Chapter Five: A Father and Son Discussion

As soon as the meeting was over, the prince stormed out of the room, leaving his father behind. The king sighed and sat down heavily in his chair, rubbing his temples.

He knew his son was unhappy with the whole idea of finding a bride, but he couldn't understand why. The prince was young and handsome, with a bright future ahead of him. He should be eager to find a suitable partner to share his life and his responsibilities with.

The king knew that his son had always been stubborn and headstrong, but he hoped that he would eventually come around.

He sat there for a few moments, lost in thought, before he was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Come in," he said wearily.

The door opened and his advisor, Lord Darius, entered the room. "Your Majesty," he said, bowing low.

"What is it, Darius?" the king asked, rubbing his eyes.

"Forgive me for interrupting, but I must speak with you about the matter of the prince's bride," Darius said, his voice serious.

The king sat up straighter, suddenly interested. "What is it? Have you found a suitable candidate?"

Darius hesitated, then spoke carefully. "Your Majesty, I fear that the prince may never find a bride among our people."

The king frowned, his heart sinking. "What do you mean?"

Darius hesitated again, then spoke more boldly. "I mean that the people of our kingdom have long harbored a deep mistrust and hatred of creatures like the one that the prince has been seen with."

The king's heart clenched at the mention of the creature. He'd heard the rumors, but he hadn't realized how deep the mistrust ran.

"What are you saying, Darius?" the king asked, his voice tight.

"I'm saying that if the prince continues to associate with creatures like that, he may never find a bride among our people," Darius said, his voice grim.

The king sat there for a long moment, his mind racing. He knew that Darius was right, but he couldn't bring himself to believe it.

"What are we to do, then?" he asked, his voice low.

Darius hesitated, then spoke again. "Your Majesty, I believe that the only solution is for the prince to distance himself from creatures like that. He must be seen to be loyal to our kingdom and our people, and he must find a suitable bride who shares our values and our beliefs."

The king felt a sense of despair wash over him. He knew that Darius was right, but he couldn't imagine asking his son to give up his friendship with the creature. The prince had always been fiercely independent and stubborn, and he would never accept such an ultimatum.

But the king also knew that he couldn't ignore the problem any longer. The prince's future, and the future of their kingdom, depended on finding a solution.

He stood up, his mind made up. "Thank you, Darius. I will consider your words carefully. We must find a way forward, for the sake of our people and our future."

Darius bowed and left the room, leaving the king alone with his thoughts. He knew that he had a difficult conversation ahead of him, one that would test the limits of his relationship with his son.

But he also knew that he had to do what was best for his kingdom, even if it meant sacrificing his own happiness and his son's. He only hoped that his son would understand, and that they could find a way to move forward together.

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