Love Can Come Later

Accusations

Diana couldn't believe what was happening right now. She had always known Juana wasn't in support of her marriage but she never expected she would take it this far to crash it. She couldn't utter a word as words failed her she could only look around for reactions.

Her mother bowed her head in disappointment while her father and brother still could not believe their ears. They had shock looks on their faces but were not saying anything.

"Do you have any evidence to support your claims? It is a great crime to accuse the wife of our prince falsely" the elder from Laguna spoke up seeing as his Prince and Queen said nothing.

Diana found it funny that they all kept straight faces like the news was nothing to them.

"Of course, I do " Juana replied with excitement as she rushed out to return with a man whom Diana recognized instantly to be the Pub keeper. She could see the surprised look on his face when he saw her. Diana bit her lips in frustration. Juana must have followed her that night and gotten information from him on what transpired

"My king," he said falling to his knees and looking at her father with fear in his eyes.

"Tell us immediately you should already know why you are here" The king requested in a sad tone

"It is true, the Princess had a....."

He stopped in his speech when he noticed the people sitting across the other table and recognize the stranger

"Is that not him? The pub keeper said as he trembled pointing his fingers at the stranger

In a swift reaction, his fingers were cut off by a single swing of the sword from the elder from Laguna leading to a scream from him as had held his hands in pain trying to stop the bleeding. Diana looked in horror at what just happened even her parents were shocked but once again the stranger and his mother kept straight faces making her wonder what kind of family she was getting married to

" No one dares point fingers at Prince Apah he said without looking remorseful.

"Prince Apah? So that is the name of this Prince" Diana spoke to herself as she heard his name for the first time

"Take that man away please" his mother spoke

The King clapped his hands and some men rushed in to take him out.

"What about what we were talking about? Juana asked looking frustrated

"Young Lady, you seem to be jealous about this whole marriage, is she not your sister? The Queen asked wondering what was going on

" I am not jealous it's just that...."

"Save yourself the stress, we know what happened yesterday night. My son was at the pub" the Queen said cutting her short

Juana immediately kept quiet as she couldn't believe her ears. Diana was also shocked it was now she understood why they were so calm. But did he tell his mother they had s*x?

" My king and queen, my son was poisoned and your daughter saved his life, we are still investigating the source of the poison," she said addressing her parents

" And that is all that happened," She said this time turning to Juana.

Diana was relieved and worried at the same time. Was it possible he knew who she was from the moment she entered the pub or he did an investigation after she left? She wanted to know but she couldn't bring herself to ask. She was just glad things turned out this way.

"You have accused the wife of our Prince falsely, you deserve to die but I will leave the decision to your parents as a gift from us on this occasion " the queen spoke again as Juana fell to her knees in embarrassment.

"I will deal with you later, get out of my sight " the king thundered as Juana picked herself rushing out of the room with tears in her eyes.

" I am very sorry for the behavior of my second daughter, please forgive us" Diana's mother spoke out for the first time in a long while.

"Don't worry, one of your daughters already saved the life of my son, that single deed covers anything that has happened here " The queen said waving the matter away.

Diana sighed in relief. She couldn't imagine what would have happened to her if Juana had succeeded in her plot to crash this marriage. She also wondered why the Prince who was talking so much yesterday was barely saying anything today. She could remember most of what he said yesterday about love being for the weak and it troubled her that she was going to get married to someone like that. But he covered for her, maybe he could change with time she reasoned.

" Can we now continue now?" Prince Apah spoke as if reading her mind

" Before we continue I will like to remind everyone that this is a marriage of convenience because Prince Apah needs this to compete with his brothers for the throne. After he gets the throne they can both go their separate ways if he desires it" his mother reminded everyone.

It was now Diana fully understood what was happening. They must have proposed this marriage because they knew a day like this was coming but she was still yet to understand why her parents agreed to it. She was also worried about what will become of her if he decides to leave her after getting the throne. He would be ruining her life but no one was saying anything about that annoying clause.

'What happens if he doesn't get the throne? Diana suddenly blurted out without thinking

For the first time, she saw the look on their faces change. She knew instantly that she had asked a very sensitive question

"It is not an option for him, he must get the throne. It is not for you to worry about " the queen replied with a wicked smile on her face