The young woman's introduction was a proper one. One done with ease and grace... but it had also made me sick to my stomach.

Jamthi and Yevin both coughed a little, and I didn't need to turn around to know that they had not done so to mask their laughter.

They had done it to conceal their displeasure.

“Telleya is a proud daughter of Derri. She is healthy and wise, and will do well by your side,” Rivini said, pleased with herself and the woman before me.

Staying seated, and keeping the cold anger that was boiling within my stomach from exploding... I took in the sight of the woman.

Healthy? Like most of her people, she looked malnourished. Not nearly as bad as some that I've seen, but the dress she wore failed to hide the side-effects of a lack of a proper diet. If anything, the fancy dress that tightly hugged her body only made it more apparent.

Quite simply, she looked frail.

I could have overlooked the frail appearance... and the hint of malnourishment... but I could not overlook the gleaming smile on her face.

It was not the smile of a daughter doing as she was told. It was not the smile of a woman scared to do anything else.

The great smile was pure, almost too pure. She looked as if she had just been given the greatest gift in the world.

In fact it wasn't too far off from a real smile. A smile that would indeed be worn by a woman as she met her husband.

And that was why it was so sickening.

Had they not told her? Did she not know that this was just a plot? A play? A political scheme to circumvent war?

Clearing my throat, I nodded and stood. I couldn't find it within myself to kneel or to grab her hand and kiss it, as I would have back home... but I still gave her a friendly bow.

“My name is Noth, I am the Commander of the Front-Line. The pleasure is mine,” I said.

Her smile grew with my greeting, and my heart sunk even lower. The poor woman didn't know, did she?

Or rather... maybe she did.

With a glance to the surrounding elders, I could see the joyous relief in their faces.

She may very well know exactly what was happening... yet still was happy.

Pride in doing her duty, to save her House, was not a farfetched idea.

There were many who found joy and acceptance in being used in such ways... as sad as it were.

Glancing behind me, to my cousin and Yevin, I noticed Yevin's stone face... and my cousin's sorrowful one.

His eyes were focused hard on the young woman, and although no one else could tell... I could see the deep sadness within them. The look was a familiar one, one that I knew well.

Yeah, cousin, she's just like you. Or at least, like what you had been at one time.

Looking back to the young woman, I held out my hand as to shake hers. “Telleya was it?”

She blinked, and stepped forward to take my hand. With a hearty shake, she nodded. “Yes, Lord Noth.”

“Noth is fine,” I said, and noticed the strange feeling of her glove. It was oddly smooth... not like cloth and leather, or silk... but more like a plant.

It was a strange feeling.

Her smile grew with my words, and I had to look to the elders because of it. Her happy face was painful to look at.

“So... what exactly is the process from here? Or rather, what do you expect of me?” I asked them.

Sitting back down, I decided to somewhat ignore the young woman. Not completely, just... enough to not hate myself or do something stupid.

I felt a little bad about it, but only until she sat down in the chair to my right. As if it was the most natural thing for her to do.

Staring at her as she smiled warmly at me, I looked back to the elders and was half tempted to order Yevin to slap them all upside their heads when I saw their smiles.

They were just as happy, if not more so, than the woman.

“Well, a formal declaration must be done by our House. To alert the city of your proposal, and our acceptance. Then we must go into motion to prepare for the wedding. Then there is the customary joining celebration of our Houses,” Rivini said.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Gripping my chairs hand rest a little too tightly, I bit my tongue long enough to stop myself from biting their heads off.

“Wedding?” I asked.

“Oh yes... how else would anyone accept this marriage if they didn't see it themselves?” a white-haired man asked with a small laugh.

I rubbed my temple, and knew that this was going to be horrible.

“How long will that take?” I asked.

All of the elders looked at one another, and with a few whispers they all nodded. “It is custom for such a union to be done promptly, but also with proper festivities. At least seven days... A day will soon be chosen, once we get the acceptance by the other Houses.”

“Acceptance? So they could say no?” I asked.

“By no means! But they might not all agree on the day. They'll want time to prepare, as to bring gifts and properly honor the two of you,” Rivini said.

I sighed, and the elders took notice.

Several smiles disappeared, but no one said anything as I sat and pondered.

Glancing to my right, I flinched at the sight of the woman's smile. It had grown even larger.

“I hope that your customs won't stop me from trading with the others during these supposed... festivities,” I said, trying to change topic.

“Oh, by no means! In fact, we ask that you do trade with as many Houses as possible. It will make the wedding that more powerful of a tool, and will force them to accept their positions,” the white-haired man said with a gusto.

Once again I glanced to the young woman behind me, and I noticed that she didn't find his words surprising at all.

So she knew.

Why then was she smiling like that?

“Good. I plan to start immediately. Is that all then? You all will handle this wedding and stuff?” I asked.

A few of the elders looked at one another, but only Rivini spoke next. “To a degree... you will need to be seen by all, at the very least, while we prepare,” she said.

“Seen?” I gestured for her to explain.

“With your wife,” she answered, gesturing back at me.

My cousin coughed again, and this time it was to mask a laugh. He had done such a poor job of it, even the elders looked at him.

“My apologies,” he said plainly, and I could hear the smile on his face.

I noticed the young woman looking at him, and her strange smirk as she studied my cousin.

Enjoying herself, or simply glad to be a part of this, I wonder?

“Alright, so I'll walk around town with her then? Is that all?” I asked.

“Well... yes? She shall be with you from here on out, at least until the day of the wedding,” Rivini said.

Great. They were going to force her on me to such a level. I had expected many annoyances, but not one of this level...

“Is that a problem, Lord Noth?” another elder asked.

“It might be,” I said plainly.

The moment I spoke, I regretted it. Several of the elders startled, nearly jumping in their seats from my words.

Raising my hand, to stop them from becoming too unruly, I shook my head. “It's fine. The Front-Line enjoys guests,” I said.

That didn't calm them down, but it did keep them from shouting at me at least.

Before they could say anything, I looked to my supposed wife.

“What about you? You're alright with this?” I asked her.

Although her smile lessened enough to almost die, it didn't disappear as she blinked at my question. “Am I all right? Of course I am, Lord Noth. I shall fulfill my duty, as is my pleasure,” she said.

Course you were.

I had to look away from her, lest I grew sick, and nodded. “Fine. Anything else then? Just got to be together until the wedding?” I asked.

“Um... yes, Commander Noth. We may need you to do a few things, but nothing that strenuous. Please remember to let as many elders of the other Houses see you two together, and introduce yourself as her husband and she your wife,” Rivini said.

“Simple,” I said.

“All will go well! We shall all be pleased with the results,” the white-haired elder said.

Several others agreed, and even a few of the servants and guards voiced their support.

Well, if that was all then...

Standing from my seat, the elders of the House of Derri all became quiet. Their backs going stiff as they awaited my next move.

“Then so it shall be. I suggest you keep me apprised. Inform me immediately if something is needed, or goes astray,” I said.

I wasn't in the mood to hear them shower me with praise and thanks, so I simply turned and left. Leaving the room was easy, and no one even accompanied me as to guide me to the exit.

Either they had been too shocked at my sudden departure, or found it unnecessary.

Probably the former.

“Wasn't that a little too brunt, cousin?” Jamthi asked as we headed for the exit.

“Only a little? They're lucky if that was it,” I said, passing a guard.

The guard didn't seem bothered by my words or my leaving, but I didn't care to wait and see. I left the House of Derri faster than I had entered it to escape the heat.

“I want trade to happen immediately. Once we're back, summon the other Houses to let them know,” I said.

“I suggest starting with the House of Hombil, husband.”

Coming to an abrupt stop, I didn't even notice the hot wind trying to slap me with sand.

Turning around, I found Yevin and Jamthi, both standing farther away than normal...

Yevin's other soldiers were even farther behind, but they as well were all staring at me with great amusement. Or rather... they were staring at the one who stood before me.

Standing in-between me and them... was a young woman. Dressed rather well, and wearing a huge smile.

My so called wife happily smiled up at me, pleased with herself as she nodded. “They're the richest, after all,” she added.

Hot sand scraped across my face as the wind picked up, and I wished it could pick me up and blow me away too.