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I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. By the gods, swinging a sword was much easier than this!
“Please sit,” I said again, stepping away from the chair in case it was my proximity to it that held her back.
But Mina just shook her head. “I will make this short, if that is acceptable?”
I nodded helplessly.
“Let me answer your questions. You are right. I’m out of my mourning dress and the reason for it is to present myself to you as a more favorable match. As you know, I am quite desperate at this point. If you don’t like this dress, I can put on something else. Pink, blue, green—”
“Please stop,” I said, but Mina continued as if she hadn’t heard me.
“My kingdom is slipping through my fingers, and this dreadful war might spread to the South.”
“Please stop,” I asked again, but Mina still kept going.
“Please, if you’d like me to change into something different, I can do that. I might even have a wig somewhere if my short hair—”
“Wimfred!” I shouted so he’d come and stop this. I couldn’t handle it. Her sad tone, her hopeless face. The way she was degrading herself in front of a worthless monster like me to save the lives of tens of thousands of people.
Mina frowned in confusion. Moments later, the door flung open again.
“Yes, Sir Rune?” Wimfred asked, stumbling in, paper still in hand.
Thank the gods.I sighed, pulling at the collar of my uniform. “Will you please read the contract to me and prepare it for my signature?”
Mina and Wimfred exchanged glances.
“Does that mean,” Wimfred said, “that you agree to the—”
“Yes!” I slammed a fist onto the desk. Unintentional, yet unavoidable. “Just read the damn thing to me and let me sign!”
“At once, Sir Rune,” Wimfred mumbled and came rushing to the desk. I was almost too scared to look at her again. Was she thinking me mad? Scared of my bad temper after I had shouted and slammed my fist?
I raised my head and caught her gaze. At first it was hard to read, but then I saw it. The way the tension made way for relief. She was relieved. And...heartbroken.
“Will you excuse me?” she asked. I nodded as my eyes dropped to her hand. But, surprisingly, she wasn’t trembling. Instead, her hand was hanging relaxed at her hip.
“I will sign the contract after our engagement announcement.” Her hand rose to her neck. “It will take place at noon in the throne hall. Does that...suit you?”
“Of course, My Queen,” I said.
“Thank you,” she said. “Now please excuse me.”
Wimfred stared after her as she left the room, then swiftly turned back to face me.
“Well, let us get on with this quickly, then. There is barely enough time left to get you changed into something more suitable.”
Still staring at the door she had disappeared through, I let out a little growl. “This is suitable enough.”
Wimfred sighed, then focused on the paper in front of him. “All right, then. Let’s begin.” He took in a deep breath as if he was reading his last will.
“The king shall be king in name alone, which will result in the following restrictions. One. The king of the Rhine shall have no direct access to the finances of the kingdom but shall be granted a monthly stipend of ten gold coins.”
I sat back down in the chair and turned to look out the window as Wimfred’s voice faded to the background. I was lost in a void of confusion and worry.
Marriage. I was going to marry. The one thing I’d sworn I would never do.
“Two. It will be up to the queen when and how to conclude the physical aspects of the marriage in full.” Wimfred’s voice barely reached me from a far distance. “The king shall not visit her chambers at his own desire.”
