Crystal had decided that she had absolutely no room in her heart for a husband. She loved her family, her friends, her people, her kingdom, and her future children. She needed to be married, of course, but she decided that marrying for love was redundant because she simply didn't need anyone else to love. Her marriage would benefit those that she already loved, because no husband could come close to how much she loved them.
She wrote down the list: family, friends, people, kingdom. She put it in a locket, near her heart, so neither of them would forget who she really loved. Who she did it all for.
It was important to remember things like that in times of uncertainty. Johto was on the brink of war with Unova. Though both were traditionally peaceful kingdoms, there seemed to be a new power in Unova, they started calling themselves a Halidom and said that their king was chosen by the divine dragons and could communicate with all creation. They started denying entrance to johteans because they worshipped the ancient birds, Ho-oh and Lugia, and johteans living in Unova were thrown out.
It was only a matter of time before war was officially declared.
But, Johto was still a peaceful nation. It had been centuries since any war was brought to the land and they hadn't developed the military under of the assumption that war would never come again. So they were forced to strengthen their bonds with others, including the Highlands, a small, mountainous kingdom north of Johto. Despite being small, they were very technologically advanced and had a strong military that was used to protect the citizens from evil that hid deep in the snowy mountains.
The King of the Highlands had agreed to help with the oncoming war and ally themselves with Johto, for a small price. All they had to do was marry the johtean princess to one of the Highland King's sons.
Crystal's father agreed in a heartbeat, and Crystal was fine with marrying the prince. They were told what day he would arrive at Johto castle for the engagement ceremony, a tradition in Johto. He would stay until the wedding, and the Highland King would come down for the event and watch his son would become the future king of Johto.
Crystal had been dressed extravagantly for his arrival, and waited patiently all day.
The prince did not arrive.
The King said they would wait a couple days, because perhaps he had run into trouble and would be there as soon as he could. Crystal prayed to Ho-Oh that he didn't call off the wedding and go home.
At night, Crystal didn't usually go straight to sleep. She would light a candle, sit by the window, and drown out her worries by reading under the stars.
That night she looked outside and saw something, a light, a horse... a person approaching the castle door late at night. Crystal tried to get a better view. Was it the prince? Sheknew she shouldn't go down to entrance, her servants would get the door and, if it was important enough, wake her father and mother. But she started to see lights turned on, and heard a commotion outside. She couldn't contain her curiosity anymore.
Pulling on a robe and slippers, Crystal rushed down stairs from her room. At the top of the stairs to the throne room, she saw her father was awake and the servants were rushing around.
And a boy.
He looked about her age and had messy black hair and golden eyes. He looked frazzled and rough around the edges, his clothes were torn and there was dirt on his face. But from the rough portraits she had seen and the descriptions she had read:
This was the prince.
He did look a bit different, but no artist was perfect. The portraits were probably just a little bit off.
A maid saw Crystal and ran up to her saying, "milady! You shouldn't be up at this hour! I know there is a lot going on but you must head back to you're room, you're still in you're night clothes for Ho-Oh's sake!"
Crystal allowed her self to be dragged back up to her room, but looking back, she could have sworn she made eye contact with him.
Crystal woke up early so her maids could dress her quicker and she could go down to breakfast.
The King and Queen rarely saw their daughter, it was usually only at breakfast and dinner and that wasn't always. At those meals they didn't talk much either, it was the curse of royal families.
But today, the King and Queen were actively engaged in conversation when Crystal arrived. And the boy from last night was at the table along with a boy with long red hair Crystal didn't recognize.
"Good morning Crystal!" Her father greeted. "I trust you slept well."
"I did, thank you father," she responded politely and sat down, butlers bringing food to her.
"Well I would like to introduce you to Prince Ethan Gold of the Highlands and his advisor, Silver. They arrived late last night," the King explained.
Crystal nodded formally at them. "It's a pleasure to meet you Prince Ethan and Silver."
"No, please. Just call me Gold! It's not my given name but more of a name I got over my life. I prefer it really." The Prince got up and walked to her, it was not an uncommon gesture to bow or shake hands with the royal family when they arrive. But instead he got down on a knee and kissed her hand.
"And the pleasure is all mine, Princess."
Crystal pressed her lips into a firm line, the flirty types did not sit well with her. As a queen she would have little, if any, control over the kingdom. Her kingdom! She didn't need the king to be a idiot.
Her father, the current king, stood up. "Well I'm afraid my wife and I have business to attend. Gold, there will be a ceremony and a party tonight to celebrate the engagement and I'd like to ask if you would be the guest of honor?"
"Of course, your highness."
"Good. In the mean time, make yourself at home in our castle. Perhaps, if she isn't busy, your bride could show you around," the King finished and smiled at Crystal before leaving. She looked back politely, but destained the idea.
"So how about it, Princess?" Gold smirked once the king had left. "Care to give me the royal tour?"
"Sorry, but I'm afraid my studies-"
"Aren't happening. The King mentioned you passed all of your tutoring lessons a while ago." Silver chimed in. He hadn't said anything so far and Crystal was shocked to hear his voice. She also wasn't used to being interrupted, especially by an employee, but she wasn't the type to lash out over things like this.
Instead she sighed, "I was going to spend the day doing independent studies, but if you insist..."
"I do insist! Maybe we could talk about what you're studying. I would love to know more about my fiancé," Gold urged.
Crystal realized she couldn't get out of this. Deciding she was done eating, Crystal stood up. "Fine, I will meet you in the entrance in half an hour."
"Why can't we start now? You're dressed and Silver and I are already here," he objected.
"Alright, follow me to the library." Crystal curtly turned and started walking. She heard Gold and Silver rushing to keep up with her.
She didn't engage much with them, despite what Gold said he didn't seem very interested in her. He barely shut up long enough for her to tell him where they were going. When Gold made a joke, she wouldn't laugh. Crystal just kept reminding herself that this was all business. Besides the wedding and having kids, she would rarely see him.
The ceremony happened that night, and to Crystal it just took up more of her time. After the tour she barely had a minute to herself before she was being prepped for the event.
It was an old tradition and every engaged couple in Johto did it, although being royalty always makes things more dramatic. Couples would where ceremonial clothes, stand in front of their friends and family, announce their engagement officially, and ask for Ho-Oh and Lugia's blessings. If they weren't meant to be together one was supposed to be struck dead, but Crystal hadn't heard of any cases like that in the last century. Provided they survived, there would be a party to celebrate the engagement.
It had to be done before you start making plans for the wedding because it was considered disrespectful to the Gods to not ask permission. The unspoken rule became a month before you wanted the wedding to take place or, in case of people who were betrothed since they were small, as soon as they were old enough to be married.
The ceremony was fine, Crystal was a beautiful silver dress to signify Lugia, and Gold wore a rainbow robe to signify Ho-Oh. Neither of them died.
Crystal thought the party was boring as well. She loved dancing, but Gold kept stepping on her toes to the point where she thought it was on purpose. She danced with others as well, her dad, family, friends, etc. And she spent all night thanking people for coming and being congratulated.
She went to bed late, exhausted and needing to be alone.
There's always tomorrow, she reminded herself. She could be alone tomorrow.
Days until the wedding: 28
Note: this is only going to get more cheesy and corny and less based on any sort of fact. Next chapter on Friday :)