Heartless

Chapter 57 - Part 75

'Oh come now, Karthorn! There's no need for all of this silly marriage business, I could rule perfectly well on my own!' I huffed as the soft lilac silk of my dress swished around me.

'Sharinzah, there is all the need in the world for this. There are assassins after me, I want my heir to be raised right.'

'Excuse me?'

'Shadow, I'm finding you a husband so you don't have to raise little Karthorn Septim II alone.'

'I refuse to raise a child. I absolutely refuse. It will not be happening.' I Snapped.

'You'll be a wonderful mother, Shadow. I've seen how you mothered Zirishalk when you left, you cared so much and treated her like your own daughter.'

'She was my sister.' I snarled. 'I hate babies.'

'You do not.'

'I do!'

'You don't!'

'Do!'

'Don't!'

'Do!'

'Don't!'

'Don't!'

'Do!'

'Ha! So you admit it!'

'Wha- Shadow! You tricked me!'

'Serves you right for all of this. At least allow me to accessorise myself.'

My brother begrudgingly nodded and allowed me to tie an amulet of Talos around my right wrist, though insisted upon choosing my authorised dagger and was more than happy to carefully sift through my collection and handpick a silver and amethyst dagger that had been a gift from Ulfric Stormcloak when we first met during battle together. It was quite romantic actually, being surrounded by a field of corpses and the battle fading into the background as Ulfric smiled and tossed me the beautiful dagger, telling me to keep it.

I saved his life that day, and he was yet to repay me.

I attached my dagger to the elegant silver belt I wore, the folded blade complimenting my colour scheme quite nicely as I clipped my silver piercings into place and tied an elegant black ribbon around my own neck, despite my discomfort at feeling restraint. Lucky for me, Karthorn didn't reckon I needed a corset, just something to correct my posture, so he had my waist braced so tightly I couldn't possibly break posture.

Did I mention that I hated balls?

No?

I hate balls.

So much.

'Ladies and Gentlemen of the Empire, I present my younger sister. Sharinzah Septim, Dragonborn.'

The crowd clapped, I inwardly cringed. I definitely wasn't Empress or Mother material.

As the evening went by, my brother forced me to dance with several Political figures, such as Lord Titus Mede II, General Tullius, Councillor Morvayn, Rubeus Umbranox and Ulfric Stormcloak. There was one thing that Karthorn hated: My thoughts on what men were "worthy". Every person he suggested I shot down.

Lord Titus Mede II was too old and pea-brained, General Tullius wasn't my type, Councillor Morvayn wasn't interested, Rubeus Umbranox was fanboying over the tales of my thievery and Ulfric... he was my leader. It wasn't right for me to be in a romantic situation with him. Just no.

So of course by the end of the evening my brother had signed to force me into an arranged marriage with Ulfric Stormcloak.