael's main concern now was actually to talk to his parents about Rowena and expressed his intention to marry her. This thing must make them surprised. He didn't think about asking them to come down to this mortal realm just to meet King Draco Roseland.

"What?" King Draco asked challengingly and even looked offended. "Do you think that your family is above ours? If that's how you think, perhaps it's better that we do not let the two of you be together if you're clearly insistent that there is a difference between us."

"Father!" Rowena shouted in dismay.

"You are my child, Rowena. I will not allow you to be treated as some kind of second-class person simply because this man believes himself to be above us." King Draco said curtly. "This is how we do things around here and yet he refuses to comply or respect us. Is that really the type of man you wish to be with, Rowena? He does not hold you or me in esteem at all."

Raphael didn't want to say that, but his father was the king of Cretea and it was not proper for him to ask him to come to the human realm, together with his mother and siblings. It really was too much to ask.

"Your Majesty, I do not wish to make you believe that… but is there anything else we could do?" Raphael asked. "I have several brothers, and I am merely afraid that we might not be able to gather all of them. I didn't mean to offend you in any way."

King Draco resisted the urge to smirk. "Humbling yourself is the right act, Raphael. There is another way to do it if you can't bring your family. All you need to do is invite myself and Rowena to where your family resides and we can meet your family officially."

"No, we can't, that's..." Rowena looked up at King Draco and tried to stop her father from demanding too much. However, it was too late.

"We can do that," Raphael said. "I will formally invite the two of you to my home within a month's time. I would like to talk to my family and make preparations beforehand to ensure that your concerns will be mitigated, Your Majesty."

Despite Raphael's skepticism of Draco and his desires, he couldn't help but think Draco's request was reasonable.

There was a belief that immortality triumphed over mortality, that gods were above other kinds–but Rowena made Raphael realize that was not true.

"Good, good. I am glad we can find a middle ground," King Draco said as he rose from his seat and walked toward the couple. "Then you are free to stay here in Ashland for a couple more days if you wish. Accept this as some leniency for the love between the two of you."

King Draco was no longer upset, instead, he was ecstatic. However, he maintained his curt attitude before Raphael and Rowena.

Ahh.... he could finally see Minerva again, the goddess whom he loved with all his heart. He couldn't wait for the day to come.

It was happening soon enough. And not even Rowena could stop it.

"Once I meet your family, we can talk about the wedding," King Draco said. "I don't accept anything less than perfect for my sweet daughter, Rowena."

Raphael agreed with Draco. Rowena deserved nothing but the best. So, he nodded. "Very well. I will make the preparation."

"You both may go now," King Draco waved at them. "Go to the dining hall and have breakfast or something."

"Thank you." Raphael pulled Rowena to leave her father's study. Now that he had promised to bring King Draco and Rowena to Cretea to meet his family, he would have to leave her soon to take care of that.

He wanted to savor his time with her as much as possible before he left.

***

Once they were far away from the king's study, Raphael halted his steps and turned to face Rowena. She had been utterly quiet on the walk toward the dining hall. A couple of moments passed by in silence before Raphael gently touched Rowena's face and kissed her forehead.

Despite everything that happened, a beautiful smile adorned his face. "Thank you, Rowena, for loving me and accepting my proposal for marriage."

"Raphael…" Rowena closed her eyes and tried to ignore the stinging tears that now streamed down her face. "I'm so sorry–"

"Why are you sorry?" Raphael asked, slightly worried. "Were you not really ready to get married yet?"

"No. It's nothing at all like that." Rowena said as her heart pounded. "I want to marry you–I want to be with you. I just… I just didn't expect it to happen so fast. You barely know me, and I barely know you."

Raphael chuckled and pulled away from the hug, he took her hands in his. "I know. I feel the same way with you–I wish I was given more time to court you, to show you how much you mean to me, Rowena, and prove my love to you."

"I wish t

o do the same," Rowena said with a hoarse voice.

"However, we're now here, aren't we? Some people date before they got married, and some date and get to know their spouses after they get married. It's fine either way." Raphael smiled and brushed away her tears gently with a thumb. "Please do not worry about it, as long as the two of us are together–we'll be able to get through everything."

Rowena looked at the man deeply and she could see his loving gaze. Somehow, seeing his confidence in their relationship gave her confidence too.

She finally nodded and hugged him back. Raphael was over the moon when the beautiful woman whispered sincerely, "I love you."