Breakfast was a mostly quiet affair, with Lyon humming noncommittally and Jura making small talk. Their grandmother was doing well enough handling the bulk of the conversation.
He doesn't have much of an appetite these days and dealing with the Queen Dowager was trying even on the best of days.
He lowered his fork, washing down the toast and smoked ham with orange juice. He still has lots of work to do, and unfortunately, he required the permission of the Queen Dowager for most of them.
"Grandmother," he said. "If we're done with breakfast, I'd like to speak to you about reopening the old trade routes. I have received reports of the damaged lands occurred during the war, but I'd like to go on an inspection tour to find out how bad the damages are."
"You can speak to your brother about this matter later." Ooba dismissed.
He felt the familiar bite of frustration at being brushed aside. He kept his expression blank, inclining his head respectfully as he stood up to leave.
"Wait a moment, Lyon." Jura called, placing down his teacup. "Grandmother, I believe we have something to discuss with Lyon."
He paused in his tracks, feeling a trickle of dread at the look on Jura's face.
Ooba pushed aside her plates and gestured for him to sit down. Cautiously, he sat back down, trying to hide how nervous he felt.
"You know about the upcoming peace conference next month with Sabertooth. Your brother will be heading to meet up with King Jiemma." She stated.
"Please get straight to the point, Grandmother." He said. "I don't understand why you're telling me about things I already know about."
Ooba flared up at his impudence, her shoulders raising in irritation. This was why he hated being in her presence. He could never control his sharp tongue around her.
"Lyon," Jura cleared his throat loudly, shooting a warning look at the both of them. "King Jiemma and I have been sending letters for the past week. We both agreed that the best way to make alliances is usually made with marriage."
Lyon was not a stupid man. He understood what Jura was trying to tell him.
"I suggested that he send you to marry the Crown Princess Minerva." Ooba interjected. "We can talk of peace treaties as much as we like, but the relationship between us and Sabertooth is tremulous. We have lost too much to each other and there will definitely be opposers during the conference. A marriage between two royals will keep King Jiemma from jeopardizing our alliance and breaking our ceasefire."
It was a sound plan. The best logical reason to make. A marriage would tie the Crown Princess to Lamia Scale, and vice versa. But—there's always a but.
"You make this decision without discussing with me first?" He asked, trying to keep calm.
Making the decision to marry him off to a strange princess in a strange land was just like the Queen Dowager Ooba that it wasn't even surprising anymore.
"Lyon, we wanted to inform you of our plans before making the decision." Jura said hurriedly. "But we didn't want to give King Jiemma too much time to reconsider our attempts at peace."
Plans. They were even discussing plans behind his back.
"I am beholden to carry out my duty as second prince." He replied, standing up abruptly. "If this is what Your Majesty commands me to do, I'll not let you down."
Ooba's expression cracked slightly for the first time in this discussion. If this was even a discussion.
He bowed with courtesy, even though he could feel the lick of fury building inside. Whatever he might feel, he's still a prince. He's not going to disgrace himself with a temper tantrum.
His brother will hold his coronation ceremony in three months, of course Ooba would send him away before he could do anything to endanger that. Not that he even desired to do anything of that sort.
Contrary to popular belief, he loved his older brother. They might have been borne of different mothers, but Jura was his blood. Despite his aloof exterior, Lyon held family dear to his heart.
Wiser, stronger, more talented in every other way; when it comes to magic, martial arts and even scholarly pursuits, Jura was always better. There was never a contest to the next King of Lamia Scale. Lyon learned this at a young age. Once he had grown used to the bitter taste of defeat and failure, he has accepted that his position as the 'spare prince' would never change.
Lyon's mother was the former Countess of Hargeon before her death. She had been one of the Queen Dowager's ladies-in-waiting before his father fell in love with her—or so the story goes. His mother was in her thirties when she gave birth to him, but the former King was probably old enough to be his grandfather by then.
Even though she was taken as second Queen, her reign was short-lived after the King's death.
He was taken into the Royal family as a 'spare' and had kept his mother's name. He was not even granted the privilege of the Neekis name.
He had planned for his future. After Jura's coronation, he'd retreat back to his mother's old home, focused on his duty as Count of Hargeon. Maybe start up a corporation of apothecaries across the country like he always wanted. Medicine available to the common people was scarce, and he wanted to change that for a long time.
He never expected his life to go the way he wanted as second prince but being used as a sacrifice was never in his agenda. His choices were not only snatched away from him, now he had to live in a country of people that had actively warred with his for a decade? Become prince consort to a princess renown for her cruelty? Or maybe he would be a Duke instead. At least it's a step up from a Count.
The interior of the palace was suddenly constricting. He could hear his heartbeats beating away in his chest, like a frenetic hare galloping around the inside of his body.
He needed to get out of this place.
The King was furious, his rage making the entire throne room shake. Minerva was smart enough to dismiss herself from her father's presence, escaping before his rage could make itself known on her.
Jiemma was not happy that Queen Dowager Ooba had offered up the second prince instead of her esteemed heir. He felt that she was looking down on his daughter. It was a thoughtful sentiment, if Minerva was not aware of the fact that Jiemma was angrier about the slight to him.
Jiemma possessed an ego large enough to crush Lamia Scale on its own.
Minerva was not happy that the decision was being made without her consent, but she could honestly care less about her prospective husband. No matter what, she'd be Queen of this nation. As long as her husband gives her heirs, she does not care about his station.
Jiemma believed the act was an insult to Sabertooth. He was utterly convinced that Ooba was simply seizing the opportunity of this peace conference to toss her unwanted spare prince away. She could get an alliance strengthened by a marriage and avoided any inheritance issues by sending a rival prince away. If that was the case, then Minerva has to congratulate the old Queen Dowager for her scheming.
She has heard plenty—and yet nothing of the second prince. Lyon Vastia was the half brother of Jura Neekis. The 'spare prince'. A notorious loner who preferred to stay out of the limelight, refusing to attend galas or get involved with courtly affairs.
All these tells her nothing of her future husband.
But she has met Jura Neekis in the last meeting. The man looked old enough to be her father. He was as stupidly noble and righteous as she had expected. But she could admire Prince Jura's tenacity and modesty. He was careful with politics, but much too honest. If he had grown up in Sabertooth, he'd be eaten alive.
As virtuous as he was, he wasn't a man Minerva could see herself marrying. Not that she has any choice in her marriage anymore.
"Minerva-sama!" Yukino slumped in relief when she spotted her. "Is His Majesty raging again?"
Her expression was telling enough that the other woman did not question her further.
"What happened?" Yukino asked.
She glanced out of a window and felt a pinch of relief when she spotted Sting and Rogue hiding from the scorching sun under a tree. Her loyal sworn knights were never far from her, and despite her capability in protecting herself, she does not feel safe around her father without them around.
"Come," She commanded. "I'll tell everyone together."