The Single Dad's Royal Pursuit

Chapter 2- Guide me

Ten weeks earlier

"You’re bloody kidding me, Aly,” Lexi told her youngest sister Lilia as they sat at the table outside her bedroom’s porch, “He is not serious about this matter again, is he?” gripping her fork tightly, nose fuming in annoyance.

They were having breakfast and talking about their father's maddening betrothing plans mapping in his brilliant head. Aly had just told her the tea about what she overheard in their father’s office yesterday. He was now serious about getting her married to the Hamilton lad he had no interest in marrying.

She just returned from her six-month medical mission trip to the health department of the UK's national health services organized in South Africa. She did it because of her love for volunteering to provide medical services to those unprivileged communities and people.

That was also her way to escape their father’s will to wed her for the sake of the royal connection of their family with one of the well-known households in their wealthy town.

“I wish I were, but I am not, Lexi. I heard dad’s conversation last night with the old Hamilton,” Aly replied, “He knew you was coming back. That’s why he started designing this bloody wedding behind your back,” she continued before sipping her tea.

Snorting, Lexi dropped her fork and knife in exasperation. She leaned her back on the chair before brushing her face with one hand. “I can’t do this anymore,” she muttered, “For once, I wanted to stay here and chill. Good lord! I’m knackered with all these foolish ideas father is trying to make.”

For years, she had been molded and shaped to look forward to being a consort of another noble family. Her father tried to brainwash her about her liberty, but she was too smart to know it, plus her older sisters had already warned her about it.

Aly heaved a deep breath. “I can hear you, Lexi… We are in the twenty-first century, yet our dearest father still lives in the past,” she puffed.

Lilia or Aly, like what Lexi always called her, was also tired of these matters. It was how their father didn’t see her effort in making him proud brought sadness to her. She had already done her best. Scholastically and whatever her dad wanted her to learn as part of the family's tradition, but he still wasn’t pleased with her. Until now, their loving father still blamed her for the death of their mother.

Their mum died two days after giving birth to her. It was a pregnancy complication that shouldn’t have happened if their father had let go of his irrational dream of having a son to inherit his estate and name. Aly was their mom’s last pregnancy that resulted in a fatality.

“I know. I just hope dad will see you as who you are,” Lexi muttered, feeling sorry for her sister.

One of the reasons she didn’t want to get wed to the Hamilton heir was that he was younger than her. He was indeed silly and arrogant, but Phillip was the same age as her youngest sister, Aly. The poor youngsters were five years her junior. The second reason was she knew Aly was in love with the lad and the future viscount of Hamilton’s.

Their noble families were close-knit and shared the same ambition to retain the title bestowed by the old kings of the British monarch. It had been standing strong for centuries that both heads of the families wanted to preserve and continue.

They still believed that marrying a member of each family would make their alliance solid. However, Lexi understood that the tradition was outdated and ridiculous because their old folks still wanted to do the marriage because of power.

Aly and Phillip, two young people, already had their hearts connected beyond the pact, and there was no need for her to get in between with whatever their families wished.

“Well, he didn’t fancy me not only because I killed mum, but look how massive I am!!” Aly blurted. “He didn’t want to wed a size twenty-six like me to Philip!” she added before munching the pancake on her plate.

“Aly! That’s rubbish! You are not massive, love! A bit chunky, yes, but don’t freaking say that!!!” Lexi refuted her sister’s words. Her sister was quite a size, but she shouldn’t blame it. Aly was beautiful inside and out.

“Ugh! Lexi!! I love Phillip! And he loves me too! Why can’t dad see me? Here I am, chunky like you said, but why does he still insist you be with Phillip rather than me!!” she huffed in frustration.

That was also Lexi's question too.

Lexi looked at her gloomy sister. “Don’t worry, I’ll speak to dad about that matter. I won't let that insane marriage happen. Even if I have to marry someone like the triplets did, I will do it. By then, dad has got no choice but to put his eyes on you,” she assured Aly.

Aly heaved a breath. “Thanks, Lexi…I love you, sis… I will speak to Phil about this, I wish we could run away, but with his grandpa’s health condition, I don’t think he would agree with me,” she sadly said.

“I know. But let’s see what I can do….” Lexi promised her sister, rubbing her arm.

The old Hamilton was sick, and Lexi knew that was a part of his wish to wed his grandson and heir as part of his accord with her family. But she was determined not to do that. Not ever.

~

“NO!! That’s a big no, dad! You can’t just announce to the public that I’d be marrying Phillip! No!” Lexi raised her voice after hearing her dad saying she would get married in the fortnight with Phillip.

They were at her father’s massive study office. He summoned her after having lunch with Aly on her porch again. They both wanted to stay and seclude themselves from the world. Their mansion was enormous, but they felt suffocated by their loving father’s insane wishes and beliefs.

“You don’t have any choice, my lovely daughter,” Charlie refuted his daughter’s words. He was resolved to marry his beautiful child to his friend’s son by hook or by crook.

“I am not your only daughter! You still got Lilia, who’s in love with Phillip and is willing to do what you want to achieve. Just tell her,” Lexi said, palming her forehead. She was livid with the news her father had just broken up with her.

“No! She’s not the right woman for Phillip!”

“And I am not too! That’s a no, dad. I’m sorry, but I wouldn't let that happen,” Lexi calmly said this time.

“Jesus Christ, Alexandria!”

“No! If mom is only alive, she won’t allow this to happen. Perhaps, Ella, Emma, and Elva are still here. But because of your foolish ambition, they bound their life and destiny differently!” She reasoned out.

The three ladies were living a peaceful life, albeit their father made sure they wouldn't live like how they used to. Lexi was aware of how her dad somehow used his influence to avenge his tarnished pride after the three ran away.

“Get lost and be out of my sight!” Charlie roared, "You are such a disgrace in this family!"

“Yes, I am, and I will be out of your life, dad! I don’t f*****g care if you disown me and strip me whatever title is under my name. I’d rather live my life like a commoner than be in your noble and shitty household with your obsolete principles,” she spitefully added.

The next thing Lexi felt was the stinging pain on her cheek. Her father just whacked her face with his hand. “You are not going anywhere, lady. I am still your father, and you have no right to defy my rules!” Charlie warned.

Lexi’s eyes glimmered in tears. She was dumbfounded. As much as the physical pain she just had moments ago, her soul was aching too. She never expected her father would hurt her by telling him what was inside her heart. She wished the royal blood to be sipped out of her body, and the name she was carrying would be gone soon.

It was getting too much for her. Either she dies or finds a way to escape the doom her father was setting in her life.

Lexi left her father’s study and went straight to her bedroom. There, she began to plan her next move. As much as Lexi wanted to take a break and relax on her bed that she hadn’t seen or laid on for almost a year, She got to plot what was best for her and her future.

She needed to disappear and be somewhere so that her dad wouldn’t hurt her anymore. Physically and emotionally.

After packing the important things her maid had just unpacked for her earlier, she rested on the couch to breathe. Lexi took her phone and called the person she knew would help her.

Princess Axihosa of the Xhiasa tribe.

Axi, that’s what Lexi called her when she stayed for four months for the medical mission she did in their tribe. They became great friends after the night she helped her toddler daughter, little Ysa, who suffered from a bad stomach problem.

Lexi and the other six nurses she was with were on their second night in the central city of the province. They arrived there first with the medical equipment for their mission. The other doctors were still on their way and traveling to their isolated location when someone knocked on their van and asked for help.

It was raining badly with a great storm that night, and nobody dared to heed their request beside her. They were still new in the area and afraid something terrible might happen, but her calling came first, and she agreed to help even though she knew it was dangerous.

She bravely trekked the mountainous and muddy hills for almost two hours to reach the tribe near the coastline. There, she attended to the little girl who was on the brink of her death right away. She was dehydrated and needed to get aid soon.

After putting the little kid in IV drips with medicine and giving her first aid, Lexi saw the signs of life in her. Later that day, after a whole night of ordeal, Lexi met the toddler's mother, Princess Axihosa.

Axi was an heir and princess of one of the wealthiest tribes in the whole country. Axi’s dad, King Hsosa, was the tribe’s king and had so much power in the city.

Lexi never thought that the undeserved people she had helped didn’t only have a rich tradition and culture but in the sense of influential power too. It wasn’t as bad as she thought and learned before at school. Axi had a great upbringing and had studied in a prominent school a thousand miles away from her tribe.

Out of the people Lexi had worked on the medical mission, nobody was aware of her identity back home. It was only Axi who knew her noble and royal life. They shared some great stories and moments about life and whatnot. Axi was aware of Lexi’s dilemma about marriage and power.

Like Lexi’s situation, Axi was forced to marry a man from another influential tribe in their province. Lucky her, he was a great friend of hers and was a schoolmate back in college. It became easier for her to accept her destiny. And since Axi’s family got more control and influence, she and her husband had chosen to rule their side of her family.

After speaking for almost an hour with Axi, Lexi made up her mind. Axi promised to help her with all her might. All she needed to do was to be in the country again.

Lexi went to Aly’s room and bade goodbye to her younger sister before she left the mansion. Lexi didn’t exactly tell her sister where she was going, but she promised she would be back soon once their dad made up his mind.

After putting her stuff inside her car, Lexi drove away from their mansion. She was determined to leave everything behind for the sake of her happiness and freedom.

Lexi held the necklace her mom gave to her on her fifth birthday, “Please guide me, mom….” she solemnly prayed.