We were let in very easily because Cassandra had requested to see her parents upon her return prior to leaving.
She wasn't looking forward to this conversation and wanted to get it over with.
Cassandra quickly went over a few tips about etiquette with the royalty, and for the most part, I understood.
Mainly, however, I would not be talking.
As we walked towards the set of two thrones, Cassandra changed her way of walking into a graceful and well-practiced stride.
I did my best to copy her in my own way.
On the throne sat a man with icy blue eyes and brown hair. He had on royal attire and wore a crown atop his head.
I was told that his name was King Ronald Balthazar Albatross
Next to him was his wife, Queen Evryss Victoria Albatross.
Supposedly, Evryss was from a noble house called Victoria. Which was where Cassandra and Isabella got their pink hair. It ran in the family.
But they had Ronald's eyes. Evryss had dark blue eyes.
I was astounded at the mature beauty of Evryss. She looked a lot like her daughters, except older and...
Also kind of pissed.
She wore a similar dress to the royal robes that Ronald had on as well as a smaller, yet just as imposing crown on her head.
We stopped near the thrones and both of us bowed to our knees.
"Cassandra! My sweet little girl! Did you have a nice trip to Lorelei?" King Ronald said.
"Yes, father! It was truly delightful! Although, I must question why a disgusting man like Gregorio Von Oswald is allowed to rule such a place. I believe Lorelei would do much better in the hands of someone less repulsive," Cassandra said.
"My sweet Cassandra... Please stand up. You have no reason to bow to us. And also, you raise a good point. He tried to push his son on you, didn't he?" King Ronald said.
"Indeed he did. I have no interest in marrying such a filthy and perverse man. But while in Lorelei, I found someone truly amazing!" Cassandra said.
"Hold on... What do you mean?" King Ronald asked.
"May I present to you...the man I wish to marry! He is the son of an Iratus. Surprisingly, he was being raised in the humble town of Lorelei," Cassandra said happily.
I kept my head bowed.
I was told to stay quiet unless spoken to.
"He certainly is well dressed... But...ehm..." King Ronald said hesitantly.
"Truly outrageous. You put yourself in danger by going to that horrid place and return after claiming to finally have a desire to get married...to an Iratus? This has to be some kind of joke. You, boy. Raise your head. I wish to truly see if you are an Iratus or if my daughter is playing a prank," Queen Evryss said.
Well. If I make it out without going to the gallows, I suppose I can call this a win...
{I haD a vEry simiLAR thoUght...}
Not now...
I looked up at Queen Evryss and she scowled at me.
"How revolting. He has the air of a filthy commoner. Dispose of this boy at once, Cassandra. Get rid of him. If you want to get married, we can find you a much more suitable man," Queen Evryss said.
Cassandra narrowed her eyes.
"Mother, I'll have you know that Mizik is a kind and wonderful gentleman. He saved my life on the way back here from one of my guards who tried to have his way with me. Mizik is the wielder of the legendary sword Vengeance as well. He is the son of Duke Ulysses Iratus and heir to the Iratus family estate," Cassandra said.
"And he's the son of that awful murderer from Kalsa!? Even worse! That man killed more of our soldiers than even the legendary sword users in Kalsa during that horrible war! He's a monster!" Queen Evryss said.
"A horrible war that WE started, mother. It has been almost twenty years since it happened. I believe it is time for us to move on. For YOU to move on," Cassandra said angrily.
"Sweet Cassandra..." King Ronald began.
"Shut up, Ronald! I'll handle this..." Queen Evryss said.
He narrowed his eyes at her quizzically as she spoke. Then Queen Everyss stood up and walked over to Cassandra.
She slapped her across the face.
Hard.
Cassandra placed her hand on her cheek and looked angrily at her mother.
"Cassandra. You will not speak to me in such a manner! Now, if you desire to be married off, you may have your pick of any of the eligible nobility in our country. OF our country. The Iratus household is strictly off-limits."
"And why should I be unhappy like you and father? What if I want to choose my own husband instead of being forced to marry a perverted slob who only wants to ravage my body!? All they do is mock and call me useless!" Cassandra said angrily.
The Queen tried to slap Cassandra again and she dodged it easily.
"Y-you...FOOL!!! Don't you know of our burden!? It is our duty as nobility to marry other nobles! I've told you so many times! We mustn't mix with the commoners! They would never understand us! Don't you see!? I have grown to love Ronald over the years and you will also learn to love whoever you are told to marry. You must understand that our suffering builds a better society for everyone! That is our burden. And this Iratus boy...he will not help us build anything! He's useless and pathetic," Queen Evryss said.
I could see Cassandra shaking with rage.
She glared daggers at her mother and clenched her hands into fists.
"Now then, Cassandra. Calm yourself and throw this trash out of our beloved castle. Better yet, since he is the son of Ulysses, perhaps we should have him executed," Queen Evryss said coldly.
"SHUT UP!!! SHUT THE HELL UP!!! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING AT ALL, DO YOU!?!?" Cassandra screamed.
Queen Evryss was taken back by the outburst and stepped away.
"Suffering? Burden? Bullshit!!! What about the people on the streets begging for money!? People who go hungry every night because they can't get anything to eat!? What about the people who are enslaved by the underground guild!? Locked in dungeons, forced to endure merciless torture at the hands of inhuman monsters!? What about the people who gave their lives for this country!? All the while we live in the lap of luxury with everything we could ever want and need! WHAT ABOUT THEM, MOTHER!?!? WHAT IS BEING DONE FOR THOSE PEOPLE!?!?" Cassandra said.
"Cassandra! Do not speak to your mother that way!" King Ronald said sternly.
"Tch...some mother you are... Forcing your ideals on others like this. You have no idea what true suffering is. You have no idea how much I've suffered living under your tyranny. And besides...you haven't seen the pit... The horrifying pit..." Cassandra said in a low tone.
"The...pit...?" Queen Evryss said.
"Ahem. Changing the subject. I have a solution for you. This title of Second Princess has brought me nothing but pain and sadness. I am the overlooked and forgotten child. The spare in case something happens to Isabella. Mizik will not ascend the throne as my husband. Actually, who I marry is of no concern to anyone since our family holds all of the power in Albatross. If my title prevents me from marrying Mizik, then perhaps I should do without it," Cassandra said.
Queen Evryss was stunned in disbelief.
"Cassandra, you are not overlooked! It's just that-"
"What, mother? If I'm not overlooked, why do you keep forcing me to marry low class nobles from garbage families? Am I not worth more to you? Why do I not go to classes with Isabella? Because I'm not as smart as she is? Because I'm not as talented as she is with negotiations, acting, leadership, or language...? And the list goes on. It's like I've simply been abandoned. Why am I forced to live in her shadow, mother? Am I not my own person? Do I not have my own unique talents and abilities? Likes and interests? I DON'T EVEN HAVE A PERSONAL GUARD LIKE WALTER TO PROTECT ME, MOTHER!!! NOT EVEN A SINGLE ATTENDANT!!! WHAT DOES THAT SAY!?"
Queen Evryss remained silent.
"I may have a small number of guards working under me, but they are all weak by comparison to Walter. Some of them look hungrily at me and I wonder, sometimes, if one of these days they'll all try to violate me just like one of the men assigned to protect me tried to do on my journey from Lorelei! Why do these people work under me!? Why are Isabella's guards do much stronger and well-behaved!? WHO AM I TO YOU!? IS IT SUCH A CRIME THAT I JUST WANT TO BE HAPPY!?!? IS IT A PROBLEM THAT I WANT TO BE LOVED!?"
"You... I... We... C-cassandra! If you need better guards, we can always just-"
"I DON'T NEED BETTER GUARDS, MOTHER! I NEED TO BE LOVED!! I need...to be looked after...cared for! Isn't that a basic necessity for any human being? Don't we all long to be loved by someone else? Why can I not have Mizik?" Cassandra said.
Evryss was once again silent.
"Cassandra, please. We cannot simply give you to someone that we don't even know! How long have you known this boy? A week? Surely you know that he might not be trustworthy..." King Ronald said.
Cassandra covered her face with her hand.
"Gaaah....this is so familiar! Where have I seen this!? The hypocrisy is maddening! Father, do you personally know these men you've been trying to have marry me?"
"I...I suppose...I don't, actually..." King Ronald said sadly.
"Ronald! Don't agree with her!" Queen Evryss said angrily.
He sighed and looked at her with tired eyes.
"Why, Evryss? Does she not raise a good point? She had about fifteen of the damn things..." King Ronald said.
"Grr...YOU! BOY! ARISE!!" Queen Evryss shouted at me.
I slowly stood up and straightened myself.
"Look at you, trying so pathetically to look dignified. What are your intentions with my daughter!?" Queen Evryss asked.
"Mother! How dare-"
"SILENCE, CASSANDRA! LET HIM SPEAK!" Queen Evryss shouted.
"I guess if I had to put into words..." I said.
I looked at Cassandra and worry crossed her face.
I smiled at her.
"I just want her to be happy. From what she's told me, her home life is miserable. I've never met such a woman before. Someone so genuinely deprived of love and purpose... I might not have much to offer her, but if I can make her happy, I think I would say it's worth more than any amount of status, money, or influence. I mean...is it wrong for her to want happiness?" I said.
"M-mizik...MIZIIIIIK!!!" Cassandra said.
She hugged me and started crying on my shoulder.
"H-hey! Hold on! Your parents are still here! Cassandra!!!" I said.
She didn't listen to me and continued wailing and holding me tightly.
"Come now, Cassandra... You mustn't act this way... Where is your dignity!? What happened to you!? You were so proud and dignified a few months ago! Why did you change so suddenly!?" Queen Evryss said angrily.
"Would it kill you to show her some genuine love?" I asked.
"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME IN SUCH A WAY! THE RELATIONSHIP I HAVE WITH MY DAUGHTER IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, YOU FILTHY IRATUS COMMONER!"
"Ugh...maybe not. But what kind of parent looks at their crying child and says something like that? Don't you have a heart? Or is it as cold as stone? Besides, you don't know me. You don't know a single thing about me or the life I've lived," I said.
"And what do you know about parenting!? Have you fathered a child? What kind of treatment did your father give you? And what about your mother!?"
Oh. If only you knew.
"My mother died minutes after giving birth to me. And my father raised me by himself. He taught me how to survive in this world. And you know what? I've always been told that the few minutes my mother spent with me were the happiest of her entire life. The amount of love she had for a baby she didn't even get to raise is probably more than you've given anyone in your entire life. I suddenly feel ashamed to have been born in this kingdom. Because look at the monsters running it. You two are heartless. How can you treat your daughter like this?" I said coldly.
I saw King Ronald bury his head in his hands.
He began silently weeping as Queen Evryss glared at me with pure hatred.
"You foolish boy... You think just because your father is a Duke...THAT YOU CAN SAY SUCH THINGS TO US!?" Queen Evryss said.
"No, your Majesty. I really don't care about any of that. It might surprise you, but I only care about Cassandra. Is it a crime to be honest? If everyone just sits here and tickles your ears, how do you better yourselves? That's just something my father taught me..."
Cassandra had already dropped to her knees in front of me.
She held onto my legs and silently cried.
Occasionally whimpering.
"I'm...so lonely... I don't want to be alone... I don't want to go back...I cant go back..." Cassandra said.
The Queen sighed.
"She reminds me of my younger self..." Evryss said.
"Is there something wrong with that?" I asked.
She stared at Cassandra for a moment and shook her head.
"Yes... I hate it. I wept the same way in my weakness after my older brother was slain in battle...by your father..." Evryss said.
I suddenly understood why she hated my Dad.
"Ulysses killed your brother?" I asked.
Evryss nodded sadly.
"During the war. I've always hated him for it..." Evryss said.
"That's war, isn't it? People go to war and don't come back. I might not have a lot of life experience, but even I can understand that from what my father taught me. Still, I'm sorry to hear that you were hurt by someone so close to me... But can I make up for it?" I asked.
"What could you possibly do...? How could you ever erase that crime?" Evryss said.
"By bringing your daughter happiness. I can't raise the dead, but I can make Cassandra smile. Is her smile important to you?"
Evryss stayed silent.
I reached down and gently grabbed Cassandra's hand.
"Please don't cry, Cassandra. I don't like it," I said.
She looked up and smiled at me.
"I would rather not be a Princess...only if it means I can be with you, Mizik... If I have to, I'll run away! We'll disappear and never return. Anything is better than this miserable lonely life I've lived..." Cassandra said.
"Hold on! I've heard enough!" Ronald shouted.
We looked at him and I could also see tears forming in the Queen's eyes.
"Cassandra, if you want to marry that boy then go ahead and do it. You can stay Second Princess. Just please don't leave us..." He said.
Cassandra bowed her head to King Ronald.
"Thank you, father! This is all I've ever wanted. I promise you that it won't cause any problems," she said.
"Of course. This boy has a good head on his shoulders...and if what you say is true, he's the wielder of Vengeance. I want to see proof of this later, but as far as I'm concerned, you two are now engaged to be married. Now, let's discuss the specifics... Cassandra, you are currently fifteen. Nearly sixteen. And this boy is...?" Ronald said.
"I'm fourteen. My birthday was around two weeks ago," I said.
"You've only just become a man, then. Well, if you can wait a year, then we can have the wedding one week after you turn fifteen. This will be a test of your determination. Are these terms acceptable?" Ronald said.
Before I could respond, Cassandra spoke.
"Absolutely not. I won't wait that long. Why should he have to prove himself further? I want Mizik to be my husband as soon as possible!" Cassandra said.
"Cassandra...please! This is for your own good!" Evryss said.
"I've had enough of you telling me what is for my own good! I accept the good and the bad with Mizik no matter what it is. Besides, he won't be the next King, anyway. Why should it matter?" Cassandra said.
"Very well, I suppose we could schedule it for...maybe next month? You'll probably be sixteen by then, so you can consider it a birthday gift," Ronald said.
"Why are you just letting her have her way like this, Ronald!?" Evryss said.
"Because she deserves to know that we really do love her. If it's a mistake, it'll be a hard lesson for her. Also, by my power as King of Albatross, I grant Mizik the title of Baron. Now, he's full nobility even if he's an Iratus. Nobody will be upset and we don't have to hear any more complaining!" Ronald said angrily.
I guess I'm a Baron now...?
"She's still a Princess! You can't just give her to a lowly baron-"
"She's the Second Princess. She's in line for the throne after her sister. Besides, if something does happen to Isabella, we can just teach this boy how to lead while working on Cassandra. I'm sure it won't be hard... He certainly taught US a lesson!" Ronald said angrily.
"But...to an Iratus!? Truly!?" Evryss said.
"Ugh...by the gods... YES, EVRYSS! TO A BLOODY IRATUS! Is it really that much worse than the garbage that's been harassing her!? Have you seen the nobility in our country? How many of them would you trust to marry Isabella? Or do you not love our daughters equally? Because I know I'm already guilty of that sin..." Ronald said.
Evryss went silent again.
"We should stop playing favorites, Evryss. Look what it did to her. She deserves to be happy, too," Ronald said.
Then Cassandra smiled at them.
"I am grateful to you both for seeing things my way. Mizik is a truly amazing man and I love him more than anything else in the world. I know he'll treat me well!" Cassandra said.
"Fine... I suppose I'm outnumbered here. I'll concede defeat for now, Mizik. But be warned... If you harm my daughter in any way..." Evryss said.
"Mizik will so no such thing. He and I have already fallen deeply in love with each other!" Cassandra said proudly.
"Is this true, Mizik?" Ronald asked.
I took a deep breath.
"Yes. It is. I love Cassandra!" I said.
Cassandra's face lit up with joy and she hugged me again.
"I love you too, Mizik! More than anything!"
"Far be it from me to destroy such a pure love. Cassandra, dear, I just want you to be happy. If marrying this boy is what you want, I can agree to that. What about you, Evryss?" Ronald said.
"Ugh...it pains me to admit it, but I would rather see Cassandra happy than suffering alone. It reminds me too much of my younger self... I'll accept the terms on the condition that Mizik must work as hard as he can to ensure Cassandra's happiness. Get to it!" Evryss said.
I bowed my head to her and then the two of us left.
Cassandra hummed happily as she walked next to me.
"I'm engaged to Mizik~! This is a dream come true!" She said.
I just smiled at her as we walked.
{You'Re RuIning evRYThing...}
Am I not allowed to be happy either, Warmage?
{ThaT'S nOT What I MEan!!!}
I decided to ignore him for now.
I was feeling too good to let anything bother me at the moment. And soon... I would be married to the sweetest and most beautiful woman in the kingdom!