I turned to the door as Lord Erris led the four beastmen back into the room. Like myself, they had been polished, groomed, and dressed for the evening event. Compared to their rough appearances earlier, they were almost unrecognizable. The four generals looked uncomfortable wearing the Vraynian style of clothing, but it didn’t affect how striking they all looked.
Andrian quickly pushed past the other three and knelt down before my chair. With his long auburn mane tied back, I could see his handsome face more clearly, and I could have sworn I felt my heart skip a beat.
“Falyn,” he breathed, “You… you look incredible.” I felt my face grow hot at his compliment and I wondered if he’d bothered to look in the mirror before saying that. The Palace servants had dressed him in shades of blue, navy against sky, and if anyone looked incredible, it was him. I missed my voice at that moment. I wanted to tell him how beautiful he was, but I could only stare at him and marvel.
“Excuse me General Andrian,” the First Prince interrupted with a frown, “but I think that’s enough of that sort of thing. We’re trying to sell the nobles on this marriage treaty and that kind of behaviour is not going to help our cause. You’re going to give people the wrong impression.”
Rastari let out another one of his booming laughs and said, “My dear Prince, I believe it is you who has the wrong impression. We discussed it after you left, and I will be withdrawing from my role in the marriage treaty.”
“You’re joking right?” the First Prince asked him without a hint of humor in his voice.
“Not at all,” Rastari replied lightly, “Afterall, if you humans can change the marriage partner at the last minute, why can’t we?” He spoke in a teasing tone, but the First Prince definitely wasn't in the mood for such things.
“Prince Elantro,” Shidah jumped in, “Please don’t look so concerned. We speak only of changing the partner, not a withdrawal from the peace treaty. It was decided that it would be better for all parties involved if Andrian were to take Rastari’s place. Since your side was able to make a change to the terms of the marriage, there is no reason why we can’t as well. Besides, wouldn’t it be far more convincing for your people if we present a ‘love at first sight’ scenario, rather than a political marriage? The results are the same, but perhaps the perception would be different.” Shidah gave the First Prince a meaningful look as he said that.
Love at first sight?! Those words felt like an electric shock to my system. The idea didn’t bother me at all, but I was worried Andrian wouldn’t like it. Would he be okay with pretending to be in love with me on top of everything else? He’s already doing so much for me.
I felt a hand grab mine and give it a gentle squeeze. I looked at Andrian and he gave me a reassuring smile before asking, “Are you okay with that Falyn? We discussed it while we were getting dressed and concluded that it would be easier to call it love at first sight than to risk bringing up our past, especially since your secret trips to the Beastlands were technically a violation of Vraynian law.”
“You’re speaking as if I’m just going to allow that to happen,” Prince Elantro cut in with a displeased look.
“Well, my dear friend, I don’t think you get a choice,” Rastari answered with a hint of warning in his otherwise friendly voice. “Let me be clear. We approached you with an offer of peace that will save your little nation from an endless cycle of sending your soldiers to slaughter. From what I can see, your people framed us for crimes we didn’t commit so you could invade our nation even though you could never hope to defeat us. Despite all of that, we have offered you peace, an end to a war you started, requesting only a marriage treaty as a show of good faith in place of reparations. All we're asking for was some assurance we won’t be unjustly attacked again. We have treated you with consideration and respect, while you allow your so-called nobles to insult us, belittle us, and continue their talks about wiping us out. Did you ever even consider punishing the Duke of Ramport for his little stunt? No, of course you didn’t, because you’re too afraid of him and your hateful little brother. You’re so concerned about protecting your precious throne that you allow the nobles to run rampant and do whatever they please, regardless of who it hurts.”
I was shocked at the sudden anger that creeped into Rastari’s voice as he spoke. He had seemed so good natured and quick to laugh that I hadn’t realized how much rage he felt below the surface. I realized now that the laughter was his way of holding back from losing his temper from the obvious injustices being done to him. The First Prince turned pale as Rastari spoke and was struggling to come up with a response when Rastari continued his barrage.
“We have done everything in our power to ensure this treaty goes through and now you speak of what you will allow us to do? Andrian will take my place in this marriage or this marriage will not happen. You can tell whatever stories you like to get your people to accept it, but I will not accept that you humans can do as you please but we must beg for your permission. Besides, you were so concerned with making sure you weren’t forcing the boy, but have you asked him what he wants? I can assure you that we offered him a choice in this.”
The First Prince glanced in my direction, his eyes resting on my hand, which was still being held by Andrian. The frustration in his face was clear.
“Julien,” he said to me, “I understand you are happy to meet an old friend, but do you really want to be married to him? General Rastari wouldn’t expect a real marital relationship from you, but this would be a completely different scenario. Do you understand the position you’re putting yourself in? More importantly, do you understand the position you’re putting me in?”
The position I was putting him in? I had spent years being abused by my father before he threw me away and the Second Prince made it clear he would enjoy seeing me suffer before I died if I didn’t behave. The First Prince may have stepped in and offered me a choice, but he was still asking me to accept a loveless marriage in a foreign nation to a man that wasn’t even human. I felt a flash of anger at his selfishness. I had gone along with everything he asked of me. Why was this too much to ask? The humans changed the marriage partner, why couldn’t the beastmen?
“Hmmmm… Prince Elantro, does it perchance bother you that you’d have to tell your people that a human actually desired to marry into the Beastlands?” Coraggio asked in chastising a tone. “You were fine with the marriage, fine with a political marriage, and fine with allowing a man to be forced by his own father to take his sister’s place, yet you complain now that we have found a way for both parties in the marriage to actually be happy in it? It sounds to me like you agreed to peace because you’re afraid of us but you still think of us as below you.”
“Yes, it certainly does sound like that,” Rastari agreed, “Well why don’t we make it simple. You can tell your people it’s a love match or you can tell your people we are still at war. Seems fairly simple doesn’t it? I don’t see how you’re in any worse position than you were before. You’re already announcing that the Duke of Ramport didn’t see fit to send his daughter, despite your Royal decree, so how much could it hurt for you to also tell them that our side found a better suited match in light of that change. Is your position so precarious? I thought you were the King chosen by the Gods.”
Ganged up on by the generals, the First Prince threw up his hands. “You should be well aware that it isn’t that simple. They’re looking for an excuse!” he shouted. After a pained expression passed across his face, he took a deep breath and continued, “I’m trying to end a war that should have never started in the first place and no one is making it easy for me! My brother pretends to support me then rallies support with claims of protecting the ‘kind but foolish’ Crown Prince, consolidating his power but saying it’s for my own good. The Duke of Lindenfort publicly accused me of trying to sell Emma de Ramport to be raped by animals, and then the Duke of Ramport used his other child as a sacrificial pawn to sabotage my efforts and disgrace me in front of the nobles. My father the King won’t take any sort of stand at all and now you’re threatening to break off negotiations if I don’t agree to your new terms. And I have never once treated you like you were below me, not once. I just don’t want to add any more complications and what you’re suggesting is exactly that.”
Andrian stood up after the First Prince had finished speaking, keeping a tight grip on my hand as he did. The First Prince no longer looked like a powerful and majestic figure to me. He was just a sad, frustrated man who wished someone would be on his side. Seeing him like that tugged at my heart a little because I knew what it felt like to feel alone. Andrian let out a small sigh before he began to speak.
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“Ah, Prince Elantro, we all get what you’re saying, but this is an opportunity, not a hindrance,” he said. The First Prince went to answer him, but Andrian held out his hand to stop him. “Give me a chance to explain.”
The First Prince considered him for a moment before gesturing for Andrian to continue.
“One, you think that the nobles will accuse us of the very same tricks that they, themselves, have been pulling. Two, you’re concerned that our childhood connection will be discovered and potentially reveal something you don't want revealed just yet, correct?” he asked with a face that indicated he already knew he was right. Taking the First Prince’s look of displeasure as confirmation, Andrian continued, “We talked about it while we got ready and we all agreed that we need to avoid bringing up Falyn and my past because it would create far too many questions. But what if that weren't the case? What if Julien de Ramport, raised in quiet isolation due to illness, not neglect, heard that his precious older sister was being ordered into an engagement when she already had someone else in her heart and decided to take action? With both his family and nation in his heart, Julien volunteered to take his sister’s place in the marriage. That much has already been established anyways as what you will tell the nobles. But then, during his first meeting with us, we fell in love at first sight and I begged Rastari to let me take his place. My dear friend agreed because he couldn’t get in the way of me finding my mate and you, the gracious Prince, were delighted that your subject could enter into a love match that will still serve your purposes.”
“Haaah, fine,” the First Prince conceded, “I can see your point, but have you considered that Julien might not want to play lovers with you?”
The First Prince looked at me expectantly, like he thought I would protest alongside him. But I had no hesitation in the matter at all. As long as Andrian’s mate wouldn’t mind, it was fine with me. I gripped his hand tightly. Seeing him smiling reassuringly at me, I realized I would likely enjoy pretending to be lovers with him. His kind eyes, handsome face, and those strong arms that held me close whenever they could. I wanted it all for myself. It was a feeling I’d never felt before. But how could I, someone so pathetic and disappointing, ever be so greedy as to try to be an important person to someone like Andrian? I’d only been reunited with him for part of a day, yet these odd feelings were already so strong. I wondered what it would be like if he kissed me. If it were any other man, I was certain I’d hate it. But with him, I thought it might be nice.
My cheeks turned red as I felt instantly ashamed for having such thoughts, but I still managed to give the First Prince a small smile and nod. I don’t know what he saw as he looked at my suddenly blushing face, but his own face went through a very quick progression from dubious to puzzled before finally settling on amused acceptance.
“Okay, okay. I withdraw all objections,” he said with a laugh, “I’ll make it work. I can see now that no one will doubt that story.” He shook his head and continued to chuckle as he watched us.
What the hell does he find so amusing? Well, at least he seems to be feeling better about this.
The First Prince soon informed us it was time to depart for the banquet hall, and Lord Erris in a formal looking black and gold robe stepped forward to escort us. He said we should all enter together and that he would take care of things from there. He started every formal banquet with a Royal address and this one would be no different. I started getting more and more nervous the closer we got. I had never attended such a large formal banquet. The birthday banquet that my father insisted upon was attended by just the southern Lords, and only the ones who were completely loyal to the Duke of Ramport. Come to think of it, I was pretty sure I’d never been in a room with so many people before, let alone a group of insidious nobles who were chomping at the bit waiting for one of us to make a mistake.
I knew I needed to stay strong though. The four beast generals would be under far worse scrutiny than I, so I couldn’t let myself be a hindrance to them. Seeming to know what I was thinking, Andrian squeezed the hand he still hadn’t let go of. When I turned in his direction, he was already looking at me and smiled kindly at me. My heart felt lighter but somehow started beating faster. How long has it been since I felt like I had someone on my side? I hope he stays by my side for a long time…
The other nobles must have already been inside the banquet hall because there was no one other than the Palace knights and servants milling about in the hallways. We stopped in front of an enormous set of rounded doors and the First Prince turned back to us.
“Ready?” he asked us. I wasn’t, but I nodded alongside the four beast generals. Seeing that, the First Prince turned to a servant who stood at the doors and commanded, “Announce us.”
“Yes, your Highness,” the servant quickly responded before two knights opened the large doors without being given any instruction. When the doors opened, a cacophony of sounds were suddenly audible. Clinking glasses, a small orchestra playing a lively song, and the voices of the nobles laughing and chattering away could be heard. The servant whispered to another servant just inside the door who nodded and stepped up onto a small podium.
“Lord and Ladies!” he called out in a powerful baritone. The room immediately fell silent at the sound of his voice. “His Highness, First Prince and Crown Prince, our future King Elantro de Vray has arrived!”
The room erupted into cheers as the First Prince entered. He waved to the crowd and I could hear voices calling out to him, trying to grab his attention and ingratiate themselves. The voices quickly died off as Rastari stepped into the room behind him. If the First Prince was like sunlight in his suit of gleaming shades of gold, then Rastari was like the darkness of night, dressed in silky black on black. His orange eyes gleamed, bewitching and completely inhuman, highlighted by a swirling orange design on the collar of his shirt.
All that could be heard in that enormous hall were gasps and hushed whispers as many of the nobles saw a beastman for the first time. Rastari’s nostrils flared for a moment and I recalled what he had said before. I wonder if he’s smelling their fear. Can he smell other emotions too?
“My dear friends and esteemed guests,” the First Prince said to the crowd, “It is my delight to introduce you to General Rastari of the tiger tribe of the Beastlands. As you must certainly be aware, we are gathered here to celebrate his intended marriage to Emma de Ramport, daughter of the southern Duke.”
Whispers erupted through the crowd at his words. They certainly knew the purposes behind the party, but the nobles were still shocked now that they had seen the beast general in person. Amidst the hushed whispers I caught a few words here and there like ‘monster’ and ‘selling his own people’. Rastari stood proud and unbothered by those words, even though I was certain he could hear more and far worse things than I could.
“I must inform you now, however, there has been a change of plans,” the First Prince continued, ignoring the harsh whispers. “When my Royal decree reached the Duke of Ramport, I’m certain in his heart of hearts that he desired to obey me. However, his daughter’s heart was promised to another and I, as his caring liege, could not bring myself to force the southern Duke’s daughter to leave the man she loved for sake of my marriage treaty."
The whispers quieted at that. He’d caught their interest now. Other than the odd rustling of clothing, the room was completely silent awaiting his next words.
“I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. You might not be aware, but the Duke of Ramport also has a son. Due to his health, the Duke’s son has not made his debut in society, preferring to stay in a quiet wing of the Duke’s estate, remaining mostly unknown. But out of love for his precious sister he stepped forward, volunteering to take her place.”
The crowd exploded into chatter when he said that. The Duke of Ramport having a secret son was news to the vast majority of them, and they were shocked that any human would volunteer for such a fate. The First Prince held out a hand and silenced them once more.
“Julien de Ramport came to the capital for love of his sister, willing to marry our General Rastari here, but that’s not the whole of the story. For when he arrived, he found that love was waiting for him in another form. Lords and Ladies, our esteemed guest General Rastari shall not be Julien de Ramports marriage partner. In fact, due to such unexpected circumstances, we shall proceed with the marriage treaty with two new candidates who shall marry not for politics and peace, but for the joy of their union." He stopped for a moment to let his words sink in. The crowd was held enraptured by his natural charisma, waiting to hear more of his story. "Before I continue any further, let me introduce to you General Shidah of the bear tribe and General Coraggio of the wolf tribe.”
At his words, Coraggio and Shidah entered the room. Not just a few of the women present screamed at the sight of Shidah’s towering form. No amount of fancy clothes and grooming could camouflage his enormous and furry figure. Perhaps used to such reactions from humans, Shidah merely bowed his head in greeting and stood behind Rastari. Coraggio stood next to him and looked amused by the reactions.
“And finally, two people who I am very happy to introduce to you. In our first meeting, they fell in love at first sight, and begged us to change the terms of the treaty so they could be together. Rastari, a devoted friend, couldn’t bring himself to stand in the way of a marriage that could be based on more than just uniting our nations, and he graciously stepped aside to allow this union based on mutual desire and instantaneous love to proceed. As Crown Prince of our nation, I was compelled to agree, feeling moved by their unhesitating devotion. So now, let me present to you our new guests of honor this evening, Julien de Ramport, son of Victor de Ramport, Duke of the south, and his future marriage partner, General Andrian of the lion tribe.”
At the First Prince’s words, Andrian held out his arm to me. I linked my arm with his and together we stepped forward into the banquet hall.