Chapter 163: The Trip Back
"How did you come about this?" Arthur asked his daughter as she sat on one of the beds in the large guest room.
The knight retired early, allowing his wife and son to stay out and seek late night dessert, but when he found his daughter guarding the hallways, he gestured to Sir Gunnar that he was taking her. The older knight understood and merely nodded as Irene was pulled into the guest room a bit more roughly than she liked to be handled.
Now he and his daughter were in their guest room and she looked guilty as she avoided his gaze from where she sat on her bed.
"In the Duke’s Tower, no one was willing to dance with the Princess when all the tables were moved upon her request," Irene admitted. "I tried to get Leif to come out with us but when he wouldn’t, Her Highness still caught me and forced me to come out with her. She said today it’s because I’m the only one who isn’t afraid of her."
Arthur was mostly worried about the implications of his title and the Royal Family being so intertwined with one another. If Irene were presenting as a girl, it wouldn’t have been an issue. However, even behaving in a way that might suggest the Princess had less than innocent interest in his ’son’ was dangerous waters to tread.
The King took the marrying off of the only princess unbelievably seriously.
Rather than chiding his child, Arthur let out a loud laugh at that.
"The reason you aren’t afraid of her is far different than she could ever imagine," Arthur admitted. "I merely want you to understand that if you continue associating with her and, even if it isn’t your choice, you are going to be put under a lot of scrutiny. Your secret will be harder to keep if the southern nobles get an inkling of the Princess preferring you over others."
"I’m sorry," Irene apologized and meant it. "I felt bad for her. She told me that she’s not allowed to do anything. I even overheard His Highness shouting at her that she wasn’t allowed to leave the room at the inn when we were there. I don’t envy her..."