The Cursed Prince

Chapter 819 – Little Rowena Meets Her Father

King Draco Roseland did not care for festivities, but he still did his best to get along with his people. Power was an important thing and once he finally got a taste of what it was like to rule over a throne, he wanted to maintain it.

Luckily, he was handsome, charismatic, and well-liked by his people and in their eyes, he truly was a great hero. People sang songs about him and created ballads and odes that worshiped his valor.

King Draco liked to keep his image as bright and wonderful as when he first slew the dragons and was hailed by his people. That was why there were secrets he liked to keep to himself and among them had been the presence of Rowena.

He was still a young king and could remarry. Even though he couldn't love any other woman because he left his heart in Cretea, he realized he needed a queen to help maintain his image.

He could also find a wife from among the many princesses of the big and powerful kingdoms around Ashland. Political marriage was not uncommon among the nobilities in this continent.

He wanted to remarry.  If it weren't for the sudden revelation that he actually had a seven-year-old daughter, King Draco didn't want to actually call for the young child, but the word still got out.

"You've been keeping your daughter a secret for so long. I wonder why, Your Majesty?" A minister laughed.

King Draco kept his face in a careful and measured smile. "I believe that you will figure it out when you see her for yourself, Lord Bolton ." 

Now they waited in the banquet hall for the girl to arrive and King Draco started to get impatient. He intentionally kept the girl away locked in that tower and even allowed two nannies to take care of her because he didn't want any problems.

At last, she finally came.

"Her Royal Highness, Princess Rowena Roseland graces us with her presence." 

A small and beautiful young girl stepped out from the doors. Even though it was her first time entering society, she didn't look out of place. She had beautiful golden hair and such charming and brilliant purple eyes that drew one's attention.

King Draco blinked and couldn't believe his eyes.

"Even as a young child, she is already quite a beauty." One of the dukes whispered close by. "Now we know why she is hidden. She is too beautiful to be let out in public."

King Draco's expression twitched slightly at the lecherous comment. Unfortunately, Lord Bolton, his minister of finance added, "Your Majesty, once your daughter grows up, I do not find it strange that she could topple gods and make them fall in love with her beauty. She is the most beautiful female child I have ever seen in my life."

Those words made King Draco look at his daughter once again.

She did look like the elven princess that he married eight years ago, but Rowena's beauty was far beyond what her mother ever had. The king narrowed his eyes and took in the little girl's sight one more time.

He had seen the goddesses in Cretea, but even they couldn't hold a candle to his daughter's beauty.

Draco couldn't help but agree to Lord Bolton's remarks that Rowena was the most beautiful female child he had ever seen. He also believed that she could really make gods fall in love with her when she grew up to be a woman.

Why did he never know that his daughter was such a beauty? Draco never bothered to check up on her. He even barely asked the nannies if she was thriving. In his opinion, they would send a report to him if anything bad happened to her or if she was dead.

Now,  he felt a little happy that Rowena seemed to be healthy and didn't look out of place among this many people from the nobility.  She was polite, quiet, and seemed obedient. It seemed the nannies did their job well.

"Rowena," Draco waved at the girl and motioned Leia to bring Rowena closer to him. The girls' eyes widened and looked at him with adoration and anticipation.

"His Majesty called you, Your Highness," Leia whispered to Rowena with a smile. Her eyes were gleaming with tears. Finally, after such lonely seven years, Rowena could see her father. Leia could only imagine how happy this little girl was.

The nanny hoped that once the king saw his beautiful daughter, he would regret neglecting her all this time, and Rowena's life could change for the better. She was such a sweet and adorable little girl. Leia was convinced that anyone who saw Rowena couldn't help but fall in love with her.

King Draco smiled at his daughter and now he saw her up close. Yes, it seemed truly possible for his beautiful child to be of use to him. He was in a good mood when he thought that his late wife gave him a perfect present.

Most fathers wanted a son in order to continue their legacy, honor, and prestige. A part of Draco might have been appeased if Rowena had been born a boy, but now it seemed like her being a girl was an ideal thing.

In poorer families who did not have anything with them, it was often a beautiful young daughter that allowed their status to be elevated. King Draco was familiar and actually knew kings who gave up their betrothed in order to marry a simple commoner who was a beauty..

Cretea was the land of the gods and immortals.

Even a human king like Draco was nothing more but ants and insects to them… However, since he had successfully bred and created a child whose beauty was second to none, he finally had the chance to elevate and rise once more.

Little Rowena stepped up to her father and attempted to curtsy. Her small voice sounded so adorable when she spoke. "Happy birthday, Father. I wish that I have been able to give you a better present."

King Draco raised his brow. "A present? To have you as my child is a great gift—" 

He felt his impatience when the young girl turned her back to him and didn't even let him finish his sentence.

Now he regretted that he didn't give her proper nannies to teach her about court manners.