Meanwhile….

"I will stand on my word. But-"

Cutting Louis off, Francis said to Adela, "Lady Adela, could you please inform King's assistan to send a notice to all the Noble Families notifying that the bride selection will take place from next week and continue for the next two months."

"All the seven contestants have to be present in the palace by next Sunday." Francis asked Adela, Charlotte's mother.

Louis frowned but his eyes shifted when Charlotte abruptly entered the lounge. Her face, full of surprise.

"Mom!" she gasped as soon as she saw her mother Adela to the left side of Louis.

"Charlotte, you have to get ready as well." Adela told her daughter. Not bothering to greet her.

She is angry that Charlotte has cancelled her engagement with Edward, the next king!!

"Lady Charlotte." Francis acknowledged her. But he is angry as well.

If not for her annulment, she would have become the Queen!

Then there would have been no problem at all. Though Charlotte is not that qualified to become Queen, she is very dear to country people and others.

As Louis is not engaged to any lady now and is a single, according to their customs, the bride will be selected after the competition among the first ladies of Seven Noble Families.

Now, Olivia has to come up as well and with her excellence she will surely top the scores.

Meanwhile, Louis is seething inside. Bride selection?

That's the first thing he hates about the customs of the country. However, this has been happening since their ancestors' time.

"Uncle. There will be no competition! I can't select my wife just because they are good at diplomacy, and charismatic with eloquent nature. Before she becomes the Queen, she has to become my wife and as her husband I should love her" Louis firmly objected.

"Son, this isn't about you. It's about the country and thousands of lives. Did you forget that the King has to be selfless. Especially when it comes to this?" Francis snapped.

"Of course I know and I am not a selfless!! I'm not good enough to be a King and that is the reason why I never got myself involved in these Royal things!" Louis snapped with the same ferocity.

Meanwhile, his stepmother looked at them with helplessness. She found out that Louis is in love with a girl and she felt happy that he is living the life he deserves..

But, now..

Sigh....

"It is in the past, Edward!! You don't have any choice now. If you don't care about the country and want to put thousands of lives at stake, go on and offend all of the Seven Noble Families! All these families will rebel against the Royal Family, leading the court to break apart!" Francis angrily said, gritting his teeth.

He is so worried about his nephew! He is after all his godfather and his little sister took promise from him before dying. He has to help them make the right choices for country sake.

"Sir Francis is right, Edward! In this situation, we are already having pressure from the rebellion. We can't afford to have internal disputes in the court of Noble Families." Adela softly said.

"But I have a girlfriend!! I want to marry only her." Louis helplessly said.

Though he regrets saying this, he knows they are right. This event is more about increasing the power and strengthening the bonds between families.

On one hand, it's his country and on the other hand, it's the love of his life!

Whom should he select now??

Why? Why? Why should it be like this?!

He can't sacrifice his Brina and at the same time he can't be an inhumane person and put his countrymen's life at stake just by thinking about his own personal life.

"Is she from the noble family?" Francis questioned, thinking about something.

"No. She is a commoner." Louis answered straight away.

"Son, I hate to say this but it won't work! You know the consequences if you go against all Noble Families and marry a commoner. If she isn't a potential Queen, our Kingdom will fall just like Kingdom Phliion to the rebel forces." Francis said, his voice softened with sympathy.

"But I will not marry anyone except her. If you want, I will help you guys with this problem and after everything is sorted out, I will marry my Brina. She will be the only woman I will agree to marry, only her!" Louis firmly told.

There is no backing off!!!!

Never!!

Not when it comes to Brina!

"It isn't just about the marriage and the heir, Edward! It's about alliance. With this marriage we can bring at least half of Noble Families to our side and make them stay loyal to us even if rebellions strike us! Royal marriages are always about strengthening the Kingdom" Francis said.

While the King/ prince gets his bride, the other suitors will also meet with the heirs of other Noble Houses. If the Royal Family manages to make other alliances successful and if those houses get advantage through the marriage, they will surely show their support to the King.

It's gonna make the court as powerful as it has never been. And, at this rebellion time, this is hugely helpful and that was the reason they decided to select Bride for Ethan, their former crowned Prince.

But, he eloped!

A coward and a traitor!!

"Uncle, even if you give me thousands of reasons, I won't agree to this. I can't just marry someone while my heart belongs to someone else." Louis told.

"I will surely lash out at her knowing my temper and stubbornness, it will surely lead to divorce and breaking up the alliance you guys formed. Won't it be more adverse than what it is right now? Isn't it better if we prevent this?" Louis questioned.

Louis is patient and sweet only with Brina. But with other women, he is like a piece of wood and sometimes, he might even get aggressive.