"Maki, dear? Are you ready?" a woman called.

She rolled her eyes and peered down the stairs. "Just a bit more, Mama."

"Alright then," her mother replied. "Wouldn't want to be late to the wedding, would you?"

"Yeah, sure, whatever," the girl said. It wasn't like she wanted to get married.

At the age of eighteen, plans were suddenly made to arrange a marriage between Maki and... some guy. Some prince from a neighboring kingdom that was lesser known than hers, but still a powerful one. In fact, the decline of people's faith in the Nishikino royal family caused some to desert their kingdom in search of 'more trustworthy' people. The praised (detestable) archer also left in search of great adventures and treasures, effectively bringing along more than half the citizens who were previously staying.

The few who remained were skeptical about the state of affairs of the kingdom, but they hadn't sorted out their plans yet. On the brink of despair, her father, King Nishikino was contacted by a messenger from the neighboring kingdom. They offered to join forces with him and unite their two areas together, on the condition his princess be wed to their prince.

It was for her father's sake. Maki didn't mind it- in fact, although she didn't like how this was going, she was sure it wouldn't be as bad as it seemed. Her father was a bit reluctant seeing her lack of enthusiasm, but her mother seemed to be blinded by the 'romance' of it.

How ridiculous.

Nevertheless, their lives carried on as the wedding drew closer, and eventually, the day was here.

And yet... she realized she didn't want this at all.

But who was she, the princess of the Nishikino family, to decline it now? On top of causing more problems for her family and especially her father, suddenly turning them down now would possibly start a small-scaled war between the two kingdoms.

Why didn't she turn it down long ago? Ah, how foolish she had been.

The girl sighed and picked up a small pieces of auburn scale.

Her teenage years were filled with a bit more adventurous exploration than one would think. Along with weaponry and magic training from her two former teachers, she liked to take 'walks' outside the castle and actually visit the abandoned tower far away.

Back then, she had always hoped she'd meet that person again. They never met again after the incident five years ago, and she wasn't surprised- the girl promised someone, a demihuman, that her nation would accept her and love her, and seconds after, someone from her own nation took the dragoness' right eye with an arrow, spewing total hatred and contempt.

There was no way she could've ever been forgiven, and even if she was, the girl herself would never forgive herself for it.

The ruins of the abandoned tower was especially cold and lonely. As she expected, it was completely untouched in the entire time they were apart. The dragoness most likely never came back to the tower, nor near her castle, she initially thought- but then she found it.

An auburn scale.

That was her happiest moment in years, discovering evidence that her friend did return shortly, and that her friend was alive.

But then, where was she?

Where was Anju of the Yuuki dragoness tribe?

She never knew.

...the girl chuckled and put the scale back on her drawer. It was time to let go of her past, or so she thought. The scale only reminded her of the friend she unintentionally lied to, bringing back only painful memories, and regret. Taking something like this as a good luck charm was ridiculous to her.

The princess had made up her mind days ago, anyways. After getting married, she was to leave with the prince to their new castle, do some lover stuff, and start a new life. Her time as Nishikino Maki will be over soon, so everything of her past should just be tossed.

That includes anything to do with the dragoness she hurt.

"Maki... I'm really sorry," her father whispered.

The crimson haired princess smiled, wiping a tear away from his eyes. "Papa... it'll be fine. I'll be alright." She looked around, and sighed with relief as she noted the lack of her mother's presence. "This is for your sake... if I don't, who knows what they'll do?"

He trembled. "But to give my daughter away... all to prevent my own kingdom's downfall..." His voice hitched. "I'm a terrible king... and more importantly, a terrible father..."

"Papa, don't say that..." Maki felt tears emerging from her eyes as well, but she fought it back. "I don't mind this marriage at all... so don't say that. You're the best dad I could ever ask for."

"Maki... Maki, I'm sorry..." the king sobbed, no longer able to properly form sentences.

Embracing her father one last time, Maki made her way to the church and waved sadly to him as she departed.

The girl saw a man waiting in front of the church. It was the prince, seemingly waiting for her. She had never actually met him yet, so she had no idea what kind of person he was. But his attire screamed 'royalty' no matter how you looked at it, so at least there was that to indicate his identity.

As she neared him, she saw him scowl. "I-I'm sorry, did I keep you waiting, Your Highness?"

"You sure did!" he yelled. "There's only a bit more time before we get started. What took you so long!?"

"I- I apologize, I was talking with my father one last time," she said. Then she realized that she hadn't been late in the first place, and felt a bit peeved by his attitude.

"Your old geezer, huh? Who cares about that, get inside," the prince replied.

She narrowed her eyes. "That 'old geezer' is my father and the king of the Nishikino kingdom," she said. "Please be resp-"

"You're joining my family now," he cut her off. "So that crap title doesn't matter anymore. Got it?"

"I'm sorry, but-"

"My God! Are you asking for war!?" the prince asked and slapped her hard across the cheek. "Don't forget, Maki! Your country's, no, your family's safety is in my hands! Don't be mouthing off to me, otherwise!"

"...how dare you disrespect me like this?" Maki growled. "I am the-"

"Don't make me laugh," he scowled, "you're a princess no more. You're to become my wife now. Do I make myself clear?"

She glared. "Maybe I should-"

"Do I make myself clear!?"

Flinching, the girl felt something inside her spark up once again. It was a familiar feeling of fear- it was almost like talking to the archer from years ago. Realizing her sudden loss of confidence, she started trembling, nodding quietly. He seemed satisfied with this and shut the church's doors, motioning her to follow him and his nation's priests.

She looked down helplessly. Papa...

"Your Highness. Do you take Princess Nishikino to be your wedded wife, to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to her, for as long as you both shall live?"

The prince grinned. "Of course I do. Don't be stupid." He turned to the crimson haired princess next to him. "Isn't that right, Maki?"

She exhaled with disgust. "You're supposed to say 'I do'."

He scowled and slapped the back of her head. "Don't get all smart with me." Sensing someone stand up in rage, he turned around and sent a fierce glare at the Nishikino kingdom's ruler, effectively reminding him that their safety was in his kingdom's hands. Seeing the old fool reluctantly sit back down, he grinned. "Keep on going, priest."

The priest nodded. "Princess Nishikino, do you take His Highness to be your wedded husband to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health and forsaking all others, be faithful only to him so long as you both shall live?"

Maki looked down. She didn't want to answer that. Two words, two words and her fate would be sealed.

Two words and she'd have essentially resigned her own life to this man. This scum who treated her like an object for his ambitions, and not as a woman.

The girl looked back at her father in the audience. Seeing her saddened face only made him weep more, as he covered his face in great shame and disgust directed at himself. Watching her mother console him out of misunderstanding, Maki looked back at the priest. "...I..."

"Hurry it up," the prince hissed and slapped her head again.

The girl bit her lips regretfully.

She didn't like this.

She didn't want this.

She never wanted this.

But she had to do this.

Taking in a deep breath, she opened her mouth.

I think I read somewhere that usually the bride and groom aren't together until during the wedding where they come together, but I don't know anything about weddings and especially if they do things differently in the past ages, so I just... eh. Whatever.