It was the Mercedian Ambassador that had the presence of mind to make the appropriate suggestion. "Captain, we haven't had lunch and I think that now would be a good time to go and get a bite to eat. Let's allow some time for the king and his daughter to discuss this issue alone." Joseph nodded his head, "That would be appreciated. The guards will return you to your embassy. Please let the kitchen know what you want for lunch and they will deliver it to you there. I'll have someone come for you when we are prepared to discuss this further."
"Thank you, your Highness." said the Ambassador and the pair started to walk out of the office. As Devin passed her he said, "Never fear, Fairy Queen, I'm in command of your escort and you can trust me to deliver you safely to your new home." She shot him a burning look, "Fear is something I don't have a problem with....Captain...trust, however, is another issue. We'll see if you are escorting anyone or not." He laughed and replied, "Make sure they pack a tent fitting for a Royal Princess. We wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable on the journey." While passing her he made a show of looking her over from head to foot, then, chuckling, swaggered out of the office behind the Ambassador.
As the door closed Keika angry eyes met those of her father. She leaned forward on the back of the chair between her and the desk. "Are you serious? Are you really doing this to me? Do I understand what is happening here correctly? You are forcing me to marry a man I have never met? Someone that I do not love? All for the sake of this state? Haven't I given enough for this country? Do I have to sacrifice my entire life to satisfy you and the needs of these people?" Valerie stood nervously beside her, but said nothing.
Joseph looked at Valerie. "Val, please go take a seat in the outer office. I'll come and get you in a few minutes." She nodded and left the room. He returned his daughters irate stare and leaned forward onto the desk with his elbows, his hands clasped before him. "I'm sorry, darling. I really am. Do you think my life has been a happy one? Let me tell you, the happy days have been few and far between since we lost Sophia. The meaning went out of my life that day, except for you children. The only other thing that I have had in my life is duty. I'll tell you that I would much rather have just taken a horse, a sword, some supplies and headed out into the wilderness than been king, but I am unable to walk away from my duties. Your blood and position require for you to place your own happiness aside for the good of the vast majority. How many men and women have sacrificed everything, their lives, for this country?"
He nodded to the seat she was leaning on, "Please take a seat, honey." She had not cooled off yet, but sat down. He continued, "With this agreement the kingdom will finally have settled borders, and security in both the east and the west. With both agreements, we get what we want....and this country wins in both critical cases. Look what has happened in the east. The crisis in the east is over. Frankly, your talents are now wasted on repetitive, unproductive patrolling. Pierce and I had already talked about reducing the patrols and utilizing you somewhere else."
"We will be able to release all of the applicants who want to move to the new territories, and they can begin living freer, more productive and better lives. They could have more children. We will extend our reign and influence, and the teachings of Hamilton Otani. Otania would gain a military ally on its western border, one that would act as a buffer to any attacks coming from that direction. We all will get richer with the improved trade as most of the restrictions now in place will be dropped. It would settle years of tension and disagreement over our borders."
He leaned back in his seat, his hands dropping into his lap. "We get that and they ask for your hand in marriage in return to insure our good faith. How can we pass that up.....Oh, and, before you answer, we are defining, as part of the agreement, exactly how you are to be treated, which will be to your satisfaction, or the deal will be off. In addition, when the time comes, you will become their Queen and one that will hold power in Mercedia only behind that of your future husband, and his brother. You would be in their line of succession. That gives us a lot of leverage. But, in the end, if you are miserable, or someone mistreats you, then you will have the power to nix everything and return home."
YOU ARE READING
Firefly Light
Science FictionIn the not too distant future mankind's world has collapsed. The population of, what had been over 7 billion, has been reduced to a tiny fraction of that number. Nature has reclaimed most of what man had built. Time has been turned back to before th...
