unwanted TREASURE

chapter nine

Sydney

There was a knock at the door, and Julianna quickly opened it to reveal Cyrus standing in the doorway. His face was tight with something I couldn’t quite place.

"My prince," Julianna greeted him, stepping aside.

"Good afternoon," Cyrus replied, his voice flat.

I turned to him, sensing something was wrong. "Are you okay? You look disturbed."

He hesitated, glancing around the room before answering. "So you haven't heard?"

I frowned, confused. "Heard about what?"

Cyrus took a deep breath. "King David wants you to marry his son as a symbol of peace."

I stared at him, my mind racing. "What? No, I can't marry into that kingdom."

He nodded gravely. "Father said no."

I felt a wave of relief wash over me. "I'm glad. So what’s the symbol of peace now?"

Cyrus shook his head. "Nothing."

"Isn’t that a bad thing?" I asked, anxiety creeping in.

"Yes," he admitted, "but King David is waiting for Father’s decision."

Just then, there was another knock at the door. Julianna opened it, and a guard stepped in, bowing deeply.

"The king demands your presence in his chambers," the guard announced.

Cyrus and I exchanged a look before walking with the guard down the hall to the king’s chambers.

---

Once we arrived, my father looked at us both with a serious expression. "I’m glad you rejected King David’s proposal," I said, relieved to see he was on the same page.

King Edward’s face hardened. "We need to talk."

We all took a seat around the table, and my father looked at us, a troubled expression on his face. "I know I said no to King David before, but after thinking it over, I believe I might be making a mistake."

"What do you mean, Father?" Cyrus asked, his voice laced with concern.

King Edward exhaled deeply, rubbing his temples. "King David and I were once best friends until he married Queen Anatashia. That’s when the bad blood began between us. I did something terrible back then, something I deeply regret. But he might be trustworthy now. The problem is his son, Richard. I don’t trust him."

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. "Why? What do you mean, Father?"

He leaned forward, his tone serious. "We’re getting older, and the new kings will have to take over soon. That’s the scary part. Richard might try to avenge his kingdom."

Cyrus stiffened. "We can protect the kingdom. The knights are strong enough."

King Edward nodded, but there was doubt in his eyes. "I’m sure they are. But we owe this peace treaty to them, and it’s for our own good."

I turned to my father, desperate to understand. "What did you do to the Middle West?"

He looked away, clearly avoiding the question. "Let’s just say I messed up. And the peace treaty is our only savior."

Cyrus stood up abruptly. "We are not giving out Sydney," he declared, his voice firm. "Your Majesty."

He turned and began to walk away, but I quickly followed him.

"Cyrus, what could Father have done that makes him so scared of the Middle West?" I asked, confusion mixing with a sense of fear.

Cyrus didn’t respond immediately, but when he did, his voice was full of determination. "No matter what he did, I won’t allow him to give you away."

I placed my hand on his arm, grateful for his protection. "I trust you," I said softly, before retreating to my room to think.

---

Later, when I was alone in my chambers, Julianna entered with a concerned expression. "How did it go?" she asked, her voice gentle.

"Father is definitely keeping a secret from us," I said, feeling the weight of everything weighing down on me.

"What does he say?" she pressed.

I sighed heavily. "He says Richard can’t be trusted. He might start a war."

Julianna looked uneasy. "He’s right, Sydney. Lately, I’ve been hearing people talk, and it’s pretty scary. I must say."

"What do you mean?" I asked, my stomach sinking.

"Richard has conquered all the surrounding kingdoms, and they bow down to him," Julianna said, her voice low. "There are only a few kingdoms left, and we’re one of them. People are scared that he might conquer this one too. Some even say he’s waiting for Cyrus to become king, and then he’ll start a war."

I felt my heart race, my mind spinning. "Why didn’t you tell me this before?"

Julianna’s face softened. "I was going to, but when I started the topic the other day, you dismissed it. You didn’t want to hear anything about the Middle West."

I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. "Oh, God. So what should I do? What do you think?"

Julianna hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I think you should agree to marry Richard—for the people’s sake."

I gasped, shocked by her suggestion. "Gosh…"

"It’s entirely your choice, Sydney," she continued. "But the future of this kingdom is in your hands. Besides, I’ll be there with you. We’ll go through it together, but the kingdom must be safe."

I stared at her for a long moment, the weight of her words settling deep in my chest. "You’re right. The safety of the people is more important than my happiness. I’m sure I can find happiness in their safety."

Julianna smiled warmly, her hands gently resting on my shoulders. "We’ll get through it together."

I hugged her tightly, grateful for her support. Then, after a moment, I pulled away, determination rising in me. I had to do this—for my people.

---

I walked back to my father’s chambers, feeling a heavy sense of resolve settle in my heart. He was sitting at his desk, looking over some papers when I entered.

"Sydney," he said, looking up at me.

"Father," I began, my voice steady. "I completely understand what you’re trying to do, and I agree with you. I’ll marry Richard—for the safety of the people."

King Edward’s face softened, but he still seemed uncertain. "Are you sure about this?"

I nodded firmly. "Yes, Father. We were given this life as royals to serve the people. And I’m doing my part by marrying for their safety."

He stood up and hugged me tightly. "Thank you, my daughter."

He called for the guards, and two entered, bowing before him. "Send word to the Middle West," he instructed. "The marriage will take place in two days."

The guards nodded and left, the weight of my decision settling into the room. This was the only way to ensure peace. The only way to protect my people.