"An arranged marriage?" Arihris looked up from the pile of books in front of her.

"Yes, My Lady,"

Arihris' mind seemed to hiccup at the words of 'arranged' and 'marriage', the blank look that she gave the woman in front of her caused her to giggle softly.

"A-Are you sure Maribell? This isn't some type of game my father is pulling on me is he?" Maribell stood silently as she looked at the young woman sitting in her plush desk chair.

Normally the woman only showed up to the villa if there was an important event or message or if she was needed at the Pillar of Springs. But the woman's sudden appearance gave Arihris a surprise and the letter she had given her had thrown her completely off. Her father had sent a letter stating her arranged marriage and how Maribell would return in a week's time to Shimmer Coast and escort her to the Nox manor in the Pillar of Spring.

"This is all so sudden…" Arihris trailed off as she read over the letter again. The letter itself was basic, gave little detail into who she would give her hand to.

"I am quite sure that you will be quite fine Lady Arihris," the woman replied.

"Maribell I love how certain you are of this ….I have lived and practically grew up in Shimmer Coast…30 years of ruling solo…it's just a big change…,"Arihris trailed off.

"My Lady, I understand your concerns but you know that Lady Nimue and Lord Seiveril only wants the absolute best for you. You need not worry," Maribell replied.

"I..." Arihris began.

There were no signs or talk about an arranged marriage in and of the letters or missives she had received from her parents or when they visited. It felt so sudden.

"You are right...I'm overthinking it...," Arihris trailed off.

"Shall I inform Lady Nimue and Lord Seiveril of your confirmed arrival for next week?"

"Yes, please," Arihris replied as she gently placed the letter down.

"Anything else, My Lady?" Maribell asked as she bowed slightly.

"At the moment, no. Thank you for personally giving me this letter from my father. Please take care Maribell,"

Maribell bowed before she disappeared into her transportation circle back to the Pillar of Spring.

"An arranged marriage...I suppose it is about that time...," Arihris sighed, almost defeated as her fate had been sealed by a decision she wasn't included in.

It had been decided for her.

She was the Lady of Shimmer Coast but still her duties and responsibilities to her family and from the long lineage of the Shimmer Coast. As a young girl, her Grandmother and Mother mentioned that something like this may happen as she approached maturity. She had at least 15 more years before she would achieve maturity in the eyes of her people, something must have happened to for her father to make such a move.

She leaned back in into her plush chair, deflated that the thought of her mother fawning over her only daughter being married and meticulously going over every detail of her hair, clothing, and makeup before she was even allowed to set foot outside the doors of their manor in the Pillar of Springs.

Letting out another sigh she turned her attention to the sealed envelope neatly placed on top of a pile of unopened mail. The envelope had the seal of the Hunter's Guild pressed into the crimson wax that kept the envelope sealed on its journey from Forge Gardens.

"Not yet...I need a little bit more time," Arihris reached to for the letter her critical eye going over the detailing of the envelope and the seal itself. Becoming a hunter was something she had decided to attempt to do within in means of being the sole ruler of Shimmer Coast. She wanted to explore the rest of the continent, experience the different cities and townsfolk on her own and not with a title attached to her being there.

In a way she wanted freedom, she wanted to experience some type of freedom before the ceremony

Her childhood was filled with happiness and love and all sorts of exciting things but she was also being bred to take over for her mother when she decided to retire. With no qualms against it, Arihris took on the task head first to follow in the footsteps of her grandmother Halanestra and her mother Nimue, to the ruler of Shimmer Coast and maintain its prosperity.

But now...the marriage…

"I'll figure out something," Arihris said as she placed the letter back in its place and stood. She needed to contact Tanis to inform her of her planned departure for a few days.