To Love Him
Kalasin of Contè stared out at the window of her chambers, and sighed. Sunset spilled over lush green hills and the garden lay in tranquil silence, only the wind disturbing the slumber of the sun and awakening of the moon. "It's beautiful." She whispered, watching as ink-black clouds uncovered the silver of silver.
A quiet laugh shook her out of her reverie and she turned in a whisper of white silk, "Roald why do you mock me in such a manner?"
Her brother, Prince Roald, magnificent in black silk, chuckled and his sapphire blue eyes sparkled, "You've changed your attitude, Kally, since those empress lessons. Remember when you use to pretend you were a lady knight? Back when we were little?"
"Yes, I do Roald, but we've both changed for the good of the kingdom." she whispered, keeping her gaze low.
"For the good of the kingdom? You sound like father when he's talking about a diplomatic matter. Or mother when she doesn't want us to know what she's planning."
"Don't I have to?" Kally met the prince's eyes sharply. "You have Princess Shinkokami as your betrothed, and I have an emperor. Both of us betrothed to seal alliances, is there more to a marriage then alliance?"
"There is Kally, lots of things," Roald sighed as he continued, staring into the roaring hearth as if it would provide an answer to his unasked questions. "Love, friendship and trust. Do you trust the emperor with your life? Would you? Do you love him?"
"I would if the gods pleaded this of me, but only time would provide the answers to the second question, brother." Kally said, her voice sounding as if she had rehearsed it many times.
Roald took her hand, "I'm only looking out for you, Kally, and I don't want you to get hurt or to regret what you've done."
Kalasin met her sibling's gaze and sighed, "I know." She answered, staring at the crescent moon that bathed sister and brother in a soft white light. "This ball is going to change everything, I just know it"
Roald wrapped his sister in a tight embrace. "Learn to love, Kally. That all you'll need to do to win his heart and to gain his trust. Who knows? Kaddar might even like you."
"Perhaps..." was the quiet reply, soon whisked away by the breeze.