Free Web NovelChapter 65: Chapter 65
They reached Epirus after two days. The shores were empty as they expected, but they were going to stick with the plan they had formulated.
Astrid and the girls, together with Adonis and Augustus, would enter and meet the king and queen.
The ships docked at the port, and the group got down and started walking towards the palace.
"Now I see why you’re so unruly," Adonis said out loud, "everything here looks like it’s from a prehistoric age."
"Watch that mouth of yours, prince. I don’t take kindly to people insulting my home." Astrid retorted, her voice low.
"You shouldn’t take me too seriously, Astrid. I was only joking."
"Your jokes always lack tact. Your mouth is always ahead of you in conversations."
Augustus almost burst out laughing, but stopped himself when he saw Adonis glare at him.
As they walked by the road, they saw a few soldiers patrolling the streets, but hardly any people, just like Thalassia. They had probably been evacuated to somewhere safe, but the only way for that to happen was if they all climbed the rocky hills of Agora, and those were not easy to climb.
They reached the gates and were suddenly surrounded by soldiers.
"Tell my parents I wish to see them, " Astrid said. The soldiers looked at one another, confused. She couldn’t blame them. She’d been gone for so long, and when she actually came back, she didn’t stay for very long.
"Just tell Mother Astrid wishes to see them."
The soldier went reluctantly but knew it was better to be safe than sorry.
They waited for a while before her parents came running out of the palace, shouting her name.
"Mother, you don’t need to shout so much," Astrid whined, "I can hear you perfectly."
"Oh my darling girls," her mother said, "how come you’re here? Where’s your sister?"
"Forget about her for now, she’s happy where she is. Can we talk?" Her mother looked wearily at the Adonis and Augustus, "I’ll explain later. Can we go?"
"Sure, sure." She turned around and went back inside.
Her father had been standing the whole time, silently looking at Astrid. She could see his eyes glistening with tears.
Astrid hadn’t wanted to look; everything in her told her to hold off their reunion till after she’d relayed her plan, but still...
"Father, have you been well?"
He stood still looking, and the tears rolled down now. His head fell forward, and Astrid knew that using as much strength as he could not bawl out his eye.
"Father," she said softly and held him in her arms. He hadn’t changed, not even after all these years. Her father had always been the more emotional parent between them, so his sudden change of heart had scared and convinced her that he actually hadn’t thought about how his actions would affect his two daughters.
"I’m so sorry, my sweetheart," he said as he wailed. "Please forgive me." He held on to her tightly
"There’s nothing to forgive, Father," Astrid whispered, and she stroked his back. "I realize now that my anger was misplaced. This world of ours really isn’t black and white."
"I’m sorry, my love, I’m sorry." He kept repeating the words like a mantra until Astrid had had enough.
She pulled away from him and gave him a light shake. "Father, we don’t have much time. Why don’t we talk later, ok?"
"Alright."
"Now wipe those tears of yours lets go in, Mother will be waiting."
He nodded and gestured for the rest of her party to follow, but didn’t let go of Astrid, linking their arms together.
When they had finally reached the throne room, her mother had set up a feast. She didn’t care that she wasn’t supposed to do that, but her parents hadn’t been ones to ever keep to the rules.
She unlinked her arm from her father’s and went to collect an apple, stuffing her mouth with many other things on the platter. The girls joined in, but the men gently declined.
After she’d taken her fill, she came back and stood in the middle of the room. Then cleared her throat. frёewebnoѵēl.com
"As we’re all aware at the moment, Aurelia plans to take over Epirus." Her father’s face darkened, and her mother sat stiffly. "But I have been able to find common ground with the prince."
Astrid looked at Adonis. It was his turn to step in.
"Thank you for having us, your majesties, and I’m truly sorry for everything. I understand how much fear you might be feeling right now, but I would like to assure you, it is not of my making."
"Get to the point, if you will, young man," the king said.
"Of course, yes." He stumbled over his words a little. "Well, the purple dye, which is what your kingdom offers, isn’t something we normally use; likewise, a lot of the other kingdoms we trade with, so my father will not care too much about it.
However, I would need to take back a considerable amount to convince him that there is nothing else left to take, and it would have been a waste to send out our men here when we could use them elsewhere."
Adolphus sighed. He knew they had no option left. If he wanted his people and kingdom to keep their lives and their dignity, then this was to be done.
"I accept your terms," Adolphus said gingerly. "But it shall take some time to make."
"How long?" Adonis asked.
"A week or two if everyone were to come together."
"That’s not so bad," Adonis said with a nod, "we can do that."
Valerie finally let out the breath that she had been holding. The kingdom was safe now. And her daughter had done it.
Adolphus looked at his daughter lovingly, "I knew I did right choosing you as heir, you’ve made me proud."
Astrid chuckled, "Enough, Father, you’re embarrassing me in front of my friend."
He laughed. "Alright, Alright, no more," he said and heaved. "Make yourselves at home. We have a lot to do."
