Chapter Four: The Meeting in the Palace

Lily couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as she walked through the grand hallways of the palace. She'd been summoned to a meeting by the king himself, along with a group of other young women.

She'd heard rumors that the king was looking for a bride for his son, the prince. It was a great honor to be considered for such a position, but Lily couldn't help but wonder what it would mean for her friendship with the creature.

As she entered the meeting room, Lily saw that there were several other women gathered there. They were all dressed in their finest gowns, their hair styled and their faces made up. Lily felt out of place in her simple dress and unstyled hair, but she held her head high and took a seat at the back of the room.

The king entered, followed by his son, the prince. The prince was handsome, with deep blue eyes and dark hair that fell in waves around his face. Lily couldn't help but feel a flutter in her chest as he took his place at the head of the table.

"Welcome, ladies," the king said, his voice booming through the room. "I have summoned you here today because my son, the prince, is in need of a bride."

There was a murmur of excitement and nervousness from the other women, but Lily remained silent.

The king continued. "As you all know, my son is the future of our kingdom. It is imperative that he finds a suitable bride, someone who will be a worthy queen and who will help him lead our people into a bright future."

Lily couldn't help but feel a sense of cynicism at the king's words. It was clear that he cared more about the status of his family than the well-being of his people.

The prince looked bored, as if he'd rather be anywhere else. Lily wondered what he thought of this whole charade.

The king began to ask the women questions, each one designed to test their knowledge of etiquette, politics, and history. Lily answered as best she could, but she could tell that the other women were more knowledgeable and polished than she was.

Finally, the king turned to her. "And you, my dear, what do you have to offer my son?"

Lily took a deep breath, her heart racing. She knew that she was nothing special, that she didn't have the wealth or status of the other women in the room. But she had something that none of them did.

"I offer him my heart," she said, her voice clear and steady. "I offer him my loyalty and my love, for as long as I live."

There was a moment of silence, and Lily felt as if the whole room was holding its breath. Then, to her surprise, the prince spoke.

"And what if I don't want your heart?" he said, his voice bored.

Lily felt a pang of hurt, but she didn't let it show. "Then I will wish you all the best in finding someone who does," she said, her voice steady.

The meeting continued for another hour, but Lily's mind was elsewhere. She couldn't help but feel as if this whole thing was a sham, a way for the king to boost his family's status and power.

As she left the palace, Lily couldn't help but wonder what the creature would think of all this. Would it see her as a traitor, a sellout to the very people who had always shunned it?

She didn't know, but she knew that she had to find a way to explain herself to the creature. She had to make it understand that she was doing this for her own reasons, that she wasn't abandoning their friendship.

But as

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