Chapter 8: The marriage will hold.
King Raff, on his majestic throne was looking down at eldest his son that was stubbornly glaring back at him. As soon as his son marched into the throne room, he had asked Duke Thorin to step out so that father and sons could have a private talk.
Roland was panting lightly, giving off sparks of anger as if at any moment he would explode. The King knew exactly what it was that his son wanted to discuss and even before he could say it out loud he decided to stop him.
"No." he said firmly.
"I have not said what it is that i desire." Roland replied, with his fists clenched.
King Raff knew his son Roland just as Roland knew his father, the two could read one another and understand what each wanted from the other without a single verbal communication being passed between them.
"This marriage arrangement is beneficial for both families, us more than the Thorin's. I have already heard from your mother that you had a private meeting with the young lady and you happened to be inappropriately dressed.
Regardless of your status as the crown prince, the duke will come for you once word of this reaches his ears. His grand daughter's reputation..."
"What reputation?" Roland barked. "She has the worst reputation of all the maidens in Eldoria. I am the one that should be protesting his innocence, she peeked at me it was not the other way round."
The king dismissed Roland's appeal and claim to innocence. "Nevertheless, it has already happened and I for one am truly grateful for Sigrid's mistake. With your marriage, the throne is ten times stronger, once you have an heir..."
"Ha!" Roland laughed. "If I ever have a child with Sigrid Thorin, I will run through the city as naked as I was on the day I was born."
"Ooh.." Benjamin tilted his head with a mysterious cheeky smile on his face.