Chapter 9: Agreement

Once both kingdoms had agreed to follow through with the marriage, the rest of their meal and their night-long conversation sailed far smoother than Isana could have imagined. She no longer felt as if she were walking on eggshells around the Prince and King. She was still reserved and respectful, intently listening to everything they claimed, but she was no longer nervous.

Everything was coming together. It seemed too perfect.

Now, Gerold had joined the conversation, along with Linus. Bastian and Isana were still sitting alone on the left side of the table, while the King’s and their right-hand men sat beside them. It calmed her to have both her father and Gerold in front of her.

The Princess was still unsure of how she felt about Linus. He had not said much for the entirety of their meeting and could not bring himself to look her directly in the eye. Linus, though, was captivated by Gerold--as almost everyone who had come into contact with him was.

The Marshall of Slasia was an incredible speaker. He had taught Isana everything she knew about religion, politics, science, and philosophy. He always had something to say and a lesson to teach.

Gerold was speaking aloud, commanding the attention of everyone in the room. Even the Knights standing guard had their heads turned in curiosity. “-As for civilians, unity between kingdoms through marriage is the best way to present peace. There are other ways of course, as Kaarella and Slasia could become allies.” He had a pen and quill before him, where he scribbled his thoughts down as they came to mind. “Marriage though, descends the mere man-made afflictions of politics. Marriage ties into love, which ties into religion, which is something that both of our kingdoms prioritize. Our citizens will be more likely to accept such a unification, especially if you both are caught together in public.”

“Which can be arranged, I assume.” King Salvador agreed.

Gerold continued to speak, listing off more benefits to a marriage over just a partnership between kingdoms. Obviously, conjoining the separate nations would come with a heavy burden, an immense struggle, yet in the end, it would provide the most fruitful outcome.

Isana kept repeating those facts over and over again in her head. She knew it was true, yet she still did not feel ready to make such a big decision. It was all happening so fast. She did not even know Bastian, the man she would eventually be married to.

She took another sip of wine. She was now on her third. The taste of dry grapes along her tongue gave her the courage to speak her mind. For, she had been silent for longer than she intended.

“Gerold?” The Princess smiled after her Marshall finished his sentence. She wanted her words to provide substance, yet she felt timid. Isana could be asking for too much. On the verge of panicking, her mind was racing, yet she still knew that her words could change the entire course of the plan being discussed.

She might as well try.

“Yes, Princess?”

Isana’s tongue swiped over her lips before she spoke. Once again, she tasted the grape residue. She immediately wanted more. It had certainly helped her composure and had dimmed the reticence within her.

“If we are concerned about the possible backlash of citizen support, I believe it would be beneficial if we hold off on the marriage.”

Surprisingly, none of the men interrupted her. Instead, they stared at her to continue, predicting that she would not suggest something so rash without a proper explanation.

“I think it is clear that I am smitten with Prince Sebastian. But, I believe that getting married so soon would first, make me too nervous, and second, not be convincing enough to the public.”

“What terms would you propose?” King Salvador asked, astonishingly unoffended, with an understanding look in his dark, almost black eyes.

Isana’s eyes drifted to her father’s. She was speaking to all the men in the room, but especially to her father. Alaric’s opinion was the one that truly mattered to her.

“I think a courting period would be suitable. This gives Bastian and I time to get to know each other, so neither of us have to force our feelings. I think that the citizens will be able to tell if our love is real or not, and if they think I am being forced to marry into the Kaarella kingdom, they may rebel.”

King Alaric heaved a sigh. “That has happened before, it could very well happen again.”

Bastian stared hard at Isana, so hard that she turned to face him, hoping for a look of understanding and approval. He was studying her intently, the tight expression on his face conveying that he was indeed analyzing every possible outcome that would follow with a forced, unhappy, and eventually unfaithful marriage.

In Isana’s eyes, the Prince seemed to be a rational young man. It was clear how hot-headed he could be, but he was also smart and cautious, just like her. Both of them needed the marriage to work. If they could not be lovers, they could at least be friends. Their relationship needed to be strong enough to survive for the sake of their people.

Bastian’s brown eyes were heavy. They were a lighter shade than his father’s, yet the resemblance was there. Isana could not help but smile when their eyes finally locked. The two of them were a respectable distance away, yet they had never been that close. For a moment that stretched longer than the rest, a spiritual appreciation for the other was present.

“I agree, Princess.” He said without averting his gaze.

Isana was the first to do so, growing embarrassed by how simple his answer was. She had watched him come to a conclusion, had noted how deeply his eyebrows furrowed and the sudden relaxation that crossed his expression when he came to an agreement.

The Princess smiled sheepishly, her blatant admiration for him suddenly apparent to the other men in the room. “I am also a terrible actress-” She cleared her throat. “I need to at least like you before I am forced to stand in front of my people. Honesty is their number one principal.”

“I am pleased that you are taking everything into consideration, daughter.” King Alaric could not help but laugh. To him, it was a shock to see Isana so infatuated, to even be sitting in place for as long as she had. He had noticed the change in her body language. Out of every suitor Alaric had sent his daughter’s way, this was the first to catch her eye, the most unlikely match.

“I agree with Alaric, I am also pleased with Isana, and you, son.” King Salvador smiled. “This is a very promising agreement.”

Smiles were shared and passed between royalty. For Isana, that was the first time she had felt warm and at peace in the dining hall. Many times before, she had shivered from the cold and from what others demanded of her. Many times before, she had wished for the meal to end. But with the Kaarellas, she prayed that the moment would last even longer.

It was refreshing to feel the hope that was rising within her chest. She had enjoyed her time, even if before she was nervous and pessimistic. Even if before, she was dreading the interaction. She was still fairly uneasy, but because both Bastian and Salvador had shown her respect, the rebellious side of her spirit had been quelled.

Gerold, who had been scribbling every possible word down, finally set his pen atop the wooden table. “I shall draft up the treaty by tomorrow.” He said. “Are there other impending propositions that I must take note of?”

Bastian tilted his head towards his father. “I think we should decide how long the courting period needs to be.”

The King of Kaarella took a long, drawn-out sip of his wine. Then, he took another, finishing off the goblet. He was hardly drunk, yet the taste seemed to provide him clarity. “How does two months sound? That marks the end of the summer solstice.”

Isana was silent as she studied her surroundings. Her attention drifted to the crescent flag that hung proudly from the ceiling. A flag that represented her home, one that she wanted to protect with her life. Two months did not seem long enough, but it was more than enough time to decipher who Bastian really was. It would have to suffice.

The Princess was grateful. Time to adjust was what she needed.

The sound of her father’s voice drew her back to the discussion at hand.“One month here and one month in Kaarella.”

“That sounds reasonable to me.” King Salvador nodded, Bastian following suit. “We would be happy to welcome the Slasian Princess in our borders.”

“Wonderful!” Gerold sighed in relief. “I shall arrange the preparations tomorrow.”

“Is that what you had in mind, Isana?” King Alaric gestured to his daughter.

“Yes, father.” She nodded. Part of her wanted to smile, yet she could not. The Princess knew that she would once again break down as soon as she left the dining hall. Everything discussed weighed heavily on her heart, even if it had gone partially in her favor.

There was still the possibility that everything could go horribly wrong. As charismatic as the Kaarellas were, they were still strangers from a strange land. They had stated their motives, but only time could tell if they would end up becoming a lie.

Yes, her duties as a Princess came first, but she was still unsure. The life she had known was going to change. She prayed for the best. She desired the best. Though, Isana wasn’t able to shake the otherworldly feeling that it would eventually all come crashing down.

Something terrible was going to happen. She just did not know if it would be by Bastian’s hand or not.

Despite the dread constricting against her heart, Isana forced herself to smile as everyone in the room decided to retire to their chambers.

Whispering softly, Bastian leaned over the arm of his chair to catch Isana’s attention. “I am looking forward to seeing the beauty Slasia has to offer.”

The Princess looked at him sadly, even if there was a smile pulling at her lips. She tried to mask it but was unable.

“I am looking forward to showing you.” She replied gently as she rose. Their eyes lingered on the other’s until she finished pushing the chair back under the table. Isana could tell that Bastian was trying to configure the mixed signals she was providing, but she was too exhausted to play a game for once.

Instead, feeling Bastian’s eyes on her back, Isana rounded the table to join her father’s side. She leaned up on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss against Alaric’s cheek.

“Goodnight, daughter.” He returned the gesture, waving her off to bed as he continued to discuss with Salvador. She smiled at the contact, knowing she had pleased her father with the way she acted. It had been the first time in a long time when she exhibited her diplomatic duties in a composed manner.

Isana tried to focus on that aspect, but as she turned away from her father, she noticed a distasteful presence admitting from beside King Salvador. It was barely noticeable, and she was shocked that she managed to catch it.

It was Linus, the man who hadn’t spoken a single word. Because of that, she had forgotten he was even there.

As Isana departed from the group, she couldn’t help but feel wary about the marshal’s intentions as she passed him. He kept his eyes locked forward, refusing to even acknowledge her presence. Perhaps it was custom in their homeland, but her gut claimed differently. There was something off about Linus as if he had already refused her as his future Queen before she even had the chance to introduce herself.

It was unfortunate, but Isana decided from that moment onward that she could not trust him.