The Royal Contract

"Stop worrying too much. Dani is a grown woman. She already knows what she is doing. She could take care of herself." Laura told her husband as she put on her shoes.

She could not blame Ethan for worrying too much. Dani was, after all, their only daughter. Even she would do anything to protect her from the world if she could. But it was also time to let go of the reins and let Dani lived her life.

"She is still my daughter, and I won't let anything bad ever happened to her," Ethan stated as he fixed the collar of his white shirt.

He understood her wife's concern for their daughter's happiness. Well, that was what he wanted too. However, he knew that there was something brewing between the King and Alex. He had sensed it in the tension last night. He did not want her daughter to be caught in the crossfire if the family feud ever escalated.

"I'm sure that Alex will make sure that Dani is always taken care of and safe. Dani seemed to be happy here. Did you not see how much in love they are?" Laura could not help but giggle, remembering the kiss that her daughter and Alex shared.

If she had any doubt in their relationship before, she had none now. She saw the way they were locked in each other's arms as if nobody were around them. The young couple existed only for themselves as they got lost in their own world. 

Laura remembered the first time that Ethan kissed her that passionately. She instantly knew that he was the only one for her. Laura wanted that for her daughter. That was to find the man that she would spend her life with, falling in love with the perfect one for her. 

"Love is not the only important factor in a good marriage. You know that. You almost did not marry me because of our differences." Ethan pointed out.

"But I did marry you because of love, despite our differences." She corrected him.

"Still, I don't think that we should take this lightly. I will not approve of this marriage until my instinct is proven wrong." Ethan stated with finality. 

"Give Alex a chance to prove himself. Isn't that the reason we are here?" She reminded Ethan. "Besides, I don't think it will be up to us who Dani marries at this point. All we can do is support her."

As far as she had observed, Alex was that man. He fit the criteria in every sense of the word. Alex was her daughter's prince. Although her husband did not share the same sentiment as hers, she believed that he would do right by her daughter.

"If I discover that there is something not right in this whole situation, I will personally put an end to this by any means necessary, regardless of what Dani wants." Ethan did not say threats. It was a statement he had every intention of doing.

"Fine. But only if we have enough proof that Alex is not what he says he is. Promise me that you will not do anything to jeopardize this for Dani." She was willing to cooperate with her husband as long as his method was above board.

She knew that after hearing the announcement last night, Ethan had been agitated with the news that Alex was next in line to the throne if the current prince failed to do his obligations.

Although she felt the same way, she was not about to ruin what her daughter wanted. If marrying Alex would make Dani happy, she would support her. She would make sure that Ethan would not stand in their way.

"I don't know if I can promise that. Regardless if Dani loves him, I will not risk her life if I am not sure Alex is capable of taking care of her and protecting her from his family." Ethan stated as he tried to convince her wife that he could not simply favor this marriage.

With other parents, they would be thrilled that their daughter will become royalty, a princess, and even possibly a queen. But Ethan was no ordinary father. He was different. He never cared about a palace or a title. 

To him, anybody could become king and queen of their homes and their lives if they chose to work hard. Look at him, he had no title and birthright or royal blood, but he was declared king in his own right. He had built his kingdom for his family.

"But what if this is what your daughter wanted all along. Would you keep standing in the way of her happiness?" Laura could understand the obsession of her husband to keep Dani from pursuing her own life. He was a father who cared too much. But she must try to make him see reason before he ruined his relationship with his daughter or what was remaining of it.

"Here's the deal. I will look into Alex. In truth, I like him already. But I have to be sure that he would not hurt our daughter just like Nick did." He took his wife's hand and kissed it. 

He knew that he was causing her to worry because of his plans. He never wanted that. It was supposed to be a vacation for them.

"I have to be sure that our daughter's future is safe. She is already our princess and the future queen of what we have worked hard for, so she did not need to rule another land." Ethan pulled her wife up from her sitting position and hugged her. "I only want the best for her."

"I know." Laura finally conceded to his plans. But she would still be watching her husband.

"Then, shall we go? I don't want to keep them waiting." He guided her wife towards the door, ready to face their host family.

Still, he believed that their daughter's association with this kingdom would not do her any good. Unless Alexander could prove him wrong, he was not going to give them her hand in marriage.