The Abandoned Luna's Journey to Power Chapter 345: The Family's Interests

Viola's POV:

I gave a bitter smile, feeling crushed about the politics inside my family. "You were right. Marrying a royal blood—even if it's to a prince with a rotten reputation—still looks like a huge win for the Blaze Pack on the surface. It boosts our family's status in the kingdom and brings us more resources.

"Those old elders don't care if Prince Niall is an old pervert. All they care about is the family's interests. Once they decide it's a good deal, they'll pressure my father. Pressure from the entire clan... it's terrifying. I'm afraid my father won't be able to hold out."

I sat up abruptly, burying my face in my hands, sobbing.

"Cindy, do you know what scares me the most?"

I looked up at her through my tears. "I'm a Knight. I can fight back, I can run away. At worst, I'd just never go home again. But, if I refuse, if I run, the family will want to calm Niall's anger and keep the benefits of the marriage...

"They'll probably choose another girl from a branch family to marry him instead!

"Some of my cousins just became come of age. They've never even fallen in love. H-how can I chase my own freedom while watching them get sent into that hell to suffer in my place?!"

That was the trap that was suffocating me.

If I ran, it would be like I survived by stepping on my cousins' bodies.

If I stayed, I would be sending myself straight into hell.

Cindy looked at me as I broke down, her eyes full of pain for me.

She didn't say anything. She just reached out and pulled me into a hug.

"Don't worry, Viola. As long as I'm here, I won't let that happen." Cindy gently patted my back. Her voice was as steady as a mountain.

I leaned into her and cried for a long time before I finally started to calm down.

"Cindy, I've made up my mind."

I wiped my tears away, and my eyes became firm again. "I'm not going back to the Royal Court tomorrow. I'm not going back to the Blaze Pack either."

"You're not going back?" Cindy looked surprised. "Then what's the plan?"

"If I go back now, I'm just walking into a trap. I won't solve anything, and the Elders' Council might just lock me up and force me to marry him," I said, my brain finally starting to work again. "Plus, if I make a big scene trying to cancel the wedding, it'll just give Prince Niall an excuse to attack my family."

"I'll have Fern stay in the Royal Court and send messages back with a falcon. Her intel network is everywhere. I'll have her investigate what's happening in the Blaze Pack, what the elders think, and how much pressure my father is under."

I clenched my teeth. "We need to know what we're up against before we fight. Once we understand the situation, we'll figure out the plan. As for getting help, we'll have Stick head back tomorrow morning and inform Prince Adam and Dr. Rupert."

Cindy looked at me and gave a supportive nod.

"Good. Solid plan. You stay here with me, and we'll look out for each other."

She kindly tucked me in. "Don't overthink it. No matter how big the problem is, we'll deal with it after the sun comes up. Sleep."

"Okay." I closed my eyes.

My mind was still a mess, but with Cindy beside me, that hopeless feeling faded away.