Chapter 18: The Prince Fiancée
"I'll come to pick you in the morning" Aedrik was holding Frey's hands, the guard had already opened the gate "I never imagined, I would be leaving you an assignment" They laughed, Aedrik had given Frey a bag of holding where all the documents he showed her at the library were contained.
"I'll see you tomorrow then"
"Until, tomorrow, Frey"
They looked at each other for a few seconds, Aedrik leaned in and gave her a soft gentle kiss. He smiled as he parted from her and stepped outside the estate. Four riders were waiting and had a spare horse for him. Frey recognized Ulster and Siv among them. Aedrik mounted and gave her a last look, bowed, and marched into the main street of the fountain district. Frey sighed, it had been a long, and incredible day, she could feel her lips tingling, smiled and went back inside.
It was almost midnight and Frey felt tired, yesterday had been a long day as well, she entered the house, and her mother was waiting for her. The other girls had gone to their bedrooms, but Frey new Noelle will be waiting for her at her room. Her father, Luka and Percy had remained in the study, and René was serving tea for them.
"I like him" her mother said to Frey
"Thank you"
"I mean, he loves you, and for once I don't have to wonder about it, that is enough for me to be happy, but I like him" Lady Margaux smiled and Frey rolled her eyes "How did your talk went?"
"I can talk with him about everything, and he listens" Frey eyes sparkled, and her mother could see it. Lady Margaux, always felt, Frey would have a hard time finding someone whom she enjoyed talking to, but now, she worried about her life changing too fast.
"It was a great idea, having the wedding at Lune de Niege, your father was glad you decided that, and having madame Amelié make your dress was an incredible touch as well, Frey" Lady Margaux, was proud about Frey "We really need for him, to choose who will represent him, the finer details should be addressed, the kingdom eyes will be on this wedding" Frey knew that, she was worried as well, they needed to start discussing the expenses, in Loire it was accustomed for the brides family to cover most of the expenses, it was part of the dowry.
"He told me he would have it sorted it out by tomorrow" Frey answered, her father had been saving for her and Noelle's wedding. Luka and René have had a grand and beautiful wedding but reserved. Only the high nobility of Loire and their closest friends had been invited, it had been held in the Delacroix estate, here at Meury.
"Well, tomorrow then, we should get some rest dear, and I am sure, Noelle is waiting for you" Her mother smiled at her, and they both hugged. They went upstairs like that, and her mother kissed her in the forehead, before going to her room. Frey opened the door to her room, and found a lit candle, and Noelle waiting expectantly, Frey smiled.
Only Luka and his father, Lord Damian, remained in the study. Percy had left to wake up a mage, so that he could send a message for his father. They both had a cup of tea; René had brought them.
"How is it that you are so calmed?" Luka wondered, his father had always been a calm man, but this. He had seen him nervous when Luka said he would marry, and it was no secret, lord Damian favorite had always been Frey. Lord Damian took a sip from the tea and sighed.
"I was here when he asked for Frey's hand in marriage" lord Damian could remember how troubled he had felt at that time, were not for his wife holding him, he could not have let Aedrik continue "Did you notice, the change of color in Aedrik's eyes?"
Luka was confused, what did his eye color had to do with it, sure they were weird, but what about them? had they changed color? lord Damian could see his son was lost.
"What I am about to tell you must not leave our family, and by that, I mean the Lunebleau household, for better or worse we are now tied with the Fey Danan Imperial Family" Luka could see his father was troubled "Aedrik has a very rare fey curse, it is called kismet. When he arrived yesterday to ask for your sister's hand in marriage, his eyes were a shade of green, but when he proposed your sister, the ring on them changed color"
Luka did not remember Aedrik eyes changing, he could only remember them being like they were, but Noelle had said something about them, but what they had to do with a fey curse.
"This curse, is a spell that bounds the one who has it to someone else" Luka now was really confused, and his father could see it "It may happen at any time, but once is does, the curse is set loose"
"Bound how?"
"Kismet means fated, the one who has it, will be bound to the their kismet, once they found them, it is something deeper that any love spell, and to date there has not been found a way to lift the curse" a love curse, sweet moons, Luka was dumbfound.
"That is the reason why he wanted to marry Frey, this curse, and how do you know about this?"
"He came here yesterday, because he wanted to Luka, the man was proposing to your sister, and while they were discussing it" Luka frowned at that comment, but said nothing "Frey noticed the change in his eye, he laughed and explained it to her, the man was honest about it, to the point where he asked for your sister and us to keep this a secret, the king had offered princess Loraine hand in marriage, but he wanted to ask Frey. He explained that if Frey rejected his proposal, the king would choose whom he'll marry to seal the alliance, he asked for us to keep the secret is that happened " Luka felt he needed to laid down and rest, why have his father not told him any of this.
"I looked into the curse as soon as I could, there are several records confirming his words, it is very rare, and only fey have it. The oldest record of it, suggest it was a result of the mage who developed love spells" that made sense, his father had waited to check if the curse was true, and now everything was more clear, he was calmed because Aedrik was in love with Frey, and in a literal sense, bound to her.
"The King, might try to use this if he learns about this in the future" Luka now understood why his father did not want Percy to know, he was family, but in the end, he was a Beaumont, and for better or worse, the Lunebleau household was creating the alliance with the empire "We are supporting his plan then?"
"The man is in love with Frey that much is certain. We met him before they had promised each other, at the conference. We both felt right about him, and well he blended with the family at dinner" Lord Damian, was calmed, there were many things to happen, but the most crucial of them all, was unavoidable. Aedrik was bound to Frey "For their marriage we are obligated to participate on his campaign, but he presents a good opportunity as well, and he knows it. I think we should take it, no one will question us, I don't know the results of the conference, but the empire takes their alliances seriously, the king was right in wanting to seal the deal with marriage, he would have pressed for princess Loraine to marry Aedrik, had he not his prejudice against fey. House Lunebleau will rise, and many will try to shun us, but this opportunity, no one can argue against it, we should fully invest in it"
"I understand. I like his idea, it is what you and uncle Rowan had been thinking about, and as you say we have to join the campaign" Luka felt Aedrik knew that, but he had not pressure them, 'Dammit, he was starting to like the man' "We have to talk with Noelle, to care for her words, I'll talk with René" Luka feared Noelle might spill something to Danielle, Cecile or Lea.
"Your mother has already talked with her" his father replied. Luka nodded, it made sense. Noelle may look a bit aloof, but she was very perceptive.
"What about Frey going tomorrow to the trade discussions?" Luka wondered, Aedrik had told them he, would bring Frey, she would wield his influence as prince. He had mixed feelings about it, Percy sour face was the best response they should get from other Loirians, he was worried about it.
"Well, we should be glad your sister has found someone who cares for her opinion, and by not being from Loire, the other nobles might not like it, but the Feydan have different traditions; and we know she understands, I for one am sure, she would try her best to keep the best interest of both parties in mind, perhaps a little more on the Loire side, but the everyone will question her impartiality, still, your mother is right. She chose this, she has to make her own way now" lord Damian sighed, he looked old, older than Luka had never seen him.
"We should send Lord Remy back and prepare the men for moving" Luka said as his mind began to think in what they needed to do.
"You are right, but first we need to get some sleep" lord Damian let out a long yawn "Try to get some rest Luka" he finished his cup of tea, and left Luka alone in the study.
Danielle was sitting alone in her bed, she used to share a room with Frey. The Beaumont estate in Meury was seldom used. Lord Rowan almost never traveled to Meury, and with their close relationship with house Lunebleau meant they always came to here. Danielle had pushed to have a room for herself since she turned thirteen, she wanted more space, like most young ladies had. Frey was her favorite cousin, even though they were very different, Frey had always talked freely with her, and she did as well, but they had been growing apart in the last years.
Everything had changed yesterday, she had felt jealous and envious of Frey, until dinner. Aedrik seemed to be a good guy, true he was a prince, he had beaten Sir Belmont in an individual match, but at the end of the day, he was a nice man, and he enjoyed talking with Frey, really talk with her, that was rare.
She had hugged Frey and congratulated her, when she heard about her engagement, but it had not been honest. Now, how she wanted to go to the next room and hug her cousin, she wanted to talk with her, and she was sure Noelle would also be there. They were going to talk about the details, and what Frey felt, but because of her childish whim, she had been treated as lady, and now she was apart. 'You should go to sleep, you'll hug Frey first thing in the morning, and talk with her, like you used to' with that resolve, she blew the candle on the drawer and was about to laid in bed, when the door of her room opened slowly.
"Danielle, are you awake?" Noelle voice asked in a low voice and Danielle sat straight
"Can we come in and talk?" Frey was carrying a candle, both sisters were on the half open door in Danielle's room.
"What took you so long?" was Danielle response, both her cousins entered the room happily, and sat next to her on the bed, they chatted way into the morning.
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Lord Zydrunas Finean was waiting in the room he had been given on the west wing of Chateau du Loire. He had been given one of the best rooms, given his status withing the Fey Danan delegation, he had never earned the same treatment when he had visited as a lord of Faerun, and he had come many times before.
He had not slept much; he had been reviewing all the details about the trade deal that was in the making. He was waiting for the call of the prince, he had told him after the joust, he wished to have a talk with him regarding today's conference. The prince has asked him to prepare the same details he was now reviewing, but it had been late, when he had been informed of the prince agenda.
The prince had come and talk with him past midnight, he wanted his fiancée to take part in today's trade discussions, and he had been perfectly clear, she would be assisting with his status within the delegation. He told him, lady Lunebleau would come early in the morning and he wanted him, to explain what the delegation wanted to achieve. He had explained the prince how, having a lady at the trade discussions might displease the Loirians, but the prince said it was his job to make sure, everything was kept on track. He understood his concern, and it was shared by lady Lunebleau according to the prince, but the prince said she would be an asset. The prince wanted him to talk with his fiancée before the trade discussion, she would present her ideas with him, and he would present them. She would not play any active role at the conference; he was grateful for the prince understanding. He had been preparing since last night for his talk with the prince fiancée.
He had been surprised by the announcement of the prince engagement with lady Frey Lunebleau. He had been informed it was almost a given the prince would have to marry high nobility to secure the alliance with Loire, but he had been certain it would be with princess Loraine. Almost all the delegation had been surprised by the announcement, at the ball. He knew about house Lunebleau, he had never frequented lord Damian, since his dukedom did not intervene with old Faerun. He had tried to get any information about the young lady, but it seems she kept to herself. The only thing he was sure, is that she spent a lot of time at Ciel Rouge Library, whenever they were in Meury.
He liked prince Aedrik, he had been when princess Vania, had ordered the execution of the royal family of Faerun. He knew what they had done, he had insisted on working with the empire with the king, he had been ecstatic when Faerun was about to make a treaty with the empire, he had worked in it, but then, the king and the prince had decided to betray the empire. It had cost Faerun everything, he had been judged, the princess had supervised many inquiries, he was glad when he heard it would be the prince who would accompany the Fey Danan delegation.
The prince had struck him as a very straightforward person, honoring his northern upbringing, but he had learned he was also very diligent and calm when thinking on his actions. The high council had decided to send the Fey Danan delegation with him in charge of the trade agreements, and the prince as war advisor for the situation with the orcs. The prince had personally come to pick him up as the delegation was formed. He had passed by his territory with his 4th company, and from there they prepared the delegation. He had supervised and reinforce the border before they left. The prince was one of the four marshals of the empire, he knew he had led the campaign in the Boreal glades, but he had still had doubts, until he saw how he worked with the army.
He had the chance to discuss many things with the prince as they traveled to Loire, he was set on making the negotiations open and direct, the empire wanted the alliance, but Loire needed it, still if they wanted the eastern border of the empire to grow, they were the ones who needed to open the trade with their neighbor. The prince had assured him, he would secure the alliance with the King, even if he had to marry, and he had been true to his word. Now it was up to him, to get a damn good trade agreement.
When the Empire had taken Faerun, the lords were split, many wanted to retaliate, but many new the truth. Those closer to Loire, had turned on their old friendships and instigated a revolt. In the end, Faerun broke into pieces, the largest part had joined with the empire in the end, he wondered if his decision had been the right one, as he supported the empire, but time had proved him right.
The empire valued the ability of individuals, and after they took over, many lords where stripped from their lands and titles, the empire moved some officials to take over some important territories but for the most part, they observed the lord of former Faerun. The empire respected their lands and titles and reaffirmed their right to them. He had proved worthy, and his lands had almost doubled.
The empire had played brilliantly, they earned the trust of the most capable nobles, and they truly invest in the region, they sent aid to those affected by the short war, and they started spending resources into adding the region to the empire infrastructure. The result of this trade agreement could very much make him, the most valuable lord in the region. He had not sleep wondering about what did the prince expect from placing his fiancée in the trade discussions. He was smart, he had just met the young lady, he seemed head over hills for her, but still, it worried him.
Loirians frowned upon, ladies having too much power, even old Faerun, the empire on the other hand did not care. He had tried to adapt quickly, but he seldom had dealt with woman, besides princess Vania. He was worried he could do or say something that might come out as an insult to the prince fiancée, surely, she would be worried as well, she was from Loire, or so he hoped, that the prince was placing them both on a hard spot, but he hoped they could rise to the challenge. 'I should have gotten some sleep'.
House Lunebleau worried him, lord Damian was a moderate noble, his house had historically been steady supporters of the crown, and he had kept the same. Their dukedom was large and had a steady growth. The lord did not care much for politics, but he was well respect among the nobles. His eldest son and heir, lord Luka, had married a Delacroix of the main family, it did not seem as a political move, but that there was potential in that marriage, but with the prince engagement, house Lunebleau would rose in power. That was something to consider, everyone in Loire will be looking at them. He was worried, the prince fiancée might try to push better conditions for her dukedom, he had to be careful on how to approach that.
"Lord Finean" someone called at his door "North Star is waiting for you at his chambers" one of the prince's personal escorts had come to get him. He picked up his preparations and sighed, he did not know what to expect, he was nervous.
The prince chambers, where just a few doors from him. He had been given the rose chamber, the biggest in the west wing. He passed by the two guards at the door and was let inside, he found the prince with his fiancée looking at the parchments and some maps, the prince had placed on a table.
The prince was dressed on his modest attire, lady Lunebleau wore a reserved green dress, and wore a delicate white cape over it, they were discreet clothes, he approved of them.
"Good day, prince" Lord Finean said as he entered the room. The prince big frame had always felt out of place with his personality, but after watching him fight Sir Belmont, Finean felt he looked bigger "lady Frey Lunebleau" he made a small bow.
"Good day to you lord Finean, I think you met lady Frey in the banquet, but please allow me to introduce you properly" the prince smiled at her finacée, how could a man so big smile like a kid "My lady, let me present to you lord Zydrunas Finean" the lady returned him a Loirian lady bow.
"Lord Finean, allow me to present you, Lady Frey Lunebleu, my fiancée" the prince beamed as he said those words, he felt awkward at the prince display of affection. The young lady could be considered cute, but she was not the standard of Loirian beauty, that would be her sister or princess Loraine.
"It is a pleasure to be your acquaintance my lady"
"The pleasure is mine, lord Finean, my father and Aedrik speak very highly of you" did they? He wondered.
"As I told you yesterday lord Finean, I want lady Frey, to assist the trade discussions with you. I know you have some concerns and understand they come from your passion towards the empire" the prince gave him a calm look, he tried to held it as best as he could "The empire values your dedication and your abilities, I also value your opinion, hence why I am asking this" he nodded.
"I asked Frey to come sooner, as I believe, after you have talked for a while, perhaps you will find her to be an asset" Lord Finean managed not to frown in surprise, the lady blushed "It was HER idea to forget about the lost trade and start treating this as a new trade opportunity with the empire as whole" He took another look at the blushing lady. Three days ago, the prince had reviewed with him their proposition for the trade agreement, he said they were being too shallow with it, they started considering a bigger picture and soon they reviewed many of the points to discuss at the conference, he had been impressed, was it really her idea?
"I know both of you have concerns regarding the Loirians opinion on a lady assisting the conference, she and I agreed she should remain as an observant at the conference, and discuss any thoughts with you first, and have you present them at the conference, if you consider them appropriate lord Finean" that idea was good, still, will she be offended if he dismissed her ideas… "That is all the deference we will show them, the empire is values and respects their allies, but we place no difference in gender, our allies should also start getting used to" he glanced at the young lady and saw worry in her. It was understandable for her to be nervous; she had been raised in Loire; she knew how her presence would be taken.
"I believe there is no point in me remaining here anymore, that would hinder your communication, and I hope you manage to review everything to be discussed today" the prince turned towards his fiancée and sighed "You should also consider the possibility of trading iron, we will push and seize the Auverniers, and the mines will most likely fall on Loire lands" That remark surprised him, he knew they were going to push inside warring lands, but he had not known the prince was considering taking the Auverniers, but what was this about a mine?
"Lord Finean, I trust you, the empire believes in you" he straighten up as best as he could "I know you will get us a fine trade agreement, I place my fiancée at your care. I've already told you, but you should consider her deliverance as my own, if you had to discuss anything with the rest of the delegation, they had been informed as well" the prince gave him a small bow, and he replied in kind.
"I have to prepared for the strategy meeting Frey, tell lord Finean what you think, do not doubt yourself" the prince grabbed his fiancée hands and looked at her with adoration, He turned towards the opposite wall embarrassed about the prince familiarity "Skafeld will be your guard for the day, if there is anything you need, you can ask him or lord Finean " the prince leaned and gave the young lady, a kiss on the cheek, the prince smiled.
"Good luck, Aedrik" the young lady manage to say before he left, her face was red all over. The prince smiled went from ear to ear, he bowed and left. He was left with the prince fiancée in the prince room, with a table full of parchments and maps.
"I am sorry, my lord, I understand your reservations, and I feel bad about Aedrik forcing this on you" the lady recovered quickly "I must confess, I was hoping, that perhaps I could truly be of help for you" he looked at the small and young lady in front of him, and for a moment he thought of his own daughter when she had been her age. Perhaps, it was a shame the empire had not taken over Faerun before…
"It is quite alright, lady Lunebleau, if the prince thinks your opinion is valuable let us make use of it, from what I've seen he is a good judge of character and is very practical" he paused "I am an old, lady Lunebleau, pardon me if I made you feel uncomfortable, habits die hard, even though the empire does not relent on its ideas, change is not easy. I would have liked for my daughter to have an opportunity like this, alas, she is doing a fine job handling her household"
"It is quite alright my lord; I just hope I can be up to the task" lady Lunebleau gave him a courteous bow.
"What would you like to discuss first, my lady?"
"I studied the information Aedrik gave me yesterday" she pointed at the parchments on the table, most of them were the reports he had given prince Aedrik, but he also saw notes made two different handwriting's "You are already considering more than just reactivating the trade Loire originally had with Faerun" He smiled at her remark, he had worked hard on this once the prince had pointed they were missing out, he had said it was hers, whoever tit was, it was right "but we are still just considering trading, right?"
"What do you mean by that my lady?" he was intrigued by her comment
"Well, I think are other opportunities besides trading, Aedrik told me you have secured a large part of the Boreal Glades" he nodded, that was the prince achievement "But he told me the northerners had never fished in a larger scale, it was too dangerous with the orcs roaming about. He said they are working on creating a small flotilla of fishing boats, but it will take some time to build and make it work, but why not consider lending it to Loire, we could pay for the right to fish on the northern lands if the empire allows it and provides protection, or even consider giving up part of the catch, do you think it could work?"
"The empire would lease the right to fish to Loire" he began considering the implications.
"It is just an idea, Aedrik insisted on sharing them with you. I am not sure if it could work, it is important to have clear conditions to allow for the empire own fishing to grow, but Loire could cover it for a while" the lady said timidly.
"He was right lady Lunebleau, you should share your ideas. This, it can and should be considered immediately, and there could be some other opportunities if we consider something similar" He could not hide his smile, he had always had a nose for business, and this smelled like gold, the young lady had an eye for it as well it seems. If only he was younger, he was trying to think what else could they consider.
"I brought a list of some of the things, I think we could consider in this way" the young lady showed him one of the parchments on the table, the calligraphy was smooth, the ink still fresh. He grinned, the prince and her were working on this before they sent for him. The prince knew this was another opportunity. He started reviewing the list, and he felt lighter.
"We need to call the other members of the delegation, lady Lunebleau. There is little time to review everything, and we need to see if there is anything else, it is important to present everything we consider important for the negotiation. Come with me lady Lunebleau, we have work to do" he smiled genuinely at the young lady "This is good, very good"
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