"I would like to have the princess’s hand in marriage!" Zorat declared.

At Zorat’s utterance, it was like a bomb had gone off in the throne room as several gasps of shock escaped both the royals and all the gathered ministers.

But none was more shocked than Princess Elowen herself, who was blushing heavily and trying her best to maintain her composure while throwing furtive glances in Zorat’s direction.

’Does he... like me too ?!" Elowen thought excitedly inside.

The steamy memory of the last time they had met and how he made her feel had been playing on repeat in her mind while waiting for when they would be alone again.

She flushed crimson as she gazed shyly from the side at Zorat in the center of the throne room, and made his request known with passionate conviction. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Someone else was just as shocked as Elowen, and that was the first high minister, Duke Clavian, whose firstborn son had been betrothed to the princess, slated for marriage since they were young.

Mostly, the reason why he had been a backbone to the princess faction.

King Helion was taken aback by the Hero’s unconventional request. He had thought of several things that he might have requested....

But asking for his only daughter’s hand in marriage had not been part of that thought process.

Heroes indeed have the status necessary to wed princesses. And considering Caleb’s newly elevated status as a seer.... There should be no problem so long as the princess is happy with it.

But there was a major problem....

The princess was already betrothed to be married to Duke Clavian’s heir...

And this high minister holds control over his very own region and military might that had served the royal family well for generations, and would be just as helpful for the foreseeable future.

King Helion Starfall is torn between the promise he had made in the past and the one he just made, while the royal court ministers held their breath awaiting the king’s response.

Seeing this... the veiled ancestor sitting to the side soon spoke up in a withered voice that creaked like dry wood in flames.

"Young one.... Are you aware of what you are asking?"

Zorat smiled as he looked in the direction of the now blushing princess....

Elowen was indeed beautiful, and with a powerful, feminine, seductive allure.

But none of that was taken into account when Zorat made this request. In fact, he had zero good intentions in mind for making such a request.

Zorat already had all the kingdom’s treasures, and for the ones that were recently seized from the executed misters and Victor, he also plans to soon add them to his repertoire.

The only valuable thing the kingdom had left to offer.....

Was the imperial throne itself.

Zorat could not outright request that the king give him the throne; he might as well abandon all plans for hidden schemes if he did that.

Marrying the princess was the more appropriate path to squeeze the kingdom of all that it had left to offer him.

And would strike out one of his agendas from his pleasurable to-do list as a human mortal.

Whether the kingdom would survive him was yet to be seen.

But most importantly, Zorat had placed the princess’s name in his book, and he had some not-so-favorable plans against her, just like he had against the kingdom.

He plans to kill several birds with one stone while reaping multiple benefits along the way. And the king had just offered him a paved bridge to reach that end by telling him to request whatever he wanted.

Even Zorat had not seen that coming. But he was certainly going to use it.

"I do know what it means.... but I can’t deny my heart...."

"Ever since we arrived in this world... "

"Her highness, the princess, had always been a source of dazzling light in a seemingly dark and foreign world..."

"I only hope to serve in the capacity of her life partner, as she leads this great kingdom of Ursula to new heights."

Zorat passionately made his case before the royal court. His voice sang wonderously and was genuine to all who listened.

But not all were sold by this performance.

Zorat could feel a murderous glare burning into him as he spoke....

Hoho..

Zorat smiled and didn’t bother looking; he already knew he would be stepping on some toes with this new ploy of his... but it mattered not to him

There...

The right amount of bullshit...

Hehehe.. Zorat thought inside as he concluded his passionate speech, maintaining the most pious expression on the outside.

Zorat had done his research.

With his immense understanding of human emotions, he understood the current fears of the Starfalls regarding the Princess’s betrothal... and he wagered his compelling speech on that fact.

With no opposition in place... and no living male heir from the king...

Princess Elowen is certain to succeed the throne.

And where there are reservations that the Duke’s offspring would definitely aim to be in charge of power when he eventually marries the princess and is made king...

Zorat’s statement of taking the back seat and playing the role of a kept husband was like a beautiful melody to the ears of both King Helion and the listening Ancestor.

And as expected, a satisfied smile crept on Hellion’s weary face, which he immediately pushed down before assuming his dignified manner.

"Ahem... I have heard your request, and have seen your passion..." Helion sighed as he looked to the side, where he saw his daughter visibly blushing, and could not appear happier.

This surprised Helion a bit and made him wonder when she had started to see this hero in such light. But then he smiled. It became clear his daughter might share a similar mind to this hero.

Helion would have loved to agree on the post, but the position of the duke is not one to take for granted.

"Your request has been received..."

"You may return whilst we deliberate upon this matter," Helion announced.

Zorat gently bowed as he exited the throne room amidst the varied reactions of all those present.

A few minutes later he was almost on his way out of the main palace when he heard rapid footsteps approaching from behind.

Turning, he saw the princess arrive in front of him, almost out of breath.

"Your highness... are you okay ?"

"Yes.... I just..." Elowen began in response, adjusting to look straight at Zorat.

"Did you mean what you said inside there ?" She muttered, mustering her usual noble elegance, trying hard to hide the flustered blush on her rosy cheeks... her deep brown eyes curiously searching Zorat’s to gauge his reaction.

Zorat said nothing; he simply stepped forward, wrapping his right hand around the princess’s waist, bringing her flush against him..... Her rapid heartbeats at ear’s reach, her intoxicating sweet scent assaulting his senses as he purred in response...

"Of course I do.... Haven’t you always wondered..."

"... why I went out of my way .... to help you?"

Elowen was taken aback by the sudden move and closeness. It was only after a couple more seconds of their breath mingling in tense silence.....

Zorat’s handsome face, an inch away from hers as her body began reacting in ways she couldn’t describe....

did Elownen frantically push away from Zorat as she stuttered with a full blush that spread down her neck...

"What...what are you doing..."

"We aren’t even betrothed yet!" She mumbled in shock.

But as she did, she also processed Zorat’s words and an understanding dawned on her, too...

’he always liked me!’

Elowen struggled to hide her smile...

"Forgive me, your highness.... You just looked too beautiful to resist." Zorat remarked, holding Elowen’s gaze.

Elowen was again lacking words to express her tumultuous feelings and was about to run off with a blush on her rose-tinted cheek when she recalled one other reason why she had come after Caleb...

"Ahh...Caleb!. What do we do about her ?"

"I am so worried. I have persuaded my father, but that’s all I can do for now ... you think she’ll be alright ?"

"Who ?" Zorat uttered in genuine confusion.

"Of course, I am talking about our friend, K..... What do we do about Kaelara?"

"..."

Ahhh. I knew I was forgetting something.