The King settled back in his throne, all sternness washed away from his expression. ‘Figures,’ Aushen chuckled to himself. ‘My sister does have our father wrapped around her little finger.’ He was, however, equally curious about what Odessa had to say.

Lifting her light blue eyes to meet her brother’s, and then the King’s, eyes, she spoke. “As I know you’re aware, the allied kingdom of Fiilzia to the far north has both a crown prince and a princess, close to the ages of my brother and I, and they’ve expressed interest in forging a stronger alliance with our kingdom of Kumbra.”

‘Aha…’ Aushen mused over the nights he’d caught Odessa writing letters by candle-light. ‘Their crown prince must be quite the charmer.’

“I see,” the King mused, deducing Odessa’s motives. Ever since she first heard a love story, the girl had been somewhat boy-crazy. In spite of this, the fact that she was now seventeen made it a perfect time to find her a husband- and a crown prince of a land like Fiilzia would make a perfect match. “Indeed, I do have a letter from Fiilzia offering their princess as a potential bride. Aushen, what do you think?”

Aushen, too, could read his sister’s motives very clearly. Both the crown prince, Dzayn, and his sister, Liavanna, were said to be quite beautiful people. How Odessa had been exchanging letters with the foreign prince was anyone’s guess, but it wasn’t a bad idea. “Esteemed father, if it pleases you, my sister and I could travel to Fiilzia to meet the crown prince and the princess, to see if a match for either of us would be suitable for our kingdoms.” In ordinary circumstances, it would be highly unconventional for a crown prince of any nation to travel to another to meet his potential bride. However, since Aushen and Odessa had three younger brothers, all alphas, the throne was amply secured. 

The king stole a glance towards the queen, whose face softened into a slight smile. “I think it would be quite the benefit for you two.” 

Aushen tilted his head slightly, understanding why his mother was all for it. When she and her own brother were about the ages that Aushen and Odessa were now, they’d traveled here to Kumbra from their home nation of Tsithia for the same purpose. That was how his uncle had ended up becoming the king consort of Tsithia. 

The king, too, understood the deeper meaning behind his wife’s response. “It’s settled then. I’ll send word to Fiilzia right away informing them of our decision.” The king began issuing orders to those around him- the court became a flurry as everyone went to prepare for the monumental trip of the crown prince and princess to another nation. 

Quietly, Aushen stole towards the throne, catching his mother’s attention. She saw the nervousness on his face. “What is it, my dear child?” she asked.

“When Father said that we’d ‘made our decision’...” he trailed off. His mother chuckled in response. 

“Don’t worry, nothing regarding marriage has been set in stone. We will convey that the two of you are going there to meet with their prince and princess and establish diplomatic bonds. Whether you determine that those bonds should become stronger will be at your discretion.” She clasped his shoulders gently. “We trust your judgment, you know. We don’t want you to feel trapped.” 

Aushen’s eyes narrowed. “I know, Mother.” Though it wasn't his parents’ doing, per say, he couldn’t help but feel trapped. It wasn’t even the sense of duty that flowed through his veins causing him to feel that way, but instead, the paralyzing inadequacy that haunted him every night. He could only hope that, as he went through the motions of being the ideal crown prince, his self-esteem could somehow catch up.

As the day of their departure drew closer, Aushen noticed that he was feeling a bit under the weather. ‘I can’t get sick now,’ he sighed to himself. ‘Fiilzia isn’t exactly a day trip.’