King Malakor proclaimed. I quickly turned and tapped my father on his shoulder. "Father, you know I don't appreciate petty jokes, and you are already aware that I fancy Knight Ignis.
My father, already aware of the relationship, whispered, "Allison, my dear, King Malakor is going to declare war on us if you don't marry his son." "Father, who are they to declare war on us? Our knights far surpass theirs. It is quite a foolish move by them."
I quietly stated, while fidgeting with my necklace.
It was the same necklace my mother gave me when I turned five. Not long after, she fought in the Battle of Aerthos and was caught in an intense battle between the nations, where she sadly passed away.
Even in her dying moments, she still used her magic to assist her fellow knights. My mother's name was Elara, and she was a true warrior. As soon as my father realized I was zoning out, he softly tugged on my hand, which brought me back to reality. I clenched his hand and said, "Mother would never let this happen!"
"Forgive me, my dear Allison, but even if our knights are stronger than theirs, they have multiple allies far stronger than we are. We have no other option but to comply. Even if we were stronger than all of them and declined, Malakor would use mind manipulation to sway our very thoughts,
compelling our assent even against our will." Father asserted, though visible reluctance was etched into his words. Just hearing such words uttered by my father filled me with a profound disquiet. In our world, Aetheria, people with a royal bloodline possess magical powers. My father, not being of royal blood by birth, possesses no magical aptitude.