Royal Commitments II

AREN

I arrive at the stable with my favorite horse, Neru. I usually ride horses in the mornings, it's something that wakes me up.

—Your Highness —greets one of the stable keepers.

—Good day —I say goodbye and my assistant comes up the hill.

—Your Highness. The royal council and your parents are in a meeting and_

—Why didn't anyone inform me of that before? —He keeps silent, and I prefer not to continue alleging, so we go to the meeting room—. Good morning. —I greet everyone and take a seat in the position assigned to me—. I was not informed that you had a meeting, I apologize for the delay.

—This time we just wanted to inform you of our decision, remember that you do not belong to the council and, as a prince, you cannot always be present —my grandfather faces me and I nod so as not to prolong the matter, he is another stubborn like me.

—We were just talking about you —my father tells me, and I see him—. We were talking about the royal marriage.

—... and what does that have to do with me? —I ask because I don't want to expect the worst.

—We believe it's time for you to get married. We put it to the vote, and we all agree. It is time for the future king of Lundy to meet his future wife. —His news falls on me like a barrel of water taken from the North Pole and tenses my whole body—. It is less than ten years before my successor to the crown officially takes the position of king of Lundy and must already have a wife by then.

—With all due respect, royal council, and kings of Lundy, I consider an arranged marriage unnecessary. We are in the XXI century, generations change, I consider myself fit to govern without being next to a princess or whatever you want to propose to me because it is not her who gives me the skills or knowledge to be a king.

—We are convinced of that, prince, you have all the abilities to govern on your own —explains a duke of the council—. However, the law stipulates that the next heir to the royal crown cannot reach the age of twenty-nine without having married. You, in a couple of months will be 28 years old. You have less than 16 months to meet, fall in love, get engaged, and marry someone.

My blood boils. It was an article of the law that I never took seriously because I always considered it as something that was missing a long time. But now it's catching me off guard and it's something I can't ignore, even if I want to.

I look at my parents and grandparents who are part of the council, none contradict, which means they also support the decision.

—Okay. I'll see who I meet.

—Your assistants are preparing the South Room where they will show you the most suitable prospects to govern at your side.

—... I understand. I retire. —bow a little and leave the main meeting room. I find my younger brother glued to the door and smiling—. Why are you spying?

—¿Are you getting married? —The news seems to please him more than me—. With whom?

—I don't know —I reply, go back to the road, and he follows me.

—What kind of girl are you looking for? I can get you some.

—I don't know what women I'm attracted to because I hadn't thought about it before, but I don't want yours, I'm sure of that.

—Killjoy. —I smile slightly at his complaint.

—You know princesses and duchesses your age or younger, I don't want to look like a pedophile.

—What is that? —I deny in disappointment, and we come to the South Room—. May I stay with you? It's always good to have a second opinion.

—... Well, come in. —We take seats in the armchairs and the screen in front shows us the presentation with the title "princesses and duchesses fit for Prince Aren". Just seeing the title gives me a headache—. How many are the candidates? —I ask one of my assistants who is preparing a folder on the lectern next to the screen.

—Six, your majesty.

—¿¡six!? —My brother asks, not believing it.

What a surprise, I expected more with this proposal coming from the council.

—Out of the six candidates, you will choose three to meet at next week's charity event in Kaos. If you do not rule out any, they will come to spend some time in the palace to get to know each other thoroughly and also the kingdom and its people since the event will not give enough time for that. In addition, you will travel for a while to their kingdom so that you know better if they request it and see things on the right track.

I see why I was told that sixteen months was a very short time.

They begin to introduce me to the first duchess, Ingrid of Korsovia. My same age and good physical appearance. They show me her kingdom and the benefits to our people. She seems like a good person, but she doesn't appeal to me and what her nation has doesn't convince me.

Next is Infanta Milena of Kastoria. They show the same type of information and do the same with the remaining four.

—These were the options, Your Highness. —They slide the last slide with the photo of all the candidates with their names below.

—I didn't know that the Duchess of our kingdom was a possible choice —says my brother—. I mean, she's cute, but... Like something doesn't add up.

—Duchess Seren was selected for the personality she has —defends an assistant—. In addition to her knowledge, she is the kind of person that people like. The people appreciate her and those who already know her may find it easier to accept her.

—It is not them who will marry, so it is me who must accept her.

—You're right, Your Highness, I'm sorry…

—Besides —my brother argument—: this is so that he will know them better. We already know Seren, we could say we've grown up together. —He snorts—. Well, big brother, here are my options: first choice, Infanta Milena of Kastoria; second choice, Princess Kaira of Kaunas; last choice, Princess Alyssa of Corfu... I'm going more for the last one. —I look at him while he details the screen with a smile—. Her smile is very cute; her brown and wavy hair give her a fresh and youthful aura… —I notice the attendees wanting to laugh at the way he describes her—. And her hazel eyes ... They beat you to her soul. She exudes a warm aura; I feel like I could fall asleep in her arms instantly. —He keeps a peaceful smile and looks at me when I don't give him any answers—. What?

—Why don't you marry her? It seems that you have already fallen in love.

—If you don't choose her, I can pretend her at the charity event. —He winks at me, and I snort while the presents laugh for and with him—. choose, I don't think it's difficult.

—First choice... —They prepare to take note—. Infanta Milena of Kastoria; second choice, Duchess Nilsa of Elgin; Third choice...

—Princess Alyssa —my brother whispers to both of us. I detail his favorite, she is a good prospect, she has a beauty that hypnotizes you and comes from a good country, but she seems to be one of the women who would give me a headache and enough I have to be obliged to meet someone.

—Princess Valkyria of Stirling.

—Really? Her? I accept you Duchess Nilsa of Elgin, but Princess Alyssa is cuter than Princess Valkyria.

—When you grow up and go through this, you're going to know that you don't just have to look at beauty —I stand up and pat his head—. I'm leaving.

—You will have ugly children if you marry her. You'll ruin the family tree.

I snort and leave the room without paying attention to the matter, there are more serious ones to think about, like getting married, for example.

It is a complete annoyance because I recognize that I am capable of governing alone and I do not want to marry without being in love. From the age of fifteen they began to introduce me to princesses, but none attracted me because they seemed mute when they saw me, they were also glass weaklings that were afraid to practice any sports as if they were going to break in the attempt. And the same pattern was given at 18, at 22, even at 25. I don't want someone next to me who only serves for screen, I would want someone who serves for more than showing off beautiful dresses, posing in front of the cameras with a smile and saying, "we will help". I want someone mature, not childish. My partner should not be afraid to get her hands, clothes or face dirty, not only should she give orders, but she should also support with actions, her finesse and delicacy is the least. She must exhale power and autonomy, she must know how to defend herself, she must have a voice and vote and she must keep in mind that she does not need a prince charming to be safe. If women knew the power they carry, men would be a choice, not a benefit or necessity.

But none of the ones they showed me seem to have what I want and that's what bothers me the most.

I go back to the stable and take another of my horses to go riding, fresh air and a place without people telling me what to do is what I need.

Marriage is something that does not leave my head all week and makes my mood worse when we arrive on the island of Kaos, where the event will take place the next day. The royalty of Lundy decided to come a night before to fit in and get to know the place a little. I arrive at the hotel with my family and take my room key and head to the elevator without waiting for anyone.

—don't forget to come down for dinner, the Stirling royalty has invited us.

Valkyria of Stirling.

I see my mother again and notice the laughter that my brother wants to endure. I nod so they won't follow me, and I go up.

I leave my luggage in the cloakroom and go out to the balcony to take a seat in an armchair. The sky paints purple tones and the climate is cool despite being a tropical area.

I pretend to get some sleep and I manage it until someone knocks on my door. It is my personal assistant, Camilo, who informs me that in forty minutes I must be in the dining room of the hotel.

I get ready without encouragement and leave at the stipulated time. I recognize my family and approach the table where everyone already is, including one of the prospects for me.

I say hello, and she sees me with an exaggerated smile. Her gesture reflects to me that I will not enjoy my dinner.

—Honey, hi. Take a seat —my grandmother asks, and I sit in the only void and that, unfortunately, but as I expected, is next to Princess Valkyria—. Surely you do not know the princess yet.

—I still don't have the taste.

And I don't want to have it.

—Hello! —she greets too enthusiastically and offers me her hand, which I shake, and she smiles more.

—A pleasure, your majesty.

I greet the others of Stirling. My brother, who is on my other side, elbows me from time to time and laughs in disguise when the princess makes a comment. I try to talk to her about important topics, not her life or her hobbies which is what she tells me; How boring that she just drinks tea and reads books as entertainment. I don't like her at all, nor her voice, nor her laughter, are very scandalous. Valkyria's grandmother brings up more interesting topics than her.

I finish dinner with a headache. I say goodbye to everyone and along the way, when Camilo joins me, I ask him to discard Valkyria from the list.

—I thought she would be a good match...

—Well, we all thought wrong.

—Everyone but me —I hear my brother's voice away, and by the time I want to face him, he's locked himself in his room.

I agreed to come to the Kaos event because of the charitable deeds they planned to do, not to meet my future nightmare.

They all looked delicate, but the ones I selected seemed to have, at least, a hint of seriousness. I have already learned that a photo is useless, nor is your biography.