Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows of Solaria's Great Hall, its ray casting a kaleidoscopic patterns on the polished marble floor. Golden chandeliers hung overhead, their crystals tinkling softly with each subtle breeze. The air was filled with the scent of blooming roses, placed at all corners of the hall.
Trumpets blared, their notes sharp and ceremonial, as courtiers in vibrant silks lined the hall, their faces were filled with anticipation and feigned enthusiasm. Banners were raised in the air, bearing the crests of Flamecrest House and Dullington House. They unfurled from the rafters as their colors intertwine in forced harmony.
At the center stood Prince Kai, adorned in ceremonial robes of crimson and gold that clung uncomfortably to his frame. The fabric itched at his neck, a constant reminder of the obligations he couldn't escape. His crown sat askew, as if it resisted the day's proceedings.
A herald stepped forward, unrolling a scroll with exaggerated flair. "By the decree of His Royal Highness, King Valorion, and Her Majesty, Queen Seraphina," he proclaimed, his voice echoing through the hall, "we announce the blessed engagement of His Highness, Prince Kai of House Flamecrest, to Her Grace, Princess Rihanna of House Dullington!"
A polite smattering of applause followed, the sound hollow and rehearsed. Servants tossed rose petals into the air, their descent slow and somber, like confetti at a wake.
Kai forced a smile, his lips stretched thin, betraying none of the turmoil churning within him. Sweat beaded at his brow, trickling down his temple as he stood rigid with all of his muscles tensed.
A hush fell over the assembled nobility as Princess Rihanna approached, her steps were careful and devoid of grace. She wore a gown of muted gray, its design as uninspired as her expression. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun, each strand immaculately in place, giving her the appearance of a particularly stern librarian.
She extended a gloved hand toward Kai, her fingers stiff and unyielding, as if carved from alabaster. The court leaned in, anticipation crackling in the air like a drawn bowstring. All eyes fixed on Kai, awaiting the ceremonial kiss upon the bride-to-be's knuckles.
Kai's jaw tightened. He stared at the offered hand, his stomach churning. To him, it resembled a lifeless artifact, something better suited for a museum display than a matrimonial gesture. He leaned in, hesitated, and froze, his lips mere inches away.
"I'd rather kiss a cactus," he muttered through his clenched teeth.
A ripple of polite applause swept through the hall, masking the tension that hung heavy in the air. Rihanna remained motionless, her expression unchanged, as if carved from the same stone as the palace pillars.
From the royal dais, Queen Seraphina leaned forward, her smile tight, eyes sharp. "Come now, Kai," she whispered, her voice laced with warning. "At least pretend you're not going to vomit."
Kai's eyes darted toward his mother. "I am going to vomit," he whispered back, his voice strained. "On her dress. And then throw myself out the nearest stained-glass window."
King Valorion's gaze locked onto his son, his eyes narrowing. His voice, low and firm, cut through the murmurs. "Compose yourself, boy," he growled. "This alliance is crucial."
Kai swallowed hard, the weight of duty pressing down on him like the heavy crown on top of his head. He straightened, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes, and took Rihanna's hand. Then leaning down, he gave the faintest brush of lips to her hand.
His touch was as fleeting as a whisper. His lips barely grazed her skin, as though he feared it might bite him or infect him with some dreadful disease. Meanwhile, Rihanna's expression remained serene, her eyes fixed on some point above Kai's shoulder.
"I accept this engagement with warmth and propriety," she intoned, her voice as smooth as honey, though her words seemed to have left a bitter taste in Kai's mouth.
Kai then decided to reply, but his response was a muttered whisper, barely audible over the sound of the court's applause. "I accept it under duress and mild gastrointestinal distress," he said, his voice only loud enough for the court jester to hear.
The jester, stationed behind a velvet curtain, immediately began miming a retching prince Kai, his antics hidden from view but his muffled snorts and giggles audible to those nearby.
The applause grew, a thunderous sound that filled the Great Hall and threatened to drown out Kai's tumultuous thoughts.
Court musicians struck up a romantic tune, the notes soaring and lilting as doves were released unnecessarily into the air. The birds flew overhead, their soft cooing a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing in Kai's mind.
As Kai stood there, surrounded by pomp, petals, and the promise of a deeply unromantic future, one thought echoed through his head like a gong in a cave: There has to be a better way out of this.
And just like that, the idea struck him, a wild, impossible, borderline illegal notion that made his heart skip a beat. If he had to marry... Then why not marry the thirty women in the kingdom that he actually liked? His aunties. All thirty of them.
The thought was madness, pure and simple. But maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to make this work. Maybe he could marry all thirty of them, and in doing so, escape the clutches of the dreaded Rihanna - the orc princess whose true form is hidden by the human she embodied.
His kingdom and her kingdom had come to a truce where both of them had to marry as husband and wife. And also, under the agreement that he couldn't marry any other woman, especially a human.
When he heard about the proposal, he was so much against it. He couldn't believe he'd be taking a disgusting green monster as his wife, when there are beautiful women in the kingdom he could marry. But his father gave him no choice, he had to do it.
Which is why he was finding a way to escape this bondage of a marriage. The more he thought about the plan with his thirty aunties, the more it seemed like a plan worth considering.
Not all of his aunties were humans, at least not normal ones. Which is a good thing. But, if he manages to get them all on his side, he would be able to conquer the Orc kingdom, and get rid of his marriage with the orc princess.
Kai's lips twitched into a sly smile as he contemplated the possibilities. The game was afoot, and he was ready to play.