Chapter 941: Prince Liam Is Trying To Be Assertive

Seeing encouragement from Draco Roseland, Prince Liam immediately sauntered toward Rowena and blocked her way. Rowena scowled at the sudden interruption. She didn't understand how he was so brazen enough to approach her after everything that happened.

"Come with me for a moment, Rowena," Prince Liam said.

"What if I don't want to?" Rowena narrowed her eyes at him dangerously.

"Who is this human who's preposterous enough to order my niece around?" Prince Jadeith frowned and turned to King Draco.

"I do not think you should force someone to speak with you," Raphael added.

After everything that happened, with King Draco's sudden appearance and all of the nonsense he suddenly spewed, this mortal also wished to insert himself into this already dire situation.

Right now, Rowena was in a state where she needed to rest and recover mentally—but one after another, people came after her and squandered her attention.

Prince Liam's expression hardened.  After his conversation with King Draco, he was told to man up—to act with an authoritative air to gain Rowena's respect and he planned to do it.

However, his will suddenly wavered because she looked like a wounded animal, ready to attack him furiously if he dared come closer. This made him feel nervous.

Liam took a deep breath and sighed. "Fine, let's have this conversation right now. I—you were asleep for seven days, and you've requested to not have the funeral, and I've agreed to it—"

"Obviously! Julian isn't dead! You can't bury him," Rowena said. She crossed her arms on her chest and threw Prince Liam a murderous glare.

"Fine, I can understand that you are grieving and all, but you can't continue to dismiss me this way," Liam said. He placed a hand on his chest and looked at her earnestly. "You're not the only one who's suffering Rowena—"

"Are you suffering? Really?" Rowena shook her head. "You don't even know Julian—you barely knew him for more than a day and you've hurt him! You can't say that you're suffering. How dare you!"

Liam gritted his teeth. "Very well—if you don't think this will haunt me, then let it be known that my father is devastated too! You're holding up and having a conversation with me right now, but my father is seeing things—hearing things that other people can't hear, all because he failed his son and first wife."

Rowena's expression faltered at those words.  She had been so focused on herself that she managed to not notice what had been happening around her.

"So, I hope that you could at least cooperate with me instead of dismissing me when we're in my own kingdom. I've been patient and understanding, but please, even if you hate me, at least see eye to eye with me." Liam ran his fingers through his hair. "I know I'm asking for a lot, especially since you just woke up, but—"

"But?"

Liam sighed. "Don't you wish to see Julian? I waited for you to wake up before I do anything. I was considerate of your feelings because I know how much he meant to you. But if you're going to be like this... I might not be so accommodating going forward."

This was it. He was the new ruler of this kingdom after what happened to his fat

her. He had to learn to be assertive. Rowena must know her place.

"What do you mean?" Rowena furrowed her brows.

Liam cleared his throat and looked at Rowena seriously. "If you keep being rude to me, I will not let you see Julian again. You are no longer a guest here and you are welcome to leave."

King Draco smiled faintly. This young man was learning fast, he thought.

"You can't do that," Rowena muttered.

"Oh, I can and I will if you don't show me the respect that a guest gives their host."

King Draco stepped forward. He said, "Rowena, don't be a rude guest. I taught you better than this."

Rowena bit her lip. She looked at her father and something inside her felt like running away, but her legs didn't want to cooperate.

Rowena felt her chest tigthen. She finally nodded at Prince Liam. "Okay."

"That's good," the prince was satisfied. "I want to talk to you, but first, let me make arrangements for your father and uncle."

Prince Liam then cleared his throat and looked at Jadeith, the elven prince. He said, "Although the two of you, along with Rowena's father, trespassed into my lands..."

Prince Jadeith's gaze was hardened and unremorseful.

"Since the two of you did it for the sake of reuniting with Rowena, I will not count it as a transgression." Prince Liam folded his hands behind his back. "I do hope that you will still offer some civility and dignity."

Prince Jadeith looked back at his niece and nodded. "Very well then, I shall abide with your rules for the duration that I am here, boy."

Prince Liam nodded and tried not to collapse. "Thank you, the two of you will be considered guests of honor of the royal family of Verona."

"That's a natural course of action to offer," Prince Jadeith said. "It's not often that someone from my station will visit these realms at all, if not for my niece's sake."

"Of course, we're honored," Prince Liam said with a smile. "We'll even have a banquet to host your arrival if you'd like. There is time for celebration—at least for the reunion of this family of yours, Your Highness."

"That's not necessary, boy," The Elven Prince shook his head. "After hearing what transpired in this palace, there's room for solemnity. If there are festivities, it would be when my niece agrees to visit my realm."

"Then a simple dinner then," Prince Liam said. 

It was hard to stand up to someone who seemed like he was capable of killing you on the spot, but King Draco told him to be unrelenting and it worked.

"Well, that depends on what my dear niece wishes to do." Prince Jadeith looked over at Rowena.

"You'll be staying here for some time, right, Rowena?" Prince Liam asked.

"That's…" Rowena thought about King Xander. "Fine, we'll stay… until I figure out a better way to help, Julian is all."

"Sounds good." Prince Liam nodded.

The Crown Prince of Verona was utterly relieved that there was now a semblance of control back in his life. Maybe King Draco wasn't as bad as Rowena seemed to hav

e made him out to be?

Perhaps, if Prince Liam continued to heed the man's advice, it was even possible to help Rowena get over her grief for Julian.  If not, there was a certain resemblance that Liam had to his brother... and that was probably better than what Raphael had, right?

Prince Liam didn't have any issues with Raphael except for the fact that the man was extremely silent and maybe disrespectful to royalty, but Liam wanted to be the one to help Rowena if he could.

Unaware of what was on Liam's mind, Rowena was also focused on her own thoughts and choices. She glanced back at Raphael and wondered why the man was still there. Shouldn't he leave now?