Aurora.
I sighed for the one hundredth time today, staring out the window with a lost expression on my face.
I had been thinking all day long about the offer from Prince Damien. Likewise, I could not lie, it was a very tempting one. It was as if he would even let us all go and our kingdoms could be united, instead of being taken over we would work together. It would bring so much growth to Manteca, but I still could not help but feel skeptical about it all. The deal, Manteca had little offer to such a successful nation like Astoria, in fact, we would be on the winning end mostly.
I had to accept, If I didn't only the Lord knows what was left in store for me, for us all.
My door swung open catching my attention as a guard stepped in and said, "Someone is here for you, Ma'am."
"For me? Let them in." I said and he nodded and left. Not a minute later, the door was once again swung open, and this time I was met with a familiar face.
I jumped off my bed in joy as I sprinted to where the person stood and embraced them, tears falling down my eyes.
"Irene! Thank goodness, I was so worried!" I breathed as I held her tightly, my heart calming down for the first time since I had woken up.
"I missed you too!" She said, her tears coming down as she held on to me dearly.
"How did you get here? Where did you treat me well? What about everyone? Has our kingdom been taken over yet?" I asked all my questions at once, and my heart once again flew to my mouth as I anxiously awaited her response.
"One question at a time, Your Majesty? Why don't we start from how I got here and my treatment." She said with a little smile and I nodded, clearly signaling for her to go on, and she took bait and continued.
"I was captured and brought here alongside numerous other people, soldiers, and even some members of the council too. However, this morning, I was suddenly informed after countless hours of begging, that the crowned prince would let see me him. He ordered I be brought to him, and when I got there, he permitted me to be your maid again." She said and beamed at me before engulfing me in another hug, but this time I was not all that happy.
If he was pulling all these strings for me that meant he truly did expect me to accept his proposal. It only made sense if I did and everyone would expect me to.
"As for how we were treated, I must say I was surprised! They treated us so well, we were kept in nice rooms, none of course as luxurious as the one you are in but quite decent. We were fed well and not maltreated or abused in any way. Our men injured from the war were all treated, Lady Natalie kept bitching that it was obvious the crowned prince wanted something, but I doubt it, maybe he is just as beautiful inside as he is outside." Irene continued, a dreamy expression on her face when she said the last part, as if she were imagining his face in her head.
I groaned, I feared my worst fear had come to pass, Lady Natalie ever being right about something. I hated to admit it, but she was so right about him wanting something, no wonder I had woken up in such a comfortable and luxurious room, been treated like a royal, and all my wounds had been cleaned and treated. It was all because he wanted me! I was the price, it was apparent now. If I wanted myself and my people to be safe and healthy, I needed to comply and give this match a chance.
"I fear Lady Natalie is right this one time," I said with exasperation and Irene paused, the color draining from her face as she realized what I had just said.
"No way…"
"Yes, I know, the horror! The crown prince also came to see me today, except he had an offer to make, a very tempting one at that." I explained further, her eyes widening as she unconsciously moved closer to me, her eyes urging me to go on.
"Continue." She finally said herself, paying immense attention.
"He said he had come to see me, but I was not comfortable at all, so I made him get to the point. He said he wanted to court me, to get to know me, and would love it if our kingdoms could be united, as one."
"What!?" Irene demanded, anger and a bit of helplessness entering her features, just how I felt.
"I know right? He said it was my choice, and he would respect whatever decision I made, but deep down I could not help but wonder if I even had a choice here. It was a given on this one, it's be mine or perish, but in a more gentlemanly way." I moaned feeling despondent. The more I talked about it, the worse I felt about myself.
"What are you going to do?" Irene finally said, her voice was calm and quiet, but I knew she was far from calm right now.
"I suppose accept? What else can I possibly do? The whole future of our kingdom is in my hands, Irene. Our lives are in my hands right now, one wrong move, and we would all end up dead or, worse, Alive."
Her eyes met mine, and we stared at each other for what seemed like hours but were just mere minutes, and there and then I had come to my decision. I did not care whether it was reckless or not, it was inevitable anyway so why delay? Sooner or later, I would have come to my senses and still settle for this at the end of the day.
It was better I did it now. With my mind made up, I stood up and walked out of the room, Irene at my back as I made my way down the hall, to make the decision that would determine our fate.