𝙱𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚢𝚊𝚕 𝚅𝚎𝚒𝚕

CHAPTER 15

The wait finally ends as a servant rushes into the room smiling, a letter clutched in their hands. "A letter from Arkann, Your Highnesses," they say, holding out the envelope.

Your parents motion for you to sit, the same tension you feel mirrored on their faces.

You take the envelope from the servant, your heart skipping a beat as you recognize the now-familiar scrawl of Prince Eris's handwriting on the front. With slightly trembling fingers, you open the envelope, pulling out the letter inside.

You unfold the letter, bracing yourself for his response.

"My Genevieve,

Your letter was received promptly, and we were more than pleased to receive your proposal to hold a meeting. We agree that it would be beneficial to discuss the specifics of the upcoming nuptials as soon as possible.

It would be our pleasure to host you in Arkann for said meeting. We look forward to greeting you upon your arrival.

Until then,

Eris"

Your heart races as you finish reading, a thrill running down your spine as you imagine returning to Arkann and seeing Prince Eris again. Despite the formality of his writing, you can sense the eagerness behind his words, which only seems to stoke the flames of anticipation within you.

You hurry to the drawing room, the letter clutched in your hand. Your parents are deep in conversation as you enter, their faces serious, but they lift their heads as you approach, your mother motioning for you to come closer.

"You have the letter from Prince Eris?" your father asks, his eyes on the parchment in your hand

You nod, handing the letter to your father. He takes it, skimming over it quickly, your mother reading over his shoulder. There's a tense silence as they read, broken only by the crackle of the fire in the fireplace.

Your father hands the letter to your mother, who reads through it herself, her expression giving nothing away. Finally, she looks up, meeting your gaze with a smile. "Well," she says gently, "It seems we're going to Arkann."

Your heart skips a beat at her words, a mix of excitement and anxiety rushing through you. "When are we leaving?" you manage to ask, your voice betraying none of the swirl of emotions within you.

"As soon as possible, I imagine," your father replies, his eyes drifting back to the letter. "We'll have to make arrangements to travel, after all. And the meeting will not occur for another week, at the soonest, to give us time to arrive."

Your stomach sinks a bit at the thought of waiting a whole week, but you force yourself to nod slowly. "Alright." you murmur, trying to hide your impatience. "I understand."

The day has finally arrived. Servants scurry about, piling luggage onto carriages and preparing for the journey ahead. Your parents are in the front courtyard, overseeing the hustle and bustle, shouting instructions.

You make your way out to meet them, the cool morning air a sharp contrast to the flurry of activity around you. Your father notices you first, a smile breaking across his face. "Ah, there you are! Ready to go?"

You nod, forcing a smile onto your face. Your heart is pounding in your chest, your nervousness making your palms sweaty. "Yes," you reply, trying to sound confident.

You follow your parents into the first carriage, settling into the plush seats. The interior is spacious and comfortable, clearly designed for long journeys. Your parents are still discussing last minute details as the driver gives the horses the signal to go.