Yes, it's a new chapter and yes, it's short and yes, I know it's short and yes, I don't care.
The chapter everybody waited for so long... no, she is not back. But something else found it's way to Fanelia and it's ot good at all.
Folken was rushing towards the meeting room after Merle ran in his room, woke up little Wialle and told him there is an emergency and he needs to go in the meeting room quickly. He didn't know why Van called him but he had a feeling he won't like it. He opened the door and found his brother sitting on the head of the table. He was holding a paper in his hands and observed it like it as a death threat. For a moment Folken thought it was just that.
"A proposition just arrived from Basram." Van lifted his eyes from the paper "The king of Basram had this stupid idea and offered me the hand of his daughter Laviel."
"I head of her." Folken sat on his place next to Van "She is considered to be one of the most beautiful girls on Gaea. I never saw her myself, but I did met her mother when she was younger."
"And you're telling me this why?" Van looked at his brother.
"Aren't you considering on taking the offer?" Folken asked confused a little by his brother's question.
The answer he got was simple "No."
"She is quite a catch your majesty." Cowin, which stood on the door the whole time, commented.
"So are the lands of old Zeibach Basram wants ever since the Great War ended." Van wasn't an idiot. He saw right through the offer.
"The lands are a small price for the charming princess. Zeibach is still one large ruin anyway after the earthquake last year." Cowin said and got a glare from Folken, but he ignored him "Beside, that would take the pressure of you. Looking for two kingdoms is not easy for such a young king."
"If you want to get rid of the pressure get rid of the advisers that pester you." A young voice made Van smile. He was surprised seeing Mamoru Kanzaki standing on the door smiling back.
"You are not asked to join and offer your opinion boy!" Cowin practically barked at him but Mamoru just shrugged and ignored the furious adviser.
"If you need help with rebuilding my dad might help. He's an architect and knows much about building houses." He talked to Van like they knew each other for years and that irritated the old adviser even more.
"Speak with the king with respect you brat!" Cowin wanted to hit the boy for interfering again.
"Speak with the brat with respect advisor!" Van told him back and Folken chuckled. Merle that was sitting on the windowsill was expressing her amusement louder; she could barely catch a breath but couldn't stop laughing.
"Your majesty now it's not the time to think about Zeibach. The proposal-"
"Is declined!" Van cut Cowin sternly and stood up. He picked the paper and left the meeting room not wanting to listen the old man object on his decision.
"You should have counseled him to accept Folken. Fanelia needs an heir."
"And my brother needs Hitomi." Folken said back getting Mamoru's attention. He was standing next to Merle now, but when Folken said his sister's name he wanted to know what was going on.
Cowin after that left giving Mamoru the chance to find out some things about what happened while Hitomi was on Gaea. He knew that there was a war but he never imagined the proportions of the influence his sister had on the young king.
Two days later the king of Basram received a letter from Fanelia. His wife ad daughter right away came in the king's study to head what the decision was the king of Fanelia made. Laviel sat next to her mother and patiently waited even though she already expected a negative response.
Still she hoped the king's adviser persuaded him to accept the offer. Why shouldn't she? The young king of Fanelia was held to be the best catch on Gaea. Women all over the world dreamed to marry him, most of them because of the title that would come with the marriage. The other ones were after the fortune and prestige. Laviel was after the land just as her father. Her mother on the other hand wanted revenge.
"Well? What did the boy wrote?" queen Julliette of Basram asked.
"I thank you for your offer king Biel, but I must decline. I believe you that your daughter would be a lovely queen, but perhaps as a queen of Basram some day. I have spoken with my advisers and they have agreed with my decision and understand that I wish to find my own bride as my father once had. I hope you will not take against me my wish to choose over my life. With respect, Van Slanzar de Fanel"
"Yes, his father had once choose his on wife." Queen Julliette laughed "And he had pick a demon."
"Now, now dear… it is not nice to speak badly about the dead." King Biel stood up and threw the letter in the fireplace "Not when you can act."
"Father?" Laviel looked at him and her lips spread in a grin that matched his'.
"When do we leave?" the queen stood up "I suggest waiting a bit. Going there right away would cause suspicion."
"I agree with you dear. We'll wait… three months and the corner him."
"Don't forget to get rid of the messenger." Laviel said before she left the room and went to her bedroom. Right after opening the door she almost screamed.
Leat smiled to the princess but she looked at him angrily "What do you want?"
"I came to see you. It's bee so long since we actually talked to each other." Leat talked calmly ignoring her obvious resentment "Laviel is something wrong?"
"It's princess Laviel for you!" she snapped at him "And yes, something is wrong! That bastard refused father's offer! I could have been a queen of Fanelia, you know!"
"Hardly unlikely." Leat muttered but she still heard him.
"What does that suppose to mean?! You don't think I'm not good enough?! Well, let me tell you something you beast!"
"He's in love with a girl called Hitomi." Leat interrupted her. Laviel looked at him shocked ad noticed his ears were down ad he looked sadly at his own feet "Not that I can blame him for it. She would never yell at someone who was a childhood friend, I'm sure of it." With those words he turned and went on the balcony before he climbed down on the ground and walked away.
I gave my readers a choice to create Leat's future in the story and those who used that privilage picked Merle. So I can tell you that the end of this chapter is just a beginning of a cute cat love story...meow...