"The decision cannot be held off any longer, we need to-."
"Perhaps we need more-
"Preposterous! if recent events show us anything, it's that we need to take a far more active role."
"But surely-"
The debate at hand was one that had resurfaced time and time again, each time the choice was made to push the choice out to a later time, seemingly doomed to never make any substantial progress forward.
It would be fair to assume this meeting to end in the same way, but a series of recent events had shook the very foundations of the society these voices served, time was no longer their ally.
The debate at hand seemed to be going in a never-ending circle until a crack of a hand hitting the wooden table silenced their argument.
"The problem has been solved. If someone of her achievements doesn't qualify then I fear, we will never find someone to take the role."
The voice was quiet, but seemed carry a tone of authority
The few seconds of silence that followed seemed to last an eternity.
"Are there any objections from this nomination?" The same voice questioned, their tone unwavering.
Silence filled the room, leaving only a faint scratching of a quill to fill the room.
Even in the near silence, not a soul heard the ripple of paper fluttering in the air.
The highway that bisected the lugunican capital was every bit as busy as it normally was, if not more so, with each carriage driver vying for positions that opened in the veritable hurricane of transportation the road quickly devolved into.
Despite the noise such a highway was bound to create the two people occupying an ornate red carriage found it easy to ignore as their dragon carriage slowly made its way farther into the city.
"This better be worth it, I mean who only gives someone a 48-hour notice that requires them to go halfway across the country." ranted an irritable voice, it's tone distinctly female.
"I must admit it is rather odd, the sage council typically gives a sizeable advance notice about a summoning, as schedules can be rather tight." Spoke another voice, it tones soft but strong, suggesting its speaker was male.
"Not to mention why are they summoning me!? especially when they've also summoned you," the women spoke, before the irritation fled her voice, as she clarified her stance, "Not that I dislike you Reinhard, but if they're summoning you, well, I just don't know what they could possibly want with me."
"If you'll allow me to speak frankly, I fail to what they could ever need me for that you, yourself, couldn't achieve Natsumi." His red hair seeming to glow in the light of the sun that invaded their carriage through one of the numerous windows.
His words elicited a soft sigh from his follow passenger in the carriage, "It seems your still humble to a fault, you need to seriously work on your self-esteem."
"Self-astem?" Reinhard articulated, struggling to pronounce the unfamiliar words, "If you're talking about my last statement, all I spoke was the truth, in the span of a few hours you defeated not only one of the three great Mabeasts but also the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, not to mention there are rumors you defeated the great rabbit as well, if anything you're selling your accomplishments short."
"I doubt tha-" Natsumi started before stopping abruptly as the carriage lurched forwards before coming to a stop.
No sooner had the carriage come to a complete stop when the door was opened, revealing a figure draped in the distinct color scheme of the royal knights.
Reinhard was the first one out of the carriage, partially due to the fact that he sat closer to the door, and partially, Natsumi assumed, so he could help her out of the carriage. Honestly, if it hadn't been for past month, she would have mistaken this for an otome game.
With a quiet 'thanks' her feet finally touched solid ground, allowing her to take in the scale of the buildings surrounding her.
The Royal Palace, definitely put the castles of her world to shame, the emblem of the nation proudly displayed on the set of great doors that allowed access into the Palace.
"This way, Natsumi." Reinhard beckoned waiting for her to catchup, having followed the knight towards the Palace instead of gawking at the palace.
"Ahh, sorry," she answered, embarrassed for spacing out, but she was unable to completely wipe the excitement off of her face as she walked beside the red-haired knight, "It's just breathtaking!"
Her rapid change in emotions caused Reinhard's smile to widen ever so slightly.
They had only been walking through the Palace for all of a minute before the knight they were following stopped outside of another set of grand doors, only slightly smaller than the ones that served as the entrance of the castle, before asking them to wait outside while he announced to the sage council that they arrived.
As the young knight made his way into the main chamber, Natsumi couldn't help but point something out, "Hey, Reinhard," She asked, gaining her companions attention, "Are you getting any weird vibes from this?"
The question raised an odd look from Reinhard, who wasn't quite certain of what she meant, "Weird vibes?"
The girl in question gave him an odd look before facepalming herself while muttering about 'Cultural limitations' before explaining.
"Yeah, you know, like when you just feel like something isn't right, I'm sure you've gotten it all the time when you've been patrolling around the city."
"Ahh, I must admit that I do find it odd that we were summoned so suddenly, but I'm sure it's nothing liable to cause serious harm."
"Has this ever happened before," Natsumi asked, unable to keep the curiosity out of her voice.
"I was summoned rather suddenly once before," Reinhard admitted as he glanced at her, "But that was simply due to the urgency of the task."
The way he dodged her question, annoyed her slightly but before she could ask anymore questions the doors opened as the knight that escorted them returned.
"The sage council is ready for you, remember to treat them with respect." The knight announced, directing the final part towards Natsumi.
"We will," "I suppose,"
Reinhard's serious reply being slightly blunted by the response Natsumi may or may not have stole from a certain blond spirit.
As the two made their way into the large hall that served as the sage council's meeting room, passing a few of the royal knights that diligently guarded the sage's.
Reinhard came to an abrupt stop several feet in front sage's, causing Natsumi to have to violently stop in order to remain standing at his side, unwilling to be even a step closer to the council then the Knight beside her.
Even though she had to peer upwards at the assembled council, she became vividly aware that the majority of the council's attention was nevertheless focused on her.
"Thank you for coming today, I'm aware you had a rather short notice, the council's decision to summon the both of you was thoroughly debated." Came a rough, gravelly voice, from an Elderly councilmen sat in the center of the table.
"It's our pleasure Sage McMahon, It is my purpose to always respond to the kingdom's call, and I'm sure Natsumi feels the same."
"Yeah, sure," Natsumi affirmed, finally recognizing the elderly man after Reinhard addressed him.
Miklotov McMahon was the defacto ruler of the country, while he didn't have anymore power then any of the other sages on the council, he was widely considered to be the mastermind of the council, calling many of its shots and guiding it throughout the current crisis.
Indeed, there was even a small, but rather vocal group that simply wanted him to take over as ruler of the country, but the elderly sage has fervently expressed his opposition to this idea many times.
"Now, before we get to the issue at hand, I have a related question to ask you," Miklotov began, his voice both whimsical and completely serious at the same time, "Have you two, perchance, already heard of the nature of your summons?"
The confusion that Natsumi felt must have been displayed on her face, as Miklotov's gaze shifted towards Reinhard.
"I'm afraid we haven't," Reinhard answered, his posture relaxed, distinctly opposite that of the Ebony haired girl next to him.
"I told you Miklotov," An exasperated voice spoke from the right of Miklotov, cutting off the elderly sage, "One of us must have just misplaced the file, some phantom slip of paper isn't going to find it's way into the masses."
Miklotov let out a long sigh before offering a response, "I suppose you're right Bordeaux," pointedly staring at the pair.
The silence seemed to stretch on for an eternity, with no other sage even attempting to break the silence, especially so for Bordeaux who was well known for being almost painfully frank.
This silence is killing me, Natsumi thought, having matched the elderly mains gaze for a few moments before shifting her gaze elsewhere.
She couldn't help herself when her hands began drumming her fingers against her leg.
Eventually her eyes traveled to Reinhard, and her incessant tapping only increasing in frequency after she noticed him glancing at her.
It shouldn't have been surprising when Miklotov's voice shot through the room, nearly causing her to jump in fright.
"Henceforth anything discussed in this room is considered a state secret, and only the Sword Saint and the Slayer of Sloth are allowed to remain."
It was safe to say that neither of them expected this, even Reinhard's composed demeanor faltered as his gaze snapped to the front of the room, not bothering to pay attention to the Guard's that were making their way towards the exit.
Reinhard locked his eyes to Miklotov and the silence continued to swelter as the final guards left the room, shutting the door with a resounding rumble, leaving only herself, Reinhard, and the sages.
Unlike Reinhard, Natsumi's gaze did not travel to the assembled sages, even with the unexpected announcement, no, her gaze was two fixated on Reinhard himself.
His face, usually sporting a calm, eternal smile was completely barren, and the complexion of his skin was visibly paling.
They were telling signs of an emotion that she had never seen on Reinhard's face before.
Fear.
Her suspicion was confirmed seconds later when his gaze snapped to hers, allowing her to see his eyes, typically reminiscent of the clear blue sky, exhausted and obscured with deep sadness.
He looks on his face suggested he wanted to tell her something, truly it was oddly reminiscent of something she herself would do after she did something wrong and her parents were on the cusp of stumbling upon it.
Just like herself, he never got the chance.
"Reinhard Van Astrea, Sword Saint of Lugunica, this council has decided after long deliberation that a proper candidate has been found, that this women, Natsumi Schwartz, Slayer of the White Whale, and the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, is henceforth betrothed to you."
Her heart stopped, a unsettling numbness sweeping over her as the words began to register in her mind. No longer was she able to differentiate between the lament of the knight before her and the announcement delivered by the sages.
"The two of you are expected to maintain the decorum of both the kingdom and the Astrea family, and as such you are to act as if you had been courting each other in secret, although unusual it has been decided that it will be best for you if you start to live together starting from today."
"I want to be a princess mama!"
"oh," came a quiet chuckle, "and why is that Natsumi?"
"Because then a Knight will save me!" Responded the childish voice, "I just want to meet one!"
"Just meet one?" asked the women, as she knelt down to her daughter, who was too engrossed looking at a picture book to look at her, "Nothing more?"
"More," Natsumi questioned, finally tearing her eyes away from the book, her small face alight with wonder, "What else would I do?"
"Oh, I don't know," her mother responded, feigning thinking deeply on the matter, "You could get marry him after he saves you."
"Would I get the choice, mama?" curiosity escaping from her voice.
"Of course…" The mothers voice trailing into a whisper.
"You'll always have a choice"
What a sweet, beautiful lie.
Hey guys, thanks for reading, I look forward to all of the education comments, they do more then you know.
Some of you might have also read my other story "The Everdistant Utopia" and if you have fear not, a new chapter is on the way, but a certain pairing has wormed it's way into my heart and I'll be damned if it doesn't become more mainstream!