From Outlaw to King - A royal angagement

This was supposed to come after the end of the merchant apprentice stage next entry, but since it was quicker to make I figured that I should focus on this first. It's not really necessary plot wise, but it gives an insight on the relationship between the royal siblings, aside from showing some much needed Cyrus :)

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Shinichi: Ugh, this ball is hardly entertaining. When can I retire, brother?

Kai: It is too soon Shinichi, lady Megumi insisted that you stay and socialize.

Shinichi huffed at his brother's words - unlike Kai, he was hardly suited for royal duties and did not ever act appropriately. Lady Megumi had spent his whole childhood trying to straighten him up, but the more she tried the more he fought back.

Shinichi: Didn't mother already have somebody lined up for me?

Kai: She has made a match for Tori, but not for you. She wished you to marry lady Eleanor Sawyer, but the lady's father did not wish to promise her while she was still young.

Shinichi: And who would this Eleanor be?

Amaliya: You may see her resting by the window, the lady with the red dress.

Shinichi: She is... not pleasant to look at.

Tori: That is not nice, brother.

Kai: Therefore, who said that you need someone to court? I merely said that you should socialize.

Shinichi turned towards Kai, not understanding his brother's words. Why else would he need to socialize, if not to find the best match?

Shinichi: I thought I had to choose a wife?

Kai: Not exactly. Would you come with me for a moment, Shinichi? There is a matter we need to discuss.

Shinichi followed his brother outside of the ballroom and into his late father's study, who was now supposed to be Kai's, although he did not use it.

Kai had made a match for him, Shinichi realized. But why would the king bother to find a partner for his brother instead of letting the dowager handle it? What kind of advantage would he gain from his match?

Shinichi: Come on, just say it, who did you match me with?

Kai: Young Empress Elissa Landgraab.

Shinichi stood there in a stunned silence. Elissa Landgraab? Had peace between their kingdoms been achieved through his betrothal to the Emperor's daughter?

Shinichi: So this is how you got them to stop?

Kai: Not exactly. I achieved peace by handing old Emperor Landgraab some of the land he wanted. This has been a recent decision, and your mother approved it.

Shinichi: Then why? Did he promise to give you something?

Kai: Nothing very important, really. We opened a safe path to import cheap wood and spices, established a connection with their miners to purchase their Plumbite, and we will receive a large sum of gold, rare ore and expensive jewelry once the wedding goes through.

Shinichi: It seems to me that you severely undersold my hand. And what if I didn't want to comply with your little scheme? What would I gain from this marriage that would make the match worth it for me?

Kai: Would the entirety of the Landgraab empire suffice?

Shinichi: What are you talking about, Landgraab has a son!

Kai: He HAD a son, Shinichi. Our spies reported his ing in battle, and it has been kept a secret to avoid attacks that they cannot sustain, not even the population knows this. I suspect it will be announced after the wedding is finalized.

Shinichi: But why me?

Kai: Because ours is a stable kingdom, with a stable economy, a strong army and, most importantly, one of the very few kingdoms that are at peace with the Landgraabs. Old Landgraab made a law to let his daughter Inherit the throne, but he needs her to have a male heir to strenghten his family's hold on the power. And we are the strongest kingdom between his allies. So he jumped at the opportunity when I suggested to strenghten our bonds through marriage.

Shinichi: Why wouldn't he choose a nobleman for her?

Kai: My guess is that he just does not trust them.

Shinichi: So all I have to do is to have a son, and then I would have my own empire?

Kai: You would have your own empire, and I would have managed to do what what our forefathers failed to, without contributing to the bloodshed. It's a win for us all, in my opinion.

Shinichi: And then?

Kai: Then we would be allies, and we would have reunited the lost lands under the bloodline of the Hirohiko clan. If your kingdom needed help on the battlefield, mine would help.

And vice-versa, though he did not specify this: he needed Shinichi to not have an ounce of hesitation, and he could already tell that the thought of power had gotten to his head. As he had predicted.

Shinichi was extremely easy to influence, so long as one knew which buttons to push. And Kai intended to make use of this.

Shinichi: So. When am I getting married?

Kai smiled subtly. Oh, Shinichi.

Kai: When you both come of age, if you agree. Will you?

Shinichi: I cannot refuse such an offer. Grant me the wish to retire early tonight and I will do it.

Kai: Granted. You may retire.

Shinichi bowed to his brother and retired, excited about the new prospect. Kai, on the other hand, felt like it had been almost too easy.

Cyrus: You should not be sitting like that, your Highness.

Kai: Hey, I just gained a puppet empire. Let me rest, if you will.

Cyrus: Your wife expects you to dance with her, your Highness.

Kai: I can see that. Has she danced with anyone else?

Cyrus: She has not. She was speaking to a group of ladies earlier.

Kai: About what?

Cyrus: Her Highness, Princess Tori's wedding.

Kai: I'm sure it wasn't a happy conversation, then. Let me ask her to dance, she will be overjoyed to know of Shinichi's decision.

Kai: Would you dance with me, Amaliya?

Amaliya: Of course. I didn't take you as one to dance.

Kai: I hardly dance, but these people want to see us dance. Why not oblige?

Amaliya: Ever the schemer. How did he take the news?

Kai: Oh, he was overjoyed as expected. He is much like my late grandfather, with a penchant for evil and absolutism. I pity the people that he will command.

Amaliya: Do you think he will be of help to us?

Kai: Whether he is of help or not does not matter. All that matters is that we have the Plumbite.

Amaliya: Do you really think that it will work?

Kai: I would not have gone to such lengths if I wasn't sure now, would I?

Amaliya: I assume you would not. Well, color me impressed. You really did it.

Kai smirked as their dance came to an end - he may not love her like a wife, but she was precious nonetheless. He lifted her in his arms as the dancers around them clapped.

Plumbite would rid their bodies of their mortal needs. And Kai could surely use more time to strenghten his kingdom before his first child's birth.