Kai started at himself in the mirror and frowned almost instantly.
He supposed that he looked handsome (although he wasn't nearly as vain to really judge), but he didn't care. His hand moved toward his collar, only to remember that Tashmi Priya would have a fit if he ruined even one part of his outfit. Sighing, he relented and collapsed onto a nearby chair.
Running a hand through his hair, Kai struggled to recall the conversation he had shared with his father earlier in the week. They had discussed the economy of the Eastern Commonwealth, the state of the people, and of course, letumosis. Then, his father had brought up another matter.
"Kai," he had said slowly, "you know of the royal family of Luna, yes?"
"Of course, father." Kai had replied, puzzled. Who didn't know of the lunar royal family?
His father paused, and one of his hands crept up to run through his graying hair (a habit Kai picked up) before he spoke. "Then, Kai, you know of Queen Channary and her daughter, Princess Selene?"
"Yes, but what does this have to do with anything right now?" Kai felt his tone become slightly annoyed as he looked at his father. Emperor Rikan's face was pensive as he looked back at his son. Ever since losing his wife eleven years ago, the emperor had become increasingly more exhausted, it seemeed, retiring to his chambers every night with almost no energy left. It had taken a toll on Kai, just to see his father like that, but in spite of it, Rikan seemed to be fine.
"Kai, I am asking you all this because we have just received confirmation from the court of Luna of an invitation we sent the royal family months ago, for the queen and the crown princess to visit, and even possibly for one of them to stay for a few months."
Kai shot to his feet. "What?"
"Kai, I know this must come as a shock to you, but-"
"You invited them here? Here, into the Commonwealth?"
"Kai, sit down." The emperor's tone had taken on a stern tone. Kai obliged.
"Kai, we invited them because we need a stronger alliance between the Earthern Union and Luna. The Eastern Commonwealth is the biggest out of the other unions and territories, so it is the most fit to host a meeting of this sort. My cabinet and I are hoping to establish peace talks and negotiations with Queen Channary and hope that Earth can be more friendly with Luna."
Kai knit his eyebrows together, when something clicked in his brain. "The person staying with us for a longer period of time... It's Princess Selene, isn't it?"
Rikan said nothing, but that was all the confirmation Kai needed.
"Is this about the marriage alliance?" Kai spoke again, although he already knew the answer.
When he had been younger, he had hid in the corner of one of the corridors of the palace in the hopes of obtaining some pieces of information from his father and his cabinet as they met and discussed in the room next to Kai's hiding place. One time, he had heard something that made his blood run cold.
"What about the marriage alliance we proposed last meeting, Your Majesty?"
Kai recognized the voice of Konn Torin, his father's advisor and Kai's (unofficial) caretaker. He crept closer. Marriage alliance? Was his father planning to remarry?
Kai heard a sigh. His father's sigh, followed by his voice. "I'm not sure. After all, Kai is so young, and to force him into marrying someone he probably doesn't even know is something I can't imagine at the moment."
"But Your Majesty," another member of the cabinet. "We can foresee no other way to secure an alliance between the Earthern Union and Luna. We do not mean that the young prince must marry now, he's too young, but perhaps in the future? ..."
Kai stumbled back from the room. Arranged marriage? Luna? It was too much for him to comprehend at once.
Kai reflected on the memory. Research and more eavesdropping made him realize that if he was truly to enter a marriage alliance with someone of the lunar court, it would be crown Princess Selene, who was two years his junior.
And the fact that his father was telling him that his possible future wife and her mother were both coming to visit his home did not thrill him.
But then, there was the matter of the people that he had to think about. Obviously, if he accepted the marriage alliance, his people would benefit. Deny the union, and that would be war.
It was clear which one was more important. Rikan still had not spoke since Kai had asked him about the marriage alliance; Kai supposed he was still trying to determine exactly how Kai knew about his plans. But none of that mattered now. Pasting on a thin smile, Kai looked at his father.
"It doesn't matter what they're here for, father. I'll see to it that they are comfortable and relaxed during their stay."
After all, Kai had a duty to his country and his people.
Whatever the personal cost for him and no matter the royals of a different race seeking a union with him.
He had to protect his country.
Sorry if the personal details betweenChannary, Selene, and Levana and their lunar back story are a little awkward; I haven't read Fairest, so I just went with whatever the wikia said.
