There was a knock at the king's study, and Aldrich looked up from the map he was studying. It was too early for the servants to be calling for his meal, and his schedule of meetings was etched in his memory, leaving him puzzled about who could be visiting at such an hour.
"Enter," King Aldrich called out, his attention returned to the labyrinthine sketch sprawled across his oak desk. The door creaked open, revealing Lydia, Queen of Havenby, framed in the doorway.
Lydia closed the door swiftly and moved to join her husband, her eyes alight with worry. "I heard from Thordin, Gideon's mentor," she spoke quietly, her lips pursed in mild concern.
Aldrich, abandoning the map, turned to face Lydia, his brow furrowing. "Is the lad causing any trouble?"
Lydia shook her head. "No, quite the opposite. The boy is just as we expected, a reincarnation. His abilities and stats at only level 3 are comparable to an almost a C rank adventurer. If he keeps on progressing like this, he will cross the threshold of the human limit before he reaches puberty."
Aldrich raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised. He had known that Gideon was likely a reincarnation, but the actual confirmation still sent a jolt through him. "Well, that's... certainly more than we had anticipated," he finally responded, running a hand through his graying hair.
"Yes," Lydia nodded, her lip catching between her teeth. "But Aldrich, that's not what concerns me. It's Marcella."
At the mention of their daughter, Aldrich felt his heartbeat quicken. "What about her?" He crushed back the wave of worry gushing inside him.
Lydia hesitated, her gaze flickering. "She's not taking the situation well. Matters are not improving, and we can't risk pushing her into a corner emotionally."
"Damn it," Aldrich hissed. The tension in the room was thick and palpable. His next few words came out weary, "Have you talked to her, Lydia?"
"We've talked, yes, but she's not... she's not happy. She shows utter disrespect towards Gideon," Lydia confessed. "I think she needs time... and maybe an understanding friend as well. She's a young woman, after all. They have a 14 year age gap, and his father killed the man she was supposed to marry."
Aldrich rubbed his temple, staring blankly at the desk. "And we have been too absorbed in kingdom affairs to properly console her, haven't we?" He murmured, facing the harsh truth.
Lydia nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. "But we can't neglect our responsibilities as her parents. Aldrich, do you... do you think we made a mistake forcing her into this matchmaking?"
Aldrich laced his fingers through Lydia's, his gaze softening. "We don't have the luxury to make decisions based on personal feelings. Gideon may not be Marcella's first choice, but he's a good lad. He's respectful, skilled and honest. He had no part in his father's actions. Besides, we need the alliance, and Gideon needs training."
As much as they wished for their daughter's happiness, they were monarchs first. And monarchs couldn't afford the luxury of personal choices all the time. Aldrich felt the weight of his crown heavier than ever.
"We should have faith in the boy. Pushing ourselves between them will only make her push back harder. As for the age difference, I do know of a way that we can solve that when we feel the boy is ready," Aldrich said, and Lydia raised an eyebrow.
"You don't mean to send him to the elves, do you?"
"I do, when the time comes. They can help with his age, and there is much that he can learn from him. Velemir came to me and my sleep last night and told me to nourish the boy. Knowledge is his true power, and if we foster him well, we will know bounty as our kingdom has never experienced before."
Lydia frowned, deep in thought, "That's a big gamble. The Elven forests are known to be perilous. And though the Elves are allies, they may not take kindly to us meddling with natural order."
"We don't have to decide this now," Aldrich sighed, placing a comforting hand atop Lydia's, "Let's give them time, let us see how they navigate through this. Gideon is smart and Marcella is compassionate. They both might surprise us."
Lydia nodded, her hand squeezing his in response. "I hope so."
This alliance had always been about a trade-off; a better future for their kingdom or their daughter's happiness. But like every good leader, they had made the difficult decision, praying that it wouldn't end in a way they'd regret.
"Trust in our deities who have given us this rare chance, Lydia," Aldrich stood up, pulling Lydia up with him, "Now, let us go dine with the new couple, that is, if she can get him to come!"
As they stepped out of the room, leaving the map and unspoken worries behind, Aldrich hoped for better days. For now, all they could do was hope that Marcella, Gideon and the kingdom could live harmoniously. Despite the odds being against them, they hoped for a miracle.
But as Aldrich had learned over the years of ruling, miracles were a luxury that Kings and Queens could seldom afford. Deep in his heart, Aldrich knew that the journey would be anything but easy. But in this world ruled by gods and balance, where magic and technology intertwined, he also knew that not everything was set in stone. If Gideon was really a reincarnation of an older soul, who knew what kind of storm he could stir up.
And as for Marcella – my beautiful, gifted daughter – Aldrich thought, his heart swelling with love, she is the brightest star that ever graced this kingdom.
With such individuals caught up in the whirlwind of this arranged match, he knew that their story would be something to watch.
And so, as the King and Queen made their way to the dining hall, they could only hope and pray. For their daughter, for the young prince and their kingdom. For harmony. For happiness. And maybe, just maybe, for that elusive miracle too.
Because in the world of Velum, with its enchanting landscapes and mystic power of the Divinity Crystals, with its intricacies of politics and alliances, anything was possible.