A Queen for the King

Curiosity and Captivation

"How could he bring up such a topic like that? I should get to marry whoever I want!" Arny shouted as he entered his private office, with Bridgette and Celestia follow right after him "The actions of my late grandfather shouldn't have an impact on my decision to marry. I am above Parliament, I am the one closest to the gods, I should get to decide who I want to marry!"

"Your majesty, Parliament is just trying to follow tradition" Bridgette said before being rudely interrupted by Arny

"To hell with tradition!" Arny yelled as he got close to Bridgette's face "I want Celestia to be my wife, not some random girl from another kingdom who doesn't even bother to show her face!"

Just then, Bridgette's hand came across Arny's face as the sound of a slap filled the room. Arny held his face as tears filled up his eyes, looking back up at the woman who had just slapped him.

"I never thought you would lay a hand on me Bridgette. I could have you hanged for this!"

"You may be king but you a still a young man who needs to be disciplined." Bridgette said sternly to Arny "I may be your governess but it was your mother and father who asked me to look after you and treat you like my own son when their time here on Earth has expired. Now whether you like it or not, you are to marry the Princess to ally Edessa and Exalos together. This is not just for looks or publicity your majesty."

"And what if I do not marry her? What then?" Arny said as he talked back to Bridgette

"The whole kingdom of Edessa could fall under the rule of the Orane Empire. We will all be slaves to the Oranes and you yourself will be executed. If you were to marry the princess, it could mean saving the Kingdom."

Arny looked out the window that overlooked the royal garden. As he thought about whether to betray his first love and the promise he made to her or marry the princess to ally two kingdoms together to become stronger against the Orane Empire, the view of the veiled princess sitting in the garden intrigued the King. As Arny watched her, he couldn't help but be captivated by the way she moved and guided herself. Her aura and her presence he felt from inside the castle made him want to know her more.
Of course, the only view he had of her was from behind, as she was sitting with her back towards him, however, he was more captivated by the fact that she was unveiled. She had taken her veil off in the privacy of the garden as she sat on a bench, revealing her long dark brown hair. For the first time in a long time, Arny wanted to know more about this girl he watched through the window. Arny wanted to get to know the princess even more deeper than the fact that she was his chosen wife and the future Queen of Edessa. The thought of Celestia had left his mind as he watched the princess in the garden, along the idea of marrying the woman he loved.

"Am I interrupting something?" Celestia said as she entered the room where Arny was in, interrupting his train of thought on the princess. Arny quickly turned around to Celestia to greet her with a kiss on her hand.

"Everything is fine my love. I was just thinking about what we need to do to overturn the marriage law for us to get married."

"I'm sure you will find a solution that is needed to over rule the law and to send that princess back to her kingdom." Celestia gave Arny a kiss on his lips and played with his curly black hair "I was just coming to check on you. I knew you were worried and angry at Tyrian for choosing a girl to marry you." Celestia then giggled while looking up at Arny "You would think that she would have a little more respect for you than to hide behind a veil."

"Well I do remember my father saying that the women of her kingdom wear veils to keep their modesty and privacy just for their future husbands up to a month before their wedding." Arny said as he tried to put on a smile to please Celestia

"Between you and me" she said in a hushed tone "She is probably hideous." Celestia said as she giggled once again. Arny then forced a giggle out to again please Celestia, however he was more surprised at the fact that she had just called the princess hideous just because she wore a veil that covered her face. After one last kiss, Arny sent Celestia away to meet her brother who was waiting to bring Celestia home for a few months while waiting for the marriage law to be overruled. Once Celestia was sent away, Arny turned to look outside the window again to watch the princess. She had since veiled herself as she was talking to Prime Minister Tyrian in the garden. Maybe while Celestia was away, Arny could get a chance to meet with the princess to learn more about her.