"Are you sure? You do not have to sacrifice yourself for this marriage. If there is soone you love, let Mother know, and I will arrange the marriage; as long as it is suitable," Mary said. She wanted her second son to live his remaining years in peace.
King Edward looked at his brother. For the first ti, he envied him a little. He couldn’t even make the woman he loved his mistress, yet his brother was allowed to choose his wife.
"Mother, I am sure," Prince Lucan replied. Mary wanted to say more, but seeing the resolve in her son’s gaze, she decided to remain silent.
And so, it was decided.
The next day, King Edward sent a ssage to the Crown Prince of Gube. He requested a eting between the second prince and Princess Katrina.
"My brother is not in good health. I wish for nothing more than for him to have a peaceful life. Let the two et. If they are both willing after this, then we can fix a date for the marriage," King Edward said.
....
A soft knock echoed through the guest chambers where Princess Katrina was staying. She had just finished dressing, her long dark hair braided loosely over one shoulder, adorned with a delicate ribbon of silver. The room was quiet, yet her heart thudded as the door opened and a maid stepped in.
"Your Highness, His Majesty King Edward has granted permission for a eting. The second prince will receive you in the Garden of White Blossoms."
Katrina nodded, steadying her breath. She had spent the entire night thinking. Now that she was truly here, she began to regret her decision a bit. Although the second prince of Nixel had also gone to the palace two years ago, she did not rember what he looked like as her gaze was fixed on the soilder not far from him.
When princess Katrina arrived at the garden, a quiet breeze stirred the petals that littered the stone path. The second prince was already there, seated on a marble bench beneath a flowering tree, dressed in a simple dark tunic that only emphasized the paleness of his skin. He looked thin, worn but he was still quiet handso. It just that compared to the soilder she seen two years ago he was a bit lacking . At the sound of her steps, he turned, rising to his feet.
Princess Katrina signaled for the two maids following her to stop while she walked forward to et the prince.
They stood facing each other for a mont.
"Your Highness," he said softly, bowing. "It is an honor to et you again."
Katrina returned the bow with grace. "Your Highness. The honor is mine."
There was a pause before he spoke again, more quietly. "Do you rember ?"
"I do," Katrina replied. She let a small smile touch her lips. "You had co to Gube royal palace two years ago. Although our eting was brief, your outstanding appearance is difficult to forget. Princess Katrina said against her conscience now that the situation has gotten to this point she could only move forward.
The prince’s gaze softened. "Neither have I."
They sat beneath the tree, silence falling briefly between them, but it was not uncomfortable. Birds chirped in the branches above, and a breeze stirred her veil.
"I had not expected that it would be you," the prince admitted. "I heard your father never wanted to marry you far away " prince Lucan was quite curious about why she had accepted this arrangent.
Katrina looked at him with open sincerity. "I did not agree to this marriage out of duty alone."
That statent lingered between them. Prince Lucan felt his heart missed a beat. Thinking about her first statent the prince could not help but guess that she also liked him.
He turned to face her fully, studying her face. "Do you know what you are stepping into? I may not have much ti left."
She nodded, her voice steady. "Your highness life and death has always been decided by heaven’s will. We can live each day at a ti ." princess Katrina secretly hoped that he would die sooner rather than later. That way she might be able to be with the man she loved
Thinking of the handso man from back then, she could not help but wonder if he was already married. She regretted her actions of not asking about his na but his background. This would have made it easier for her to investigate.
A silence deeper than words followed. Sothing unspoken passed between them—understanding, recognition, the bloom of a bond that might never have the chance to ripen, yet would still be cherished.
"If you agree," the prince said at last, "then I will accept you not as an obligation but as a companion—for however long I have."
Katrina’s gaze did not waver. "Then let us walk forward together." she smiled.
The two stop talking and started drinking their tea . Prince Lucan could hardly hide the happiness in his heart. He never dread that heaven would favour him so much. Thinking that princess Katrina also had feelings for him, made him happy beyond words.
The news abou prince Lucan marrying princess Katrina spread the next day. Many of the royal council mbers felt that this was a step in the right direction. Those who had rebellious thought, felt that it was better not to allow the marriage stand.
Lord Aurelian who heard that the old gods had chosen him as the next king was the most anxious. It had been more than a month since Edward beca the king. The seer had left instructions that he should not act imdiately. He assured him that within two years the royal family would be in trouble. Now with this marriage he began to feel he might have lost the perfect opportunity to act.
"The late king listen to master, he can not be wrong. As long as we find a way to cause trouble between the queen, whose good fortune has blessed the king. The royal family would definitely be in trouble," the assistant to the late seer said. He was now seen by the worshipers of the old gods as the new seer..
Lord Aurelian frowned, " how do we cause striff, the king and Queen have a good relationship.
The young seer smile when he heard this statent. "Their relationship is on the surface. Do not worry, I have the perfect candidate to break the delicate balance. Just rember my words and do not act," he instructed.
Lord Auraline was not very pleased with the way the young seer spoke to him. "The old gods do not lack people to use. If you can not obey and trust them, they would bless another," the young seer said feeling Lord Auraline’s displeasure.
"I dare not, great one, I will listen," he got up and bow.
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