The journey continued and soon they arrived at the kingdom of Rylica. They was a grand escort waiting for their arrival all through the town and all the way to the royal palace, people couldn't wait to see the new princess that had married into their kingdom. They stared at the carriages rolled by hoping to catch a glimpse of the Princess.
The carriages stopped in front of the Royal palace. The King and Queen along with a few of the royals and several important members of the royal household were waiting to welcome the Seventh Prince and his royal bride. They might have been enemies in the time past still courtesy demanded they give a warm welcome.
Gwendolyn's heart was in a frenzy, still she forced a warm smile on her lips as she stepped out.
"Welcome Princess Guinevere, it's wonderful that you're finally part of the family" The King greeted her in courtesy. He wasn't overly courteous and neither was he distant. The warm smile on his face was quite welcoming but the rigid look in his eyes gave off a slight warning. It was true he was just like his son. A scary Old man that should not and could not be trifled with.
Gwendolyn bowed in response, her knees almost given her to the floor yet she kept her balance. "It's my pleasure. Your Majesty"
King Vuk nodded and turned to Arvcan "see your bride inside, there is ball this evening. You should rest before it's time"
Arvcan snorted and walked inside. His actions were rude but no body dared chide him for it. Gwendolyn could only follow behind him silently.
As she trailed behind him, she tried her best to look Dignified as possible—After all she was now assuming a duo Princess identity; Princess Guinevere of Greecia and Princess Guinevere of Rylica— Head held high, shoulders lifted and a poker face but her heart trembled in fear, anxiousness, caution and uncertainty.
She felt like a foreigner— no she was a foreigner, moreso one from an undesirable background, the way everyone looked at her reminded her of this fact. They might have bowed or curtsied to her as they walked by but the unwelcoming gaze in their eyes were could not be hidden.
Gwen didn't need the powers to read minds to be able to see the displeasure her appearance brought upon everyone in the palace.
She clenched her dress and followed after Arvcan nonetheless.
"Your Highness, your chambers has been prepared for your arrival, also the King request your presence at the court room." A middle aged man walked up to them at some point. He must be the Majordome, his relaxed demeanor and professional composure was there to show for the years of experience. Unlike other servants that had greeted them on the way, he didn't look at Gwen judgingly. His approach was neutral, not in any way obsequious nor lacking in respect.
"Take her" Arvcan coldly ordered the man, a second later he walked in an opposite direction. Gwen glanced at his retreating back and could finally understand the feeling of 'the devil you know is better than the angel you don't know'. With him around she was scared but had this slight sense of relief and easiness but now she felt like a wolf about to take a stroll in a lion's den.
"Please this way, your Highness"
Gwen exhaled softly then nodded and followed after him.
---
Arvcan pushed open the door and walked in. Just like he expected the King and Queen were in a meeting with the courtiers. All their eyes turned to him as he walked in.
"Prince Arvcan sit" King Vuk gestured to a sit closest to him. Sounds of displeasure echoed from some of the Nobles in the room but neither the King nor Arvcan were fazed by it. Arvcan took his sit as requested, he was less concerned about what the assembly would want to discuss, left for him he would not be in their midst but to save his father's face, he would have to bear the boredom and sit through the meeting.
The first in line was Earl Markhive, his question was probably the same in everybody's mind and probably why all the ministers were present today.
"Now that we have fulfilled the conditions of the treaty, what comes next?"
The Assembly took turn to murmur amongst themselves, it shows they all had the same questions in mind. Following the decision of the Council of Five had brought a lot of arguments and deliberation so naturally everyone was waiting to know, After all those ruffles what would come next? Were they supposed to just live like nothing happened?
King Vuk raised his hand and silenced the court.
"Nothing comes next" He said nonchalantly. It was no wonder where Arvcan got his nonchalancy from.
Nothing comes next?
"But Your highness_" Earl Markhive was cut off.
"The treaty was to stop an imminent war from happening amongst the two empires. The counsil of Five never intended it to be a mean to control either of the kingdom, so we shouldn't put our minds on it. We have completed our parts and that is what matters. After all we aren't the first Kingdoms to intermarry" King Vuk said with a tone that immediately brought an end to that topic, no one dared bring it up again.
The Minister in charge of External trade stood up next "How are we to attend to Trade offers from Greecia?"
The King thought about for a few seconds then turned to look at Arvcan. Arvcan felt his eyes on him so he looked up, he could already see his father's intentions even before hearing him say it.
He frowned waiting to refuse whatever his father was going to offer.
"I'll leave that to Prince Arvcan, not just the trade but any issues concerning this new alliance would be handled by Prince Arvcan"
Arvcan frowned and so did a few of the Nobles in the room. Queen Eleen couldn't sit still. This was what she had tried so hard to prevent. It hasn't even been a day since the marriage and her worst nightmare was coming to pass before her very eyes.
"Your Majesty, I don't think that is appropriate!" She voiced her displeasure but there was no one to hear her out. The King pretended not to hear it and no one was bold enough to help her repeat her words. Everyone feared the King as much as they respected him, when his mind is made up, trying to change it would only end at you shooting yourself in the foot.
Arvcan too refuted "I can't. The war at Bavaraks is at it's peak_"
"You will" King Vuk sternly ordered.
"I am too busy" Arvcan retorted.
"You will learn to have your hands full. It's one of the attributes of being a King" His father replied back.
Apart from watching the argument between the father and child, no one could join or interject in this arguments. except you had a death wish. Everyone was further silenced when King Vuk indirectly pointed out that Arvcan was going to be king. In the presence of King and future king, supporting either of them would be a mistake on your part.
Arvcan clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. He didn't want to argue with his father anymore but that didn't mean he didn't have a ton of things to say. He could only huff and look away.
The meeting continued in a stale mood. The committee members and state ministers were cautious of their words, no one brought up any topic that would further step on either the King or Arvcan's nerve further. Anyone that initially had an issue to discuss that concerned any of the topic that had already been touched trashed the issue without a second thought.
Once the meeting ended. Arvcan was first up from his sit but before he could leave the room he was called back by the King.
"Prince Arvcan stay"
"Father is there anything else?" He asked grumpily.
King Vuk rolled his eyes. Anybody would jump at the offer to marry the princess or become the next king but here he was being grumpy for getting the same offers shoved down his throat. He was being overly dramatic, the only person that didn't know that was probably himself.
"Stop being a drama king, You have a chance to make everyone that looked down regret their actions. Why do you want to throw it away?" The frown in his brows softened and a warm look grazed his face as he asked this.
Arvcan kept quite and didn't give a reply, he didn't have too cause the self criticism in his smile were louder than any words he could possibly have said.
King Vuk sighed "Loosen up a bit, Life could be more interesting than you know it. Let go of the past and enjoy the future."
let go of the past?
"I'll keep father's advice in mind" with this Arvcan turned and walked out of the hall. His face as rigid as ever. There was absolutely no proof he had even listened to anything his father just said.