The carriage creaked along the cobbled road as the King sat across from me, looking out the window. Abruptly, he turned to me, his expression serious.
"Oh, I almost forgot," he said, with an air of nonchalance that seemed almost cruel. "Your wedding to Scarlett is set for the day after tomorrow."
My heart skipped a beat, my face blanching. "Wait—day after tomorrow? That's… that's in two days!" I stammered, searching for any sign of humor in his face.
"Yes, two days," he repeated, with an exasperated sigh. "You'll be ready."
"Is that enough time? I mean, I hardly know her," I protested. "Is there even time to prepare?"
"The only attendees will be key dignitaries and a few ambassadors," he said, brushing off my concern. "It will be small. Formalities, nothing more."
Small? This was my wedding, not some minor transaction. The idea of a marriage without family or close friends felt… hollow. The King noticed my troubled expression and continued.
"The real ceremony, with the kingdom present, will come later. For now, we need to be practical."
Something about his tone set me on edge. "Why is there such a rush, Father?"
The King sighed, folding his hands and looking at me thoughtfully. "It's a matter of politics, Roman. Positioning. Our kingdom's alliances and, most importantly, our survival."
"Positioning?" I echoed, feeling more in the dark than ever.
"Yes." His voice softened, almost pitying. "After the ceremony, you'll learn all about our delicate relationships with neighboring kingdoms. But here's the gist: our kingdom lies between two great powers, and we rely on a fragile balance to stay safe. Both of these powers have their eyes on Scarlett."
Two powerful kingdoms vying for influence over us… It sounded alarmingly like my homeland's own political tightrope.
The King's gaze turned distant, and he chuckled bitterly. "Think of it as being caught between… my right side and my left side."
I blinked, confused by his metaphor. "Your… sides?"
"Imagine the kingdom wedged between two giants, then," he explained, shrugging. "But giants that see us as something small and inconvenient."
"Oh," I said, understanding dawning. "So we're stuck between forces that could easily crush us."
"Exactly. That's where Scarlett comes in. She complicates everything." He leaned back, his fingers tapping thoughtfully against his knee. "She's a powerful asset, but she's feared. Both sides have requested we hand her over."
"But… why? She's just one person," I said, frowning.
"She's not just any person, Roman," the King replied, shaking his head. "Her reputation as a dragon hunter precedes her, and both kingdoms are wary of her strength. Imagine that power turned against them in battle."
A chill ran down my spine. It was hard not to picture her tearing through their ranks as she did with the dragon—a force of nature, beyond control.
"They see her as a threat," he continued. "There are some in my court who think surrendering her would be a blessing, a way to rid ourselves of that threat."
I struggled to find the words. "If we hand her over, we'll be left defenseless against dragons… and probably anger our neighbors."
The King nodded approvingly. "Indeed. Surrender her, and the balance shatters. Either way, we risk consequences."
"So… there's no winning here."
"There are those who say that if she can't be controlled, then she should be… removed."
My eyes widened. "You can't mean… kill her?"
"Yes, there are voices that loud in my court," he admitted, though he didn't sound pleased. "Too much power in one person frightens people, Roman. It can inspire them to extreme measures."
"But wasn't she made to hunt dragons? It feels so wrong, to throw her away just for being too powerful."
The King's expression shifted, and I caught a hint of admiration in his gaze. "So, then, what would you suggest?"
I swallowed, feeling the weight of the question settle over me. What would I do? Could I live with myself if I allowed such an injustice?
The words left my mouth before I could stop them. "I'll marry her."
The King's face softened, a flicker of warmth in his eyes. "A wise decision."
"But there's something I need from you, first," I added.
"Oh?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Promise me you'll protect her. Treat her as one of us."
The King looked out the window, his face reflecting both pride and melancholy. The carriage rolled on through the streets, and outside I saw townsfolk milling about, going about their daily lives.
"These people—all of them—they're my responsibility. Every citizen in this kingdom is my treasure," he said softly. "Scarlett included."
I studied his face, seeing a vulnerability there I hadn't noticed before.
"I won't take another child's life," he said, almost to himself. "Not if I can help it."
"Then perhaps you should make a kingdom where people like Scarlett aren't feared," I replied.
The King glanced at me, his lips curving into a faint smile. "You know, I could have you punished for that."
"You just said you wouldn't harm a child," I countered, crossing my arms. "And besides, I'm your son."
The King laughed quietly, and for a moment, I glimpsed a gentler side of him. "The original Roman was such a sweet, honest boy. It seems the illness has made you bolder."
"Oh, so you silence anyone who dares speak the truth?" I shot back, feeling a strange thrill in challenging him.
"Every King has burdens," he replied with a sigh. "It's the price of the crown."
"Perhaps it's time for a rebellion," I teased.
The carriage rumbled along, leaving the busy city streets and passing through the gates of the royal castle.
---
The next day, the castle buzzed with preparations. Although the ceremony was to be small, the pace felt relentless. I hadn't asked for such haste, but it seemed the court had decided that if they could rush everything through, there would be no chance for second thoughts.
Though the ceremony was supposedly simple, it felt daunting. I would escort Scarlett down the aisle, exchange vows, and… kiss her. My stomach twisted. A kiss?
"Wait… am I actually supposed to…?" I stammered to the royal advisor.
He gave me a bemused look. "Of course, Prince. It's tradition."
Nobody had mentioned this detail before. We'd hardly spoken, and now we'd be kissing in front of the whole court. I felt my face flush with embarrassment.
"It's not as if you're expected to perform miracles. It's just a kiss," the advisor chided, barely hiding his smirk.
"Just a kiss?" I muttered, feeling the weight of it sink in. Lovely. My first kiss was to be in full view of half the kingdom.
....