Chapter Text
Dazai
It’s not unusual for my father to summon me to his study unexpectedly; what is unusual is him summoning me to his study as the king and not merely as my father. The serious tone of his summoning urged me to walk calmly and professionally despite the way my heart hammered in my chest against my ribs. I can’t help but wonder what’s gotten him so serious; I wonder if something has happened and if so what.
I glance casually over the white rimmed rails, making note of the guards current positions where they stand near walls and next to doors. The red carpet with gold margins lining the halls. I approach the door to my father’s study. Two guards stand on either side of the brown door that seems to loom over me. I step forward and knock on the door, neither guard making any movement to stop me.
“Enter”
My father’s voice echoes out from the room, more serious than I’ve ever heard it before. I turn the handle and open the door, stepping inside.
He has a quill in his hand and seems to be signing documents of some sort. I glance around the room which I have been in so many times before. Nothing has changed, but that’s not really suspicious. I glance at the bookshelves lined with books of all sorts and the staircase leading upwards to a loft-like area adorned with both books as well as tables accompanied by chairs. He has maps pinned to the walls. A rather large window sits behind him nearly extending the full length of the room upwards, but it stops before touching the ceiling.
My father raises his head and meets my eyes as he sets his quill in his tiny ink jar that sits near the upper left corner of his desk.
“Son”
My father’s earthy brown eyes bore into mine as I await what he might possibly say next. “We have something to discuss” he says calmly, though his rigid posture conveys the seriousness of whatever situation has arisen.
“Yes, Father” I remark obediently.
”Your mother and I have signed an agreement between us and the neighboring kingdom of Aiteall”
My father pauses momentarily almost as if checking if I’m listening, which I am.
He wants to form an alliance between us and Aiteall, the sunshine kingdom.
“The alliance will be fulfilled when you marry their son, Chuuya Nakahara” he declares.
Marry? He wants me to marry their son? I guess my life truly wasn’t going to end up any other way. I was always going to marry someone from another kingdom, prince or princess it did not matter, that time just so happened to be in the making.
I nod my head towards my father.
“I understand. When will he be arriving?” I inquire.
”He will arrive three days hence, mid-day. Be prepared to greet him”
I slightly bow my head towards him to show my acknowledgment. When I look up again, I find him smiling with what appears to be satisfaction.
“You are dismissed”
I bow with my hands folded behind my back before taking my leave. I open the door and step out before retreating down the hallway and up a flight of stairs towards my own smaller study.
Despite the sudden news, I still have my own princely duties to attend to. I sit at my desk and pick up my quill even as the information tumbles about in my mind.
Chuuya
I open the window to look down upon the kingdom where the sun falls over the land. The kingdom that has flourished under my parents’ rule. The kingdom in which people are happy, businesses thrive, kids play, and crops grow. This kingdom is ours; Aiteall, the Sunshine Kingdom.
I am the second child. My older brother Albatross will inherit the throne when the time comes. My parents never bore any daughters, so it’s just me and my brother.
I have princely duties, sure, but my favorite part is escaping the palace and getting to talk with the people and kids down there in the very heart of the kingdom. I delight in the conversations I have with them. The kids always appear excited to see me and the adults always stop to talk with me even when they know for a fact that I’ve snuck out of the palace against my parents’ wishes.
I walk into the small study that I’ve been granted by my parents to attend to the things I must as a sun prince of Aiteall. When I enter, I find a simple letter on my desk.
A summoning.
It’s cream colored with the seal of my father pressed into the wax where the letter is held closed. I carefully pick it up. Normally my parents would not employ such an approach to summon me, it must be important.
I carefully break the seal and pull the parchment out that has been written on with a quill and ink. I begin to read; it does not take long for me to finish due to the short length of the letter as a whole. I set the letter down carefully and take off towards where my father is more than likely waiting.
The library.
The two simple wooden doors stand in the doorway almost as if asking me to come in and read its stories. The dark color is a stark contrast to the white and gold theme of the palace. I take a deep breath, worried for what’s to come.
I tug the doors open and walk inside. “Dad?” I call out. “Up here, Chuuya!” I hear a voice call from the second level of the library.
We have one of the biggest libraries there is. Shelves line the bottom level. Tables and chairs sit just off to the side of them. I climb the staircase to the second level with my hand on the rail.
When I reach the top of the stairs, I find my father sat in a comfy chair with his leg crossed over the other. A stack of books sits on the side table next to him while he supports one in his own hands. His light brown hair sits in light curls atop his head even as a stray curl falls down onto his forehead. Surprisingly enough, my father is a rather tall man. His glasses magnify his blue eyes as he reads. He always seems to at peace whenever he’s reading or with Mom and not dealing with all the political stuff that comes from being a king.
“Dad? You wanted to speak with me?” I inquire.
“Indeed”
He pulls a string out and uses it as a bookmark in the book he’s reading. He turns to look at me. His kind eyes meet mine. The blue eyes may be one of the few things I inherited from him, though I hope I got some of his personality traits too.
Suddenly the door to the library swings open. I recognize the soft sound of high heels calmly flowing towards the stairs. I’d know those shoes anywhere; my mother.
She glides up the staircase with very little effort. I look over to her as she approaches us. Her long red hair falling down her back. She wears an elegant looking dress, not fancy. It’s a shade of light blue. She goes to stand next to my father. She smiles at me.
”Dear, have you told him yet?” She asks. My father sighs and shakes his head. “I was just about to when you came in, Darling” he replies. I look at the both confused. “Tell me what?” I inquire. They share a knowing look.
“We made a political alliance with the neighboring kingdom of Sgail. It’s good for both the kingdoms. It allows them a political chess piece and us to keep our kingdom happy and flourishing. Unfortunately there’s a condition for this alliance” My father starts.
”And that is?”
”It will only be official once you marry their son” my mother explains.
”Why?”
“That’s the agreement we signed. It’s a political marriage, one that unites both kingdoms indefinitely. We did not bear a daughter and we told them as much when they insisted on a marriage, but they insisted that was fine as long as there was a marriage between our two kingdoms” they add on.
I nod as the information begins to sink in.
“I have to be the one to marry him since Albatross is the crown prince, right?”
“Yes” my mother says.
I nod slowly as I process that I will have to marry into the kingdom of shadow. I realize that I will no longer awake to the sun falling over my kingdom and illuminating it in beautiful colors. I have no idea what the customs of Sgail are. I have no clue whether the people there will be kind. I won’t be able to play with the kids or talk to the adults about their lives and things going on. I cannot go out and be bathed in sunlight and have it reflect off my hair making it appear almost golden.
“I understand. When do I leave?” I inquire.
”Tomorrow morning. It takes two days to reach Sgail. You should arrive by midday on the third day” my mother says.
I nod. “We’ll have one last family dinner tonight, Chuuya. Please come tonight, it may be the last time we see you for a while” my father pleads.
I nod despite the sad smile trying to fight its way onto my lips. “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll be there tonight” I reply.
They smile at me seemingly happy with my response, but I can see the sadness in their eyes at even having to send me away. I know it’s because they have a kingdom to rule and they cannot put theirs or my happiness above the needs of the kingdom.
I guess I’ll just have to sneak out later and say goodbye to everyone I’ve befriended down in the heart of it all.
“I’ll take my leave now” I bow towards my parents. I walk back down the staircase and out of the library.
I walk back to my study in a sort of daze barely recognizing the angelic white with gold accents of the palace.
I wonder where this alliance will go. I wonder what the prince will be like.
I sit at my desk after reaching my study and turning my chair so I can stare out the window as my thoughts swirl uncontrollably inside my head.