A/N: I'm glad to see that after all this time there is still some people who are coming back to this fic. At the moment I'm in the process of reassessing the story to give myself a clear path of where everything will be leading to. As it's been a long time since I was writing this originally, it may take a little while to readjust to writing these characters, but I'll do my best.
This chapter is just a short one to showcase Ryoma's emotions and his own inner turmoil before we really get into the drama.
"Ryoma, Ryoma wake up you lazy oaf!" A teasing voice rang out as the young king rolled over in bed, his eyes firmly shut as he tried to catch another few minutes sleep. "Whatever happened to being up at the crack of dawn, training before the sun had even risen. Has kingship made you soft my fierce some warrior?"
Sitting up quickly, Ryoma's eyes snapped open in seconds as he looked at the blonde woman in front of him. "S-Scarlet? But you're..."
"Dead? Oh I know, but did you really think that something as fickle as life or death would stop me coming to kick your arse if you're being a fool?" Laughing slightly, Scarlet ran a hand through her choppy hair. "I don't want to see the man I love killing himself like this, you're not acting like yourself. There's always been more to you than just living for your kingdom, yet now you can't seem to care less."
"What is this illusion, trickery at the hands of dark mages?" Looking around quickly, the brunette tried to work out who was pulling this very cruel trick upon his heart. "I will see to it that you are punished for this blatant disrespect of the dead!"
Instead of anyone appearing however, Scarlet merely walked around his bed, perching herself on the edge, mere feet away. "Stop worrying about the how and the why, the point I'm trying to make is that you need to pull yourself together, think about your family over this kingdom, you deserve a bit of happiness, not this ridiculous marriage that goes against everything Lady Mikoto would have stood for." Smiling slightly, her chocolate eyes shone with amusement. "Just because I'm gone doesn't mean you won't find happiness again."
"Happiness? There is no happiness without you Scarlet, you are my everything, without you... I feel like I am drowning amidst despair." Reaching forwards, he pulled her into his arms, her porcelain skin as soft and beautiful as ever. "I wanted nothing more than to make you my Queen, for us to rule the kingdom as one, to grow old together and have children."
"That was all I wanted too, but we don't always get what we want." Her hand reached up, tenderly cupping his cheek. "Don't marry that Nohrian witch, don't sacrifice your happiness and curse yourself to a lifetime with her my love."
Shaking his head slightly, determination shone through Ryoma's eyes. "It is for the good of the kingdom."
"Is it though? Hoshido and Nohr will never be close, there has been too much bad blood between kingdoms for them ever to truly unite in one aim." Shaking her head, Scarlet stood up as she looked at the troubled man. "Do not ruin your life on someone you could not possibly see yourself being happy with."
Before Ryoma could respond however Scarlet began to fade right in front of his eyes. "I'm begging you Ryoma, don't do it." Mere moments later the swordsmasters eyes opened once more as he looked around desperately, looking around for one last glimpse of her beautiful smile.
After a moment or two he began to sob uncontrollably, clutching his chest desperately. He felt as though his heart was crumbling into tiny pieces as he lost Scarlet all over again. She was right, Camilla was the complete opposite of the cheerful young woman he loved so dearly, how could he love and marry a woman so far removed from the one who had stolen his heart. Should he really force himself into a loveless life in a feeble attempt to right the wrongs of the war.
Staggering to his feet, he knew that either way, he needed to ready himself quickly before it was too late to offer himself the luxury of deciding. In no time at all the man dressed, tugging on his finest armour to look his best for his people. As he affixed his chin armour, a familiar young woman slipped into the room, her black hair tied up and a small smile on her face. "It is good to see you are up already King Ryoma, I was beginning to grow worried at your late rising. Perhaps you would like to spar somewhat before your big announcement? I know you would usually do so with Saizo, but seen as he's still away maybe we could..."
"I am afraid I could not possibly do so this morning Kagero, I must find speak with Lady Camilla before we make any announcements." Striding forwards, Ryoma quickly exited the room, before turning back to the young woman. "Perhaps once this debacle is over for the day we could spar, if that is of no inconvenience for you, I know Orochi will be returning when King Xander arrives."
"As your retainer I will always make time for assisting you my King, I hope everything is well between you and the Lady Camilla?" Kagero frowned slightly, walking towards him. "I am sure she is just as apprehensive as you are about this announcement."
"I do not doubt that. You may take the morning for your own activities, it must have been an age since you have last drawn, I do love looking upon your work." Smiling slightly at Kagero, he quickly strode away, walking directly to the room where he would shortly make or break the union with Nohr.
Slipping into the room, he was struck with how quiet it in fact was. Camilla had yet to arrive, and as he began to pace around the room, he wondered what he would say to the buxum woman. She was certainly one who appeared to know what she wanted at all times, and if her attempt at kissing him were anything to go by, he doubted she would be so eager to end this arrangement. He supposed that she may simply find him attractive, but he could not help but worry that she had some deeper plan, after all she was Nohrian, and try as he might, he could not bring himself to fully trust any of their royal siblings.
After what felt like an age the door opened once more and in she slipped. She was a picture of radiance as always, silvery fabric hugging every curve, yet far more elegant than anything he had seen her wear before. Her lustrous locks were down as always, several shining hairclips slipped in to keep it in place. Ryoma had to admit that she was beautiful, but her beauty was a foreign kind, it was out of place amongst the tender, gentle beauty he had so often seen within Hoshidan women. She was like a fire, burning brightly, yet he knew that just like a fire, she would never be controlled. He watched in silence as she smiled at her sister, kissing her on the forehead and ushering her on, asking her to keep an eye on Beruka for her.
"I must say King Ryoma, you do clean up rather well when you try don't you?" Looking amused, Camilla stepped further into the room. "You are here early are you not, are you that eager?"
"Eager? I...I believe we should talk, before either one of us does something they will regret." Frowning slightly, Ryoma took a deep breath. "I cannot allow you to be fooled, my heart belongs to Scarlet, and it always will. She was my centre, my everything, and no one shall ever replace her. In that knowledge, I feel it would be unjust of me to let you marry me and deny you of ever finding true happiness."
"Oh darling I'm no fool, have I ever indicated that I felt there would be feelings between you and I?" Laughing slightly, she walked over to him, placing her hand on his upper arm. "I am doing this merely for the good of my kingdom, I do not entertain such ludicrous ideals of love within this union, love is something for people like Sakura and Elise, it is not a luxury meant for you or I it would seem."
"That is a rather dark way to look at love. Yes, I have lost my chance, but you have a long life ahead of you, and an unfaithful Queen would only cause more problems for both kingdoms." Turning away from the princess, he looked out to the courtyard, where people had already began to flock, anticipating their king's speech.
"An unfaithful Queen? What kind of loose woman do you take me for Ryoma?" A stern expression on her face, she quickly moved towards him, turning him to look at her with one swift tug. "You misjudge my character, once I have set my mind to something I do not waver, I would not dare to bring shame upon either of our families by sleeping around!" Her entire body tense, Camilla's eyes were filled with fury. "I get that you think I'm trying to replace Scarlet, but accusing me of such dishonourable things only goes to show that you do not trust my kingdom! This marriage is designed to be improving bonds between our kingdoms, so I suggest that you rethink your prejudices and think about what is really important!"
A loud smash filled the air as a vase flew through the air, smashing against the wall behind the buxum princess. "You have no right to speak her name! She fought to protect this kingdom from the likes of your father, she lost her life protecting the kingdom she loved so dearly. You on the other hand have done nothing but damage this land, yet you think that you can step up and take her place so easily?"
Looking at the man in front of her, Camilla took a deep breath as she tried to calm herself. "In all due respect, you appear to know little of why I am trying to make this union work. Perhaps we should consider taking this conversation elsewhere, lest your subjects hear you." As Ryoma stood still, his entire body shaking as he silently fumed, Camilla stepped towards him slightly, her voice lowering. "It is not my intention to replace the woman you love, I may not have truly known her, but I have heard of her prowess as a resistance fighter, I have witnessed her strength and determination on the battlefield first hand; she is ten times the woman that I am."
Watching as the broken man's shaking began to subside, Camilla slowly walked towards him, resting her hand on his arm as she guided him to a seat. "Perhaps now is not the best time to be discussing a political marriage, you are still grieving for the woman you love."
"She was meant to be Queen, we were to be wed, but then she was taken away from me so suddenly." As the young king lowered his head, for the first time Camilla saw how truly fragile the war had left the man. Though he tried his best to be the picture of strength for the kingdom he held so dear, he was falling apart inside, grief consuming him. "I saw her again, she told me not to do this, that it was wrong. She's right, what is the point in marriage if it is not for love, what is the point of a Queen if it cannot be her?"
"I..." Sighing slightly, Camilla slowly lowered herself so that she was kneeling in front of Ryoma. "I never saw myself being married to you either, you're far too honourable to be my type it would seem. Life isn't fair sometimes though, our birthright has left us with a hard path to take, were we regular citizens we would be free to love and marry as we so chose, but instead we are left with the expectations of a whole kingdom; people who need us to marry, to bear children and secure the lineage of the throne in order to provide the whole kingdom with a sense of security. It is not fair, and it is not right, but our lives are not ours to choose, for hundreds of thousands of men, women and children now look to us to give them hope and keep them safe from harm."
Looking up at Camilla, his eyes were rimmed red, his breath shaky. "How can a man keep a kingdom safe when he cannot even keep the woman he loves alive?"
"Oh darling, I'm sorry." Moving forwards, Camilla carefully wrapped her arms around him. "You cannot blame yourself for her death, it will do you no good. Now, shall I find someone to call this announcement off, I hardly think you are willing to go so far for your kingdom any more." Smiling slightly, she looked down at her dress. "Not everyone is as masochistic as I, there may be other ways for me to right my fathers wrongs."
"You are not saying all there is to tell, secrets shine behind your eyes." Sighing slightly, Ryoma extracted himself from her grasp. "Do not think that I do not notice that this arrangement is not to your liking either; only one who has lost the worth of their own life would agree to marry a man she cannot stand." He laughed slightly as a frown quickly spread across Camilla's features. "Even in the war you only wished to speak of Corrin with me, I would call marriage a large jump even for someone of unsound mind."
"My actions are merely that of a desperate daughter wishing to right her fathers wrongs. I have grown tired of being compared to him, I wish to help heal the wounds of both of our kingdoms, and I see little alternative to help your kingdom due to the negative impression many of you have against Nohrians."
"Do you really think that this union would do either kingdom any good? We are more likely to kill one another rather than bond our two lands." Pausing slightly, he looked at her. "We are very different people, and I know in my heart I will never get over the pain I feel that I have lost Scarlet."
"We can either make the bond between our kingdoms greater than we could ever hope for, or break it completely and cause another war." Laughing slightly, Camilla pushed herself to her feet. "So what do you think?"