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Summary: A seventeen-year old Kalasin is going to Carthak to marry Kaddar. She contemplates on her duty and other various thoughts.
Chapter 2: Meeting Kaddar
Kalasin looked at Carthak in the distance.
The rest of her journey had been spent playing chess with Lianne (who always beat her) and talking about all different kinds of subjects with her. Except one,
Kaddar.
Honestly, thought Kally, he should feel guilty about all the headaches and heartaches he had given her. Though, contemplated Kally, he probably doesn't think about me. I don't matter to him.
Little did she know, she was wrong.
(Kaddar's POV)
Today is the day, the day I meet my future bride. And I am worried, very worried.
What will she be like (personality wise)? Will she blame me as the reason she had to leave her home? Will she keep me at a distance?
The questions went on. I told myself (in my mind, of courses), "Kaddar, you have to relax, regain your composure and worry about it when they arrive". Not that it helped. If anything, it increased my state of nerves.
I glanced at my cousin, Zaimid.
"Don't worry, your imperialness, you'll be fine, cool and calm," he assured me.
"Zaimid, please, you just told me four lies. I will worry, whether I want to or not. I have convinced myself that I will not be fine, I want to seem warm and greet Princess Kalasin warmly and, finally, I will definitely not be calm. It's not everyday somebody gets to meet their future bride, who happens to be a foreign princess that they've never seen before". I finished my short speech (not prepared) and gave a sigh. Being the Emperor of Carthak is a complicated job. Sometimes, I wish I was just a low, common-born peasant of Carthak. But then, I will always remember a lot of the low, common-born peasants of Carthak live in despair and poverty, no matter how many times I try to help them.
Zaimid game a soft chuckle.
"Would you like to swap places with me, cousin," I swiftly demanded.
"No, Kaddar, I do not envy you, I pity you," he retorted.
I gave up on our conversation. One, a ship had arrived at our port and two; I wasn't going to win our debate anyway.
The delegation departed from the ship and headed towards Zaimid, the Carthaki delegation and me. When they were but mere feet between us, I glanced at the woman I supposed to be Kalasin. (I knew this because she and another young girl, presumably thirteen, were the only ones wearing crowns.) Kalasin looked sixteen or seventeen; she was also the most beautiful thing I had ever laid eyes on, that includes all the splendours of Carthak. She had long, black hair and (despite her veil) big, crystal blue eyes that looked like that could show compassion. Her cheeks gently flushed pink naturally and her chin was femininely moulded and her nose was long (but not too long) and beautiful. Her eyebrows were delicately arched, her lips were carved to perfection and they were naturally blood-red. Her eyelashes were long and curved. Her figure was slim (a little too thin) with curves that made the men look enviously at me and the women (most of them) glance at Kalasin's curves jealously. Yet despite all this beauty she looked sad. Sad is an understatement. She looked as if she was going to her death. She also looked cold and she glanced at me defiantly and proudly. I could tell that the Princess was not happy, especially with me.
Zaimid was also looking enviously at me; obviously, he had been struck by Kalasin's beauty.
"Now I envy you, she looks like a goddess," he whispered to me.
(Kalasin's POV)
The Emperor spoke.
"Welcome, all of you, especially their Royal Highnesses Princess Kalasin and Princess Lianne. I thank you all for accompanying her Royal Highness Princess Kalasin for our upcoming marriage. I thank His Royal Majesty King Jonathan and Her Royal Majesty Queen Thayet the Peerless for negotiating with us and agreeing that her Royal Highness Kalasin and my wedding should seal our peace treaty. I thank her Royal Highness Kalasin for gracing us with her presence and agreeing to marry me. I am so glad that you have come, and I wish you a lovely time."
Kalasin and Kaddar looked into each other's eyes. His welcoming, despite being polite and formal, was warm and sincere. Kaddar's eyes, were filled with respect, surprise and awe? Kalasin's eyes were sad, respectful and surprised. Kalasin wasn't surprised at Kaddar's speech, but how he gave it with gratitude and respect, few people knew how to do it.
The Princess answered.
"I thank you, your Imperialness, for welcoming us all and making sure we feel welcome. I thank you for agreeing with the peace treaty and his Imperialness and my wedding. I thank you for using precious time to greet us. I, Princess Kalasin, with all my heart, thank you all.
Kalasin's words were formal and polite, yet, her last sentence was a compliment. She was personally thanking them with her heart, it was honourable and the Carthaki delegation showed their respect and thanks by bowing their heads.
Then the Carthaki court herald announced each and every one of the Carthaki and
Tortallan delegations. Followed by that, various Carthaki and Tortallan delegations made speeches. Finally, the speeches were over.
Kalasin and Lianne are in their quarters in the palace.
"See, he seemed nice. And polite. And warm. And sincere. And respectful.
That's something you want with all husbands. It might not be that bad, Kally. Lianne assured Kalasin.
Unfortunately (for Lianne), Kally exploded. "He gives one, small speech and suddenly you think he's the perfect husband for me. If he's so good, why don't you marry him?" Kalasin shouted.
"I'm sorry Kally. I know this is hard for you, if I had to go through with this I'd go mad, literally. Besides, I don't think he's perfect, I'm only trying to point out some of the traits he seemed to have." She apologized.
"Sorry for exploding. I just wish I was home. Actually I don't really wish that, I miss home dreadfully, but duty calls, unfortunately, duty's permanent." Kalasin sighed.
"You are the best sister ever, do you know that Lianne, you have always been there for me," whispered Kalasin, hugging her sister.
"I know I'm behaving dreadfully, I just hate him so much at the moment for taking me away from my home." Kalasin started cursing Carthak and Kaddar with relish.
"Your Highness, his Imperialness is here, he would like to talk with you in the sitting room. It's a good thing you changed." Kalasin's rather outspoken maid, Terri, stated hurriedly.
"He would also like to meet his future sister-in-law, Princess Lianne."
"I'll been down shortly after Kally, I just need to check myself," Lianne replied.
(Kaddar's POV)
She walked into the room calmly; however, it would be comforting to see some sign that she was human, even mortal. Perhaps if she showed some sign of nervousness I would feel less nervous. She looked untouchable. Her eyes were no longer sad; there was outright defiance and anger in them.
"Your Imperial highness, what would you like with me?" she asked. Her words were seemed innocence, yet, I knew she was playing with me. It was a common nobles' game. There was a hint of mockingness in her voice and she was daring me to retort back.
"Your regal Royal Highness, I would just like to see if you were comfortable, check if your needs were satisfied and meet your wonderful self personally." I answered, returning the game and twisting it as nobles do.
She raised an arched eyebrow.
"And invite the delegation and her Royal Highness Princess Lianne and your Royal Highness Princess Kalasin to dinner tonight." I added hurriedly.
She raised her arched eyebrow even higher. She clearly understood that I wasn't very good at playing with nobles. But I was, truly, good at twisting and confusing nobles, except, the way she looked, the real person she was, the reason she was in Carthak and something else, stopped him from being able to twist and confuse her. Was the other thing pity? She definitely didn't want to be pitied. Unfortunately, for Kaddar, she saw the pity in his face and exploded at him.
"How dare you pity me! You're the reason I have to spend the rest of my life here! I hate you and I want to see as little of you as I can!" Kalasin was beside herself.
When she calmed down, she realised she'd insulted Kaddar rudely. As she was about to apologize Kaddar cut her off-
"Kalasin, I'm so sorry that you hate me. I wanted us to become friends in the time before the marriage. I was once told that the only kind of good relationship is if it's firstly based on friendship. I just want us to be friends, since we're going to be spending the rest of our lives together. If we can just spend half a day together for the three months before the wedding, it will help us to become used to each other and to, hopefully become friends."
"Alright" Kalasin replied reluctantly.
"At least it's a start," Kaddar thought wearily. This is going to be a long three months.