The Peace Offering

Chapter 5

This sudden declaration from the King himself as to my marriage shocks me and a strange buzzing rings in my ears as everything seems to grow faint around me. Yet no one seems to notice as the entire court turns to look at me, I can faintly hear applause as Macario walks towards me and takes my hand in his own to walk me towards the throne.

"Myself and my sister are honoured to serve our beloved country in whatever way you see fit your Majesty," Macario declares bowing and absently I curtsy as well, too well trained by Lady Catherina to do anything else.

"And I am lucky to have such loyal subjects," The King replies waving a hand for us to stand back up, "Ambassador Koray has signed today on behalf of the Usde Emperor and has agreed to escort Lady Beatriz to Usde for the wedding. They shall leave three days from tomorrow,"

Three days. That's all the time that I have to get ready to leave my country and everything that I've ever known behind. And from the pleased look in Macario's eyes this was exactly why he'd been so adamant that I did not even think of courting anyone else.

I can't tell how long I spent being congratulated by the court. It all fades into the background and it isn't until I find myself back in my rooms that awareness comes back to me.

"Are you well Beatriz?" Lady Catherina asks setting a cup of tea before me. Blinking in shock I finally realise that she's here as well and that I'm sitting at my little table by the fire, "I know this must be a shock to you. There is still some time for you to prepare, you may only have three days before departing for Usde but you will travel across the Waresor sea which may take upwards of two months."

"I don't think I shall ever be ready," I whisper, clutching my teacup close enjoying the warmth it brings to my hands.

"You shall be my dear," She promises with determination shining in her eyes, "For I shall go with you."

"What? But what about your family?"

"I have many friends here that is true, some like family to me. But I never married and my family are all long dead. There is nothing more here for me. You are my daughter in everyway that counts and I shall not have you going to marry some foreign Prince without me,"

"Thank you," I mutter through tears, setting my cup down to round the table and hug her. In the time that I've known her she's been the closest thing to a mother that I've ever known but I'd not thought she felt the same.

"It will be my pleasure," She whispers, stroking my hair, "I don't know everything about Usde but I shall teach what I know on our journey there. And once we arrive I shall stay on as your Lady in waiting so that I'm by your side always."

"Can we start now?" I ask, lifting my head up and wiping away my tears, "I want to use all the time that we have."

"There's my brave girl," She smiles resting a hand on my cheek as she looks at me proudly. I return the smile although somewhat more weakly than her own, "Now what do you remember being told before we left the hall?"

"I don't really remember anything since hearing the King announce the marriage," I admit the shame that I feel for that reaction lessened by her admission of seeing me as a daughter. After all, surely a daughter could tell her mother anything.

"It was a shock," She replies, taking my hands in hers providing some comfort, "But before I brought us back here I was able to speak to Ambassador Koray. From him I was able to learn more about this marriage agreement. You shall be marrying Prince Kudret who is the son of Prince Gürsel, the Emperor's favourite son. Prince Gürsel as you know has been named Crown Prince and thus will be the next Emperor."

"I would have thought they'd have chosen a more distantly related Prince," I comment, surprised to learn that I would be marrying the son of the next Emperor. Considering the recent war I'd have thought a Prince further away from the throne would have been chosen to secure the treaty.