A SEA BETWEEN

Chapter 2: The beginning of the end

ASTELLA, 1.5 years earlier, Arvendon Castle

"I will NOT DO IT. No. You can't force me, father. You cannot".

The king sighed and looked at his son sitting across of him, his second in line for ascension. It always fazed him how peculiar it was that his sons looked identical, but that Draco had inherited his hair colour and greyish eyes Dante took after his mother, with brown hair and green eyes. Both had grown so much into their looks and seemed to have grown up so fast all the sudden. Dante was getting engaged soon and the twins had celebrated their 25th birthday last month. It was a cliché but how the time had flown by, he would give anything to go back especially today instead of having this conversation with his second born.

"I know the situation isn't ideal- " Lucius tried to counteract but he was suddenly distracted by Draco, was walking up and down the room, seething with anger.

"NO, you're right. The situation is goddamn awful".

"Language, Draco," his father reprimanded to which Draco scoffed. "Can you sit down, please? ".

Draco complied begrudgingly by taking place across of his father again. Lucius Malfoy decided it was time for a gentler approach, so he got up from his chair, walked over and leaned across his desk, standing close to his son. He took one deep breath before starting his plea.

"Draco, I know we are asking a lot from you- ", he started before getting cut off with a scoff from Draco again.

"Let me finish speaking and then you may retort Draco. Do not interrupt me again", Lucius said, this time with a bit more annoyance leaking through in his voice for he was losing patience.

"As I said. I know we are asking a lot from you, and I know this isn't exactly fair. But please. Please try to acknowledge how lenient we have been with you over the last years. We have asked you to perform your share of royal duties many times and often you came with a variety of excuses. At the obligations you couldn't get out of you always performed your duties with a sour look on your face and an annoyed disposition".

Draco's face dropped a little and he looked down for a few seconds before resuming his earlier position. He knew his father was right as much as he hated to admit it. Interested to hear what his father would say next he did as tell and remained silent.

"You have led quite the comfortable life so far. Boating and hunting trips with your friends, buying whatever you want, none too little responsibilities to uphold to, enjoying the company of a multitude of Astella's beautiful women. By God, Draco, it is a miracle that till now no one has come forward to claim you are the father of their child-".

That is where Draco did feel the need to interject.

"Father, we have had this conversation before, and it is an uncomfortable one for me but let me assure you once again that I am careful so to speak".

"Be that as it may my son but even the most careful of men is able to make a mistake eventually", Lucius Malfoy stated before continuing again.

"WE have stood by you all these years, now don't look at me like that. Yes, even your mother has... Even after you drove her mad with rejecting an assortment of suitable princesses to marry, your reasons often illogical (too old, too dumb, too boring, too tall, too short, too skinny, too fat, and finally, ugly) your mother still supports your decisions. And you know that."

Lucius sighed deeply this time and cleared his throat before speaking softly next.

"This is unfortunately not something you can reason your way out of. There are greater things at stakes, my son. Astella is at stake. Astella's civilians are at stake. How long do you think it will take for our people to sit idly by, watching their sons die for our cause while we do not even make the sacrifice of sending ours to war? How long before they will evidently turn against us. Moral and supplies are low as it is. And may I remind you that a slow transitioning of Leidal into becoming an independent country is beneficial for us, since we so desperately rely on them for our treasury".