New Rome

72. The Marriage Contract

Arly was panting for breath, a sheen of sweat coating her forehead. She looked at her timer and grinned. She'd run her best time yet. Arly stretched her muscles. Her work-out routine had transformed her. Where once had been soft skin, were instead firm muscles.

"Greetings Princess." Rube came upon her, device in hand. Arly rolled her eyes.

"Tell me, what invitations am I accepting today?" She asked, her tone playful.

"Tonight is the opening of a new drama, you'll be attending with the emperor. All of high society will be there, along with the press. Your dress has been designed by Mitah. I feel that when your eyes gaze upon it, you will admire its detailing as I do."

Mitah was a top fashion brand in Amen, the fact that they wanted Arly to wear their fashions was dizzying. 

"What's the drama's plot?"

"That's not important." Rube disregarded. "What we do with your hair concerns me most, for we will have very little time. The Emperor has appointed a new constable of the city's arsenal and you'll be dining together – which gives us very little time to fit in a stylist."

Arly tucked her messy hair behind her ears, feeling self-conscious.

"Also, I have news from New Rome." Rube remembered suddenly. Arly's attention snapped to the ambassador. "Good news," Rube reassured quickly, reading Arly's tense expression. "Regarding your brother. He's to be married."

Arly leapt up, smiling happily.

"Agrippa's been released from prison?!" She exclaimed, feeling giddy.

"What? No, apologies." Rube frowned guiltily. She hadn't meant to raise Arly's hopes like that. "I was referring to your other brother."

Arly was blank for a moment.

"My other brother?" But then it clicked. "Kaze."

Arly froze. All previous joy seemed to be sucked from her lungs and she stood looking lost – her hands out as if she was expecting to hold onto something. "Kaze." She repeated woodenly.

"Yes. His marriage to a noble lady has been announced." Rube had to scroll through her emails to retrieve the lady's name. "Layala of house Ferno," she finally related.

Arly gasped. Her hand went to her chest and she sagged forward. Layala... 

Kaze was marrying Layala...

"I will arrange a gift to be sent by you to the happy couple." Rube continued, not noticing the change that had come over Arly. "Along with a message conveying your-"

"Enough." Arly cut in. "I want to be alone."

Rube tsked disapprovingly.

"Arly, we have a lot to-"

"LEAVE!" Arly roared. Rube flinched and backed away, finally registering the tears in Arly's eyes.

"Princess?"

Arly threw her water bottle at the ambassador.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!"

Stunned, Rube scarpered. The ambassador was left shaking – her thoughts scattered. She'd never seen Arly like that before. Rube scratched her head and paced her office. She needed to prevent the Amenien nobles or public from seeing Arly so altered.