The Conquerors Path

Chapter 915: Chapter 894-I Want Love!

Austin’s POV:

’Boy... oh... boy, the atmosphere in the room is definitely not good at all.’

I mused, feeling the changing thoughts, desires, and actions happening all around me, a small smile coming to my lips as I took in the glory of power and focus, and suddenly spoke.

"So, we’re getting to the real topic of why I was called here?"

My words sounding like the perfect call as the focus came toward me and I could feel the changes that were rotating around King Thravin, this dude who definitely did not like me before and definitely did not want to do much with me, seemingly had already made his choice as he, with a regal tone, his gaze focusing purely on me, spoke.

"You are called here because of my daughter."

To his words, I asked back, with an eyebrow raised.

"All this has been about Nathalia? Why? What is it about?"

My response made King Thravin seemingly hold back something more as he replied.

"My daughter seems to have feelings for you, and I wanted to discuss upon that."

My small, surprised expression filled my face, one more towards not being too surprised, and King Thravin caught it as he asked.

"You knew?"

To which, nodding my head, I replied.

"Yes, I had an inkling of her emotions toward me, but rather than love and such, I have more pressing matters in life, as you know."

The king and even the crown prince Orik flinched a bit, clearly annoyed and not liking the idea of my answer. To know their precious darling has emotions for me, and I don’t even try to reply to that? Yeah, well, to their doting heads that might seem like the worst move, but they also know that making a move here would be for the worst.

So, seemingly getting a hold of their emotions, the king Thravin, nodding his head, spoke.

"Good. If you know this much, then what I really wanted to talk about is your engagement to my daughter."

Now this time I showed a much sharper surprised reaction as I took in the news, my eyes meeting towards Valdris, who, seemingly keeping herself in check, nodded her head, my gaze then landing on Eleanara, who, seemingly with a light smile, gave her nod, seemingly she too accepting this arrangement and seeing no problems with it.

So I took a moment to just lean back and sink into the news. I was taking in all this data, acting like this is a big whole deal, as I, after a moment, noticeably spoke.

"Being engaged to Nathalia will perhaps be something that will be the best for me, both as a man and as something more toward protecting my future, but..."

Reaching till here, I just leaned now more toward the table, my gaze seemingly hardened as I continued.

"I have come to see Nathalia more as a little sister to care for, and as the future is not a guarantee, I can’t also give a firm no to the fact that my feelings for her might not change. But even then, I refuse to use someone I care about just to make my standing better. And even above all that, I wish to be engaged to someone that I truly love as a woman."

A staggering silence being left in the wake of these words of mine, with small stunned looks filling up all of their faces, Eleanara’s expression though soon being wrapped into a genuine warmth of a smile, Valdris having mixed feelings about all that, while Lyssandra, in the hidden side, seemingly too is full of questions at this but doesn’t dare to ask me out for now.

Then the other two males were soon bubbling over, though for King Thravin, even he was impressed with my answer, a grudging mix of respect, admiration, and being offended at even thinking of refusing his daughter—you know, the basic mix of feelings coming from being a king and a father.

Though that can’t be said for the same of the crown prince Orik, the dude looks like he would blow over as his arms crushed toward the table.

Thud!

The table itself was vibrating at the sheer force of it all as his eyes, looking hungry and angered, spoke out loud.

"You dare refuse my sister!?"

His shout spread across to the room, to which, looking at the man, I spoke.

"I don’t think there would be any man capable of refusing your sister, Crown Prince Orik. She is just that adorable. But as I said, I want to pave my path, and I do not wish to be engaged to someone I am not in love with yet. It’s not that I am against her, it’s just with the simple fact that I wish to have some genuine love for her before I can be engaged to her."

My words cooled down the atmosphere a bit as Elanara took the lead.

"Love and such can easily bloom later, since Nathalia already has feelings for you. I am sure that with time, you would surely fall for her, right?"

I didn’t rebuke that question from her, because that’s definitely the truth, so I smiled at it, leaning back to think it over a moment, after which I replied.

"That’s true, too, but it’s not a guarantee of love, and even then, I am pretty sure my sister will kill me if I make a move toward her friend."

I chuckled a bit as I said those words, my gaze holding on toward Eleanara as I replied.

"Do you know that Emperor Claus is trying to get me engaged to his daughter, Olivia?"

My words surprised them as Eleanara asked back.

"Your cousin?"

I just shrugged at that question as I replied.

"Apparently, it’s not that big of a problem to them. Plus, it seems to strengthen a lot of bonds with the military might of the Lionheart family."

My response gave a more settled atmosphere as Valdris suddenly asked.

"Are you in love with Princess Olivia?"

I, shaking my head at it, as I replied.

"It’s more political than love, and my mother still hasn’t agreed to anything like that because she, too, believes that she wishes for something more loving to connect for me than just political, and I agree with her, too."

"Do you think some princess like that can match toward my one and only daughter and the support of the dwarves?"

King Thravin spoke, his eyes cooled down and focused as he asked this, to which I held onto his eyes as I, shaking my head, replied.

"Surely not in the traditional sense of the ways, but even then, as I said, I wish to have love guide me before I can jump into anything like this. I won’t mind spending more time with Nathalia to get to know her better with all your blessings, and I don’t even ever mind even marrying her, but first I wish to love her for that."

My words came out stronger than before this time, my convictions being mixed into it in those replies, and for a moment I looked at Valdris, nothing need not be said, but the words were there, seemingly that my love for her was the hold point in this junction. Of course, I did not even forget to transmit some emotion toward Lysandra, too.

And this time, Eleanara took the lead, looking at me as she spoke.

"You will have my guardianship, which will make you more than worthy for our daughter, but make no mistake, if you do start to date her and like her, then the responsibility of marrying her will also fall into your lap."

A certain pressure to her words as she said this, and as she said this, I could see the expression on Valdris turn taut. She’s seemingly not very happy with this decision, but even she can see that this is the best move for me, something that will help me out a lot. Thus, I nodded my head at Eleanara’s words, my expression sincere as I replied.

"I have a lot of things going on in my life right now, making it harder for me to focus on love and girls. And as I said, as a woman, I don’t mind being with Nathalia, but I would like some time first to get to know her better, to understand her. Thus, if it’s fine with you, I will try to do that first and foremost."

My reply was respectful and straightforward, which caused the room to turn silent to. I could see King Thravin thinking, and as the atmosphere was settling down, suddenly Valdris added.

"That is fine too."

Her words made everyone look at her as Valdris continued.

"Nathalia is still very young, and she is not some naive little girl. But even then, she is our most precious treasure of the dwarves. Anyone marrying her has to be someone we can trust and agree upon. And on meeting you and hearing your words, you seem to be one fine young man. For now, try to learn more about Nathalia and try being by her side. If true love can bloom between you two, then it’s only something to celebrate."

Her words made everyone accept it, and by now, King Thravin already has a good reputation and understanding of me. Because I definitely did reject one of the greatest creators of this world, for more of love, and someone who battled for love, he can definitely respect and react to it. In his eyes now, I just look like a better son-in-law who will treat his daughter right.

The only problem is Orik, who still doesn’t like me, but hey, you can’t make everyone like you...