“After the Great War between the Demons and the Humans, which lasted for roughly 102 years, the Human Kingdom of Leonia and the Demonic territory of Dralarag have agreed to marry a member of their royal families to one another, thus ending the war in what would later be known as The Treaty of Highpass after the name of the fortress the opposing armies have agreed to send peace emissaries to…”
–A brief history of our World, Cerolus Kreshorok, 600 AS.
----------------------------------------
“Father, you can not do this!” I slammed my hands against the table of Father’s office as I propped myself upwards, my palms reddening from the impact.‘This is bullshit! Does the royal title mean nothing to him? Was there any point in my six years of martial training? Am I seriously going to be just a Princess that has been sent to the enemy in a peace offering?’
My father sat on the opposite end of the huge table with the other nobles, or should I say, ass-kissers, at his sides. I sized each and every one of them as I look around the room.
‘They are only looking to make a profit from all of this. Is this how nobility is like?’ If Renald or Gavin were here, maybe they could’ve talked some sense into this crazy idea of his. ‘But no, they have yet to return from the battlefield and he’s taking this opportunity to finish everything fast. How typical of him.’
“What I can and cannot do is up to me and the Great Council.” Father decided to play calm in this affair, his gaze barely leaving the table in front of him.
‘He’s speaking to the table rather than a daughter.' It felt quite cold being in a room with someone who wouldn’t even bother looking at you while he speaks. Any semblance of dignity just washed off me at that moment.
“We need this peace with the Demons, the War has been going on since before my great-grandfather. It must be put to an end,” Father grabbed the closest scroll, opened it up, read some pointless scrabble, and then put it back on the pile to his right—all without ever looking at me. “Their proposals are extremely favourable for us, and this one we have to concede to them.”
“I don’t want to marry a Demon! What kind of a father are you to make me do this!? Am I simply a luxury to be thrown around on peace deals to you? You don’t even know who you’re marrying me off to!” I almost started to snarl from my side of the table, forgoing any kind of manners that were previously drilled into me by various tutors. ‘The Demons want a marriage between the royal houses! How stupid is that? And how stupid are you to agree to this? What good will possibly come out of this situation?’
“They have agreed to marry a member of their Royal Family only if we offer the same. They have also agreed that they will agree to not influence our Court after the marriage. Your sister is already married to the Duke of Lesthoria, and you have approached marriageable age.” Once again, my father took a small parchment from the table and started reading from it. The room was in complete silence while he muttered under his breath. It was like I was in a graveyard instead of a king's office.
“Your future husband has said he is older than you, and that he supposedly took a liking to our culture—unlike the other brutes of their race.” He now turned the parchment to me, the rough scribbling on it looked like it was in our language mixed with some unknown glyphs and symbols. “He may even be reasoned with and, given time, he may even cede you back to us. If anything should go wrong, the entire Kingdom is ready to take up arms again, but I doubt we can stand warring against them for such a long time.”
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“I will not forgive you for this!” I turned and stormed out of the Council room. I made way to my chambers. I would just have to wait for my brothers to return, or just run away from all of this. ‘He can’t marry me off to someone I’ve never met, let alone to a Demon! If Mother were still alive, she would’ve protested this! She would’ve made him understand! Why is everything going so badly for me?’
----------------------------------------
“Master Cerolus, are you sure you want to do this?” Kozzok had decided to be a little more proactive and talkative than usual, even using words for this exchange, instead of the usual mental pulls and pushes.
“Kozzok, this wouldn’t be my first marriage, my kids are already gone and, honestly, the bunch I call my family are nothing but spoiled brats. I shudder just by thinking what would happen if they were to marry a Human girl.” My family had already tried to approach me after the Demonlord announced the plans of marriage, trying to place themselves or their children into the union. I always hated our politics. “This way we keep this peace with the Humans and their precious Kingdom, and I can’t really decline our Demonlord, can I now? He is my grandnephew after all, and my nephew placed a lot of trust into him taking the throne.”
Kozzok’s apprehensive approach to political matters had always allowed me greater insight than most of the nobility enjoyed, but this decision was not up to him to make. He had served me well all these years, but I had to notice his slow deterioration. ‘After all, I always have the final say in the matters.’
‘If someone had told me fifty years ago that I would marry a sixteen-year-old Human girl, I would have probably beaten him to a pulp. How times change. Maybe this peace with the humans will turn out good after all?’ We had been warring for the past century, possibly even more. Even after that phase, I never understood what they wanted from us. Peace was something we all gravely needed.
“Have we started constructing the new residence outside of this sulphur pit we call our Capital?” Over the years, I had grown to dislike the proximity of so many people. The town that I had been given governance over would possibly even profit by me actually living near it, rather than being half a week away.
“We have contracted our best builders and everything is going according to plan. We have received some preliminary reports on what humans call castles and gardens and will try to make them so your bride feels at home, per your instructions.” Kozzok always had that detached tone to his voice.
“We wouldn’t want her to try and run away now, would we? From what I’ve gathered about humans, they really like the memories of their home and families. We appeal to that, we win them over.”
“You are strangely attracted to this whole idea, my Lord.”
“It does seem fun. And besides, I’ve lived quite a life so far, maybe this will bring some more excitement for a while. But, for more pressing matters, what is this wedding ring they are talking about?”
----------------------------------------
All of my and my brothers’ pleas had fallen on deaf ears, just as I feared. I would have to go with my father’s judgment for now. ‘But if that Demon tries to lay a hand on me he will see who he is trying to mess with!’
The preparations for the wedding had already begun mere days after the peace treaty was officially proclaimed in the lands. It would seem the matter had been solidified well before I had learnt of it.
The Demon was to come with a couple of servants and a carriage to take me to my new home as they all call it. 'A prison is what it is. He even agreed to have a ceremony at our Church!
Just how cocky was this bastard? It was well-known Demons can’t stand light magic! I couldn’t wait to see him squirm at the mere sight of our Goddess’ blessings. ‘Maybe he will die and I’ll be free!’
But enough dreaming, I had my wedding to prepare for, and I’d be damned if I wouldn’t try to look my absolute best. Arranged marriage or not, a princess carried herself the same.