Lord Yancey was speechless when he saw his daughter walking towards him with Richard. He wondered if he had chased Queen Agatha with the same passion as his daughter if he would have successfully won her over.


    "Father," Danny called as soon as she got to where he was standing. Lady Yancey seeing this decided to walk closer. A few people that saw this immediately look forward to a good show.


    Although most of them pretend to be having a serious conversation their attention was on the family of Yancey.


    "Lord Yancey," Richard bowed his head slightly. Lord Yancey looked at the man in front of him and could not help remembering Agatha. To be honest he did not know how to act before the young man.


    It would have been a lot easy if he was not aware of the young man''s identity. Lord Yancey nodded his head but his face looked on interested in whatever the young man was there to say.


    His look was not welcome at all, and Richard felt a little uncomfortable. "Father his name is... Danny made to do the introduction when she realizes that she was not sure of his name. She felt embarrassed but she immediately compose herself and gave Richard an apology look.


    " I am sorry,  already forget your name. I guess I was too excited," Danny covered up smoothly.


    even suspected that Danny was unaware of his name except for Richard.


    "Richard, son of Barack,"  Richard introduced himself. He did not have any emotion written on his face, so lord Yancey could not tell what he was thinking.


    "Barack?".. Lord Yancey paused as though he was deep in thought. " your skills were quite outstanding, today. Is your father a warrior?" Lord Yancey asked.


    "Father died many years ago, but mother said he was a fisherman. I grow up here in the palace as my mother is a palace maid. She served under Queen Agatha and princess Ellen. I learned everything training like every young man of Bozoa,"  Richard answered. He spoke very smoothly and there was no trace of fear in his voice.


    "He indeed has the royal blood," lot Yancey thought to himself as he listen to Richard speak with no hesitation. Not everyone with a humble background will be able to speak so confidently when facing a man like lord Yancey.


    It was not only lord Yancey that noticed his confidence. Some of the lords close by were also taken aback by the way he spoke smoothly.


    He sounded well-mannered and cultured. If he had not received it by himself that his father was a fisherman, they would have believed he is a man from a noble home.


    "Father is he to your satisfaction. You promised to let me marry the first man who is capable of beating Joe," Danny asked in a sweet voice. One look at her and no one will have the heart of rejecting her request.


    "He has indeed beat up joe, but he still has to be worthy to marry my daughter," lord Yancey replied.


    "Father, you are not looking for a way to break your promise, are you? You are trying to deliberately make things difficult for him," Danny understands the drama her father place in. It will be suspicious if lord Yancey just gave out his blessing for his daughter to marry just anybody without making things difficult for him.


    "What are you say? As a father, I must ensure you marry the best man. The only reason why giving him a chance is that can not go back on my words. You are the precious of the Yancey family," lord Yancey reply


    "Then I beg father to be fair, he is not wealthy and he certainly will not be able to give father a precious gem," Danny with her two hands clapped together.


    Lady Yancey shook his head helpless, He did not know his daughter would be so good at acting. The onlookers who pretend to be quite busy could not help but feel sorry for lord Yancey.


    Prince William happened not to be so far away and he felt irritated seeing the way Danny was standing up for Richard. He was a sake goodness sake but when he tried to talk with her the young lady acted as though he was air.


    This made him angry and jealous of Richard. who would not be? Danny was noble and Richard is but a servant.


    "Since you are the son of a fisherman, then you should kill the biggest fish in the river. Son of Barack, what do you think about killing a shark," lord Yancey said.


    When the people around heard this a few gaps were heard all over the hall.


    "Father!" Danny could not believe her ears. what shark? Sending him to find a shake was like asking him to commit suicide.


    Other men who heard this nodded their heads and praised lord Yancey in their hearts. He had managed to discourage the young man without breaking his promise.


    "Father, this is too much asking him to go after a shark is like asking him to visit the land of the dead," Danny complained.


    "Why are you speaking for the young man. he should speak for himself. I have not asked the impossible. If he does not want to he can just forget about you," lord Yancey spoke in a righteous voice.


    Richard shook his head, the lord did not even ask him if he was willing to marry his daughter, yet he was making demands. Richard felt like saying he was not interested in marrying her but if he spoke a lot of people will see him as a coward. Not that any of them had the courage to go after a shake.


    "My father died when I was only a child,  I apologize but know nothing about fishing. The sword has been my companion. So if what lord Yancey will take to permit me to marry his daughter is a shake, then he must give me time to learn to use a net," Richard replied in his usual calm voice. He sounded so confident that everyone believe he had plans to really learn how to fish, in other to marry Danny.


    "How much time do you need? Lord Yancey asked. " I will give you a year from today," lord Yancey spoke again just before Richard could give him a reply.


    "I was going to ask for... Before Richard could finish speaking lord Yancey caught in.


    " I will not add a day to one year. Who knows if allow you all the time in the world you will turn my daughter into an old maiden. If I do not see the shark in a year I will marry my daughter off to another," lord Yancey spoke in a way that did not give room for any argument.


    Everyone who witness this felt very satisfied. It was impossible for Richard to learn how to fish and kill a shake in one year.


    Lord Yancey''s reason for giving him one year was simply. In a year time Richard"s identity must have already be known and no one  will care about this conversation anymore.


    Danny pinned her lips understanding the intention of her father. Those who saw the look on Danny''s face felt she was defeated. Danny immediately pull Richard with her. She wanted to tell Richard the true. She was aware that he was the prince and have no intention of pretending.


    She took him outside the hall, a place where no one will easily listening to their conversation.


    "Does this mean we are engaged?" Richard asked. He could still remember the look on lord Yancey''s face.


    "You don''t have to act as though  put you in a difficult position. Father does not really want the shark, he was just putting on a show," Fanny said.


    Richard was stunned by her statement. "You look just like my father''s first love how could he not recognize that?" Danny said.


    "So you know?" Richard was surprised.


    "Of course," Danny replied.


    "Just so you know, I have no plans to seat on the throne," Richard said. He felt that Danny was just after him because he could become the future king.


    "Why? You will let the son of the woman who fooled your mother seat on the throne. Do not forget that she also made your sisters life a living hell. You are just going to watch her have her way?" Danny could not believe her ears.


    "That is what my sister wants. She said she would rather I am alive than dead trying to seat on the throne so consider again do you want to marry the son of a fisherman?" Richard asked.


    "As long as he is the son of my father''s first love I do not mind. Just so you know, my father are willing to fight behind you to claim your birthright. Even lord zorander is making plans," Danny said.


    "I will need more than your family and lord zorander to seat on the throne. Lord zorander already hand over the zorander household to his son Robert, who''s daughter is engaged to Prince William. Tell me how I can every seat on the throne?"  Richard his head.


    "I am sure the king will support you once he finds out you are his son, " Danny gave a knowing look.


    "He knows," Richard answered.


    Danny was surprised by this revelation. If the king knows why has he not done anything about it.


    "Then you should prove yourself, who needs the king''s support. My brother is about to get married to Rose yancey, she is the daughter of Bridget Amnell Zorander. When the time come I am certain lady Bridget will convinces her family to side with you.


    This gives you same right as your brother. Moreover the throne is yours as long as you breathe, not even the king can change that. So all you need to do is stay alive," Danny analysis things for Richard.


    "I am still not interested," Richard insisted.


    "Well, I guess you do not mind how the Quern manipulated your mother to her death. Now even your sister was use as a peace offering," Danny said in a small voice.


    Richard balled his fist. His adopted mother Ann already told him about Queen Reigna having a hand in his mother''s death.


    "How did you know about my mother?" Richard asked.


    "Just a wild guess," Danny answered honestly.


    "Are thing as simple as you put it?" Richard asked. He really wants to avenge his mother.


    "Yes, just let me help you do the screening," Danny replied in a confident voice.