The two want to wed, their countries are at war, their love, forbidden. Then they get the idea of how to end the war. Pretend to suggest political marriages, pretend to be reluctant, trick their families to do what will end the war, and allow their love. -- Anon Guest
There'd been far fewer wars since Pax Infernus began. The nations fearful of the Demon Lord resorted to icy politeness and sports matches. Wars of words carried on between bitter enemies, florid text written with a poison pen.
Others put up solid walls along their borders, patrolled by guards who had more in common with each other than the lords of their respective lands. Two marched their armies up and down their shared border, displaying their mobile seige weapons and otherwise flexing their might at each other.
Viceroy Eogan Vatatzes and Vicerene Thermantia Javidan met at the Sparknight Gala despite their parents' best efforts to prevent it. It was love at first waltz. Alas, their countries were, if not at war, then at least in open hostility against each other.
So they appealed to a higher power - the mastermind behind Pax Infernus himself.
The Thrice-Sworn King heard their story and said, "Theatre. Act like you hate each other. I'll go bang your fathers' heads together."
He didn't actually do that, though he later said it was tempting to try it. The idea of Pax Nuptias at a pleasant date was far more appealing than the looming threat of Pax Infernus in person.
The hardest part was appealing to their mutual fathers' animosity by hurling insults at each other during the 'courtship. Harder than that was pretending reluctance for their wedding. Thermantia was positive she'd given it all away by walking a little faster than she should have towards the altar. Eogan had the same terror.
Lucky for them, both their parents were too busy glaring daggers at each other than to notice.
By the time they did notice, it was far, far too late to undo it.
The time between the wedding and the next heir was definitely a hint that something was not according to script. One of the few noble houses to have their first child within a year of their wedding.
Whitekeep was one of the others. The Hellkin king by conquest loved his wife a scandalous amount, according to the other nobles. Now, thanks to the new alliance of Vatatzes-Javidan, the rest of the upper crust were worrying that such things might be catching.
"What's wrong with a little romance?" said the aforementioned king, better known to his friends as simply 'Kosh'. "I think the world is better for it." He toasted the new couple, "A damn sight better than war, ja?"
The respective grumbling fathers were forced to agree. For a change.
[Photo by Mr.Autthaporn Pradidpong on Unsplash]
If you like my stories, please Check out my blog and Follow me. Or share them with your friends!
Send me a prompt [60 remaining prompts!]