All of a sudden, the doors to the throne room were opened by the guards.

One of the guards blew a horn and proclaimed,

"Hail! Their Excellences, The Grand Sovereign of the Florentinian Union of the Adventierri City-States, Antonio Lorenzo Amadeo di Castelli, and his wife, Daughter of His Lordship of the Elves of Kaena, the Grand Lady Avenne Astrea Caenia sa Primagenia, along with his highness, the Sovereign Son, Lord Enrico Domenico di Castelli and her highness, Sovereign Daughter, Lady Cassandra Lucia di Castelli!"

The royal entourage made their way towards the throne of King Valasaire.

As they were approaching, Valamar couldn't help but notice the Lady Cassandra. The Grand Princess was a woman of great beauty which rivaled that of even the late Aurosian Princess Alea.

Cassandra had long crimson red hair reaching to her waist. Her skin was fair, fit for her title of Princess. She had beautiful round almond eyes, innocent, yet had a sense of seriousness to them. The purple dress she was wearing complemented the shape of her buxom body.

Valasaire could see his son eyeing the beautiful princess, albeit rather subtly. He then approached Valamar with an amused smile on his face as he put his arm around him.

"Very beautiful, don't you agree my son?" Valasaire said with a smile "Cassandra Lucia de Castelli, second child of the Florentinian Royal Family."

"I know who she is, father. Isn't it my job to know the royals of all the states of Terra? Anyways... Objectively speaking, she is quite easy on the eyes." Valamar said

"Good that you think that way, my son."

"Why is that?"

"Because, Valamar, she will be the one who shall bear my grandchild."

"What?!"

"You heard me. I have arranged for you to marry the daughter of one of the most influential leaders in the entirety of Terra. And as your king and as your father, you are compelled to obey me."

"Yes, father." Valamar said with a little sarcasm "You know how much I love doing things forced upon me."

"Don't be like that, son... before you think of me as cruel, I do not want to see my firstborn child, my heir, sink beneath the ocean of his own sorrows. We are Valamen. We have ruled Rumasil uninterrupted since its foundation four thousand five hundred years ago and even before that, we carry the blood of all the Almarian Kingdoms. That should be an achievement. Most other royal families can barely make it a couple of centuries before being overthrown. Now, enough with my ranting. Let us greet our guests."

"Ah, my good friend, Antonio! It's been awhile since I've seen you." Valasaire said as he proceeded to embrace the Grand Sovereign "Not since Gianna's funeral..."

"Si. I believe tomorrow is the anniversary of her death. Part of the reason why I came here. I miss my sister very much." Antonio said, all of a sudden he let out a sickly cough which he quickly covered with a handkerchief

"Are you alright?" Valasaire asked with worry

"It's fine." Antonio answered whilst holding out his free hand to reassure Valasaire "My health is only going to continue to deteriorate, that much is for sure."

"Well, no shit. You look paler and thinner than the last time I saw you. Has the war with Lothiriel screwed you up that badly?"

"I was never healthy to begin with, Valasaire."

"And don't I know it. Don't push yourself too hard, sweetie." Lady Avenne said as she walked up beside her husband "It's good to see you again, child-... I mean, Your Majesty. Forgive my blunder."

Valamar saw the Grand Sovereign's wife. A tall and regal looking woman with features he knew were a tell-tale sign that she was an elf. Her pale features as well as her pointed ears.

"Ah, don't worry about it, your ladyship." Valasaire said as he took a bow along with Queen Alessa who was beside him "How can I fault a five hundred year-old immortal who was betrothed to my great-grandfather for looking at me as a child."

"Oh I'm no immortal, give or take a few thousand years. If anything, I believe Her Majesty Queen Alessa here is a good candidate for immortality with her Razyan blood."

"Oh, your Ladyship flatters me. You know I'm only half-Razyan. I'm not sure if that would mean I inherited my mother's immortality." Alessa replied

"But you did inherit her eternal youth. You haven't changed a bit since Gianna's funeral, and that was more than a decade ago."

Antonio let out another worrying cough, but then managed to calm himself. Valasaire motioned for one of the servants to get him a glass of water. After drinking the water, he began to talk again,

"Thanks for the drink, I really needed that. Anyways, allow me to reintroduce my children to you." Antonio said as first his son, Prince Enrico came up. The man was unlike his father, looking strong and muscular, being perfectly healthy. He gave a gracious bow, whilst also eyeing Princess Valerie whom he gave a wink to which she only gave a disgusted scowl.

"It is a pleasure to meet you all." Enrico said in his most courteous tone.

Then it was the Princess Cassandra's turn to formally introduce herself. She did so with such an amount of elegance and grace, she couldn't help but catch Valamar's interest.

"Well then!" Valasaire said "I get that all this talking is fun and all, but I do believe the dining room has finished being prepared! Come, let us eat! I'm sure my we're all famished. Talking is much better done over the dining table, wouldn't you agree?"

The royals then went to the Palace's grand dining room just a few rooms away from the throne room where the servants had just finished serving the food on the table. As they sat themselves on their seats, Valamar couldn't help but notice that he was sitting directly in front of the Princess Cassandra. He noticed the plates were already set. They were the finest sets the palace had to offer, being imported from the far off lands of the Yin Sui. He then looked to the food that was served, all were traditional Rumasilian delicacies - native to the Almarian peoples. And pig was the most favourite of the Rumasilians when it came to cuisine.

The servants then proceeded to place finger bowls on the table which were made of exquisite glass.

"You people always have the most interesting foods." Avenne said "I hope the animals that were slaughtered to make these dishes didn't suffer too much."

"This isn't the first time you've eaten here, right? I thought we explained to you before how we Halak make our food." Valasaire said "We kill them then bleed them dry and use their blood as the base of the mixture of its seasoning. It's called sangsang.This is ayam gota. Basically the same thing but with chicken. You eat all of this with the rice."

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Valamar could see Lady Cassandra's unease, but he was surprised to see the expression of excitement in her brother's eyes.

"Don't you wood elves also hunt for food?" Valasaire asked

"We do. We just do it with a bit more moderation." Avenne answered

"So you're not going to eat it then, nonna?" Antonio asked "Wonderful! That means more for me!"

"Who said anything about not eating it? I just said to do it in moderation..."

"Well, can we talk after we eat then?" Valasaire said "I'm starving, and I suggest we eat this while it's still hot. But, before that... as per Rumasilian custom, let us first say grace..."

As he said that, the Florentinian entourage made the sign of the cross as was their custom whilst the Rumasilians only bowed their heads. The Florentinians adhered to the Latin Branch of the Terran church whilst the Rumasilians adhered to the Martinite Branch. There were three branches in total, but all were still under the guidance of the Terran church.

Valasaire conducted the prayers as per Almarian tradition in the Halak tongue,

"Ale Tuhan, Debatanami Jahowa na di Banuaginjang. Pujipujian hupasahat hami tu Hamu, Debata. Mauliate ma di ho, Tuhan, alani denggan ni basaM boi hami marpungu dison. Pasupasu ma debata sipanganon na rade di jolonami Tuhan ala boi mansadi hagogoanami sadari on. Tangiangon hupasahat hami tu Ho di bagasan goar ni AnakMu Jesus Kristus, Tuhan dohot sipaluanami na mangajari hami martangiang Ale Amanami..."

As Valasaire said that, the Rumasilians in the room, including the servants and even the guards began to recite a prayer, Ale Amanami na di banuaginjang. Sai pinarbadiama goarMu, sai ro ma harajaonMu, sai sautma lomo ni rohaM di banuatonga on songon na di banuaginjang. Lehon ma tu hami sadari on hangoluan siapari. Sesa ma dosanami songon panesanami na di dongan na mardosa tu hami. Unang hami togihon tu pangunjunan, palua ma hami sian pangago. Ai ho do nampuna harajaon dohot Hagogoon, ro di hasangapon, saleleng ni lelengna, AMEN! ( The Lord’s Prayer )

"Let's eat!" Valasaire said

When they started eating, Valamar noticed the Princess Cassandra to yet again be taken aback by their customs. The Rumasilian nobles had proceeded to eat straight from their plates with their bare hands without the aid of any cutlery whatsoever. This was a custom that made many people feel quite uneasy as many foreign nobles would find it 'savage' with the only other peoples who were unfazed by this tradition being the Aurosians.

To his surprise, the Lady Cassandra followed suit and began eating with her hands. This made Valamar laugh.

"Is there something wrong with what I'm doing, your majesty?" Cassandra asked hesitantly

"Nothing, nothing at all my lady... I appreciate you trying to eat like us, but it is fine. You may eat however you like." Valamar said. To his further surprise, Cassandra continued on to eat with her hands, quickly adapting how the Rumasilians were eating with all five fingers.

Valasaire was further amused when he saw most of the Florentinian entourage after a while of eating the sangsang began to fan their mouths with their hands as their eyes became teary and most of them began frantically drinking the water. The taste of the Rumasilian food was a bit too spicy to handle by the Florentinians.

"Hahahahahaha... *coughs*" Antonio laughed as he saw his children and the courtiers he brought with him gulping down on as much water as they can "If I didn't spend a good amount of time here when I was younger, I would've done the same. I remember when I first tried Rumasilian food. The trick is to grab more rice than meat. It helps neutralise the spices."

"Wait... I don't feel complete here. Where's my brother-in-law?" Antonio asked Valasaire whilst sucking the seasoning from his hand "Where's Valaron?"

"I'm right here." A man said as he walked out of the shadowy corners of the room. Valamar looked at the man who was his uncle. A clean-shaven face, dark eyes, and an all in all gloomy atmosphere around him. "Someone has to look over the situation while you people are enjoying yourselves here. Security should be everything."

"Valaron, I know you're the spymaster of Rumasil, but that doesn't mean you can't spend time with family. I still consider you my brother, after all."

"As do I, Antonio. But won't you forgive a man for a little paranoia? It's been over a decade, but Gianna's death by the hands of the damned Provarians is still fresh in my mind... until they've been dealt with I can not afford to rest easy..."

"My loss is just as big as yours, Valaron. She was my sister before she was your wife. And I am sure, she wouldn't want you to keep on sulking about what happened."

Valaron drew a deep breath and sighed "I know that. I'm fine. It's just I'm... *sigh*... hahahaha..." Valaron started chuckling slightly "Look at me. I'm supposed to be the cold calculating spymaster of Rumasil, yet here I am sulking about something that happened a decade ago. Please, everyone, forgive me for ruining the food. Please! Enjoy yourselves... I've already eaten my share. I'll just be sitting here. But please, everyone, don't let me bother you."

"It still is amazing though... thirteen years you've been living as a widower without any interest in remarriage."

"Gianna has and always will be my one true love. I gave my heart to her and she took it to the grave. I can't imagine being with anyone besides her. Besides, one hardly needs an heir to succeed him as spymaster."

"My, my, I forgot how much of a romantic you were..." Valasaire said to his younger brother

"One of the things that Gianna loved about me. And besides that, she always loved a good magic trick." As he said that, Valaron proceeded to seemingly pull a flower out of thin air and gave it to the Lady Cassandra "Your aunt always loved that trick."

"I'm sure she did, uncle." Cassandra said with a smile after receiving the flower

"But enough about him." Valasaire said "Why don't we finally get to business, eh, Antonio?"

"I suppose you're right." Antonio answered. Immediately his gaze was fixed upon Valamar who had just finished eating. Valamar felt very nervous as he saw the Grand Sovereign examining him with discerning eyes "So you are Crown Prince Valamar?"

"Yes, your excellency." Valamar answered

"I do believe your father has informed you of what our visit entails, your majesty."

"Ah yes... about that." Valamar immediately saw the Lady Cassandra who began to eye him as well, making him a little more uneasy "I believe I am to be a potential suitor to the Lady Cassandra."

"Hahahaha... No need to be tense there, Prince Valamar. Though you're slightly off the mark there."

"What do you mean?"

"You are to be my daughter's only suitor. I have corresponded with your father in a series of letters, and we have decided to once again strengthen the bonds between Rumasil and the Adventierri City-states after your aunt's death."

"I am... honoured by this, really... being betrothed to a Princess as beautiful as the Lady Cassandra would be the dream of any man..."

"So I take it you are in agreement then?" Antonio's look on Valamar became more stern as he said that

"I do not believe I have a choice in the matter..."

"Of course you have a choice, my boy." Valasaire said with a chuckle "You could refuse... But I would highly suggest against that."

In all honesty, Valamar wasn't really troubled by this situation. It was not as if his father pushed him into a really bad situation. And besides, he knew he would eventually be obligated to marry, as was imperative to him, made so by his status as Crown Prince. But for some reason, he still felt a bit wrong. His mind turned back towards his former betrothed.

All of a sudden, to his surprise, he saw Cassandra smiling at him and she said the most interesting thing he had ever heard a princess said to him,

"Whatever you choose, your duty to your nation comes first, my lord." she said in a most elegant tone "Although, don't let that in turn cloud the judgment of your conscience. Many great men in history have fallen because their mind of 'what was right for the country' have in turn ruined their lives and cost them dearly. So I hope in your choice, my lord, you do so in the clearest of judgment."

Hearing that, Valamar was completely stunned. He then turned to his father who was chuckling and clapping "Wonderfully put, your grace. Honestly, Valamar, she's a keeper."

"Well, Valamar... *cough*" Antonio said as he returned to his calm and amiable demeanor "We'll let you ease in the current situation. We'll be staying here for a week. I hope you'll fully accept the situation by then."

Valamar only nodded and smiled. He was in for quite the experience.