Cameron bit his lip a little and curled his arms around his puppy. Lily had gone silent, finding her cause in soothing Cameron’s nerves.
group
"Where have you been?" the king rumbled, pulling away from Lilah.
The princess smiled and shrugged a little. "Just out to eat and then Cam and I went swimming in the lake."
"Cam?" Kline quirked an eyebrow, glancing over his daughter's shoulder. He blinked when he saw the prince, recognition flickering across his eyes. "And you must be 'Cam'…"
Cameron’s face was befallen by a shadow. “Yessir. I am indeed Cam.” He couldn’t help the smartiness, though. He didn’t like the look Kline had given him.
group
King Lasota moved around his daughter, who sighed knowingly. Of course he was suspicious of Cameron. Who wasn't? Well, besides Lilah herself, that is…
"What is your full name, young man?" the King questioned.
Cameron dipped his gaze, feeling warm around the ears. Usually princes perked up and shouted their names, yet Cameron merely mumbled, “Cameron Tobias Metzler.”
group
"Metzler, Metzler, Metzler…" Kline snapped his fingers in remembrance. "Prince Metzler?"
Cameron felt the pressure around his ears intensify.
“Yessir. Metzler…”
group
"Prince Metzler. Of course my daughter would date the one person I thought she wouldn't," Lasota grumbled under his breath.
Lilah looked at him in shock. "Dad!" she gasped.
Cameron bit his lip and ducked his head in shame. He shuffled his feet, wishing he was back at the lake.
Lily gave a soft yip and licked the tip of his nose, whining softly for him to cheer up.
group
"What, Lilah Rose? Has your boyfriend's attitude been rubbing off on you?" the king questioned.
"Oh my word! Dad! I can't believe that you just said that!" Lilah exclaimed incredulously.
What attitude? Cameron couldn’t help questioning that. In turn it made him feel incredibly stupid.
Lily gave another faint whine.
group
"Don't you know their history?" The king spoke as if Cameron wasn't even there now.
"Yes, your majesty, I do," Lilah said coolly. "He told me himself."
Cameron shifted his shoulders, disliking this treatment. He felt like an underbred dog at a dog show.
group
"And you're okay with that?"
"Of course I'm okay with that! It's not who he is, so what's there to be not okay with?" Lilah glared at her father.
Cameron rubbed his puppy’s head, turning a light shade of pink in embarrassment and shame. Lilah would never have to go through this if he was from another regal family.
group
"I can't believe this. This is ridiculous, dad," Lilah exclaimed, shaking her head.
"Can you blame me if I just want the best for my only daughter?"
Lily gave a light yip in response to Cameron petting her and licked his fingers gently. He gave a tiny smile but didn't feel any better.
group
Lilah backed up to Cameron, shaking her head slowly with a hurt and offended look on her face. "I know you want the best for me, but don't you think that I know some of the things that are the best for me?"
"You're only seventeen! How can you know?"
"Because I love him, father!"
Cameron raised his gaze a little but not his head. He set his hands down. He felt wrong, almost as if he wasn’t royalty. Which he wasn’t. He was blacksmith and knight. Literally anything but royal! His features showed it too; his wide powerful hands he had inherited from his grandfather, his buttoned and slightly crooked nose from his father (who was a knight before he met Mistress Metzler); his dull brown eyes and hair had just grown over generations of stealthy knights and fighters. He wasn’t royalty, Cameron could realize, yet anyone with eyes could.
group
"I'm done. I can't deal with this. I'm going up to my room," Lilah declared with a huff. "Cam? Come with me, please?"
Cameron raised his gaze to look at her and he gave a tiny nod. “Yep. I’m right behind you, Lilah.”
group
Lilah looped her arm through his and started toward her room. She was silently fuming, but she hid it very well.
Cameron tailed her, trying to keep in step with her so he could stay next to her. He found it rather difficult but tried not to bumble over his large feet as they made their way up the steps. If he fell her father would be proven right.
group
Lilah but her lip and stepped up to the door. She opened it and stepped inside, moving to the side to let Cameron in.
Cameron walked into the room, little Lily squirming quietly in his arms. He walked over to the bed and sat with a sigh.
group
Lilah shut the door and sat beside him, putting her head in her hands.
"I'm so sorry," she muttered.
Cameron shook his head. “That’s okay, Lilah.” His voice was soft and hushed.
group
"It's not, though. I don't understand them!" Lilah exclaimed, collapsing back onto the bed.
Cameron watched her fall back. “They have a right to say that stuff. To doubt me.”
group
"But they don't even know you!"
