Chapter 5 Giving In To Pressure

• He still remembered the last words Rory had said to him before running straight into the arms of Arthur for hugs right in front of him. “I’m sorry Shawnie, I do love you but I have to think of my future and my family’s future first. Being with Arthur means I’ll become the crowned princess soon enough and help my family achieve greater heights in the empire. Please don’t take it to heart”.
• Shawn couldn't help but feel betrayed by Rory's decision. He had always thought that their love was strong enough to overcome any obstacle, but it seemed that the lure of power and prestige had been too much for her to resist.
• Despite the pain he felt, Shawn tried to understand Rory's position and the difficult choices she had to make. However, he couldn't help but wonder if she would have made the same decision if she truly loved him. To him, true love was nonexistent in this world. He hated hearing the word “LOVE”.
• Over the years, Shawn has tried his possible best to move on, but the pain and betrayal he felt still lingers to date. He couldn’t bring himself to trust anyone again, especially women. He hated the idea of dating and hasn’t even been with anyone for years despite his position and status as king.
• Of course, the greedy bitch, Rory has tried countless times to get back in his life since he became king, knowing that she was still his first and last love to date. But, he wouldn’t let that happen over his dead body. She probably thinks he was unable to be with someone else all these years only because he still had her in his heart despite her betrayal. But she can only dream on!!!
• She usually visited the royal palace every now and then at the start of his reign hoping to see and bother him, sometimes crying and begging for his forgiveness and claiming she was very young and timid back then thereby making wrong decisions.
• After almost three years of pursuing him for forgiveness and acceptance, she soon gave up and her family sent her abroad. These days, she comes back to Australia once in a while and still tries but fails to get on his good side even after 8 years. The girl was so determined and desperate to be his wife and queen.
• But Shawn couldn’t care less, all his life experiences and trauma already made him develop an unforgiving heart of stone. Rory should be thankful he resisted the urge to publicly behead her just like he did to his father’s mistress, Elena, and also every other palace aide and worker who had mistreated him and his mother back then.
• He was lenient enough to leave her out of his deadly revenge quest only because of the friendship they shared for years as teenagers which had helped him get over the loss of his mother.
• If he was an ordinary man, he would have never wanted to get married. He remembered the arguments, constant fighting, and domestic violence between his parents. His father beat up his mum for the slightest reasons and then they put up fake smiles for the public. All that took a toll on him as a child. He didn't want to repeat their mistakes, which is why he refused to settle for a marriage of convenience all this time.
• But now, he was being forced to marry for the sake of his kingdom. He had already rejected several eligible high-born women that were presented to him, Rory included, and it seemed like his advisors were running out of patience. He was beginning to feel the weight of the pressure to marry and provide an heir to the throne which would help to stabilize the ongoing political crisis.
• Currently, he had already given in to the pressure and was determined to find a woman who was very smart and well vast in knowledge, not just a pretty face. Unfortunately, most of the young ladies who have been presented to him as potential brides were all daft in his opinion.
• Thankfully, the Royal Seal body, which was responsible for the country’s administrative running had presented him with a good solution to this dilemma. They suggested that all eligible young ladies from noble and kindred families should upload their basic information and a photograph on the royal website for screening. The council would then select the most qualified woman among them as his future wife and queen.
• Although Shawn was pleased with this idea, he was growing impatient with the process. It had been more than a month since the council began the search, and he longed for a resolution to this matter, yet they kept begging him for more time to access the candidates.
• He spent restless nights pondering over the qualifications that the ideal queen must possess. She must not only be intelligent but also kind, compassionate, and a leader in her own right. The Royal Seal claims that the process has been going smoothly and the best woman would be chosen and announced soon enough. He was hoping they would come up with a decision quickly so the matter could be over.
• The sound of his phone ringing jolted him out of his long train of thought. He looked at the caller ID, it was Bradley, his longtime right-hand man, and aide. “I’m listening”, he said impatiently after pressing the answer button.
• “Your majesty, the royal seal has finally concluded their search for the queen and would like to set up a meeting with you”, Bradley replied quickly. He knew damn well that Shawn was a very impatient man. He always wanted his trustees to go straight to the point whenever they wanted to give him information.
• “Great”, he exclaimed. “I’m not busy so send them over to my office right now”, he added.
• “As you wish Your Grace”, said Bradley.
• Shawn heaved a long sigh of relief. Finally, he could get this over and done with. Less than twenty minutes later, about nine members of the Royal seal consisting of seven middle-aged men and two women were led into his office by Arthur, Louis, Riley, and Garrett, four of his trusted aides who went almost everywhere with him.
• Bradley who was the last person to come in sealed the door tightly behind him. This was a matter of great importance and he was well aware that the identity of the chosen queen would be kept secret for now till further investigations are made.
• “Greetings to the Great King of the golden lands, master of the endless skies and boundless seas. Blessed with the strength of.....”.
• “Enough!!!, I don’t need such formalities right now”, Shawn said, cutting short the harmonious greeting of the royal seal members whose heads remain bowed. “You know why you are here so get on with it”, he continued earnestly.
• “Your Grace, we came to show you the candidate we have selected, based on the criteria you wanted for the fulfillment of the role of Queen,” the head Councilor, Albert Tudor stepped forward abruptly.
• He was the official in charge of the whole process and it was hella strenuous for them. They spent the past few weeks going through the profile of every single candidate numbering up to 80,000 to choose the most qualified girl. He was exhausted but dare not show his fatigued in front of the king.
• “Go on”, Shawn said impatiently.
• “Her name is Catherine Jones, sir”.
• “Hmmm, Catherine Jones!!!,” he replied calmly. A Jones girl?