5. Of Brats and Doormats

"Prince Myriem," Myriem's study was interrupted by the call of a servant. He looked up, seeing one of Keel's servants and stopped himself from frowning. The servant bowed and continued. "The King and Queen will be requesting your presence at mealtime tonight."

Myriem dismissed the servant and bit back a sigh. Keel's servant said his parents 'will be requesting' his presence, meaning they hadn't yet. It was likely that Keel was the one requesting a family dinner, and thus his parents would expect Myriem to attend.

Myriem knew Keel hoped to publicize the news of Princess Julie Anne's arrival and use their other siblings to apply pressure on Myriem to accept the engagement. Neither Myriem not Keel got along with the younger two, Third Princess Fien and Fourth Prince Niman, and the older two - First Prince Geulpri and First Princess Havine - were neutral and could be persuaded to join either side. Second Princess Zena had married out.

As Myriem expected, when he arrived at the private royal formal dining hall, his siblings turned to look at him assessingly.

"Ani-chi," First Prince Geulpri nodded as Myriem bowed. He bowed to First Princess Havine as well, but she only nodded, looking mildly annoyed. Myriem figured Keel had spread a rumour about the marriage to draw their attention, otherwise First Princess Havine would have refused to attend.

"Eldest Ani-jaan," Third Princess Fien and Fourth Prince Niman curtseyed and bowed to him respectively. Myriem felt a shiver of fear run down his back - not because of Niman's poorly hidden envious glare, but because of Fien's restrained little smirk. She was likely the most interested in the news of his marriage.

Myriem braced himself for a troublesome night.

He sat down, Ruey and two of his servants standing demurely close behind. All his siblings had brought their entourages; as it was not a meeting held in confidence, there were undoubtedly foreign actors listening upon every word.

"Ani-jaan is looking well," Fien said innocently when Myriem sat down. Myriem instinctively glanced back, looking for Darien. Darien was always amused by his difficulties with Fien, the traitorous bastard. Remembering Darien was still angry at him and was not around, his eyes dropped momentarily before he turned back to Fien.

"I am well, thank the skies," Myriem perfunctorily raised his hands to his chest in prayer. Fien solemnly did the same, but instead of thanking the skies for his health, she was probably using that innocent-looking face to cast a curse on him.

Myriem felt an ominous vibe and hurriedly turned the focus off of him and onto Keel.

"And thank the skies for Keel Ani-jaan's safe return," Myriem was relieved when Fien turned to Keel with curious, devious eyes as Keel conversed quietly with an attendant.

Keel quickly waved his attendant away before smiling kindly at his siblings who gave him a prayer of good health.

"I am pleased to return safely," Keel humbly accepted the well wishes. Before he could mention his success in brining the Siren Princess back, Fien spoke up.

"How was the border situation? It must have been very difficult for you, you should have asked Havine Aji-jaan for help," Fien asked, before pausing. "No, I suppose Havine Aji-jaan is busy," Fien thought aloud, innocent mockery licking her words.

Havine, despite being a Princess, was a Lieutenant General with significant military influence. Keel's military inexpertise was especially laughable in comparison to her hard-earned success, and Fien implied she was much too busy to deal with the trivial sorts of things that Keel struggled with.

Keel's face stiffened slightly. "It was not as bad as I had expected." Myriem felt momentary schadenfreude at Keel's shame, but it disappeared when Keel's eyes flickered back to him.

"In fact, we returned with much more than we had hoped for," Keel gave a humble smile that fooled no one.

Fien leaned forward. "What? Did you gain us a vassal state like Geulpri Ani-jaan? Did you defeat the rebelling Weres like Havine Aji-jaan? Or did you create another trade route like Niman Ani-jaan?" Everyone knew that Fien was the one truly responsible for the last success, but she credited Niman as usual, giving him face while humblebragging herself. She intentionally didn't include Myriem as well.

Keel's jaw tightened. "I dealt with the border skirmishes and returned with a peace treaty."

"..." Fien deflated as if let down. "Oh." Fien was visibly not impressed, making a show to humiliate Keel. Myriem and Niman bit back a snicker as even the servants hid their judgmental gazes towards Keel.

It wasn't that Keel's accomplishments weren't significant, it was that Fien knew how to make them seem as if they weren't. Myriem almost pitied Keel. For all the power he, Keel, Geulpri, Niman or Havine had, the Third Princess was the true heart of the castle. If she mocked someone, even the servants would laugh at them.

Keel glanced at Myriem, confidence returning. He was on the cusp of mentioning the Siren Princess he had brought for Myriem when the doors opened.

The King and Queen had arrived; their fractured family was now as complete as it could be.