The Peace Offering

Kouen: Chapter 16

I woke up with the strange feeling of something warm in my bed. Opening my eyes I saw a sleeping Sindri. I shifted slightly and she began to stir but went back to sleep. Her soft snores were the only sound in the room as I stared down at her. I had always thought she was beautiful, but last night I had seen how truly beautiful she was. Her arm then twitched and smacked me in the chest. Sindri frowned and opened her eyes, sleepy confusion was quickly replaced by panic when she saw me.

"Kouen!" She exclaimed as she gathered the blankets to cover her bare chest. She continued to be frazzled until what had happened the night before sunk into her brain. She gathered the rest of the sheets around her and refused to look me in the eyes. I sighed and began to put my clothes on, the small moment to peaceful bliss was over. I knew it would not last forever, but the comfort of waking up to someone in a warm bed was still relaxing. We both finished getting ready and went our separate ways. 

As soon as I had reached my office I was bombarded with questions by my waiting brothers.

"How was it?" Kouha asked as he put on a lewd face. I pushed past him and sat at my desk. I already had piles of paperwork and I didn't have time for stupid questions. Kouha and Koumei continued to pester me as I tried to read and fill out paperwork. I had just had enough when there was a knock at the door. A servant walked in after I called her in, she bowed and waited til we were all paying attention to relay her message.

"Her majesty, Gyokuen, has asked that the three princes come and eat breakfast together with the rest of the royal family. "

I immediately felt distrustful, as Gyokuen preferred to eat alone. I got up and followed the maid to the banquet hall. My brothers followed me and we soon arrived. Sitting around a large table was my father, Gyokuen, Judar, Hakruyuu, Kougyoku, and Sindri. Beside my father and Gyokuen, everyone seemed slightly uncomfortable. My brothers and I sat at the only empty seats left. There was unusual breakfast foods set out. Most of it was from the inner territories of the Kou Empire. A maid came around and began to serve everyone.

As I began to eat I noticed Sindri had not yet picked up her spoon. She simply stared at her plate, not knowing any of the foods. I glanced over to Gyokuen and saw her mouth twitch up in a small smirk as she also stared at Sindri. I then knew why we had all been called to eat together, Gyokuen simply wanted to humiliate Sindri in front of everyone.

"Something the matter, dear?" Gyokuen asked, "Is the food not to your liking?"

"I don't know any of these foods, and simply wish to not consume any unknown foods." Sindri replies with a bit of snark in her voice.

"Well, you should eat something. Eating will replenish your energy from last night, no?" 

Suddenly the room went silent as Sindri's face turned a light shade of red. She glared at Gyokuen and I could see she was struggling to keep her composure. Slowly her color went back to normal and her face went cold as steel. 

"I am only trying to provide an heir, as is required of me. I will do what is required of me through this marital contract as a respectable woman of Sindria."

With those words Sindri got up and left the banquet hall, her stride long and quick. I gave a long sigh and also stood to leave.

"I would appreciate if my wife was no longer made the fool of any more jokes." I said as I closed the door behind me.