So, this story is going to be a combination of the book, the movie, and my own imagination. This particular chapter is mostly from the book, giving some background as to why they wanted to use our heroine to start a war with another country.

Again, I own nothing!

In a time long before man thought to harness lightning for power, before the word "democracy" was spread far and wide in hushed whispers, the land of Remnant lay broken into kingdoms of varying size. Wars were common occurrences for the people, caused by nobles who sought to gain power, avenge a minor offense, or simply to pass the time. Children of the nobility were tools to secure alliances or assure loyalty through marriage, and parents were always looking to gain more power through their children.

There was one kingdom, however, where this last statement was not necessarily true. In the kingdom of Vale, the prince had the rare privilege of being able to reject the potential brides if he did not deem them fitting. But this caused its own host of problems, for Prince Jaune was a rather judgmental sort; concerned with ones looks first and their personality second, he had turned down many a princess for some small perceived flaw. His own vanity may have encouraged his behavior, partaking only in swordplay enough so that he had a decent grasp of the basics and maintained a slightly muscled physique, and using the most extravagant of beauty products to keep his skin smooth and his hair a glistening gold.

In a last, desperate attempt for their son to marry nobility, the king and queen arranged for the Princess Nora of the neighboring kingdom of Mistral to visit and court their son. Now, I say desperate in that the kingdoms of Vale and Mistral had been at odds for centuries now, always going to war or simply turning their noses up at the other for some petty reason. If Prince Jaune rejected the princess and she took offense, then once again the kingdoms would find themselves going to war.

So, as I'm sure you can understand, it was to the immense relief of many when the princess arrived and Prince Jaune did not slam the door in her face (something that had already happened a time or two before). The two would be seen strolling through the gardens or sitting together at meals chatting about trivial things.

'Yes,' Prince Jaune mused. 'She would make a fine bride. She is lovely enough, and presents the image of a perfect lady to the public. A very fine bride indeed.' Jaune disregarded her private manner, when her voice reflected her bubbly nature by drastically increasing in volume, and her manners near nonexistent. So long as it remained in private, then he felt he had no reason to care.

That evening, he spoke to his parents about presenting an official arrangement to Mistral for the princess's hand. They were overjoyed at hearing their son had finally found a bride he approved of, and it was decided that the Prince would inform Nora of his decision the next morning. They would have informed her sooner, but just after the midday meal Prince Ren of Kuroyuri had sailed into their ports requesting supplies and a place to stay for the night.

He was returning from a diplomatic trip, he explained, and had been caught in a storm on the return voyage. While the vessel itself hadn't been damaged, many of their rations had been snatched by the towering waves. As Vale was the closest port to their location, they decided to request aid from them rather than tempt fate with what little supplies they had.

That night was spent in a whirlwind of activity as servants scrambled to accommodate their surprise guest. Too busy playing the perfect host and basking in his pleasure at finally finding a suitable bride, Jaune never noticed the glances passed between his guest and his intended bride…

The next morning, Jaune woke to find the servants in a tizzy, running all over the castle crying, "The princess is missing!" "Someone find the princess!" He threw on his clothes before storming out of his chambers, barking orders at servants as he went.

"Search the town! Check every room and cupboard there is! I want this entire building searched top to bottom!"

"Sire…"

"What!" Jaune whirled on the poor servant that had spoken, his glare making the poor tremble as tears gathered in her eyes.

"We… we can't find – "

"I already know the princess is missing!" He didn't have the time for this!

"Sire… it's Prince Ren, he is gone as well."

Jaune growled in frustration. "Have some soldiers dispatched to his ship, maybe he simply wished to inspect the supplies before he departed."

"His ship is no longer in the port."

Suspicion began to grow in Jaune's mind. Both the prince and the princess missing at the same time? 'She wouldn't do something so foolish,' he reassured himself. 'Nor would he. They know better than to cause trouble with Vale.' He dismissed the crying girl and went to his study. If there was news, his people knew he could most likely be found here. But there was already someone waiting for him.

Countess Cinder Fall was his most trusted mentor turned advisor, confidante, and friend. He could always trust her to tell him the truth and do what was best for him. Pity she was too old to become his wife, she often made quite a sight in her gold-trimmed crimson gowns. Right now, she held a letter in her hands bearing the seal of the Kingdom of Kuroyuri.

'And there is the letter from the prince! No doubt apologizing for his hasty departure.' Jaune approached Cinder with confidence, only for it to falter at the dark look adorning her face. He opened the letter with trepidation only to stop at the first sentence.

The Kingdom of Kuroyuri is pleased to announce the marriage between Prince Ren and Princess Nora of Mistral…

Marriage.

The two had left and gotten married.

Jaune's fury grew as that fact circled round and round his head. How dare they play him for the fool! Mistral had never had any intentions of marrying their princess to him, they had sent her to mock him! He could see it now, they were laughing at their own cleverness and rejoicing at his humiliation for the trick that played out right under his nose. Turned down for another man; from a lesser kingdom, too!

"Cinder!" Jaune snapped, "Prepare the troops. Vale can not let such an insult go unanswered!"

The Countess regarded the prince with assessing eyes. She understood the Prince's hatred of Mistral, truly she did. Were it not for Mistral, she be living in a castle of her own with her figurehead of a husband. While she cared little for the dimwit's death, she raged at the bastards that set her home aflame. How dare they take what should have rightfully been hers! But they had to be smart about this, they could risk rebellion or even defeat if they rushed in recklessly.

"Of course we can't, your grace," she soothed, knowing she had to tread lightly when he got like this. "They are truly fools to disregard the power you could give them, but it is their loss. Your army is greater than both of theirs by far, we could easily take reparations from them in blood."

The words achieved their goal and calmed him, so the Countess continued. "However, there is the problem of the recent famine. We have many men to feed, but lack the means to do so. There is also the matter of your parents wanting you to marry." She held up a hand to stall his protests. "I am not saying we let it go, merely that we delay declaring war. You are permitted to marry amongst the common folk should you wish. Find a pretty young girl to be taught the manners of royalty and marry her. By the time the wedding occurs, we should have recovered enough to feed the army. Then we make them pay. Your parents are happy, your people are happy, and Mistral falls to your fury."

Jaune pondered her words. Though he was unhappy to wait, Jaune knew Cinder was right. He could cause a rebellion if he took food for his army now, and his parents would never let him go to war before he was married, preferably with an heir on the way. And for all that he ran the kingdom, the crown still sat on his father's head. His word was final.

"Very well," Jaune conceded. "But she had better be just as – no, more – beautiful than Nora! We have a better army, better land, and we will have a better princess than they could ever hope to have!"

Countess Cinder nodded in acknowledgement of her prince's demand before striding out of the room. She would personally search the entirety of Vale to ensure that only the best bride was found. Mistral would pay for what they had done to Prince Jaune.

'And,' she smirked in vindictive glee, flexing the fingers of her left hand. The bending joints tugged at old burns long since scarred over. 'They will pay for what they did to me.'