Peace for a Price (1x1)

Kame, rather looking put at ease to any degree, looked mortified. "Immortalized?" she squeaked. She stayed standing where she was, growing more uncomfortable by the second. Still, she was supposed to be serving the foreign princess, and she was supposed to obey those above her. She stayed still, her cheeks flushed and her eyes nervous.

At Malasia's question, she jumped a little and replied, "It is a good place. I have a good position. I get good pay here for my family. I am treated well. It is an honor to serve in the castle!" The words tumbled over each other at high speed.
 
"Yes, I am making a drawing of you. One day, this book will be important for my people... Hopefully, it will be treasured, as a reminder that these two kingdoms united for good." She replied at the innocent question.

She finally set the quill down looking at the finished product with a soft smile.

The girl's reply left her with a strange taste in her mouth. She sounded convinced of her words, like she truly meant it, but truth be told, she feared that perhaps everyone who had spoken to her so far was tricking her.


Maybe all the sweet things they had said of the king so far were not true, the thought sunk in for a moment, making her smile faltered for a few seconds, but she shook her head in an attempt of forgetting them.

"I see... I am glad you enjoy your time here. Anyway, thank you for your time. Here, it's nice, isn't it?" She said, gently placing the book in her companion's hands. The drawing was indeed, not bad, for being only drawn in ink, it was pretty accurate, every little detail of Kame's expressions plastered now into this piece of paper.

The writing in the page beside it wasn't too positive, it spoke of worry, fear, anger and doubts. The only word that brought any sense of warmth within these letters was the constant repetition of the word "hopefully".

Hopefully, hopefully, again and again.

Regardless of what the servant may had been able to read, Malisia tried her best to recover her smile.
 
Kame stared at the page, trying to keep her expression as blank as possible, but she hated the picture. Not for any lack of talent on Malisia's part, she just hated the sight of her face drawn like that, especially with the expression she'd been making, and now she was being told that many other people would be looking at this image? She deeply regretted agreeing to take this job even though they'd been running out of humans and human-looking servants to look after the royals.

As for the words, she only had a basic grasp of the common language as far as reading went, so she did not even attempt to read Malisia's flowery (to those used to simple, blocky writing) script. Cravonid did have education open to all regardless of gender, race, or social status, but being a large, spread out area that was almost entirely rural, actual availability was not great, and since it was not mandatory for anyone to go to school, many parents did not make a lot of effort to overcome the difficulties that might lie between them and getting a child to school. Cravonid did have a surprising number of adults who, after the children had grown, did choose to attempt to educate themselves in at least some subjects.

"Yes, as long as you do not get on the uppers' bad sides," Kame said without thinking, still staring at the drawing. Realizing what she'd said, she blushed even more deeply and quickly set the book on the table before backing up a few steps. "Which I'm sure is true anywhere. Disrespect is not tolerable, after all."
 
Malisia kept staring at her creation for a long while, still thinking of how she may bring this book to more people over time, little did she know she'd completely forget about this whole idea of playing the victim in a book she wrote out of spite against her parents.

Although, she was... Taken by surprise by the servant's answer, she expected something like this, but it was still sort of ominous, the woman's suspicions kept creeping back up every one in a while, but nothing that truly made her want to run away, not yet at least. All she needed to do was resist the whirlwind of emotions and keep up the act for a while.


"Right... Of course." The princess cleared her throat nervously. "Well, thank you for lending me a hand... I promise this won't be a daily situation."


She rubbed her temples for a moment, exhaling deeply in a futile attempt at making this encounter less awkward for either of them.


"You may leave now... I need a very, very long rest before tomorrow's ceremony."
 
"Of course, Miss. Absolutely, Miss. If you have need of anything at all, just call. There will be some of us outside in the hallway ready to answer any summons. Any summons at all! Oh, and I will be back in an hour to retrieve your dishes."

Kame curtsied her way backward, nearly tripping over her own white-stockinged feet several times. Once she reached the door, she pulled it open and all but bolted out. That had not gone as smoothly as she had hoped, but at least she had not completely and utterly embarrassed herself. Only slightly so.

Meanwhile, up in his tower in a windowless room lit only by a single candle in the middle, Eleazar sat half-coiled in a rounded chair, his wings draped about his shoulders and body like a leather blanket. He gazed at the far wall where a mural painted with deep colors decorated the entire wall. When the candle flickered, the mural almost looked like it came alive as the dark shapes moved across the surface.

"Fiesty, then?" he repeated softly. "And she showed no respect? A woman who disrespects her own parents so easily would certainly sho no respect for a husband."

"To be fair, Your Majesty, her country is that of mostly farms, and its royal family has not been established for much longer than yours," Lance replied in a softly amused tone from where he stood in a corner behind Eleazar. "She has siblings. It would not surprise me to learn that with her deformity, she became the forgotten child that ran wild. Perhaps she consorted with peasants, even."

"Oh, the horror," Eleazar said blandly.

"Indeed," Lance agreed, allowing his amusement to show through more. Then he grew more serious. "It was expected that she would be... tamed. Cowering. Easy to handle, but I fear she may be a bit more to handle than you anticipated, Your Majesty."

Eleazar's wings rustled softly as he shifted them slightly. "Perhaps this was a mistake," he murmured moodily.

"It is not too late to pull out of the agreement, technically speaking," Lance said in a neutral tone.

"But if I did, it would not reflect well on us. On me," Eleazar finished the thought. He frowned, his eyes glittering red in the flickering light. "I will find a way to make this work. After all, as a Princess Consort and here by marriage, she has only what power I give her. If she is, indeed, a wild thing used to the farms and fields, perhaps that is the best place to put her. Away and out of harm's way."

Lance's eyebrows winged upward. "And your duties as a husband?" he asked, his tone still mild but with a lilt.

Eleazar snorted and rose slowly, his wings stretching out briefly before folding in to arch behind him in a semi-ready position. "Please. It is not as though anyone is actually going to check something like that," he said scathingly, waling across the cold, stone tiles to the mural. "As for the proof of children... many partners are childless even if they are not two distinctly separate species. Being different species is probably a good way to excuse it." He stopped before the mural and ran his hand gently across the sweeping, flowing lines. Quietly, he added on, "Besides, I doubt her parents will exactly be eager for grandchildren from such a desperate union."

"A reasonable conclusion," Lance admitted, "but being cut off from everyone else... that does not exactly sound like the sort of lifestyle that shall bring her much pleasure."

"Safety is more important than pleasure," Eleazar said dismissively, turning away from the mural. "Besides, I will ensure she has all she could ever want or desire within her boundaries. I was thinking... either the Nucifera or the Rhodiola estates."

"Both beautiful choices, truly our finest, but... Bram, are you certain you could not at least attempt to connect with the girl before sending her off to exile? Luxurious exile is still exile," Lance attempted.

Eleazar was already shaking his head before Lance could begin. "Even if she was open to such an idea - which I doubt she is - it is better not to risk such vulnerability. Her actions so far could be a disguise for a much closer relationship with her parents, despite Banson's reports. All she would need to do was wait long enough to avoid too much suspicion, kill her husband, and then act as an extension for her parents to rule Cravonid on their behalf. If she grows lonely... well, perhaps she will find someone to keep her company. Close company. I see no reason to deny her that, if she should desire it." He walked back toward his chair. "I am tired. Tomorrow is going to be a tiring day."

Lance took the cue and bowed. "Your Majesty."

"Formal even when no one is around," Eleazar murmured. "I both love and hate that about you."

Lance smiled briefly, his eyes glinting red in the light. "Indeed, Bram." He let himself out and closed the door as Eleazar slumped back down in his seat to watch the mural dance in the firelight.
 
Once she was left alone, Malisia sat in that room, for hours, without doing much but staring at the blank pages beyond the drawing she'd made.

Perhaps she'd understimated how her emotions would increase in intensity during the night. She didn't touch her food, nor did she write more. Her handmaidens had grown worried, but they knew they should allow her to proccess things on her own, this was no easy day for anyone, and keeping that tough exterior for so long had made her tired.


How would it all go? Would she be ditched, again?

As much as she pretended she didn't mind all the humilliation she had gone through over the years, it was impossible to deny that what she was now, was mostly a consequence of her parents' behaviour, cold, quick to anger, self concious. How could she not? Being reminded daily about her condition ever since she was a child, and how it would make it difficult for her to be useful for her people, how she was cursed, tainted, a product of the dark gods themselves, it was essentially destined for her to be rebellious, outcasted, the spoils of the family.

Even her name was a mockery of her, Malisia. Daughter of Malice. Oh how she hated her name.

And so, with her mind filled with these poisonous thoughts, she went to bed, attempting to sleep, though it was futile. Any matter would now be attended by her servants so that she may be left alone.


On the room next to hers, the king and queen kept discussing amongst themselves, loudly, enough that anyone nearby could hear.


"FOOLISH, that child is going to ruin us. Did you not think of the possibility she would be as ungreateful and rude as she has always been? If she doesn't respect her father the king, would you think she would respect a beast?" Her mother yelled.

The king quickly hushed her, trying not to yell through gritted teeth.

"That 'beast' is going to give our kingdom protection in exchange of taking our daughter's hand, do not blame me for what was YOUR idea. You wanted to get rid of her? Perfect, now we have. Please, pretend, just for tomorrow that you are glad for your daughter. After all, we do not want to be the antagonists in this situation. If anyone gives a bad impression... Let it be Malisia."
 
The next morning, the occupants of the castle rose long before their guests and started preparing for the wedding. The large majority of the preparations were already done, but there were so many last-minute things that needed to line up and be put in place and finish and polish and arranged and rearranged. It seemed the list was neverending. In the kitchens, the cooks and their assistants were working frantically to prepare all the food for the feast after the ceremony. The massive chapel swarmed with servants and attendants decorating with fresh plants and branches as well as ribbons and bows, often pausing to check their work against pictures they'd found in books about Valeskiar and its customs. They might not have had it perfect, and they had to draw on other sources, as well, but it turned out looking a bit like a woodland fairytale wrapped like a gift.

In the dining room, they set up the bride and groom's table at one end of two longer tables stretching out in a large U shape to try to seat as many people as possible while also making it easy to serve them. The woodland theme was carried through here, though tamed down quite a bit since no one wanted extra tree leaves or flower petals in their food. There was some debate as to whether or not to seat the visiting king and queen with the bride and groom, but they finally decided no. That would throw everything off since their own king had no family to attend the ceremony. Instead, they placed the visitors on the bride's side, believing she would wish to spend as much time as possible with her parents and the others of her own country before they left.

The entire castle was soon decked out from head to toe, and every single person within tried to look their absolute best with the "monsters" sticking to the shadows and allowing their more "human" comrades to take the front row. They figured it would be less shocking and horrifying for their human visitors. Malisia would have plenty of time to grow accustomed to her new citizens, but her family would be here for only a couple of days. No need to terrify them.

As for Malisia, she and her party were politely detained up on the second floor and out of the hustle and bustle of the work going on. Anything they asked for was immediately provided, but no one from their party was allowed to go down until the preparations were nearly complete. Once the preparations were ready, Lance and the head of the decorating committee offered to walk Malisia's mother and father down to let them approve of their plans. No one wanted to invite such criticism since there was not a lot they could do if the Valeskiar king or queen hated it all, but Lance maintained that it was only polite to at least let them have a say. Malisia was not allowed as it was supposed to be a surprise.

For his part, Eleazar had not come down from his tower since his bride had arrived, and he was currently getting primped and preened and polished despite any and all protests.
 
The king and queen, to nobody's surprise, had decided to join in the preparations, of course, they were judgmentald during the entirety of their stay, complaining of this and that, even getting to the point of complaining of the food they hadn't even tried and saying it may not be up to the standards they were expecting, though most of these complains came from Malisia's mother, while the king kept a concerned expression, quietly begging his wife to stop speaking, just in case Eleazar arrived and heard how truly terrible the couple was.

Everyhing was a bit too lively for their taste, it lacked refinement, cleanliness and simmetry, little did they know Malisia would quite enjoy the decoration prepared for them.


Meanwhile, the woman was getting dressed in her room, her two handmaidens assisted by her parents' servants as they made sure she was presentable for her special day.

As much as her mother complained during the preparations, Malisia declined all attempts at convincing her to cover up her spots with makeup, it was not just a special day, it was HER day, finally, after so many years, why would she now hide away what would be discovered in the end?

She waited, patiently, unlike her parents, fidgetting quietly with the jewelry adorning her neck, it was nearly time, and she was still unsure of how to carry herself during this time.
 
Lance walked with them for a short time, but he soon excused himself to deal with other details of the ceremony, details that remained in the shadows while the royal couple and the head decorator - a tall human with a laugh bigger than his belly and a sharp glint in his eye - conducted the tour. He nodded along to their complaints, and they did comply somewhat by removing some of the bows and rearranging a few things to be as symmetric as possible, but there was only so much they could do. He never lost his jolly smile as Malisia's mother complained and complained, but a few of the other workers glanced looks at their backs when they felt they wouldn't be caught.

Finally, there was nothing left to do but to send the royal couple up to their floor to gather everything and descend down to the chapel. Eleazar finally descended from his tower. He went straight to the chapel and stood at the bottom of the white runner leading up to the podium where the priest was frantically running over his lines once more. Cravonid did not have an official religion, unlike the majority of the surrounding kingdoms, but they did celebrate multiple religions within their borders. None of which had a significant overlap with Valeskiar. They'd found a couple of people who shared the Valeskiar religion, and they were able to help with the basic elements of a wedding service and a priest who, while he did not normally officiate in that capacity, did have an understanding of how it worked. He stood now at the front in gray robes waiting for the couple. Malisia was to walk partway down the aisle with her father to where Eleazar waited. Her father would pass her off to Eleazar, who would take her hand and walk her the rest of the way to the priest. Her parents were to sit in the front row.

Eleazar stood waiting for his bride as the people filed in, doing their best to be quiet, meek, and harmless as possible, but no one could deny the element of excitement in the air. Everyone wanted to see their king wed to a very nice girl! At least, they hoped she was a nice girl. Eleazar had his eyes mostly closed against the bright light, his royal garments spotless black with vibrant red trim. He'd allowed a single necklace that was the medallion his father had designed for his grandfather after the forming of this kingdom. The cut of the suit complimented his slim yet powerful build well. His wings rested on his shoulders and hung down and back, just barely dragging on the ground like a leathery cape, hooked at his neck by a sharp, solid claw. His long black hair had been pulled back into tight, tiny braids that wove around the base of his eight tightly twisted and highly polished black horns before hanging down at the back of his neck. His sharp, angular features and hard red eyes gave not even a hint of the softness normally found in a groom's face, and despite his attendants' best efforts, his dark grey skin still looked harsh and almost scale-like. It was at least soft now, nearly butter-soft in some places, but it did not look it. At five feet tall exactly, he was shorter than the large majority of those in attendance, but as he stood there, shoulders back, and hands tucked behind his back, he radiated confidence and power. He waited patiently, less like a groom waiting for his bride and more like a businessman waiting for the delivery of an important piece of goods.
 
Malisia finally made her way down the stairs, accompanied by her handmaidens, who carried the veil carefully behind her. Her father joined her too, offering his arm so she may hold onto it. She wasn't thrilled, nor was he, but in the end neither of them could deny that their blood bound them, and so, they began their walk.

From down the hall, between all these people, came Malisia. This would be the first time most of these people would see the stunning woman.

Rich, dark skin that glows with a natural radiance. She stands tall though with less confidence than most would expected. Her presence was gentle but nervous.

Her wavy hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing her face with soft, dark flowing curls.

Under the light, hervitiligo added to her charm. A unique and beautiful contrast to her skin, with patches of lighter skin creating an intricate and mesmerizing pattern. This distinctive feature that haunted her on the daily, was now on display for these strangers, making her fear stand out even more, but regardless of this, she kept walking. Her eyes darted from side to side, wondering what the reaction would be shown by everyone around her. Her eyes were bright and expressive, showing a sparkle of hope even through the fear.


The dress she was wearing was a masterpiece, with a mermaid silhouette that hugged her body from the bodice down to the hips, before dramatically flaring out at the knees. The fabric was a luxurious blend of satin and lace, with intricate patterns adorning the bodice and trailing down the skirt. The lace was delicately embroidered with tiny pearls, catching the light with every movement she did.


It had long sleeves, embellished with lace and beadwork, giving the dress anelegant look. The neckline was a sweetheart shape, which complimented her neckline beautifully


The veil was cathedral-length, cascading down to the floor and beyond, creating a dramatic effect. The edges of the it were trimmed with matching lace, tying the whole look together seamlessly.

The accesoriess she carried included a delicate tiara, encrusted with crystals and pearls, which sat atop the her head, reminding everyone that despite the odd circumstances, she still had a touch of regal elegance. She was also wearing a pair of chandelier earrings that sparkled with every turn of her head. Lastly, though not less important, her shoes, though mostly hidden beneath the dress, were glimpsed occasionally and were a pair of classic white satin pumps, adorned with a small bow at the back.


She had made sure that every detail was just as she wanted it to be, even if she was quite aware that her mother would dissaprove of how much skin she was showing, she didn't care, if she had to go through this torture, she would do it her way.


After a long wait, she finally arrived to the spot where she would be taken by Eleazar, and her heart nearly stopped.

She wasn't sure what she expected, but this? It wasn't it.

King of the monsters they called him, but she didn't really see the monster at all, well, sure, he had some "monstrous" features, but this wasn't what she pictured with how little she heard of him.

Malisia weakly offered her hand for him to take it. It wouldn't be obvious at first glance, but it was trembling.

In a hushed tone, she simply greeted him, her head dipping in what would barely qualify as a bow.


"It is... Nice to finally meet you, your highness..."
 
The audience turned to watch as the princess walked in. Soon, she would be their princess, and they wanted to see what kind of woman they would be getting. Whispers filled the chapel, barely audible over the soft, soothing music played by the string band tucked in the corner. They peered at her, curious, but also puzzled. There was no disgust in their eyes, no horror, only curiosity. She looked human, but why was her skin like this? It was not like anything they'd ever seen in a human before. She was tall, too, but so exotic! As Malisia approached Eleazar, they quickly fell silent and respectful.

Eleazar reached out and took her hand in his, his grey fingers coiling around her dark ones lightly. Calluses roughened every part of his hand, but he was clean with neatly trimmed nails. "Princess Malasia," he said politely, and that was it.

He turned and led her down the aisle toward the priest. When they arrived, they stood with Malisia's hand lightly resting atop his, as the priest read through the vows and promises, throwing in a few things that were traditional in both their cultures, trying his best to represent the binding of the two kingdoms. Toward the end, he had them face each other and lightly wove a red thread between both their hands and tied it. They had to stay that way, holding hands and tied together, until the end of the service. It took about an hour from beginning to end, and Eleazar barely twitched through the whole thing. Then came the end. Some cultures had a kiss at the end, but Eleazar had stated from the beginning that he flatly refused to do such an intimate act in public. So, that was skipped, and they were allowed to walk away.

Eleazar led the way back down the aisle and out of the chapel. The doors closed behind them as the priest led the congregation in a song to give the bride and groom time to get to the banquet hall and seated at their table. Once the bride and groom were seated, the attendees would come and greet the newlyweds and give the gifts to appointed attendents for the newlyweds to open later.

Eleazar paused in the hallway leading to the banquet hall and held out his hands toward the man who'd acted as the decorator. "Therman, if you please?" he requested cooly.

"Of course, your majesty! And Princess," Therman agreed happily and stepped forward to untie them.

"You have done well so far, Princess," Eleazar told Malisia, though he didn't look at her.
 
Malisia was calm during the ceremony, though she did hold Eleazar's hand tighter than she had intended to, in a search of something to ground her.

She didn't complain the lack of a kiss at the end of it all, in fact, she was most comfortable with delaying this, she was already nervous enough as it was, so it was a relief to be let go without it happening.

The princess rose a confused eyebrow at the mention of her doing well, but the more she thought of this comment, the faster the blood flowed through her face, causing her to have a light blush across it.


"Thank you..." She replied, quietly. "I hope I am what you were expecting, my lord." Even though her words sounded rather cold, she was respectful, treating him according to his status. After all, he hadn't done anything to make her thing he was undeserving of such respect, she was now his wife, whether she liked it or not.


Somewhere close by, was her father, attempting to ease the anger of his beloved wife. She couldn't even choose only one thing to complain about this time, as she was outraged by so many. No kiss, the modifications of the dress without her approval, how Malisia hadn't bowed properly before her new husband, the disrespect, the horror! Malisia's mother, truly had the personality of an old, bitter witch, thankfully she had no magic, if she did, with amount of curses the let slip through her teeth, she would've brought dozens of kingdoms to ruin already.


Things hadn't been as terrible as the princess expected. She wouldn't mind having to look at the man standing beside her every day from now on, in fact she would quite enjoy it.

To her, he held an unnatural charm, it was dangerous, but certainly attractive. However, she didn't want to get too excited just yet, she didn't know if this man was cruel and evil behind these doors... Or if he would get rid of her at the first chance he got.
 
Eleazar focused on his hands and wrists for a moment, rubbing away the feeling of the thread. It hadn't hurt at all, but it had left behind a ticklish feeling. That, and a couple of strands had attached themselves to the calluses on his hands. It looked strange, and it gave him something to focus on as his heart slowed down. He'd made it to the end of the service without passing out or walking off! He felt that deserved some celebration if only in his mind as he mentally collapsed and took a breather. He couldn't take long. He still had an entire room full of people looking to congratulate him, not to mention the woman still standing directly in front of him.

"No, I cannot say that you are," he admitted bluntly as he looked up at her again. "Not that I was particularly informed of what to expect. I imagine the same can be said by you of me." He paused, pressing his lips together slightly, before offering Malisia his hand again. "Come. We have a lot of people that desire to meet you. They are under orders to behave, but I expect things will get somewhat rowdy before the day is over."

He led Malisia to the head of the banquet tables and remembered just in time to pull the ornate chair out for her. His wings rustled as he adjusted them before sitting down next to her. Then he gave the servants by the doors a little nod. They scampered off, half to the kitchens to alert the staff that it was time to serve, and half to the chapel to tell the others it was time to eat. The king and queen were delicately shuffled toward the banquet hall so they could be the first, and everyone else filed in behind them. Every single person there was hoping that their new princess was nothing like her parents or else this could have been a very, very big mistake.
 
The woman wasa bit surprised, and realized that he was likely just as unaware as she had been this whole time, it made her feel a bit relieved-

She wasn't particularly upset or offended at how blunt he was, to a degree, she prefered it that way. Sometimes people danced around the point too much for her liking rather than speaking their mind, but this was certainly refreshing.

Malisia gladly took his hand again when it was offered, and walked with him to her designated spot. She couldn't really take her eyes off of him for very long, that curiosity that she had previously sparked up once again.

The princess' lips curled into a soft smile when she heard Eleazar's comment, she was about to say something, but saved it until she was finally seated beside him.

Shaking her head gently, she spoke.


"With all due respect your highness... I would rather if they just behave as they are used to act around you. Glamour and strictness is not exactly- What I prefer. However, I'm sure my parents will be pleased with the order. Talking of which..." She says, as she looks up, noticing her mother quickly pacing towards her seat, accompanied by a king who looked as if he had seen a ghost with how pale he was.

Her mother sat down with pretended elegance, looking at Malisia with an almost murderous intent, to which her daughter simply smirked, like a child who got away with some mischief.


"It was a beautiful ceremony, don't you think so, mother?"

The queen flinched, taking this as an attempt to anger her further. "Well I've seen better, but it is what it is... A flawed ceremony for a very flawed bride." She said, her last few words quieter as she gritted her teeth, though clear enough that Malisia heard.

The princess managed to swallow her pride, though with difficulty, and nodded. "Perhaps." She muttered, looking away and focusing on her new husband once more, she wondered how far her parents would go to make this more difficult than it needed to be, but for now she prefered not to think of this.
 
Perhaps the queen meant to go unheard, perhaps not. Either way, Eleazar could hear every word as clearly as if she'd said it directly to him. Eleazar picked up his cup after a young boy poured his wine and gave it a light swirl. Without looking at the queen, he asked in a deliberately neutral tone, his low voice resonating in a soft baritone as he spoke. "Your Majesty, do you mean to say that to honor your side of our peace treaty, you gave me damaged goods? A flawed product in a transaction meant to ensure your peace? How... interesting. Perhaps it would be best to review this contract if this is how you refer to what I was led to believe was your most precious possession given to me to ensure your safety." He finally looked at her and gave her a razer-thin smile. "Or perhaps I misheard how you spoke to my new wife."

The line of people coming to greet them already stretched out along the tables as the group waited patiently to give their blessings before being allowed to sit. Only a few could hear what was being said, but all were watching with great curiosity, wondering what the hold-up was.
 
Malisia's father was quick to interrupt. "Not at all my lord! The girl is in perfect conditions... H-However as you've seen she can be, a bit complicated at times, worry not however, we made sure to give her a very serious talk about her duties as a wife." He nodded quickly, begging his wife to agree with a worried look, though she merely crossed her arms and pointed her nose somewhere else with disdain.

Malisia spoke, calmly, with a strange sense of warmth in her heart due to Eleazar's defense of her, even though he called her a product, well, she was aware she was that in this situation, but she didn't mind it too much, better a product well taken care of than a daughter treated as an obstacle.

"I'm sure his highness understood, father. Perhaps you and mother should take a seat, many more wish to congratulate us. It wouldn't be proper to keep them waiting."


The king agreed, not wanting any more reasons for his wife to spit her venom towards anyone else, being completely aware he would have to hear her complain during the entirety of the meal. He thanked Eleazar for taking his daughter's hand and walked to their designated spot, though practically dragging the queen along with him.

The princess sighed in relief, rubbing her eyelids for a moment, as she managed to regain her soft smile and composure, her parents were true monsters, but she didn't want to take her frustrations out on those who truly wanted to give them their good wishes.


"Apologies for that..." She whispered to Eleazar, before showing a pleasant smile towards the people in line to offer their blessings.
 
Eleazar didn't respond to Malisia other than a slight nod. He was regretting getting tangled with this family, but the reasons for this union went beyond just them. They were doing it for their people. Both of them. He could tolerate learn to deal with a couple of toxic in-laws as long as it meant his people could be more easily fed. It was worth it.

He smiled as best he could - a tight, small smile that showed no teeth - for each person and accepted the gushing praise and happy well-wishes. Many gifts were presented and whisked off by the attendants. Women curtsied and men bowed. A few went past the visiting king and queen to give them their regards before finding their seats. Primarily humans were in attendance, but some did not quite look human. Some, like Kame, bore slightly fuzzier faces or oddly shaped ears. One pair looked human except for the fact that they only stood as high as Malisia's knee. They presented a box nearly as big as they were, and Eleazar leaned over to get closer to their level as he gravely thanked them. Another group of four came up, and for some reason, it was difficult to see them. You felt that you were looking directly at them, but your brain refused to listen to what the eyes told them. When you tried to remember later what they looked like, there was nothing but a blank. One person that came through was a Daefur like Eleazar, but older, a bit less in shape, but still intense and quiet. He carried his wing behind him and slightly arched when he walked rather than draped on his shoulders. He gave Malisia a slightly squinted looking over before bowing deeply and stating he was honored by her presence. Then he walked away, not having brought a gift. Eleazar didn't seem to mind or miss the gift.

Finally, the last person gave their thanks and hurried to their seats. Eleazar waited for his wine to be refilled before rising to his feet. He was not looking forward to this part, but he'd been assured that it was absolutely necessary. A speech.

"Thank you everyone for your attendance. Your presence here does not go unnoticed," he said gravely. "Thank you for honoring our union with your kind wishes and gifts. We share our joy with all of your and hope that this union marks a new era in the kingdoms of both Cravonid and Valeskiar as we bring our people to a new world of peace and harmony. Thank you all."

He raised his glass in a toast, which everyone copied, and then sat down. No one had specified how long his speech had to be. Besides, everyone was hungry.

The servers came forward with trays of food and more drink and started serving everyone. Conversations started up, mostly hushed, but with the occasional outburst of laughter.
 
Malisia, though nervous, and even confused by some of the curious appearances that some had, struggling to comprehend just how strange the qualities of this kingdom were, but she never showed an ounce of anger, disgust or discomfort, remaining polite, and, perhaps a bit more friendly than the guest expected, greeting them as if they had been long time friends. I the princess knew anything was how to speak and handle herself around the commmonfolk.

She was proud of herself for doing so well during the strange circumstances.

Malisia was in an oddly good mood, perhaps, it was the fact she wouldn't have to wake up every morning to her mother's complaining, or her father offering her to endless members of royalty, only to be turned down by them not even a minute into the conversation. Maybe it was just that she hadn't expected that her


At the sound of laughter, she couldn't help but smile, unlike her parents who seemed just about ready to leave every time someone spoke a bit louder than a whisper.


Malisia wanted to have a conversation with Eleazar but... What was she even supposed to say? Did they have anything in common?

She tapped a nervous finger against her leg, taking quick glances towards the man beside her, she could wait of course, but nothing granted he'd speak to her first.
 
The musicians came in from the chapel, and their number grew to include a few more instruments. They started playing soft and low, adding to the audience and trying not to distract. Food and drink relaxed people, and half an hour into the feast, they were starting to loosen up and talk more normally. An hour into the feast, they were laughing joyously and trading stories, though still more or less restrained. Two hours into the feast, a tipsy guest wandered over to the band and drunkenly demanded they play a happier song. The band agreed, but still kept it quiet, and the drunk man danced with himself until his hat fell off, revealing pointed, fox-like ears. Two other less-than-sober guests joined him.

Eleazar steadfastly ignored the music and the drunken guests. It was standard for a wedding feast to last several hours, blending more than one meal together, and he knew he would need his stamina if he was going to survive this. He ate very slowly and deliberately, sipping only a tiny bit of wine at a time. He considered attempting to speak to his bride, but he honestly had no idea what to talk about. Small talk? What she thought of the music? Nothing came to him, and he was fairly certain she would speak to him if she wanted to. No point in forcing things.

The third hour crept up on them, and the music slowly changed into something far more folk-like, and with more people choosing to dance in what little space there was, it seemed a bit closer to a happy tavern than a royal wedding. They drank, ate, danced, and then returned to their seats to eat more, constantly calling out praises to their king and his new bride for their marraige! Whether their praises were because they were actually supportive of the wedding or if they were praising this excuse to party was unclear.
 
Malisia didn't mind the happier ambience, in fact, this was more like what she had in mind. Sure, absolute chaos in the castle wouldn't be the best, but at least people were no longer stiff and silent as statues in their seats, even she was starting to tap her foot lightly at the sound of the music.

Although, she had stayed silent, for three hours not managing to speak to her husband, not even a single word.

Just as Malisia was about to say something, she was interrupted, once more, by her mother's ramblings, though, a bit slurred. The queen had a bit of an acohol issue, it didn't surprise Malisia, but the king was already standing up to beg for Eleazar's forgiveness and his permission to leave before things got... Heated.

"Your highess, I am afraid we may have to leave the celebration earlier than expect, my wife has, a bit of a headache, we shall head for our temporary chambers, give our blessings later and depart..."


The queen muttered in her seat, her hand holding a glass of wine precariously. "I would rather depart in this instant.."


Malisia was not worried about them, nor did she really engage in conversation, since her father had spoken to Eleazar rather than her, besides, knowing they would leave her side filled her with determination to finally begin to engage with him.
 
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