The brawny man gave a curt bow once he approached the king.
"The prince sends his regard, Your majesty. His Highness is busy with some matters, thus it wasn't convenient for him to journey. I'll receive the princess on his behalf."
He handed a letter with a grey seal and the king tentatively received it.
Once he read the content excusing the prince's absence, the displeasure on his face couldn't be hidden.
The entire royal assembly had gathered to receive the prince of Eragon, thus his absence was greatly disrespectful.
Cradya was not a miserly kingdom and even the neighboring towns and foes feared his authority, but this prince didn't seem to mind for anything.
A buffet had even been set to smoothen the rough edges between Eragon and Cradya, the rarest and most precious gifts had been prepared. But the prince had not come to acknowledge either the king or show regard to the princess. However, there was no opposition made. When one faced a stronger opponent, it was wisdom to be cowardly.
The kingdom of Eragon was superior, with brimming expanse of fertile land, the most precious resources, a military known for its undefeated record, and an invincible crown prince.
The gifting of the young princess to the crown prince of Eragon was only in respect of a truce. Otherwise, Cradya would be stomped to dust in the prolonged strife.
The mines in the mountain borders of North Aram, an uninhabited region between Eragon and Cradya, were said to have been fought over for decades between the two kingdoms. Centuries ago, the mines could be said to have been victoriously possessed by Cradya. Until decades later, the mines were pawned to Eragon.
The king of Cradya, Elric Attor IV, was a tyrannical ruler, unruly and egoistic. More ruthless than the previous Attor ancestors.
He battled with the troupe of Eragon for many years. Though his men went in their hundreds, they always returned in tens_ incapacitated. It went so for a while , till Cradya resigned to defeat and adopted an ambush instead.
Some tongues told they ambushed and massacred the miners and soldiers importing the thousand trunks of ores to Eragon. The ores were to be smuggled but suddenly the assailants went mad and charged towards their capital city to kill their own king. It was said the prince of death had cursed them to turn against their master and bring him king Elric's head. Other stories also told that the assailants were cursed to fight amongst themselves and chew on grasses like goats.
In the end, to appease Eragon, the king of Eragon had proposed for the princess of Cradya to be gifted to the crown prince in exchange for a truce.
At first they sought for the royal princess, but perhaps the king of Cradya found a way to save his daughter and sold off the adoptive princess in her stead.
It was however uncertain what use the first prince of Eragon would put the princess of ignoble birth to.