Impractical (Complete)

Chapter 10: Family Fights

Aiyana perked up at the information. Though Fox had said something similar, his thoughts were now being confirmed.

"We are aware of this," the Queen said. "Your supposed kidnapping of Princess Jaylyn is the reason that King Logan of Nasta has declared war on Glacio."

Oh, Aiyana thought. What a petty reason.

Jason blanched. It would be obvious that Rova would declare war considering Glacio had broken the marriage alliance and taken one of the daughters of the Royals. Yet, it seemed unnecessary for Nasta to attack.

"Jason, do you still believe that you did the right thing?"

"Yes."

"Why did you not marry Zahra? Through an alliance, Glacio could have intervened with how the country was run and help quash corruption."

Jason shook his head. "It would have been impossible unless we took over Rova."

Jaylyn flinched, but it was so minor and small, Aiyana doubted anyone else had noticed. It was obvious Jaylyn did not agree with her family, but she would never want Rova to fall. She was still proud of her nation. It had been constructed out of rubble, all of Xera scorning the settlers for choosing a desert. Despite the doubts of other nations, Rova had grown.

"I... I also could not marry her."

The King's face clouded over in confusion. It was like watching a wave fall over his face. "And why is that?"

Jason seemed to be summoning the courage to answer but the Queen could not wait. She said, "Because he was not in love with her."

"So who are you in love with then?" King Cyro growled.

This time, there was no pause. Jason said confidently, "Jaylyn. I'm in love with Jaylyn."

It was not only Aiyana who watched the Rovan Princess. The whole room, including the other guards, turned to her. Though her skin was a dark bronze, Aiyana could still see the creep of red starting at the bottom of her neck and ending at her cheeks. She tried to contain her smile but it seemed impossible. It reached her eyes with pleasure.

Queen Cythis smiled indulgently and Ravenna looked happily surprised. The other guards were exchanging looks of shock but even they could not contain their glee. Jason cast a bashful look at Jaylyn to see how she had reacted and grinned sheepishly when she squeezed his hand delightedly.

The King was the only person who looked stormy. "As a Royal, Crown Prince, you do not get to marry who you love. If you fell in love with some pauper, it would not matter. Your marriage is for alliances."

"Wait a second, are you saying you are not in love with mu- the Queen," Ravenna said, her face twisting in disgust.

Clearing his throat, King Cyro laid a hand on his wife's. "There are of course exceptions. If you fall in love with another Royal l- "

"So what's Princess Jaylyn," Ravenna asked, her temper obviously flaring. "Some kind of vegetable?"

"She is not who we engaged Jason to in the alliance!" King Cyro yelled.

"Seems like you got the wrong Princess."

Jaylyn coughed politely, but Aiyana assumed it was to hide a snort.

The Queen took a breath, the King seemingly unable to speak without lashing out. "Jason, as parents, we are obviously delighted that you have found Jaylyn and of course, if it had been a different time, or you had met her sooner, we might have arranged for you to marry her. However," she continued sternly, unfazed. "There is no different time. You had not met her. As the older daughter, a marriage to Zahra would have been more advantageous thus our reasoning to pick her over Princess Jaylyn when Queen Malika offered us the choice."

Jaylyn shuffled her feet. "I am not meat."

"We understand that, Princess. Marriage alliances are not adapting to developing worlds. I hate to say that Xera, including Glacio, are still using marriage as a form of friendship. It is unavoidable right now and it is the utmost necessity that you understand that."

"We understand," both Jason and Jaylyn mumbled.

"Jason, you are required in all of tomorrow's meetings to discuss how you think we can save Glacio. Council dismissed," the Queen said, her face grave.

The Prince and the two Princesses bowed and turned on their heels before walking to the door. Aiyana pulled it open and watched as the Queen gently touched her husband's face and then descended the steps, following her children out of the throne room. Aiyana did not stay behind, pretending to close the doors from the outside.

She wanted to find Fox so badly and tell him about all she had found. So far, it had nothing to do with Arkin, but she never knew when it might come in handy.