Destiny's Binds

Betrothed and Betrayed

Lloyd re-read the letter again. He never finished it. Every time he reached the forsaken line, he couldn't continue. He sat at the small table, sipping tea. Supposedly, the tea had calm effects. It wasn't working.

"Isn't that a message for the Duke?" Mystake said. Lloyd flinched. He didn't hear the woman enter the room.

"He didn't care," Lloyd said. Lloyd couldn't imagine not caring if he received word from the Royal Family.

"Good for him," Mystake said, "You ought to learn from him."

Lloyd started reading the letter at the top. Three sentences later, Lloyd was ready to flip over the table in front of him.

The purpose of this greeting is to inform you of Princess Harumi's engagement to the Prince of the Ethereal Divide.

"Why does this letter upset you?" Mystake said, crossing the room to pour herself a cup of tea.

"Harumi's engaged," Lloyd said, "This has to be an arranged marriage. I know Harumi. She wouldn't want this. If I had been home, I could've helped her find her voice to fight against this. I could've helped."

"Joining our kingdom with the Ethereal Divide is a good political decision. It puts to rest the war tension."

"Who cares!? We don't want good ties with the Cursed Realm."

"It's quite a destiny the princess has; she will usher peace into all Ninjago."

"Have you heard of the horrors of the Cursed Realm?" Lloyd said, pounding his fist on the table. His skin crawled imagining the fate Harumi now bore.

"I'm sure the citizens of the Ethereal Divide have called Ninjago cursed as well," Mystake said, "But you know this. You know it's best for Ninjago."

"That doesn't matter," Lloyd said, "It's not her destiny to marry that prince."

"Why not?"

Lloyd bit his tongue before he answered. He tore eye contact with Mystake. She stared Lloyd down, refusing to back down from her question. Lloyd imagined she already had a guess. And her conclusion was wrong. Everyone's assumption of Lloyd's motives was wrong.

"I never wanted the power," Lloyd said in a low voice.

"Oh," Mystake said, sipping her tea. Her tone revealed her desire for Lloyd to delve more into his feelings.

"Foremost, I love Ninjago. I love my King and the Royal Family; I'd die for them. I'm a religious and pious man who knows my place. I love serving a higher purpose. My love compels me."

"You want to marry her?" Mystake said.

"That's beside the point. I want what's best for her," Lloyd said. He bitterly contemplated if it was wrong for him to assume that he was best for her. He recalled all the late-night talks. She was so open to her distaste for the Royal Family; about the mask she wore. They bonded. There was something there. It was foolish to think that they could be together. They lived in different worlds. He served and she got served. However, Lloyd always thought he could channel his love as service.

He couldn't help but wonder if his appointment with Jay was purposeful to get rid of Lloyd. His affection was not secret among the estate walls. His banishment was proof that all of Lloyd's service didn't translate into trust. The King assumed Lloyd's motivation was a grab for power; thus he sent him to the Dark Island so he couldn't interfere with the engagement. No matter what aspect of the situation Lloyd looked at, he felt abused.

Lloyd re-read the letter. He couldn't sit idly. But there was nothing he could do. It was done.

Lloyd got so lost in thought, that he didn't notice that Mystake had left the room. He only noticed her absence when she rushed back into the room.