Fit For a King <Lashton>

22; Ariana

Paradise was made for tender hearts; hell, for loveless hearts. ~Voltaire

Ashton's POV

I was interrupted from my time with the three when my mother entered the chambers, a smile on her face. "Hello Faye, Griffon, Luke." 

"Greetings my Lady." Griffon smiled. 

"I need to discuss something with you Ashton." My mother said and I stood up, walking out of the room with her. We began to walk down the hallway and she spoke. "I completely approve of your decision, however,"

"Oh here it come." I sighed.

"Calm down, I was just going to say you need to go to the public some time today and announce that you have chosen who you are going to marry." My mother said. "But you are not to say who. Do you understand?"

"Perfectly, mother." I smiled and she kissed my cheek before walking down the hallway, just as I went to go back to the room to tell Luke where I would be going I heard someone behind me say my name. I turned and smiled. "Hello Leona." 

"I need to talk to you, Prince Ashton." She smiled. "In private." Which meant get out of the hallway, so I walked down to my room and allowed her access. I closed the door and she smiled, but there was irritation in her eyes. 

"What is troubling you?" I asked.

"You do not intend on taking my proposition, do you?" She asked, there was irritation in her voice. 

"No, I shall marry Luke, publically." I said. Leona took a deep breath and sighed.

"Ashton, you are indeed a fool." She sighed. "Do you not understand what you would be doing?" 

"I..I am ever confused, Leona." I said, shaking my head slowly.

Leona laughed, there was some sort of insanity to her as she did. "You are an imbecile, Prince! Do you realize how you would hurt your people? Your intentions for them are good Ashton, but being royalty is not all for enjoyment, you are royalty and therefore the leader. You must make sacrifices." 

"What are you going on about!?" I snapped at her.

"I have several things to explain to you, it may seem." She said as she began to walk back and forth through the room. "As royalty, we marry not because we love. We marry for beneficial reasons. Why the idea of you marrying Lucifer is wrong for several reasons." 

"Enlighten me." I rolled my eyes.

"For starters he is a man." Leona scoffed. "What shall happen if your people disagree with your choice!? Why they will turn, riot, and come for your heads Ashton! Besides that, Lucifer is a peasant. He knows not how to run a kingdom, he does not even understand that he can not steal. He would be no assistance to you in running this land, and you need all the assistance you can get when times to wage wars and alliances and make enemies comes. You need someone with intellect and insight. Not a peasant. Why do you think there is so much corruption in your land? Your mother married a peasant. Look at where it got her! And..How will your people feel when they know you have no heir to lead their children?" 

I thought about it a little bit, it made sense but I still refused to believe Leona. 

"I can tell you wish not to buy into my words just yet, Prince. Let me continue." Leona smiled. "I will marry a prince, and I will expand my land. Ashton, do you understand why I so desperately wished for you to take my hand in the first place?" 

"Why is that?" I asked.

"You are my friend, but if you will not help me in my journey, I have no problem taking you down." Leona smiled. "I do not want a kingdom, I want an empire. And your land is so prosperous! The soil, the minerals, oh the precious gems! I will have it, whether or not you agree to let me have it."