Vincent had never witnessed anyone question the queen's authority, let alone with such calm resolve. Although it was obvious that the other man was holding back his refusal to comply, he thought it was interesting.
He couldn't help but feel a stir of amusement when Elliot Leighton, whose poise was barely intact, ventured to challenge the queen's choice. The way Elliot attempted to confront the uncontested was almost comical.
"Dare I ask, why am I being wed to him?" Elliot inquired, pointing at his direction, his voice as calm as he could manage, though there was a sharp edge lurking beneath the surface. Vincent was surprised that his ears and tail hadn't come up yet due to irritation.
With a look of astonishment and mild annoyance, Queen Charlotte raised an eyebrow. Her authority was rarely questioned, so Elliot's question's audacity was not overlooked. "Have you seen the state of your family's relationship?"
Vincent quickly grasped the situation, it was a marriage of convenience. The queen was using this union to resolve the centuries old feud between the Whitehalls and the Leightons. She wanted to establish a permanent peace between the two families by marrying off the remaining unwed heirs.
He understood Elliot's frustration all too well. The Whitehalls had always supported freedom of choice and equality, which were principles that were deeply ingrained in their family. They might be a family of Alphas, but they've never believed that their status makes them inherently superior. Vincent felt resentful at the thought of being used as a pawn in the queen's grander plan.
Vincent, though, dared not challenge the queen's authority. As long as it kept him out of the line of fire, he was happy to let Elliot seem foolish in the process. At one point, he had dreamed of finding a partner and falling in love the way it was supposed to be, naturally, free from the pressures of obligation. However the more he stayed in the queen's presence the more he realized that his future had already been decided for him. The path ahead, though not of his choosing, seemed set in stone.
As they left the palace, Vincent could hear Elliot grumbling under his breath, frustration still evident in his tone, he didn't even look at his way, too consumed by his own thoughts to notice. Elliot was so wrapped up in his personal dilemma that he failed to realize this was also a problem for him.
Vincent had always been an obedient son, raised to respect authority without question. He had therefore accepted the fact that he now had a fiancée for the time being. But what should he do as a good partner? After giving it some thought, he gave his butler instructions to pick the best flowers from their garden and make a bouquet. Despite the circumstances surrounding their impending marriage, Vincent took the time to write a letter to Elliot, carefully selecting his words to make the announcement as kind and genuine as possible.
Seeing Elliot's reaction earlier, he knew the letter would be received poorly, still, he thought, it wouldn't hurt to try. After all, making an effort to please his future partner felt like the right thing to do.
The news wasn't as warmly received by his parents as he had thought. Their reactions were significantly more powerful than Vincent had imagined, and they were more shocked than he had thought.
"I've also arranged a meeting with them tomorrow," Vincent informed them calmly. He had already sent two letters to the Leightons, one to his parents and the other, with the bouquet, to Elliot. "With both families present," he added, choosing his words carefully. In his mind, it was the right course of action. Allowing both families to meet and confront the reality of the situation felt necessary. After all, this was happening whether they liked it or not. Unless, of course, they wanted to risk incurring the queen's wrath.
They had no choice but to accept the arrangement, knowing any resistance would be useless.
The day of the meeting finally arrived, and the Leightons made their way to the Whitehall estate. When Elliot stepped out from the carriage, he was well-dressed in a light yellow suit that was well tailored to his slender body, paired with a white button-down shirt, and a yellow tie that accentuated his golden eyes. Not far behind were his equally gorgeous parents. His father, an imposing Alpha lion, exuded authority in his dignified appearance and his mother, an Omega cheetah like Elliot, moved elegantly.
They created a powerful picture of the Leighton family, composed and unflinching in the face of the day's stress.
With well honed grace, the butlers and maids welcomed them and led them into the estate. They guided the Leightons to the dining hall, where a lavish high tea had been prepared. A variety of beautiful cakes and sweets, each more elegant than the last, were spread out on the table. It was a considerate act intended to reduce the day's stress and offer some solace while they dealt with the uncomfortable situation that lay ahead. The aroma of fresh tea and baked goods lingered in the air, a small, yet significant, attempt to soften the weight of what was to come.
The air was still heavy with unspoken tension as they took their seats and got ready for what was about to happen.
"So," the Leighton matriarch broke the silence with a wry smile, "I think we can all agree that the queen has truly lost her mind."
Elliot, ever the snarky one, quietly laughed at his mother's remarks, providing a little break from the tense situation.
Vincent's mother, however, quickly interjected with a stern glance. "Let's refrain from disrespecting the queen, even in private conversation," she said firmly. "We all know this arrangement is ridiculous, but she's simply fulfilling her duty, even if it has led to... this mess." She gestured vaguely around the room, the weight of the situation clear in her expression.
"We have no choice but to follow her," his father added with a resigned sigh. "The wedding will take place, whether we like it or not. Unless, of course, we're willing to risk losing our titles and lands." He shook his head, clearly unsettled by the situation, but accepting the harsh reality.
"We need to find a way to compromise," Elliot's mother replied calmly, pouring herself a cup of tea. "Vincent will stay with us for a month after the wedding, then we'll allow him and Elliot to move into their own place."
Elliot's mother sighed, placing a hand on her forehead in exasperation. "I knew this was coming," she muttered. "They're of age, but you Leightons and your stubborn adherence to ancient traditions."
Elliot didn't seem as bothered by the idea of marrying him now, a stark contrast to the last time Vincent had seen him at the queen's palace. It was as if the reality of their situation had settled in, leaving Elliot to come to terms with what lay ahead.
Although he was not fully informed, Vincent was well aware of the Leighton family tradition. He was aware that only the Alphas with the highest status and authority ever married into their esteemed family. The Leightons' determination to uphold their position and heritage by cautious, calculated relationships was evident in this weighty tradition.
"Fine," his mother replied with a resigned sigh, clearly exhausted by the ongoing discussions. "But we will be in charge of planning the wedding." She hid a playful smile behind her tea cup.
Elliot's mother opened her mouth to protest, but then the thought of compromise stopped her. After a brief pause, she nodded in silent approval, acknowledging the need to find common ground.
Vincent had anticipated a far more tumultuous discussion regarding the queen's decision, perhaps raised voices, maybe even a tea cup being hurled in frustration, or someone getting clawed. Instead, to his surprise, the conversation remained remarkably civil. It was an unexpected calm, a contrast to the storm he had imagined.
Their parents decided to give them some space, so they stayed in the dining hall while he and Elliot took a walk in the garden.
"So, did you like my letter?" Vincent teased, testing the waters.
Elliot kicked a pebble and replied, "garbage."
"Yeah, I'm sorry." Vincent knew it had been a terrible move, but he couldn't help trying.
"I did like the flowers, though," he added, glancing around. "Your estate's garden is stunning." He paused, locking eyes with Vincent. "But that doesn't mean you're on my good side, Whitehall." Elliot pointed a finger at him. "I'm still not happy with whatever the queen decided."
Vincent raised his hands in mock surrender. "Me neither." At least they were having a decent conversation right now, he thought. "You can call me Vincent."
"That's a terrible dog name," Elliot replied snarkily.
So much for having a decent conversation. Vincent sighed, he turned away, choosing to completely disregard him for the rest of the day.