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Eloise sighed. “All right. I’ll be here.”
Chapter Two
King Phillip of Allenia was the epitome of diplomatic grace, his bearing both regal and composed as he stood by the grand window overlooking the verdant gardens that bordered the two realms. His eyes, reflecting the resolve of generations of peacemakers, surveyed the domain with an air of contemplative authority.
"Your Majesty," began Prince Bernard, reverent yet laced with an earnest plea, "the time has come for old wounds to heal. The union of our houses could be the salve that mends."
"Indeed, Bernard," King Phillip intoned, his voice a deep timbre that resonated within the high-ceilinged chamber. "Harmony between Allenia and Theron is long overdue. Our people deserve the tranquility that can only come from amity—not enmity."
A soft knock preceded the entrance of King Albert of Theron, his presence commanding and his gaze astute. The lines on his face spoke of many years weighing heavily upon decisions of state, yet his stride bore no burden. King Phillip and Bernard were both aware of the health problems the king of Theron had undergone in recent months, and they could see he was doing much better.
"King Phillip, I’m overjoyed you are here to stop the feuding once and for all," King Albert greeted with a respectful nod. "Let us sit and speak of possibilities."
As the three men settled into the ornate chairs, encircling a table laden with maps and missives, King Phillip leaned forward, hands clasped, his demeanor serene but his intentions clear.
"Marriage," he declared, "is more than a contract. I would like to entertain the possibility of Prince Bernard and Princess Eloise's union which could weave together the fabric of our nations."
"Ah, marriage," King Albert chuckled, the sound echoing around the marbled walls. "That sacred institution where one must negotiate more than just territories. But tell me, young Bernard, do you find this prospect agreeable?"
Bernard's cheeks betrayed the briefest hint of color beneath his otherwise stoic exterior. "It is my deepest conviction," he affirmed, "that through matrimony we might forge not merely an alliance, but also the foundation for enduring peace."
"Peace," echoed King Phillip. "Yes, a future where our children laugh together without fear, where commerce and culture flourish."
"Yet," interjected King Albert, his eyes narrowing, "a marriage must be built on more than just political convenience. My daughter, she has a heart inclined toward the romantic, I'm afraid. The union must be one she enters willingly, joyfully even."
"Of course," King Phillip responded, his voice imbued with understanding. "Love is the cornerstone of any lasting bond. We shall proceed with all due respect to the desires and affections of the young couple."
"Very well," King Albert conceded with a nod, the beginnings of a smile playing at the edges of his lips. “I certainly hope this will bring peace to our countries.”
"Hope," mused King Phillip, "and a touch of romance, perhaps."
King Phillip rose, extending a hand to King Albert. "Gentlemen, I pray this will be the beginning of true peace for our kingdoms."
"Agreed," King Albert replied.
King Albert's words hung as heavily as the velvet drapes. "Bernard," he said, "you are welcome to court my daughter as long as she agrees with the idea. I don’t want her to feel forced to marry anyone, especially for a political match. I promised myself before my children were born that they wouldn’t ever be used as political pawns."
Prince Bernard bowed deeply before King Albert. "Your Majesty, I seek nothing less than her heart's genuine favor," he declared.
"Then you shall have your chance," King Albert replied. "I understand she has agreed to meet with you before the ball?"
"She has," said Bernard, his voice steady though his pulse raced with anticipation. "We will meet to discuss her decision in the royal garden."
"I do hope she will agree to a courtship, but I will not speak for her," King Albert said.
Meanwhile, in the solitude of her chambers, Princess Eloise stood before her balcony, gazing out over the moonlit gardens. The roses seemed to understand the weight of what was to come. In the quiet of night, her thoughts tangled like the thorny stems.
"Is it possible," she murmured to the wind, "for duty and desire to entwine, or am I fated to sacrifice one for the other?" Her heart longed for a love as consuming as the stories that had lulled her into dreams as a child, yet here she was, considering a marriage that served more as a bridge between kingdoms than a joining of souls.
"Prince Bernard is honorable and kind, but does admiration pave the way to love?" She pondered the smiles they shared, the laughter that came easily, but the elusive spark, the fire of passion, remained a stranger to her breast.
"Yet can I stand by, a mere spectator," Eloise continued, her gaze hardening with resolve, "while our nations' old wounds fester and weep?" She knew her union with Bernard could be the salve that healed generations of discord.
"Love may blossom in time," she whispered, "and until then, let my love for Theron guide me."
Princess Eloise paced before the grand mirror in her chamber. Her hands, usually so steady and sure, trembled slightly as they traced the delicate embroidery of her evening gown.
"Could happiness truly be woven from duty?" she mused to herself.
