A few months ago...
“There’s no way we are negotiating peace with Ansodria!” hissed the young prince vehemently, shooting his father an icy glare before resuming his agitated pacing pass his father’s throne.”Why don’t we just march in and take them like all the others before?”
The king sighed heavily and regarded his youngest, and last remaining son with great sadness, pity flooding his heart at the sight of the anger and hurt marring his youthful features. He knew very well what he was going through, for he felt it himself, even as as he speak now.
“I understand your reluctance, Sergei, but we can’t continue like this,” King Alekzander tried injecting a tinge of harshness and reprimand in his words, but failed miserably. “I have told you my reasons, son,”
“I know the reasons why, but I can’t accept it!” he exclaimed in anguish, throwing his hands up in the air in desperation, his chest heaving as his breathing laboured.”You promised we would have our revenge!” he pointed an accusing finger at his father, their identical icy blue orbs meeting in a heated gaze.
“Yes, but the French and Russian Empire will march in and slaughter us should we continue with our plans!” roared King Alekzander, finally losing his patience with his son’s immaturity. His own pain has blinded him to reason, and if there is one thing the king does not tolerate, it is weakness of the heart. ” Ansodria is a close ally of the French! For God’s sakes, the princess has been living in the Versailles for 2 years!”
“Because of what?” Sergei scoffed, shooting his father a derisive smirk. “Their princess was a whore who slept with her stable hand,”
“Don’t take that tone with me, Sergei,” the king warned, rubbing his temples which had begun to hurt from his previous outburst. “It’s been settled, son,” he settled back into his chair, eyeing his son carefully.
Sergei gazed up at the high, arched ceiling dejectedly.”But isn’t there any other way?” he asked, meeting his father’s gaze beseechingly.
“Your marriage to the princess will seal the relations between Ansodria and Freyrgard. The king will have no choice but to accept, and the French will have no reason to intervene,” he explained calmly this time, relieved that his son finally came to his senses. “And as you said, the princess was a whore, you would be the best offer she can ever dream of,” King Alekzander chuckled darkly, eyeing the map of Europe with a malicious glint in his eyes. There lies the new empire of Freyrgard, with its new conquered territories, and Ansodria is simply a small, defenseless, pastoral kingdom at the edge of his glory. A tiny glitch in his plans, that’s all. Deeply immersed by his own revels of glory and power, he barely heard his son as he left the throne room.
“I’m doing this for you, Stephan,” Sergei whispered to noone in particular as he stood quietly outside the massive mahogany steel-reinforced doors.
************************
“Sergei!” I called over to him as I saw him pass by, giggling as one of the twins – I still could not remember which was which – took me for another dance. We were dancing at my official engagement party. It was a grand ball indeed, even more extravagant compared to all the balls Ansodria has ever seen. Almost all the important people were invited, and it was clear from their shocked expressions during the announcement, that peace with Freyrgard was the last thing on anyone’s minds. The looks of hatred and disgust they had thrown on the Freyrgardian Royal Family as they entered the ballroom was enough to make my blood freeze. For a split second, the mad thought that a riot would start crossed my mind, but these so-called elites would never stoop so low. They maintained their haughty expressions of distaste throughout father’s speech, the ladies gossiping behind their fans as they eyed the Freyrgardians. But of course, they did not press the matter further, they were glad that the war was over and as long that things were in their favour they had no reason to disagree. I, of course, did not miss the court ladies’ and young noblewomens’ looks of scorn and contempt. One does not need magic to be able to understand the topic of their heated discussion going on behind their elaborate fans once the exchange of rings were over.
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Betrothed to Trouble
Fiksi RemajaPrincess Giselle is not your ordinary run-of-the-mill princess you read about in fairytales. Nu-h, she’s definitely not a damsel in distress. She causes distress. Either she’s off running wild in the woods or romancing the cute stable boy from the R...
