Prince of Hearts

Chapter 3: Betrothed

The feast had begun. They had filled the tables with delicacies, each more tempting than the other.

The main course was venison--brushed with oil and spices and roasted until golden--kept in a silver platter at the centre of the table. Surrounding it was an assortment of sauces, both sweet and sour. Smoked eel and candied fruit were served on skewers. There was bread, freshly baked from the palace kitchens, soft and warm and fragrant. The rest of the space on the table was taken up by soups and stews, jellies and custards, and jugs of spiced wine and fruit juices.

You breathed in the aroma, the mingling of spices and herbs in the steam that rose from the dishes. As much as you hated extravagant affairs as these, at least the food was to die for.

The nobles sat in the lower part of the hall, eating and drinking their fill. You spotted the company from Enmore to the right, now dressed in scarlet tunics, their armours discarded. To the left, the military commanders of Aldreth sat with their Grand General.

Maids and man-servants ran around, refilling cups and cleaning up spills.

You hadn't been able to take a good look at the prince on your way. Now, as he was sitting right beside you, it wasn't easy to spy on him anymore.

You had heard of him, the legendary crown prince of Enmore. Whispers of him had travelled from Enmore to Aldreth.

Sometimes spoken in awe, in hushed conversations between the soldiers. Sometimes as tense murmurs of the courtiers. And sometimes his name fell from the lips of the women of the palace--nobles and commoners and maids alike--in whispers and sighs and giggles.

He was a renowned warrior, with three battles already under his name. He was a formidable strategist. He was also a well-known philanderer.

But why was he here?

It made more sense that the King of Enmore would send an older diplomat--someone who had more experience in this sort of missions--than his own son.

Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was a sign of goodwill.

You heard the tapping of metal against metal. Three light clinks, calling everyone's attention. The conversation ceased.

You looked to your side to see Prince Jimin standing, a goblet of wine in his raised hand. A lock of his black hair fell over the curve of his forehead.

"I must thank the King of Aldreth, his royal family, his courtiers and his subjects for the grand welcome I have received." He gave a deep bow, and you heard the courtiers applaud.

You clapped politely, following their example.

"The enmity between our kingdoms has stretched on for too long. We have spent unreasonable amounts of time and wealth in fanning its flames, not to mention the countless lives lost." His eyes scanned the room, watching a hundred faces rapt in attention. "I think I speak for everyone today when I say that it is time it ends."

This time, the applause was louder. You glanced at your father to see that he, too, had joined in. You could even hear the banging of a few cups against the tables.

"My Royal Father has sent me with this message. He wishes for peace."

He paused. Everyone held their breaths.

"He wishes that our kingdoms could enter an alliance."

An alliance?

The nobles were sharing looks among themselves, a sudden murmur of conversation rising.

"Enmore is strong and wealthy. Aldreth is bountiful and its people are skilled and learned. Imagine what we could achieve together."

You felt the tension in the room, like a thick blanket that lay over everything. It was too hot to breathe.

"The King of Aldreth has three daughters, the youngest still unwed. As am I."

A sense of unease began to crawl in the pit of your stomach. The silence that had now fallen over the place was absolute. Not even a breeze was stirring.

"Isn't this the perfect opportunity to join the royal bloodlines? To ensure that there will never be another war between Enmore and Aldreth?"

You couldn't lift your eyes from the table. It felt like every eye in the hall had turned on you, poking through your skin like thorns. Like needles.

"I propose this--a wedding between the Crown Prince of Enmore and the Third Princess of Aldreth."

You passed your hand over your forehead. Beads of sweat were already rolling down.

"After the time of the present kings, there will be but one heir to the two crowns. The bloodlines will be joined, and there will be peace forever."

He smiled, lowered his goblet, and sat down. You only see the blur of movement out of the corner of your eye and hear the scraping of the chair beside you.

No one spoke for a minute.

"And if we were to refuse your offer, Your Highness?" Your father asked in a whisper that was almost too faint to be heard.

"Then it would be an insult to the envoy of Enmore, an affront to the crown prince and to the royal family", the prince replied in a low voice. "We would have no choice but to avenge our honour."

You could tell that he was still smiling as he said that.

That bastard.

"War", your father said, his fork falling from his grip with an audible clatter.

"War", the prince affirmed.

You heard your father sigh.

"In this kingdom, dear prince, you don't ask fathers for their daughters' hand in marriage. You ask the lady herself."

Your head snapped up.

The prince had already stood, the silk he wore brushing against your arm as he passed you. You recoiled from the touch.

As he knelt in front of you, on one knee, you realised that there was no choice for you anymore.

"Princess Y/N, will you do me the honour of being my wife, the Crown Princess of Enmore and when the time comes, the Queen of the kingdoms of Enmore and Aldreth?"

You lifted your head.

For such a cruel man, his face was unbelievably beautiful. Ethereal. Gentle. He was smiling, one hand extended towards you.

You didn't miss the fact that the other was on the pommel of his sword.

Your eyes darted to your sisters. They both wore the same expression--their lips pressed into thin lines and their gazes pitying. Your eyes stung.

You looked away, scanning the crowd, looking for a friendly face. Cordelia? Hoseok?

It was stupid; you knew. Cordelia wouldn't be allowed to attend the feast in the grand hall, and Hoseok--

Where was Hoseok?

You didn't dare blink for fear that the tears might roll down. Your eyes were burning.

There was no choice.

This was a dream for some girls, you thought. A handsome prince down on his knees, smiling like that as he asked for your hand.

But as you turned back to him, you felt true fear for the first time in your life. He was like a serpent coiled among flowers, his beauty only a distraction from the danger that lurked beneath.

It was a struggle to bring a smile to your lips.

"Yes, Prince Jimin", you said, the words tasting like ash on your tongue. "I will." 

Your fingers shook as you held your hand out. The moment he touched your skin, you flinched. His fingers smoothed over your knuckles before he bent down, pressing a brief kiss over them.

Author's note: Don't forget to vote if you enjoyed this chapter! Also, what would you do if you ever found yourself in a situation like this? Would you choose your own happiness or the safety of everyone else?