Mikhail rode side by side with Ilya in silence. He pretended not to notice that Ilya held the reins in one hand, and every so often held up his other injured and bandaged hand, examined it, and shook his head with a sigh.
The snow had started to fall again, and Mikhail glanced over his shoulder at the carriage traveling behind them.
"I wouldn't worry about her, my Prince. The Princess is very... resourceful," his aide reassured him as he scowled and glanced down at his hand again.
Mikhail frowned as well. He had intended to ride with her as he had the day before, but she had been very angry with him. She'd accused him of hiding the truth behind her abduction, and had been cold and silent toward him, except for when she politely asked him to ride with Ilya as the carriage was 'quite cramped', and had then slammed the carriage door in his face.
Thankfully, Ilya had not seen that exchange as he was having his hand tended to at the time. He would have certainly rubbed it in.
"She is ill-suited to the cold weather," he muttered, to which Ilya chuckled.
"With that much fire in her blood, it's a wonder the snow doesn't melt around her," he smirked. "I did not realize, of course, that she had thrown a knife at me. I thought she was merely tossing something which she wanted me to catch. You can imagine how shocked I was when..." Ilya's voice faded as he glanced up at the Prince and noted his expression.
Prince Mikhail had no intention of apologizing. Ilya had been his aide and servant for almost his entire life. He knew the danger of existing in such close proximity to the Emperor's right hand. He should always expect an attack.
Besides, it wasn't as though he purposely lied to the Princess or that didn't intend to clear up the misunderstanding eventually. It was Ilya's own fault for showing up unexpectedly a day early!
"You were supposed to wait for us in Napolanva," Prince Mikhail growled.
Ilya shrugged in response.
"Well, it certainly isn't because I missed you both so much that I thought I'd risk life and limb, disobey your orders, and almost face death in the street," he scoffed. "I have news from the capitol."
Mikhail tensed at these words. News from the capitol could only mean one thing. The Emperor would soon send for him.
"Say it then," Mikhail ordered.
"Nothing set in stone as of yet, but the delegation from Upper East Kelting arrived at court last week, and the Duke of Bardie's eldest daughter was among them. They made an offer-- something along the lines of half the farmland in Bardie for a royal marriage, and the Emperor's reply was that he would take no more wives this year or next," Ilya began.
"And?" Prince Mikhail prodded.
This was no sort of important news. East Kelting was a small area of little importance, and the Duke of Bardie had long been politically aligned with the throne of Unaria. The Emperor already had more wives than he had time to tend to them, and it was not surprising in the least that he should think twice before taking another.
"And they have been invited to stay at court. It is said that the Emperor will make a counter offer," Ilya continued.
Mikhail nodded slowly. Half the farmland in Bardie was no small amount of land, and with the promise of future deliveries of food to Vezda, it would be beneficial.
"Your name was mentioned at court several times," Ilya said, coming to his point at last. "You are brother to the Emperor, after all, and have yet to take even one wife. I am certain your brother would want your first wife to be the daughter of one of his close allies. So, perhaps congratulations will soon be in order."
Almost without thinking, Prince Mikhail glanced over his shoulder again. The carriage behind them was barely visible as the snow fell and blew. Ilya did not fail to notice the Prince's reaction.
"It is a bit disappointing, I must admit. I would have thought that after saving her life, and spending several days... and nights... alone with the Princess, the two of you would have improved your relationship somewhat," Ilya observed and smirked.
"How certain are you that he intends to offer me?" Mikhail demanded, ignoring his aide's teasing tone.
"I wouldn't have come if I wasn't quite certain," Ilya scoffed. "Besides, he sent a rider three days back to watch for your arrival."
The Prince scowled to himself. It wasn't completely unexpected. He had avoided such an arrangement thus far only due to the war. He had long known that the Emperor would use his marriage to not only bind him more closely, but as a tool to gain political advantage as well. He had hoped to avoid such an arrangement for as long as possible, but it seemed that he would have to deal with it sooner rather than later.
"If you'd like, we can move the troops back to the Highlands and send word that several witnesses escaped Chelblade," Ilya suggested.
"Possibly," Mikhail frowned. He did not glance over his shoulder, but his thoughts went to the Princess at once. It was much colder and less comfortable in the Highlands than it was at Bludston, and it was difficult to keep her safe outside of his own walls.
"Or..." Ilya continued. "You could quickly marry a girl of your own choosing."
Mikhail winced at the suggestion, though it was a valid idea. By law, without special circumstances, no man could marry twice in less than a year's time. Even if the Emperor insisted and with royal permission, he would have to wait at least six months between taking a first wife and a second. That might give him enough time to send the Princess to Frem. Once he married the Duke of Bardie's daughter, it would be nearly impossible to send the Princess away in secret. It would basically amount to living with his brother's spy. There was only one problem with that idea.
"I can't even begin to think of a likely candidate," he admitted.
"Really?" Ilya scoffed. "Because it would appear to me as though the ideal choice is riding directly behind us."
"The Princess?! Certainly not!" Mikhail snapped.
"Why not?" Ilya asked, turning in the saddle to glare at the Prince. "You could tell the Emperor that she missed her courses and you may be expecting a child already. He would gladly consent in that case. Any possibility of an heir and you would have to marry the mother for the sake of legitimacy. Besides, it would put to rest any objection raised as to how he handled the treaty with Vezda."
"She would never agree to-"
"She would no longer be a slave, but a Duchess and a Princess of the Empire," Ilya reminded him. "Any woman would desire such a change in status."
The Prince shook his head almost violently.
"I do not want to bind her to me in that way!" he insisted.
Ilya was silent for a moment, and the only sound was the muted clumping of the horses as they plodded through the snow-covered road. Mikhail had almost come to believe he would let the matter drop when his aide turned toward him yet again and cooked his head to the side as he studied him.
"I don't believe that," he said boldly.
"Don't believe what?" Mikhail growled.
"That you don't want to marry the Princess."
"It will be that much harder to fake her death and send her to Frem. There is a great deal of difference between the death of a member of the Emperor's family and the death of a slave, and besides, I have a great number of enemies. The girl would become a larger target than she already is, and finally, if you believe that the Emperor has forgotten the prophecy and doesn't wish to acquire the Princess for himself, you are gravely mistaken. He would never allow a marriage. He barely allowed me to keep her as slave."
"All of that aside, do you still say you would not desire to keep the girl for yourself?" Ilya insisted.
"It makes no difference, for none of those matters can be put aside," Mikhail muttered.
"That is answer enough, I suppose," Ilya sighed.
Silence fell between them yet again, and Mikhail fought the urge to glance over his shoulder to where he knew the carriage would be.
Marry the girl? For the second time that day he was being forced to consider something that made his stomach churn violently.
Queen Ora had explained Vezdan marriage rites to him once before.
They believed in an extreme form of fidelity: One man and one woman and only one marriage in a lifetime. You could only marry again in the event that your spouse died. A man was expected to pledge his heart, his loyalty, and even his life and no less was expected from a woman.
He could pledge nothing. He had no heart to speak of, and even his will was not entirely his own. As for loyalty, as a member of the royal family, he would be required to marry many times.
The Princess, however, like her sister, would be bound by her word for the rest of her life. Bound to a man who had given her nothing in exchange but lies. He could not even give her the comfort of a child.
No, marriage with the Princess must be avoided at any cost.
"So I suppose we'll head north again once we reach the troops?" Ilya asked.
"I will consider what to do," Mikhail growled, and then finally allowed himself a glance over his shoulder at the carriage.