After the princes departed, Victor struggled to accept the idea of his daughter's impending marriage. She had only just returned from the Immortal Realm, and now she might be leaving again, potentially forever. The children had gone to his sister's house, as Bernard wanted to visit his parents.
As Victor locked the doors, he headed upstairs to discuss the issue with his wife. However, Helena remained unaware of the situation, sitting in front of her vanity mirror, brushing her hair after a shower. Victor was still gathering his thoughts on how to break the news to her when Helena interrupted his reverie.
"What weighs on your mind, making you walk around like a zombie?" Helena asked, feeling elated now that her daughter was back home, despite still being weak.
"There were three princes from the Immortal Realm," Victor said, his expression still troubled.
Helena, who had been taking her medication, turned to face him. "But what does that have to do with your gloomy face?" she asked, concern etched on her features.
Victor's anger simmered just below the surface. "One of them claims to be Clover's mate. And how am I supposed to swallow that?" he said, his tone laced with frustration. Deep down, he knew it might be true, but he couldn't help hoping it wasn't, indulging in a moment of selfishness.
Helena's eyes searched her husband's face. "Have you spoken to Clover about this? What did she say? Does she feel the matebond that her mate claims to feel for her?"
Victor shook his head, feeling defeated. "I don't know. I haven't talked to her about it."
Helena's voice was gentle but firm. "But surely you know that Clover has a say in this, since it's about her life."
Victor's emotions surged to the surface. "I just can't bear to part with our daughter, Helena. Tomorrow, I'll go to the Guardian Headquarters to seek guidance from Elder John."
Helena's expression softened. "Honey, I'm not opposed to Clover getting married. I just want her to be happy. I want her to have a fulfilling life."
"The problem is, you still see her as the helpless, tiny child we found on our way from the gala twenty years ago," Helena said. "She'll be turning twenty-one soon. Just have faith in her this time."
Victor nodded, though his concerns still lingered. "Alright, I'll talk to her. But I'm still going to the Guardian Headquarters." He paused, then added, "Now, let's get some rest. You've been awake most of the day." With that, he helped his wife up from the vanity, tucked her into bed, and joined her shortly after.
At the Guardian Headquarters, Elder John sat in his office with their seer, Priestess Adelaide. Victor Levine had requested a meeting, sounding distressed over the phone. When Victor arrived, he apologized and thanked them for accommodating him on short notice.
Elder John regarded Victor with a thoughtful expression. "Can you tell us what prompted you to summon us on such short notice?"
Victor cleared his throat before speaking. "I sought your counsel because I need guidance. As you're aware, my daughter returned home yesterday after being missing for nearly a year, accompanied by her brother and cousin. However, they also brought three princes from the Immortal Realm, one of whom claims to be my daughter's mate. I'm uncertain whether to trust him or not."
Priestess Adelaide offered Victor a sympathetic ear, acknowledging his concerns as a father. "Victor, I understand how you feel, but you can't deny your daughter the chance at happiness. And her mate truly respects you. Some might have taken her without even informing you, and he's a prince, no less," she said, highlighting the considerate nature of Prince Titus.
Victor's concerns, however, ran deeper, and he expressed his fears about letting go of his daughter, feeling as though he'd abandoned her.
Elder John chimed in, offering words of wisdom. "Being a parent is tough, but right now, she needs your guidance and support. One day, she'll be a parent too, and the lessons you teach her now will shape your grandchildren's values," he said, emphasizing the importance of Victor's role in Clover's life.
With a newfound understanding, Victor stood up, bowed in appreciation, and thanked them for their guidance and patience before heading home.
Upon arriving home, Victor retreated to his office, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of how to approach the conversation with his daughter. Since the girls were busy preparing dinner, he took a moment to speak with his wife, sharing the words of wisdom from Elder John. After dinner, he called Clover into his office, ready to have a heart-to-heart conversation with her.
"My child, I'm sorry I didn't get to ask you how you coped when you were in the immortal realm and how you are coping now. It's nearly a year since you were gone, but just know it's never your fault, and we're happy to have you back," Mr. Levine said to his daughter.
"What's the matter, Dad? You have something to tell me but don't know where to begin, right?" Clover asked, raising an eyebrow.
Mr. Levine studied his daughter, noticing something different about her. She seemed sharper, as if she could see right through him. He shook off the feeling.
"Are you happy with your mate?" Mr. Levine asked.
"I don't know; we only met two days before coming here," Clover replied, earning a mockery from her demoness and the entity.
"You'll be getting married in the third month. Are you okay with it, or should I ask your mate to give you more time?" he asked, hoping she'd agree.
"No, that's fine. Demons are temperamental beings; marriage in the third month is acceptable," Clover said nonchalantly.
"Are you sure, my child? I don't want you to rush into this marriage without getting to know each other better," Victor said, his concern growing.
"Don't worry, Dad. Living in the immortal realm taught me a lot about reading people's intentions. Brandon and Bernard are the only ones who really know me well, so you don't have to worry," she said, standing up and walking over to her father. She leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek, offering a reassuring gesture.
Feeling a wave of relief wash over him, Victor exhaled a deep breath, unaware he had been holding it. A smile spread across his face as he said, "Well, if you're happy, I'm happy. We can start preparing for a grand wedding." They shared a laugh, and Clover left her father's office, heading towards the stairs.
However, Mildred pulled her into their shared bedroom, playfully catching her off guard. "Hey, you'll dislocate my shoulder!" Clover joked.
Mildred's curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, "Why did Uncle want to speak with you in private?"
Clover replied nonchalantly, "Oh, he wanted to tell me that my mate has already set a wedding date. Even though it's early, I don't mind."
Mildred's response was laced with concern. "Clover, you're nuts! You can't treat marriage like it's a walk in the park."
Clover's response was matter-of-fact. "I know, I like him, and even if I tried to reject him, Raven wouldn't hear of it."
"Who's Raven?" Mildred asked, her voice laced with concern.
"It's the entity that resides within me," Clover replied. "I would have loved to show you her, but right now, I don't want my mate to know the extent of my power."
Mildred's eyes widened with a mix of fascination and envy. "Wow, you have powers? I wish I were you, having powers and all," she said.
Clover studied Mildred for a moment before responding, her expression serious. "I'm afraid you would have had a chaotic life wherever you went," she said, her words hinting at the complexities and challenges that came with possessing such abilities.
"I won't mind having the powers; I would have defeated all my enemies," Mildred said, mimicking Supergirl's confident tone.
Mildred, with great power comes greater responsibility," Clover cautioned, echoing a familiar phrase.
Mildred frowned, "Now you're sounding like Priestess Adelaide," she said, earning a laugh from Clover.
Mildred's expression softened as she changed the subject. "Where were you headed?"
"To the kitchen to make some popcorn and watch a movie," Clover replied.
"Count me in," Mildred said, and the two exited the bedroom, heading downstairs to the kitchen.