Disclaimer: Don't own it

-

Duchess boarded the ship, the princesses following her with her bodyguards. The king led her to a room with a table and chairs. Seven anxious women awaited their arrival. Duchess smiled as the girls rushed to their mothers in anticipation. Amber and Nirvana embraced their mothers with shrieks of joy, Queen Esper and Queen Angel laughed at their daughters' antics. Clarissa and Sarah had small, pleasant reunions with their mothers. Elda's mother flung herself at her daughter, Elda alone did not resemble her mother. Her mother Queen Alicia had light brown hair and blue eyes, very different from her daughter's blood red hair and emerald eyes. Felicity's reunion was nothing more than a nod of acknowledgement from her mother. Duchess actually felt bad for her. The reunion of Marien and Meho was the most touching in the opinion of the King. Marien made no outward emotion, she just swept her child into a hug and tears began to fall.

"I thought I lost you too."She whispered.

"Well now that your reunions are out of the way it's time we got down to business." Duchess pulled off her veils and seated herself in a chair. The king took in her purple eyes and bindi, her silver eye tattoos and her rich silky black hair. The King smiled warmly. He scruffed her black hair and all of her bodyguards tensed.

"You're no longer a child Nanali. If you were not Queen of Anah I would offer you a pace in my harem." Joseno snarled as did her bodyguards. Duchess however smiled warmly.

"A tempting offer my King, but as you said I am Queen and have other duties to uphold."

"How dare you treat our Leader in such a matter?!" Shouted one of the bodyguards.

"Calm yourself Garret, what he said was a complement of my beauty. It was not an insult to my honor."

"But my Lady……."

"It was not insult, so you do not need to get so worked up. I can take care of myself to a certain extent, I am not an infant."

"Yes my Lady….." He replied.

"Oh do not be ashamed, it touches my heart that you care for me that much."

"Now, what is it that you wished so desperately to speak to me about? I have my daughters after all."

"Your son."

"Excuse me?"

"Your son Myrrha is alive."

"What?"

"He's alive my Lord, I know because I cared for him and looked after him when he first arrived here."

"Where is he?" The King shouted, the very thought that his favorite son was alive somewhere and away from him was too horrible for him and Marien, not to mention Meho.

"He's being held prisoner in the Astarian palace. They wanted to take your daughter, but he wouldn't hear of it. So he took her place. I asked him to accept a marriage proposal from the prince in order to put the palace in a state of chaos. In the confusion it should be a simple matter to extract him."

"Very clever, but somewhat risky, don't you think?" Duchess smiled good naturedly.

"Well I suppose it would have been bad if you were delayed a week. I have yet to learn of the wedding date, so I suggest we act quickly hmm?"

"I agree, tomorrow we free my son from Astraria."

Husky looked at is reflection. He was wearing the wedding dress. It had a high collar and puffy shoulders. The neck and sleeves of the dress were made of the highest quality lace. The skirt and bodice were made f the whitest silk. The veil was made of the same lace that made the sleeves attached to a small silver tiara with crystals. A huge bow in the back with silk laces. A string of finest pearls were wrapped around his throat. At least he didn't have to put makeup over his markings, the collar would hide them. It would have been a beautiful dress for Meho, he suddenly asked himself one thing.

'How did things escalate to this?'

"Eh? You look so pretty!" It was Nana.

"Um, thanks." Nana smiled and held his hand.

"Don't worry, Duchess will break you out."

"Hey Nana, do you want to try this on?" Nana blinked in shock then nodded vigorously. After a few awkward minutes and a helping hand from Husky, Nana was in the dress. She was awestruck by her own appearance. Although the waist was a bit too snug which made Nana a little more than annoyed at the thought that Husky was skinnier than her. Husky who was dressed in a loose spaghetti-strap dress smiled handsomely. He took a lock of her hair and ran it over his fingers.

"You make a lovely bride Miss Alba." He whispered. Nana flushed seven shades of red; he was a beautiful creature, whether he was in women's clothes or men's clothes. She felt her love toward this man radiate harder than ever before. He was irresistible. He was her siren, her tempter. She loved him, but he had many others who loved him. Teresa was unconditional in her love. Elda loved him for him and saw him as her Prince Charming. Duchess, well, it's hard to say but Nana was pretty sure it was a maternal relationship. Then there was Windai, a sick and twisted monstrosity, she lusted after him and took him by force. Then there was Jenna, at first she didn't seem to be threat but even she seemed to want him, if ever so slightly. Then there was Natasha.

Nana remembered from her dream. Natasha was smiling, her chestnut hair and silver eyes, she was a little plain looking compared to royalty, but by peasant standards she was beautiful. Nana remembered when she mentioned Natasha Husky had blushed. Nana panicked inwardly, was Natasha a lover of his or something. The she scolded herself, he was only around nine or ten when he knew her, but he was only seven when Windai…… His face though it was one of pure bliss when he was with Natasha in that distant memory.

"Husky?"

"Hmm?" He started braiding his wig absentmindedly.

"What was Natasha to you?" He was caught off guard and actually tripped on his dress and fell flat on his face.

"What?!"

"Natasha, I think it's a simple question. Why are you getting so flustered?" She rose and eyebrow.

"Well, uh, before I say anything, I want to make sure you understand that I wasn't myself."

"What did you do that was so bad?"

"I was supposed to marry her."

"Why is this any different from Elda?"

"Because I had accepted it."

"What?"

"Back then I was a drifter, my name was the sign langue equivalent of Divinity. I never stayed in one place for very long. I could never find what I was looking for. There were many males and females that wanted to marry me off to their daughters. But Natasha's parents were different they didn't offer marriage right away. They saw that I was close to her and then offered marriage. But really what I wanted was to go home to my mother, father and sister. I was so desperate to find what I was missing that I joined Natasha's family. I really didn't want to marry Natasha but by the impression I was getting from those around me I was supposed to marry into a family I wanted to join."

"Did you love her?"

"No."

"You always seemed embarrassed…….."

"Well it hadn't been an arranged marriage, it had been a choice." He tucked some hair behind his ear.

"An arranged marriage is better?"

"Not really, I grew up with the assumption that I would be married to many women none of whom I loved. The thought of choosing my own wife no matter what her rank or blood is something I had never really considered as a possibility."

"That's kind of sad." Nana whispered touching her hand to her heart.

"Hmm?"

"Having to spend your life with someone you don't love." She was stroking the lacy neck of the dress.

"Having to spend your life with someone you don't love? That's the world I was born in, a world where love is sacrificed for power. Everything is a power struggle. I envy you Nana."

'Envy me?' The words struck a chord, Meho said the same thing. It was frightening how much those two were alike.

"You lived in a world where everything is about love and happiness, not everything centers on money and manipulation."

"Your sister said the same thing…….."

"Not surprising." He stated nonchalantly swinging his legs.

"We normally have the same opinions and ideas, we like to think of ourselves as the same person experiencing different things. We have the same likes and dislikes, hobbies and personalities. The main differences are our gender, my deteriorating health, and the fact that I'm a plus anima. We love each other and our mother so much, but we had our own little world in which no one can intrude, not even our parents." He smiled blissfully imagining the games and pretend worlds which they once played. When they would sleep next to each other and share dreams, how everyone told them they looked like a pair of angels descended from heaven. Their secret dream, the one they alone knew. Their dream they shared each and every night. He remembered waking up in the morning and seeing her blue eyes that matched his own staring back at him.

"Like I said my sister and I are a lot alike."

"It's amazing."

"Huh?"

"How much you care for your sister, the guy who said he hated girls when we first met is completely attached to his mother and sister."

"I hate girls, I said that when my wounds from Dylana and Windai, not to mention Craza were still healing over. Not to mention seeing you reminded me of my sister."

"Your sister, but I look nothing like her."

"No but traveling around with you reminded me of my sister. I had amnesia for two years if you recall and seeing you reminded me of my old life with my family, and I was ashamed of what I had become. What I had lost, I was ashamed of what I was and I was afraid that I would never see my sister's smiling face. The one she showed only me."

"Did it hurt to miss her so much?"

"Like a knife being twisted in my chest. She was my other half, a part of me. Sometimes people wondered if one of us-me most likely- had changed genders and that we started as identical twins, one being."

"That's weird."

"Well the story went that my mother missed my toddler uncle Nishi when she went off to marry my father. So when she was pregnant her baby girl sensed her want for her brother but wanting a daughter of her own. So her baby girl split in two one changed into a boy. And that boy was me. Weird story huh?"

"Really weird, that would mean you were a girl originally. You aren't homosexual are you?"

"Of course not, if I were I wouldn't find you attractive." When he realized what he said he clapped his hands over his mouth. Nana blushed heavily.

"You think I'm attractive?"

"Well you're an appealing girl, you know, for a farmer's girl." Husky was flushed red, it was odd to hear that from a 'girl'.

"Oi! Majesty, the Prince wants to meet with you to discuss-oh my god why is she wearing your wedding dress?"

"She wanted to try it on." Husky slipped on another dress over his slip Jaclyn helped him fatsen it.

"I'll help her get it off, but you go visit the prince now."

The King of Sailand sat in his quarters on the ship. The news that Nanali had given him, that his son Myrrha was alive; it was a true shock for him. For some reason Dylana's behavior was most unusual, she seemed frightened when she heard the news. The look on his beloved Marien's face, she wasn't sure if she should cry or laugh, she ended up fainting. He stood up and walked into Marien's room. She was still asleep and Meho was sitting on a chair by her bed, looking worried as ever.

"Meho, I need to speak with your mother for a moment."

"Yes Father." He sat down in Meho's chair and waited for his favorite wife to awaken. She did, fifteen minutes later. She sat up with a start and whipped her head around making her hair messy. The King 

chuckled and caressed her face. Her eyes froze over whenever he did it. It made him sad that she always shut off her heart to him. Not that he could ever blame her for it, she had no freedom as a young girl, only as a child. She had never seen a man who wasn't related to her other than her husband. I was kind of sad for her, but he did all he could to show this girl that he loved her. Marien had always been his favorite, he knew he would favor her when they first met.

"My Lord, it is an honor to have you in this palace." The King of Okantu, Roji told him. He nodded in acknowledgement. Roji had been a friend of his father's. Roji's sister had been one of his father's favorite wives but unfortunately she bore no sons. Roji's wife, Lukinata, was pregnant and standing beside him cheerfully. Lukinata had silver-blue hair and rich violet eyes.

"Roji, your family has supported me for a long time. It is an honor to be here. Although I must ask, why invite me, I just became King a few weeks ago and I have a lot of work to do." Roji gave a chuckle.

"Your Father was a good friend of mine, so I wanted to discuss marriage with you."

"Marriage?" As King it was his duty to marry a number of women in order to get a better selection as an heir. He already was married to five women, with numerous more on the way.

"Yes, since our families are good friends I want you to see your future wife."

"Oh, you're showing me one of your daughters." King Roji had seven daughters, they were called the Northern Sirens, every one of the girls had the colors of the sea. Roji was currently hoping for a son from his wife's current pregnancy.

"Yes, well, I would give you Mishama but she died early on, it's too bad. Lita is married, and so are Lily, Lotus, and Aqua; Crysta is betrothed already as well. Of course you will be getting the most beautiful of my daughters, my youngest one, Marien. Marien come here and meet the new King of Sailand." The pattering of footsteps was heard and a young girl came out. The King froze; this girl was but a child, only ten if he guessed.

"This is my youngest child, my daughter Marien. She's a memorio, and she is the most beautiful of all my daughters." The King had met his six other daughters but they didn't even compare to this one. Her hair was silvery blue like her mother's. Her eyes were a deep blue, like the sea, and they were giving him a half-lidded stare. All her sisters were platinum blonde with violet eyes. True her sisters were beautiful but Marien was an orchid among roses.

"It's a pleasure to meet you your majesty." Her northern accent was heavy but her voice was a chorus of angels. She was wearing a circlet with violet gems dangling off it. Her dress was the same color as the gems it suited her greatly.

"She is a gem Roji, a tad young though."

"Hm? You thought I was giving her to you now? Nonsense! I want to enjoy my youngest for a few more years, I'll give to you when she's sixteen." He hugged her shoulders, but her eyes were cold, there was no affection in the hug. Marien regarded him with curiosity.

"Ha, this is the man who is to be my husband and a King, what a joke he is a child like myself. He is not worthy of me or his throne." With that she spun from her father's grip and walked away. Both Roji and the King stared after with their mouths agape in shock.

"Forgive my daughter; she likes to test people for her own purposes." Giggled Lukinata.

Testing people, she still does that even as a twenty-five year old woman. He brushed cheeks with her. She still tests him, subtly seeing how far she can push him. In a way he loved it when she did that her eternally half-lidded eyes ablaze in thought and calculation they way her lips might just tease him with a smile. This woman was his siren, if it was wrong to fall in love with her and her alone he didn't want to be right. He gently kissed her lips only to be pushed away.

"My Lord, I had a dream that our son was still alive."

"Marien he is, he's in the Astarian Palace, tomorrow we are to go save him, then we can be together again."

"Truly My Lord, my baby is alive?!"

"Both Nanali and Meho said it and I believe them. Marien, our child is alive and we will find him." He hugged her and was pleased when she did not push him away.

"I love you Marien, you're my one and only love, I love you and our children, our beautiful twins. Our miracle and our blessing." He heard Marien's muffled voice heavy with accent leak out.

"If love me so then why do you continue to bed other women, is it to make me jealous?" That was a good question each time he bed another woman all he could think about was his precious Marien. No, it was not to make her jealous it was his duty as King to maintain a harem.

"It is my duty Marien, you know that."

"Is it My Lord? You have taken on more wives than any King previous. Your duty is to marry princesses of your land, no less. You however chose to marry numerous daughters of wealth none of whom even have noble blood. How dare you lie to my face? You tell me you love me but do you mean it? If loved me you would not have entrapped me as your wife at twelve. It was no wonder I tried to run, I was a child My Lord."

"Marien….." He tried to stroke her face but she pulled away.

"I was a child My Lord and you robbed me of my opportunity to be free."

"Marien, you know that's not true. It was your father who did that."

"Yes when my mother died in childbirth it destroyed my father, but you did not have to bed me. True he sent me to your arms but you took advantage of it."

"I protected you from your father, he could have killed you! You resembled your mother out of all your sisters!"

"My Lord may I point out once more you did not have to impregnate me!" She was furious, she was beautiful when she was angry.

"Marien….." He hugged her, she was stubborn as hell. She loved him, he was sure, deep, deep down………….somewhere…..

"If I had not you would not have your precious children, Marien we shall get them back and we can be a family again." He kissed her forehead.

"Now, I must go see Dylana." Marien glared at him.

"What?" She wrapped herself up in a blanket and went back to sleep. He was confused by her actions, but went to check up on Dylana. When he approached her room he heard choking sounds. He rushed in and found Dylana choking Meho.

"Die you little bitch. You and your brother, it's your fault." She hissed tightening the scarf around her throat. Meho saw her father and reached out for him.

"Father….." She whispered, Dylana spun around with a dear in the headlights look. She let go of the scarf and Meho collapsed coughing.

"Your Majesty." The King ran and wrapped a protective arm around her.

"Dylana, why?"

-

-

-

-

-

Princess: This chapter did not end with a Husky or Nana related moment. So we delve into the relationship of Husky's parents. It seems to be a dysfunctional one but when push comes to shove Marien will protect him, she doesn't hate him she's just stubborn. She kind of seems like a jerk but she's really not. She's very protective of her children and even finds it difficult to let them out of her sight for schooling. And remember that Marien has a younger brother, he will be mentioned again. Marien was hurt by her father and then thrown into a harem where every do will do anything to win. Anyway there 

is now a Duchess character design on Deviantart, search +anima husky duchess Anywho, Dylana is revealed to be what she truly is.

Reviews:

Chaos Ride: Well that means you'll never forget about little ol' me.

Grace Raven: Well I thought I would but I changed my mind, why Husky keeps getting interrupted, because I like to tease you and want their first REAL kiss to be meaningful

SasuXSakufan: I'm just multi-talented

Twilinden: Why am I not putting enough in, and you never answered my question if people were insulting me or Husky. I don't mean to be rude but

Why

Do you

Always write

Stuff in this

Format?