I guess people get ready for things they're scared to do in different ways. I knew some clansmen that would do their best speeches shitfaced, and others that would keep things off their calendars so that they wouldn't be able to avoid or reschedule them when it snuck up on them. Not the healthiest methods, but I guess they worked.
I don't think it had fully sunk in for me that I didn't want to marry a human when I was introduced to my betrothed.
He was dressed like a man that was already married, to start. Long sleeves, long pants, hell, if I didn't know any better I would've said he was trying to *avoid* showing himself off to a potential partner. It made my shortskirt feel even more uncomfortable than usual, that was for sure. He put his hand out to shake, which I did with both of mine.
I could feel his arm tense.
"Pleasure to meet you."
He said plainly,
"P-Pleasure's all mine,"
I said, only slightly having to force the stutter.
"I'm sure it will be. I'm Neilor."
"So I hear. My name's--"
My father cleared his throat, cutting me off. The human king glared over to him, and he stepped down to whisper to me.
"He'll give you a new name when the two of you are wed, love. Human thing. Sorry."
"O-Oh. Sorry, Neilor."
"Please, just 'your highness' for now."
"Of course, your highness."
He smirked, finally shaking my hands back and pointing at me to a look to his father.
"I like this one."
...'this one?'
The human king gave a half-hearted laugh, trying to downplay the remark.
"She's a fine one, that much is true. I expect the two of you to have a wonderful time bridging the gap between us."
I felt his eyes roll over me, taking in everything he was rewarding his son with. I didn't like it. I let go with one of my hands, but the prince kept his grip on my other hand to plant a kiss on it before letting go. I brushed the palms of my hands against my dress, getting rid of the nervous sweat.
There was an awkward silence that only grew as I realized everyone was waiting on me to say something. I gave a curt nod, turning to face the crowd I'd managed to successfully ignore up until the point.
Two.
I counted exactly two Satyrs. Both other members of the council aside from my father.
"T-To our kingdoms," I started saying before realizing I didn't have anything to raise, "And the clans."
I gave another nod, turning it into a bow towards the prince.
A jolt went up my spine as his hand made contact with the top of my head, having expected him to butt with me after I'd accepted his greeting. He raised his opposite fist in the air and ruffled my hair, getting a cheering roar from the crowd as a result.
My ear twitched. The king used the opportunity to speak to my father without being overheard by the crowd as easily.
"Worry not, you'll have an heir by this time next year."
"...I'm more concerned that he treats her well."
"As I've said."
I shook off his hand as I stood up, gritting my teeth to keep smiling. My legs were still stiff from the jolt, so I simply stood still.
"Glad to see you appreciate my sense of humor."
"I'll show you what that was supposed to be later."
"Oh, I'm sure you will~"
Something about the way he spoke dripped... wrong. I glanced back to my father, who held his gaze out towards the crowd in a stern expression. I turned back before I made him cry.
* * *
We both sat down in the carriage exhausted. Looks like I hadn't been the only one putting up a front.
"Gods, your father can't shoot lasers from his eyes, can he?"
"If he can, I haven't seen him do it."
"Good, because I swear he was ready to burn a hole in me."
I let out a relieved laugh. He snickered back. I decided to shoot back about his own dad.
"If I hadn't been introduced to you first, I would've thought I was to wed your father from the way he was looking at me."
He blew that off, waving his hand.
"Pssh, that old perv? He's no better behind closed doors. 'A fine specimen' this, 'A good lineage' that. It's honestly nauseating."
This time his candor was rewarded with a polite giggle and a sigh. I couldn't help but wonder if he was in the same situation I was.
"...Sorry you were roped into this." I said.
"Nothing to apologize for," he retorted, "My father figures this a reward, and I figure he might just be right this time."
I couldn't help but blush at that.
"I mean, the rumours about Satyrs being shapley are clearly true, and you practically came to your introduction in undergarments.""
I coughed, trying to wave him off.
"Please, we're already getting married, you don't have to butter me u--"
"I mean, how do you keep those straps from just-- you know--"
He mimed a slip with his hands that I decided to avoid telling him was the point.
"Just get used to it, I guess."
I said with a shrug.
Neilor let out his own sigh, sitting back in the carriage and unbuttoning his top. I leaned back a bit at the gesture, not sure if he had meant something. If he had, he didn't betray it on his face. It'd taken on a cool indifference, as though he hadn't just flirted with a woman that was already guaranteed to be in bed with him.
Okay, maybe don't think about that too hard.
The cart began to move, and I found myself looking out the same window. It only took me a moment to pick my father out of the crowd, his horns and staff sticking out like a sore thumb. He was giving the prince the prince a glare that made me understand why he'd questioned his ability to shoot lasers. Glancing back at the prince, he was starting to sweat through his stoic look. Understandably.
I tired to ignore the fact I was starting to do the same.
I've heard there used to be a lot of stories about one human getting punched into a fantasy world. This one's sort of the opposite, save for a caveat; the rest of my world came with me, and nobody really wanted to go back.
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