She stood quietly, watching her own figure in front of the mirror, as the maids were finishing fixing her long hair and clothes. The young woman was wearing a long lilac silk gown with transparent long sleeves. There was a deep cleavage showing her round breasts, adorned with a big collar with emeralds. The same jewels, in smaller forms were on her pierced long ears, making a beautiful contrast with her beautiful red hair that was tight on a thick braid.
"My Queen." The deep and polite masculine voice was heard on the room, making her look away from the mirror and smile.
"Hello, Kunimitsu." A tall and fit young man stood by her side. He was wearing a dark green vest with some details in golden. He had dark brown eyes and hair and a serious expression on his handsome face. "You look so elegant."
"Doesn't he?" a shorter, smiling man also entered the room. He had blue eyes and light blond short hair. He was wearing clothes similar to the taller man.
"You are also very handsome yourself, Syuusuke." When the two maids distanced themselves from her, Sakuno stood up. "I expected nothing else from my beloved counselors."
"You look exquisite, Sakuno-sama." Kunimitsu made a small reverence.
Syuusuke offered her his hand to help her stand up.
"Thank you so much for your help today."Looking at the maids, she smiled gently.
"It is an honor to serve you, My Queen!" they replied, happily, before the tree of them left the chambers.
Sakuno crossed the hallways of her castle, as her counselors followed behind. It was a beautiful morning on her kingdom and she felt content. As walking into the ceremonial hall, the royal guards saluted, silently positioning themselves with their spears in continence.
After the Great War, many centuries ago, an uncountable number of human lost their lives wanting to claim territories over the elves. The elves were extremely long lived and powerful beings, so the humans were afraid of being subdued. The human queen and the elf king at those violent times made a pact to stop the bloodshed. The rulers of both nations promised their children would be bond to each other in marriage from then on. Since many human countries had interest in being part of the elves bloodlines, they would battle between them until just one human would stand in victory.
On the last centuries, Alfsigr, the elf country, was ruled by queens, human princes and kings fought over their hands and bodies. Their marriage should result in an heir, raised solely in the elf nation. The union should happen when the heir achieved two centuries of life spam. When Sakuno turned 199, the tournament for her hand started on the human nation. She was presented to the contestants and wished them good luck before the battles started. The elf queen followed the results, until the last duel, where prince Akio defeated all his opponents.
Now, he in front of her throne, made with intertwined vines of an ancient tree that rose from the castle grounds many centuries ago.
Akio was a tall, young human. He was shorter than Kunimitsu but taller than herself. His grey eyes looked at her, amazed, as she came closer. He had dark blue hair tight on a ponytail that reached the middle of his back and long bangs covering his forehead. He was wearing a black ceremonial kimono, she noticed, and it suited him well. There were a couple of human soldiers by his side, strong and with stoic expressions. Standing in front of him, he made a deep reverence.
"Sakuno-sama. It is an honor to finally being able to be in your presence again." Only by his voice, she knew he was a very serious and proud man.
"Akio-sama." She smiled at him. "Thank you for your bravery and your efforts on my behalf. Congratulations on your victory."
"The possibility of having you as my bride gave me strength until the end."
"Please, join me on the outer gardens; there is a special breakfast in your honor."
"Yes."
They sat under a huge willow tree. The castle was surrounded by many different trees and flowers. The queen's counselors and the prince's bodyguards stood a few meters away, giving them privacy.
Gently, Sakuno offered him some warm tea and he was drawn to the elegant movements of her hands.
"I hope it is your taste, Akio-sama."
"Thank you." he drank the drink politely. "It is very good."
"Is that from your last battle?" her scarlet eyes stopped on the bandages on his forehead, hidden by the long sleeves of his kimono.
"Ah, yes. But, do not worry, I…" before he could finish his sentence, the queen placed her hand over his arm and a warm, golden glow started to emanate from her palm.
"I am sorry you had to hurt yourself because of me." She said, with a sad look on her beautiful face. The bandage fell from his forearm and the deep cut that was still healing was completely gone.
"What…" he was very surprised. "I did not know you could do such thing."
"I can heal some wounds with my energy, as long as the person heart is still beating. It is a skill from my mother's bloodline." The red eyes were reading his entire soul. "My powers and my body will be entirely devoted to you, Akio-sama."
He had no words. Although she was already two centuries old, she did not look any older than 17. Akio was already 25. Since he was a young boy, on the first time his eyes stopped on her figure, he wished to be by the elf queen side and worked all his life to achieve his goal. His future wife was more splendid than his wildest dreams.
"Is there anything else you wish to know from me? Or our country?" her sweet voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Nothing in particular for this moment. We will have our entire lives to know more about each other with no hurries. But, is there anything you want to know about me as well?"
"Tell me a little more about your land, then."
"Murasaki is a small state, but we manage just fine. We survive with herds and plantation. We also sell our crops to other lands."
"I wish I was able to visit it." She offered him some chopped fruit in a small bowl. He picked up the pieces and started to eat them.
"This is very good. It is different from the fruit on our land."
"If you wish, you can take some of them when you return, after the wedding."
"It is a pity you cannot leave. I would like to show you around my land."
"That would be lovely." Her red eyes were kind as looking at him.
"Sakuno-sama…" putting the bowl down, the human touched her hand gently and it surprised her. "Do you have any concerns about the wedding night? Even if we are bound on a peace pact, even if we barely know each other, I want you to know I will never treat you with anything but utterly respect. Your body is already precious to me."
A gush of summer wind blew around them, bringing flowers to their surroundings and the grey eyes were completely hypnotized by her, as the red braid was moved gently.
Sakuno touched his hand and brought to her heart holding it dearly, closing her eyes. He could sense her heartbeats and the warmth of her soft skin.
"I appreciate your concern, Akio-sama. I also hope we can find affection on the future we will share soon." Raising her eyes, she smiled at him. "I was very lucky to be born between parents that found love in such arrangement and I have nothing but found memories of my late father. I wish our heir can experience the same. Please, if it is possible, I want to entrust my heart on you as well."
The human king touched her face with his free hand and his thumb gently brushed on her cheek.
"Thank you so much. I will do my best."
