War of Hearts

Chapter 1: The Arrangement

King Nicholas of Nerea didn't have to ask where his daughter would be: he knew at this time of day she would be at the training field behind the castle, practicing for the upcoming joust. As he walked towards the field, he was deep in thought, remembering his agreement with his brother. He felt confident his daughter would understand, but her actual reaction to a news about marriage...that would be a lot more difficult to predict.

Surely enough, he found his daughter,Princess Ingrid, riding on her horse alongside several other knights. From afar, with her wearing her own special armor, her red hair tied up in a ponytail, her face messy with dirt, she looked like the prince he never had. He had a servant call for her, and soon enough the princess rode up to him, a big excited smile on her face.

"Papa!" She said in her cheerful voice. She effortlessly got off her horse and walked towards her father. "What brings you here? Have you seen the latest trick Master Lewin taught me for the joust?" She asked on excitedly, her big blue eyes shining.

"Ingrid, I need to talk to you privately," he said, his voice serious. He stood with his hands behind him, watching her, wondering how she'd react with what he had to say.

Ingrid raised an eyebrow, curious. She followed her father and walked up towards him. "Did something happen? Does mother have another rumor going around?" She joked, but upon seeing her father's serious face, she stopped.

"Ingrid, be very understanding of what I'm about to say okay?" he began. Ingrid looked even more confused. "What did you do now, father?" she asked. He took a deep breath before saying, "I met up with your uncle in Midtown last night."

Ingrid stared at her father, blinking, her face filled with shock. She steps back. "Uncle George...? Why? Why would you?" She rapidly asked him, her tone of voice turning from confused to almost accusing. She narrowed her eyes at him. "How could you have met him at Middletown without being spotted?"

"I was in disguise, of course, and I wasn't alone, don't worry," he explained quickly. He loved his daughter, but sometimes he reminded him too much of an overbearing mother. Perhaps it comes from the fact she had to be her own mother for many years, he thought quite sadly.

Ingrid crossed her arms at her father. "I don't like where this is headed. We've been at war with them twice, soldiers died against uncle and his army, and you just decide to go up and see him? What could you possibly gain from that?" She asked him, never afraid to stand up to her father.

"We discussed everything that has been going on, between the peace treaty and Great Queen Amelia's desires, and we have decided...that you are to marry Prince Isaac." He clenched his teeth and readied himself for his daughter's reaction. He knew her enough to know it wouldn't be pretty.

Ingrid stared at her father, opening her mouth and closing them, unsure of what to say. She stated at his serious face, and burst out laughing."I'm sorry! I am, but..." She said between laughing . "What is this, papa? A prank? Did the jester put some potion in your goblet to make you speak nonsense? Hahahaha!" She laughed, clutching her stomach. "Good one papa, really!"

He reached into his pocket and took out a rolled up letter. On it was a ribbon that had the same color as Adehane's sigil. It had come to him through messenger early that morning. "I knew you wouldn't believe me, so here," he said, handing it to her. 

Ingrid took the letter rather reluctantly, and read it. As she read it, her eyes widened and all signs of happiness fled her face, replaced with shock. Her face began to turn red, and she looked up at her father. "An alliance through marriage? Me, marry Prince Isaac? That introverted, snarky so called prince? Papa, I thought our whole point was to not compromise with Queen Amelia! What happened to being an independent state?" She interrogated him.