Marriage Is a Battlefield


"I will not marry him."

"But your arrangement had been made since you were born." Her nursemaid, Anastasia pleaded.

"I don't care, I won't marry someone who I've never met."

Belle, Princess of Lycia was to be married to Prince Neil of Thebes.

Arranged marriages happened all the time in the kingdoms. She saw her aunts, sisters, and female cousins all leave for their marriages, one by one.

And now it was her turn.

They were in the rooms the King of Thebes gave them, and the rest of her handmaids were helping her out with her clothes. Her necklace and crown were placed on her.

She wanted out, and there was no escape.

"Belle, listen to me," Anastasia placed her hands on the Princess's shoulders. "You must do this as duty to your father. Duty for the country."

The last time an arranged marriage didn't pull through, there was war.

"So, please… for our sakes," continued Anastasia. "Go through with marrying him."

Her parents' marriage was arrange, no surprise there. Her mother told her that love came after the wedding ceremony. Love and care was built, brick by brick. Years down the road, they would grow to love each other.

Not going to happen at all.

Though as she looked to her nursemaid, the woman who raised her since she was a baby, she had to do it.

They embraced. She didn't mean to lash out so loudly at the one who took care of her for so many years.

She heard of Prince Neil's high strung ways. They said he was the most handsome man in all of the kingdoms. He probably had lots of of marriage proposals and alliances, though he was mostly in love with himself.

One time a servant accidentally splashed wine against his new tunic and recently beauty oiled skin, and that servant was banished, never to be seen again.

This was not going to be like what mother said about love being built brick by brick.

Belle rode horses. Loved to get herself dirty in the mud and was basically one of the boys.

She and the prince might as well have nothing in common at all.

Let there be war, she could just escape the palace and let the entire kingdom burn to the ground. She could care less, but if Neil burned with the palace, that would solve a lot of her problems.

The walk to the throne room was the longest she ever felt.

Her mother's voice rang through her ears.

"If you're afraid of your destiny, you might as well be afraid of your own reflection."

And she was not afraid.

She touched the silver bracelet her mother gave to her when she was nine. The only reminder of her. The only reminder of Lycia, their home.

Marriage was a battlefield, and she was going to slay this beast.

The doors opened.

"Presenting, Princess Belle of Lycia…!"

She walked through the doors and the mighty throne room of Thebes was before her. Ornaments, tapestries, plants. The usual things in a throne room.

There was utter silence. People looked to see their future Queen. Her insides tightened, trying to breathe. What were they thinking as they saw her? Would she even be fit to be their Queen?

She felt the cool touch of the bracelet against her wrist.

"When you present yourself to the King of Thebes and his people, look firm, stand tall. Let them know you are not afraid."

She walked more taller. She was going to be their Queen, and her walk told them that she could do the job just fine.

On the throne, a middle aged man was there. It was the King of Thebes. Beside him was a young boy, a little over Belle's age, sulking. From the start, he looked away to the side of the room.

That must be Neil.

She held her breath, but then looked to the King.

He got up from his chair and smiled, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Princess Belle…! I trust your journey was a safe one?"

She nodded. "Yes, my king, it was. I'm grateful for your hospitality when we arrived."

"No need to be formal, Princess," continued the King. "You are among friends, allies. Even family."

A light chuckle left her as she looked down.

He gestured to the young man beside him. "This is my son, Prince Neil. He is your betrothed."

Neil slowly got up, the scowl still on his face. She could tell he wasn't too thrilled about the engagement at all.

She curtsied to her future husband as Neil slowly took her hand. He gave a squeamish look to his father, and the king frowned and urged a nod.

Neil began to kiss her hand, but his lips only brushed passed, not an actual kiss.

"It's nice to meet you, Prince Neil…" She didn't mind the nonexistent kiss. The King was welcoming, but she just wanted to head back to her room right this moment.

"Nice to meet you, too… Princess Belle."