"I want your hand in marriage."
Prince Sebastian only just arrived in the kingdom, but it seemed like he had it planned out from the beginning, as he stood tall, with an expression of beauty as if he was trying to seduce her.
Clara was shocked at first but tried to proceed with a calm mind. Thinking as to what Fishy might do.
Clara tried to open her mouth, but Sebastian interrupted.
"Our wealth will be shared. Trade will bloom in both cities. You'll never go poor again."
Clara stuttered as her eyes widened. Looking at the prince in front of her. When he arrived, she thought little of him, but regardless, she had to think of what was best for the city.
"Can I think about it?"
"Of course… but we will be needing a place to stay."
# # #
Prince Sebastian and the king were given a place to stay. The best hotel that was currently running in the city, one that was rather empty and eerie. The lack of visitors had left most buildings vacant, but that's why the executives of the city were currently meeting. Clara called an emergency meeting in the middle of the night when the city slept. The meeting hall was lit only by candles that were almost burnt out, flickering on their tired faces, but none of them complained.
"So that's what is happening regarding the prince…" Clara finished explaining the story as she slumped down into her royale chair at the end of the table.
"What do you plan to do?" Tin, the only other female on the team, asked.
"I don't know… I think I'll take it." She said with a diminished voice.
"Do you not think we should ask Fishy first?" Ziu shouted out, jumping up from his chair, "This is stupid to marry some random prince that came alone. What if he plans to burn us to the ground?"
"His intentions aren't evil, that much I know. I looked into the Rynad Kingdom and it seems that they are rich, but the king isn't well and the prince is unable to find someone to carry on the bloodline with. Thinking about it, it isn't a bad deal if it means we can trade with them."
"So what? You marry him so he forces you to have kids just so his kingdom continues?" Ziu spat in disgust as he spoke, "I know exactly what Fishy would say if he was here."
"But he isn't here!" Clara smashed her hand against the table as her head fell into her other, vacant, hand "Fishy isn't with us at this meeting! We need to take initiative and not always rely on him. He trusted me to do what was best for us. And I think this is it…"
Ziu sat back down in his seat as the room turned to look at him. Silmor, the dwarf, tried to speak but he closed his mouth when he saw Clara's resolute face.
"Is this really the best course of action?" The elder spoke from a small chair at the other end of the silent, weary room. The only person who was able to speak in this situation was him, Clara's Grandfather.
"I personally don't want my granddaughter married off to some random prince."
"I thought about it, and I think it is. This may be the only way we save the city. We need their money and the relations that came with it."
"But there must be other ways-" Ziu tried to shout but Tin grabbed his dirty sleeve, causing him to sit back down as he saw Tin's low face.
"As much as I believe that is true unless we suddenly get a load of unconditional money, we will all starve or freeze to death, just like before." Clara cried. "No one will come to our aid. This is how the city ended up in its state before, right, Granddad?"
The Elder didn't reply but slightly nodded his already sunken head.
Ziu wasn't aware of the state the village was once in. He joined the village late, under Fishy's order, and at that point, they had started to grow.
As soon as the Destroyer nest woke up, the village, which was once a comfy pitstop for adventurers, quickly became a deserted, polluted land.
# # #
The following morning, Clara arrived at the prince's room where she knew that he was awake. She didn't sleep that night, her mind was too unstable to think about sleeping. She placed her hand, ready to knock. She quickly debated it, but ultimately had no choice.
"I knew you'd be back." The soft-spoken blonde prince said.
"I told you I'd have my answer, and the answer is yes. I accept."
"Really?" The prince was just as surprised to hear. "Brilliant, we leave at noon!"
The prince closed the door as he proceeded to pack his things, leaving Clara to walk down the cold dark hallway by herself to get ready.
As she walked back to her house, she stopped by her neighbour, a house that was similar to hers, if not slightly larger, the house that belonged to Fishy. For some reason she walked up to his door as if expecting the barrier to suddenly fall, and for him to suddenly answer. She lifted her hand and pressed it against the door, clenching it in a gentle fist that was about to knock, but it collapsed.
The words she could barely say through the held back tears:
"Thanks for everything…"