Beyond Aeaea
DISCLAIMER: The Vision of Escaflowne is not legally mine but the visions of this story are.
Note: Thank you for the reviews. The events prior to the actual story are going to be alluded to every now and then but never fully elaborated. I'd like to keep the element of mystery.
Chapter Two
"I received a very interesting proposal today."
The two remaining princesses of Asturia looked up at their father curiously.
The royal family was having their supper quietly at the long, grand table of the royal dining hall. A meal that seemed more like a feast was laid before the three diners who did not have great appetites.
And given the recent announcement from the King, the other two present lost all inclination to finish their food. He rarely spoke to them in such a grave tone.
Eries likewise faintly recognized the knowing glint in his eyes as an indication of a state matter that would greatly involve either one of the princesses. She had some inkling of what was to come but she also knew that her father had a tendency to keep them in suspense for as long as possible, no matter how urgent the issue.
Millerna looked a little worriedly at her father and wondered what he had to tell them. He seemed both pleased and apprehensive about the news and was reluctant to speak of it immediately.
He only ever spoke to them that way when a matter was of national importance.
Seeing that both of his daughters were ready to hear what he had to say, King Aston smiled and cleared his throat.
Eries rolled her eyes. She didn't know why her father had to always make such a flamboyant show whenever he was about to make some grand announcement. But she had also grown apprehensive. She gripped her goblet of vino tightly, but did not bother taking a sip of the rare vintage.
"As you know I have been engaged in diplomatic discussions with the representative from the Zaibach Empire, Lord Folken," the king began.
At the mention of Folken's name, Eries blinked but her face remained impassive. The king had glanced at her briefly to gage her reaction but she had revealed nothing.
"I won't bore you, Millerna, with all the political details," he continued, "and Eries already knows most of them so there will be no need to repeat them here. What I'd like to discuss tonight is the very real possibility of forming an alliance with Zaibach."
"We've already made agreements with them on trade and military aid," Eries elaborated, "and we've established strong economic ties with them as well. What more do we need for a stronger alliance?"
Aston smiled at his older daughter's astuteness. Such things rarely escaped Eries' notice. Her eyes were narrowed on him now, and he suspected that she already knew what he was about to say.
"There is one other arrangement that would cement the relations between our two nations," the king said, "and I trust that you are familiar with it."
Eries frowned, and Millerna's eyes grew wide with realization.
"Surely, Father, you don't mean an intermarriage between the nobility of both Asturia and Zaibach?" the younger princess exclaimed in shock.
"Millerna, that is exactly what I was referring to," her father replied calmly.
He could see the consternation in his younger daughter's face at the discovery. Millerna never liked having such matters decided for her, even if it was for her own good.
"But who..?" before Millerna could finish her question, her father answered it.
"Lord Folken has proposed a match between himself," Aston said gravely, his eyes narrowed significantly, "and you, Eries."
Millerna gasped loudly and turned to look at her sister's reaction to this news.
Eries' eyes had widened greatly and she had turned to her father questioningly. He nodded and she knew that it was quite certain.
"With the approval of Emperor Dornkirk, of course," King Aston added rather unnecessarily.
Eries frowned and turned her face away, instead focusing on her reflection in the vino of her goblet.
So that is his design, she thought as she pondered the situation.
"I trust you will know the proper course of action to take, Eries," the king added, with the slightest hint of warning, "I know you've been obstinate about such political marriages in the past and I let those incidents slide. But these are weightier circumstances."
Eries remained silent. He was right, of course.
She had resolutely refused to be manipulated into any marriage before because she had harbored some feelings for a certain Knight Caeli.
Those were long gone. At least, after she realized how fleeting those sentiments had been when she was in Aeaea. She did not care to dwell on those memories for the present. All she could be certain of was that her heart was no longer captive to Allen Schezar.
Therefore, she no longer had the motives of refusing such an offer. And she could tell that her father already knew this.
Otherwise, he would not have even considered the deal and would have tried to negotiate for other terms.
He had not bothered to do so.
"You are very well aware of the implications of such an arrangement with Zaibach and the importance of this for our country," he continued, and then added darkly, "as well as the potential danger of refusing them anything they have condescended to ask of us."
Eries turned to glance at her father seriously. He returned her gaze.
She knew exactly what he meant. Zaibach's great military power was a constant shadow on all the nations around it. Asturia was not in a position to decline any of the offers Emperor Dornkirk gave them.
And Strategos Folken had made it perfectly clear that establishing firm relations between their two countries would ensure Asturia's safety in the long-term. They would be guaranteed protection in the event of a conflict.
She would secure for her country incalculable security and peace. It would be a fulfillment of her duty as a princess of Asturia.
And, by consenting to this, she would regain her right as heir to the throne.
There was the other matter, that of how she felt towards her intended. At the thought, she instinctively glanced at the tiny brand on her thumb. No one else knew of their previous encounters and she intended to keep it so.
Nevertheless, she could not help but wonder if this was a purely political move on Zaibach's part, or if Folken's experiences in Aeaea had influenced such a proposal.
What was that man trying to tell her? What did he plan to do? Eries considered these for a few moments.
Then, she realized that King Aston and Millerna were still waiting for her reaction.
Giving a soft sigh, she nodded to her father gravely.
"I am glad that you have finally come to your senses on this matter, Eries," the old man said with pride and some degree of relief as well, "and of course, you know what greater things are in store for you beyond this."
Eries said nothing but continued to stare intently at her goblet of unconsumed wine.
"But, Father," Millerna protested, "how can you consent to such an arrangement for my sister? How can she be engaged to that man? And to be married for such reasons!"
"Hush, Millerna," her father warned her, "your sister knows her duty and her place. It is high time you learned yours."
This silenced the younger princess and she could only look sadly as her sister resigned herself to her new fate.
But unknown to both the king and the youngest princess, the fate decreed for Eries was not as undesirable to her as it initially seemed.