"Marriage is chaos, stress, and confusion. It is also unity, power, and a blessing."
- Darton, Defense Minister of Fiore
A/N: If you're enjoying the story so far, please consider writing a review!
"Try the grapes, daughter, they're scrumptious."
Princess Hisui reached out to the golden tray a servant held for her and took a regal bite. It was full of flavor, most likely grown in a beautiful field far away from here, and prepared by the finest chefs in Crocus. "The food is delicious as always, father. It couldn't be more perfect, please give my regards to the cook." The servant smiled at her praise and made his way back to the kitchens.
King Toma, the widely respected ruler of Fiore, wasn't oblivious to the sorrow in his daughter's usually proud tone of voice. She's been like this for weeks now, and while her tutors didn't report a slip in her studies, they did express concern for the girl's wellbeing. The palace staff, the royal guards, and even Minister Darton urged their wise king to give the princess his full attention. Unfortunately, the root of Hisui's stress wasn't exactly an easy topic of discussion.
"I haven't seen a genuine smile from you in days, child. This broken demeanor doesn't suit you. Is there something on your mind?" Of course, he knew the answer to that question but asked out of common courtesy. "I appreciate your concern, father, but I am quite alright." She picked at the vegetables on her plate and sighed.
"Nonsense. This is about your wedding, isn't it?"
Reluctantly, the princess nodded. "I understand your frustrations. Marrying someone you don't even know can be quite… unpleasant at first. I still remember the look in your mother's eyes when we first met. She was kind and beautiful, but it was clear she didn't want to be there. That glimmer of contempt in those eyes of hers faded eventually, and we had you."
The short man put down his silverware and gave Hisui a reassuring smile.
"Lord Rainfall is an excellent match, daughter. Kings from Pergrande to Antegria will be seething with envy when they see you by his side."
The girl finally made eye contact. "Arlon Rainfall. What's he like, father?" Finally, some progress. Toma stroked his beard and leaned back in his chair. "When I visited Ryhard Rainfall in Sailor's Hill ten years ago, it was a fortress, unlike anything I've ever seen before. Warships and high walls galore, manned by the toughest warriors and mages that would put all of Sabertooth to shame. Ryhard, may he rest in peace, was a good friend of mine, but it wasn't their shiny castle or fleet that caught my attention. What truly impressed me was his only son and heir, Arlon. A boy of thirteen years. My word has the time flown by."
Toma took a sip of wine as he recounted the details of that day. "The boy didn't smile much, but he was brave, intelligent, and had the will to accomplish anything. Ever since his father died, House Rainfall has been gaining ever more influence in the Fioren Nobility. Few could match their army on land, and even less could match them at sea. He's grown into a fine leader. A leader who will protect this kingdom for years to come."
Arlon's navy ruled the Southern Coast of Fiore for hundreds of years, however, not all the Rainfalls throughout history were fond of the royal family. The sea lords were particularly disdainful towards anyone who interfered with their supply of pyrewood, the material used to build their esteemed warships. Pirates and common folk alike were terrified of their wrath, a fact the current Lord Rainfall seemed especially proud of.
"I see. He sounds like quite the man, father. I look forward to meeting him."
King Toma picked up his knife and fork and happily continued his meal. "I'm glad to hear it, Hisui. I'm sure Darton will be pleased. No one would dare attack our shores with Arlon at the helm."
The princess nodded, but there was another topic worth discussing that was… troubling her, to say the least. "While we're on the subject of politics, I did hear some distressing news from Hargeon. Did you know that Clearance Ironworks has been bought out recently?"
The king hummed and took a sip of wine from his goblet. "I've heard. The Bolton Company is spreading through Fiore like a damn plague. Apparently, they own 80% of the mines on this side of Ishgar." Black Jack has been consolidating more and more power in every aspect of society, and frankly, Hisui didn't like it.
"Don't you think we should do something about him? What happens when Johannes decides to double, maybe triple the price of steel just to make a quick profit? All of his primary competitors are either dead or dying, so nothing could stop him from taking over. Are the wallets of everyday citizens safe with this man prowling about?"
There was no doubt this conspiracy was a very complex issue. The government obviously couldn't just start closing his steel mills, jobs would be lost and the working class would riot. It was also worrying that foreign nations seemed more interested in trading with Black Jack than Fiore itself.
"What exactly do you want me to do about it, daughter? The poorer classes worship him and he's keeping the royal coffers full as we speak. Even a monarch can't do whatever she wants, Hisui, regardless of the purity behind her intentions. Human beings are strange and difficult to govern by nature, but even the most stubborn of fools can be reasoned with one way or the other. You'll realize this one day."
The large dining room seemed even more silent than it was a moment ago as the princess held her tongue. Father was right, realistically there wasn't anything they could do to the Bolton Company without suffering serious repercussions. Arcadios and many others assured her that Jack was far from righteous, but he was very careful.
The only thing they could do was bide their time and wait for him to make a mistake, but God knew how long that was going to take.
Her appetite seemed to vanish along with her spirit. The thought of this man taking advantage of her people was enough to make the young girl nauseous. Just as she was about to excuse herself from the table, a messenger rushed through the archway to the room and offered the pair of royals a quick bow. He was panting and was quite sweaty, and Hisui wouldn't be surprised if he arbitrarily collapsed from exhaustion.
"Your Majesty! Pardon the interruption, but we've just received word from Sailor's Hill!" The messenger presented a piece of parchment to the king, which was neatly folded and sealed. Clearly, the writer wanted to make it obvious his words were not to be taken lightly. Toma nodded appreciatively and took hold of the letter, dismissing the carrier from his dining room.
"Lord Arlon, I presume?"
Her father nodded and looked down at the paper.
It was sealed with the symbol of a sea serpent, the proud mark of House Rainfall since their founding centuries ago. It suited their reputation. It suited Arlon Rainfall. Unraveling the parchment, Toma eagerly read the message in hopes of obtaining good news, but the contents on the paper were anything but pleasant. Princess Hisui noticed her father's eyes narrow as he set the scroll down on the table.
"Is everything alri-"
"Read it."
He thrust the letter somewhat aggressively in her direction, and the girl did what she was asked.
King Toma E. Fiore, Protector of the Realm,
Words cannot describe how honoured I am to be chosen as your successor. House Rainfall thanks you. The seas thank you. I thank you. But I'm afraid my presence is required elsewhere. Thrones and crowns are of no interest to us. What am I to do following my coronation, Toma? Sit in a chair lined with velvet and allow scheming politicians to run the country for me? I was born in Sailor's Hill, and I will die in Sailor's Hill.
Do not take this as an insult, I hold nothing but respect for you and your daughter, but I can't abandon my home. The waves speak to me, and they're urging me to stay. Crocus is no place for a Rainfall, and as far as I'm concerned, those living outside the Stormwall are not my people.
Now that we've breached the subject of family, there is one more question itching at the back of my mind.
What have you done for House Rainfall recently?
May the remaining years of your reign be long and prosperous, King Toma.
Signed,
Lord Admiral Arlon Rainfall, Ruler of Sailor's Hill and Guardian of the Cobalt Sea
He refused them. She wasn't going to marry the admiral.
"I… don't understand, father." The aging man let out a grunt of disappointment and tapped his cutlery together in agitation. "They're proud and stubborn, those sailors. I honestly should have seen this coming." He hopped off his chair and walked over to Hisui's side of the table. "He cannot be convinced, daughter. I'm afraid we'll have to find you a different husband, and I know just the man."
The princess looked down at him in confusion. It certainly didn't take him long to think of a replacement.
"You've expressed concerns about Johannes Bolton, correct? Well, I think we can bring him to heel without ruffling the public's feathers." Realizing where this was heading, Hisui immediately stood up in shock. "You can't possibly mean…"
"I can and I am. The tailors will sew a dress for you immediately. I believe Jack prefers the colour red."
No. NO! The girl's dreams of marrying for love suddenly came crashing down around her. Hisui knew she would have an arranged marriage someday, but she never expected this. Bolton was a vicious criminal, and he would doubtlessly see her as little more than a toy to play with at night. "I won't. I've held my tongue countless times before, father, but I won't do so now. I refuse to marry that monster."
Toma admired the fiery look in his daughter's green eyes, which looked almost identical to her late mother's. If the woman was alive today, she would most definitely be proud of how far their precious Hisui had come. Regardless, there was still much she needed to grasp before becoming queen.
"Do I need to remind you of your responsibility to this kingdom? A queen marries for the good of the people despite her selfish desires. We will make an offer to Johannes he cannot refuse. You will wed him, tame him, and produce a child for him. There will be no more discussion on the matter."
"I will not! I am Princess Hisui E. Fiore and I-"
"YOU'RE MY DAUGHTER! You will do as I command and you will marry Johannes Bolton! Surely you're capable of that!"
The royal guards stationed in the room flinched as the king's voice boomed throughout the dining hall. Toma's words were a bit harsher than he intended but the man was convinced they needed to be said. Fighting back tears, his beloved daughter ran off to lock herself in her private chamber, leaving her father alone at the table to contemplate his actions.
"What about this one, Princess? You certainly fill it out well." The royal tailor's voice pulled Hisui out of her thoughts as she stared at the large mirror before her. It was a traditional white wedding dress lined with gold, and to be blunt, it was quite beautiful. Although, did it really matter what she wore to the wedding? Her future husband wouldn't care. In fact, Black Jack would probably prefer it if she wore nothing at all.
"It's lovely, Marissa, but perhaps we should try something in red and black? Those are the Bolton Company's colours, after all." Marissa looked as if the princess just spat on her mother's grave. "Red? Black?! No, no, no, no! With pretty green hair like yours, white is surely the answer! But if you insist, I'll see what I can do." The girl rushed off to another room in the boutique, leaving Hisui to delve deep into her conscience once again.
Noblemen and commoners alike applauded Johannes's accomplishments. Apparently, he came from nothing, but that didn't stop him from becoming the richest man in Fiore. Today, no one truly knows the secret to his success, but the Bolton Company's stock price rocketed following the collapse of Heartfilia Railways seven years back.
Did… he have something to do with Jude's fall from grace?
Black Jack was the only one who benefitted, after all, and it was more than a little suspicious. He made immense profits selling the steel used to make rail tracks in the Heartfilias' former territory. It was rumoured that Lucy's father refused to do business with the Bolton Company, sparking bad blood between the two organizations, but there wasn't any evidence that Jack was involved with Jude's sudden case of bankruptcy.
Nonetheless, the young businessman had gained quite a reputation since that incident. No one would cross him, not even the wizard guilds, and those who did were made to suffer. Fairy Tail, though, they showed no fear. They didn't quiver in his presence. In fact, Salamander sent him flying across the ballroom!
The princess blushed slightly thinking about that boy's face. Natsu Dragneel empathized with her, danced with her, saved her. Hisui never expected anyone to openly defy Jack's wishes, especially in public. A voice in the girl's head was screaming at her to see the fiery Dragon Slayer again and thank him for sticking up for her. More importantly, she needed to warn Natsu about the imminent danger their guild now faced.
They were gone on Tenrou Island for a long time, and the princess knew they couldn't possibly understand Johannes as she did. Bolton wouldn't remain idle for long, he would make a move against Fairy Tail one way or the other.
Speaking of which, she was curious about what scheme the oligarch would cook up next.
