Chapter 213 - Nailed On His Spot (2/2)
”I can't promise you anything, but I will take into consideration that little favor yours,” King Alistair said upfront. He had an inkling Maxen wouldn't ask something simple, but to his surprise, Maxen's little favor was so little, he wondered why he almost had a heart attack earlier.
”Very well. I just want to hold off my engagement announcement with Olivia. I'm planning to send her away as soon as I made the arrangements for her.”
”Eh? Have you spoken to her about your plan?” King Alistair placed his glass on the center table and crossed his legs, placing both hands on top of his knee.
”I will.”
”You do know that it doesn't matter whether you hold off that engagement announcement. Enemies will attack us, and as long as Olivia is living under the Sui's roof, she's subjected to such dangers.”
”I am well aware of that, Dad,” Maxen said. He pressed the rim of the glass onto his lips and frowned. He realized he already downed his drink earlier and his glass was now empty.
King Alistair reminded him, ”She signed up for that, Maxen. And Olivia knows that too. She can't run away from all the perils that threaten the crown and you have to give props to your wife too. She's stronger than she looks.”
Maxen nodded at King Alistair's statement and couldn't help it when a corner of his lips tugged up in a proud smile. However, just as he smiled, he remembered what transpired in Olivia's apartment earlier that day his lips curled down in a frown.
Swallowing a lump in his throat, he informed the king of the intel, ”Lance Go said the Huks are ready to attack in a month. All I need is a week to send Olivia away. When the Huks are taken care of, we can announce my engagement with her any time of the day.”
King Alistair's brows scrunched. He didn't like what he heard but it wouldn't deter him from saying no to Maxen's favor.
They needed Maxen now more than ever and him being away for a week to settle Olivia wherever he wanted would slow their preparations down. ”I suggest… we announce your engagement and the Huks might back off knowing that the Lins are our ally from here on out. That should scare them for the meantime.”
There he went again with his suggestions. Maxen knew King Alistair wouldn't budge to whatever reasoning he would present to the latter. He rolled his tongue over his teeth, dropping the glass with a loud thud on the table. ”I just… I just want to send her away somewhere safe for the meantime. She… hasn't recovered from her miscarriage yet, and then there's the nightmare she's been having every once in a while. She needed time away from all this… whatever this is,” Maxen exasperated.
King Alistair's shoulders sagged as he exhaled heavily. He almost forgot about Olivia's miscarriage until Maxen mentioned it. He didn't know whether to feel guilty that Olivia's current condition slipped his mind or feel proud that so far his daughter-in-law looked resilient and ready to face head-on whatever came her way.
”Okay,” King Alistair agreed. He uncrossed his legs, slapped both hands on each l.a.p and bobbed his head. ”I'll give you a week off from your duties, but that's it. But I highly doubt Olivia would agree to your terms. She doesn't look like someone who would run away from her problems.” King Alistair chuckled. Of course, he nailed the right spot about Olivia rejecting Maxen's offer, and the little prince knew it too.