To Protect Dragons

27. United

Reo hadn't visited me since, and now my visits from Kazuto were becoming even briefer, and he kept conversations direct and almost business like. I knew something was bound to happen soon, the maids had even begun to talk in hushed voices around me when bringing me my meals or cleaning in my corridor, or prison I should say.

I wanted to find out what was happening, the least Kazuto could do is keep me up to date on what they were planning on doing with me.

"M'lady?" One of the maids from earlier said while lightly knocking on my door.

"Come in" I replied, noticing a dress she had folded neatly in her hands.

"You have been requested to join the council room M'lady, Prince Kazuto had asked me to bring you these garments to change into before going." She said while placing the green and beige dress in my hands.

Why was I being requested for the council room? My last meeting with the members of the council didn't go particularly well, and now i'm sure i'm completely out of their good graces.

"I will wait outside while you change." I nodded my head at her, I knew this couldn't mean anything good, I doubted that they were requesting my presence for me to make a decision on anything.

I was most likely only being brought there because they had already determined what they were going to do with me.

I slid on the dress, the formality of everything was worrying me. I knew I looked a mess as well, I hadn't gotten close to any sleep since I have been here and i'm sure my appearance would only give the council another reason to deem me unfit for well, anything.

The walk to the council room was silent, my attempt at asking the maid any sort of questions was shut down by short answers and fidgeting nervousness by her.

She played it off as if she didn't know what the meeting was for, but I knew better than that. One thing I was aware of was that word travels faster than anything inside castle walls, there are ears everywhere and almost nothing can be contained as a secret for long.

As we approached the two large doors that I had once walked into nervously long ago, they didn't seem as intimidating anymore to me.

So much had changed in that short period of time, I wasn't the naive girl I was, expecting everything to work out. Kazuto had been right, I had been naive. But not anymore.

I pushed open the two doors, I recognized almost all their faces, in the head seat was Kazuto. My breathe hitched slightly when I saw him, he looked tired.

Every time I saw him it was almost as if I was being pulled towards him by gravity. My feelings towards Kazuto had grown into something more than I could handle since the last time I was in this room. Looking at him now I didn't see an arrogant prince who didn't care about his people, I saw someone kind and someone that truly cared about me.

Our eyes met briefly, his gaze sending a jolt of electricity through my body. He quickly diverted his eyes something in the distance in front of him, he seemed almost.. Dare I say nervous?

I bowed, making direct eye contact with the old beared council member. He looked even more displeased to see me then he was the first time we met. There was a set scowl on his face as I sat down on the chair opposite from him.

The younger council member cleared his throat, "Princess, thank you for joining us today." It's not like I had much of a choice, regardless I replied kindly, but also cautiously, "Yes of course, I'm sure you all have made a decision about what to do with me?" Except this time I was looking at Kazuto, what are you going to do Kazuto? I wanted to hear it from him, whatever was going to happen I didn't want to hear it from men who hated my existence, but from someone who I now trusted the most.

The older man continued for him, "After discussing any possible outcome of what to do we have come to a conclusion. The war will only continue on for decades if our kingdoms keep going like this. We have been in touch with the Northern king and have decided that the only way to end this war is to come to a.. Compromise" His scowl deepened as he said this, it was obvious that he was not happy with the outcome of whatever 'conclusion' they had decided on.

Before he could open his breathy and judgemental mouth once more Kazuto spoke, his eyes meeting mine once again sharply, "You will become my bride during the day of my coronation, the kingdoms of the North and the South will be officially united as one from this point on."

All of a sudden it felt like the breathe had been taken out of me, for once in my life I was at a loss for words.