(3 YEARS LATER)
Lorenzo Wystan, third prince and commander of the Royal Knights, at your service.
Today, my elder brother Leo, our king, had summoned both me and Lysander for a private discussion. It was rare for him to request such a meeting, which immediately cloaked the occasion in seriousness. Approaching the King's office, I felt a nagging sense of unease settle in my stomach.
Upon entering, I found Leo and Lysander already seated, deep in thought. The air was thick with tension, and the moment I stepped inside, their eyes lifted to meet mine.
"Sorry I'm late," I said, trying to inject some levity into the atmosphere as I closed the door behind me.
Leo glanced up, his expression unreadable. "No, you're just on time," he replied, gesturing for me to take a seat.
I pulled up a chair and joined them at the table, where the silence hung heavily between us—each glance shared was a question unasked, a thought unspoken.
Leo broke the silence by signaling to a maid who had been standing quietly by the door. "You may leave us now," he ordered sharply. The maid nodded and quickly exited, leaving us alone. Leo then turned to the guards stationed outside the door. "Make sure no one disturbs us, no matter what."
The guards gave a sharp salute and closed the doors, sealing us in a bubble of uncertainty. Once the sound of the door latch echoed in the room, Leo leaned forward, his gaze shifting between Lysander and me. He pulled something from his drawer, placing it on the table. It was a letter, the seal stamped on it unmistakable—the emblem of Nokturna, a kingdom renowned for its mystery and seclusion. The implications sent a chill through me.
"Isn't that the seal of Nokturna?" I asked, my mind racing to process what this could mean. Nokturna rarely interacted with other nations, and when they did, it was usually for reasons in establishing peace.
Lysander leaned in, his casual demeanor swiftly replaced with a look of serious concern. "What do they want?" he asked, his voice low.
Leo sighed, tapping the edge of the letter thoughtfully. "They want to form an alliance with us," he stated, the weight of this revelation clear in his tone.
"Wait—what?" Lysander and I echoed simultaneously, disbelief coloring our response. An alliance with Nokturna seemed unfathomable. With its vast territory and immense military might, the idea was almost laughable in its absurdity.
"It appears they want to introduce a tourism industry in their country, using ours as a reference. As part of that effort, they are proposing an alliance—and in return, they're offering military support for our nation," Leo explained.
Lysander scoffed, shaking his head incredulously. "Coming from a pacifist, that sounds ridiculous."
I was struck by memories of my one encounter with Nokturna's ruler, Augustus. During a formal ceremony—required of me as part of my duties—he had stood apart from the crowd, his striking white hair and piercing red eyes leaving an indelible mark on my mind. It wasn't merely his looks; his frosty demeanor had caused an unsettling chill that still haunted me. Augustus fit the description of an 'ice king' to a T, and I couldn't shake the foreboding I felt in his presence. He was relentless, fiercely determined to obtain whatever he desired, making him an opponent to be feared.
I pushed the memory aside, but it lingered like a shadow in the back of my mind. The thought of meeting Augustus on the battlefield was a nightmare I could only hope to avoid.
"Our country has maintained a stance of neutrality since the last great war," Leo continued, his voice steady but somber. "Because of this, we can't confidently claim that our military could withstand an attack from other nations. However, I've received reports of unsettling movements hinting at potential threats of war directed towards our country."
He paused, allowing the gravity of his words to sink in. Lysander and I exchanged a glance; the unspoken understanding was clear—our nation, Aethorador, was facing an uncertain and dangerous future.
"To be frank," Leo continued, unwavering in his gaze as he addressed us, "I'm grateful for Nokturna's offer. If they truly support our military as allies, then those plotting war might hesitate, potentially acting as a deterrent to the growing threats we're facing."
"But such a tale seems too good to be true—surely, there's a price to pay, right?" Lysander countered, skepticism creeping into his voice.
Leo nodded, his expression grave. "The condition—Nokturna requires a woman from our royal family to marry the Emperor as his Empress."
"Who would want to marry that ice king?" I scoffed, incredulous at the notion.
"If Nokturna is willing to resort to such lengths," Leo explained, "it's evident Augustus is intent on significantly transforming his empire. Learning from us could help him achieve that goal, and he's angling for access to our knowledge and strategies through marriage."
Lysander frowned. "But why the extreme measure? If it's merely about economic know-how, wouldn't there be other, less intrusive means to share that information?"
"It's more than just a trade of knowledge," Leo replied, leaning back in his chair for emphasis. "By marrying into our family, Augustus ensures a permanent connection between our nations. It's about securing influence and control, as much as it is about learning from us. This alliance could drastically reshape power dynamics in the region."
"But we have no women in our royal family. How would we fulfill this condition?" I interjected.
It was true; our lineage had an unusually high rate of male births, and most of us excelled in military pursuits.
"Right. This alliance presents numerous advantages for our country, and I wish to accept it wholeheartedly. But without being able to meet the condition?" Leo trailed off, contemplating the challenge.
"I know! What if we adopt a noble daughter and send her off to marry?" Lysander proposed, a light of inspiration flickering in his eyes.
"Can that truly fulfill the requirement of being royalty?" Leo countered. "We must proceed carefully, as we cannot afford to anger them and provoke a war."
Lysander nodded, acknowledging the point. "That is certainly wise."
"Wait, everyone knows Nerina, right? What if we adopt her and claim she is our long-lost sister?" Leo suggested suddenly.
The room fell silent, the weight of Leo's suggestion settling in the air. I could see each of us grappling with the implications.
"Nerina? No, she—" Lysander began, but Leo cut him off.
"—has an unknown background. Yes, she does. But she's been living with you for five years now. She has earned respect and trust from many within the kingdom. If we adopt her, she would become a member of the royal family in name and status. It might work," Leo stated firmly.
I considered the proposal, weighing its potential benefits alongside the complications. "Adopting Nerina would indeed allow us to meet the condition of marriage to a royal family member. However, we must ensure she is prepared for such a role and handle this delicately to avoid any backlash or unrest."
Reluctantly, Lysander agreed. "It's a feasible plan, but I doubt if she would accept it. Even if she agrees, Nerina would need to be properly educated in royal matters and presented as a legitimate member of the family. We also have to be ready for the public reaction."
Leo leaned forward, determination in his eyes. "If we proceed, we must thoroughly prepare Nerina. Her adoption should align with royal traditions, and we need to manage public perception with care. This is a significant step that could leave lasting effects on our family and our realm."
As we sat there, a mixture of worry and resolve filled the air, the weight of the decision we were about to make settling over us like dust in a sunbeam. The future lay ahead, uncertain yet ripe with possibility.
☾ ✮⋆˙( ၴႅၴ₊˚.₊˚.☾ ✮⋆˙( ၴႅၴ₊˚.₊˚.☾ ✮⋆˙( ၴႅၴ₊˚.₊˚.☾ ✮⋆˙( ၴႅၴ₊˚.₊˚.
"Lysander, I want to meet the girl," Leo said calmly while sipping tea.
His words felt like a weight pressing down on me. I can't directly disobey him as he is still the king. The decision to bring Nerina into the fold of the royal family wasn't something I took lightly. I knew it would drastically change her life and bring challenges I could only hope to shield her from.
I took a deep breathe before nodding, "I will bring her now but once she disagrees with this plan don't force or question her again. Now if you'll excuse me."
As I left the room, my thoughts were consumed by the implications of the decision. I had to find a way to explain the situation to Nerina carefully, ensuring she understood the gravity of the change without being overwhelmed by it. I needed to prepare her for the role she was about to assume and make sure she felt supported throughout the process.
I am a royalty and as much as I hate to admit, our obligation to protect our people comes first. I can't do anything but praise that she will be well taken care of once she's in the Nokturna's territory.
'I just hope that you'll reject this offer, Nerina.'