The Union

"You are right my handsome Marquis. Greenwater Bay is beautiful" said Sylvie who was beside him. She was holding the tip hem of her dress, preventing the waves from bathing the cloth with seawater.

"Stop calling me that. It"s a little creepy. My Handsome Marquis my bottom. First of all, I am not your property"

"You"re flushed my handsome Marquis. But what my endearment says about you is true. First you are good-looking. Not as good-looking as the King. Heh, lucky Lucia. But you"ll pa.s.s. Second you are a Marquis. Third, you are mine for I have your heart"

"You have my heart? How come I myself didn"t know?"

"But it"s true my handsome Marquis. You even proposed to me"

Erik choked a little after hearing her. He looked at Sylvie.

"I didn"t"

"You didn"t? But last night...Oh right. That was just a dream of mine. But dreams are prophetic sometimes. Who knows. Maybe you will suddenly hold my hand, kneel, look at me in an endearing manner, and propose. Why else would you suddenly bring me here on the beach?"

"I brought you here because I promised to show Greenwater Bay to you. For the past weeks I"ve been busy reconstructing the city and doing various things that I kind of lagged on my promise. Let me clear that up for you Sylvie. I did not bring you here to propose"

"A shame then. There is romance in the air. The scenery is beautiful" She nudged him a little "And I would have said yes"

Erik cupped some seawater using his hands. He was about to sprinkle it to Sylvie when something cold dripped on his neck. It was so cold that he was zapped. He then heard Sylvie"s laughter.

"Trying something impish because you lost to my teasing" She was still laughing "Unfortunately my handsome Marquis, I am faster than you"

What ensued next was a chase. He chased Sylvie who ran to the water. The water was freezing but he must at least repay her mischief. In the end he failed to catch her and their clothes became wet.

Erik sat on the sand. He let out a foggy sigh. Sylvie sat beside him and leaned against his arm.

"It"s already freezing and yet you are adding to the cold"

"Permit me just this once my handsome Marquis"

"Fine, fine. But we should return to the villa soon or else we"ll freeze to death"

"Isn"t that romantic? Freezing to death together? They"ll make ballad of tragedy about us"

Erik just chuckled. Dealing with Sylvie"s weirdness was a like a breath of fresh air after dealing with masons, craftsmen, shipbuilders and carpenters for weeks.

"Ah look at you two" An old voice said "Grandchild. When?"

It was his mother who was flanked by guards and was supporting her stand with her cane.

"It"s not what you think Ma. We are just resting"

"Resting from a romantic chase in the sand" Sylvie grinned "Ma"

Erik glared at her and she returned with a satisfied wink. He looked at his mother.

"So what is it? Portion of the wall went down? Masons complaining again?"

His mother"s expression turned serious "A pigeon just arrived bearing a red-sealed letter. It"s from the King"

**********

"He really attracts trouble" Erik pursed his lips.

After going back to the villa and changing clothes, he read Timothy"s letter. The contents were, of course, trouble. It seemed many merchants and n.o.bles in Vanadis are discontented with how the things are going between Castonia and Vanadis. The Queen suspects a coup.

Erik shifted his bottom on his seat. Sylvie and his mother were in front across the table. After also hearing the contents of the letter, they fell into silence.

"It is expected that not everybody will be happy with the current arrangements. Especially the Vanadian merchants. Can"t blame them actually. Making a union with Castonia must have felt like sharing their hard-earned wealth to us Castonians" his mother said.

"I can confirm. They fear change. The current laws and arrangements in Vanadis are designed to increase trade revenue" Sylvie said. She took a small sip from her bowl of steaming stew "So when will you leave?"

"We" Erik corrected "You are coming with me. You"ll accompany me in the ball"

Sylvie started to avoid looking at him.

"I prefer not sire. It"s cold. Sailing wouldn"t be the best experience. And I... I need to take care of your mother"

Erik had known her to the point that he also knew that when she was evading something, she would suddenly become polite. She would avoid eye contact and her ears would redden.

"You don"t want to see Holm again?"

"I do. But you see sire. I have things to do here in Greenwater. Yes, important things"

"You are afraid because you once betrayed the Queen and now you are going to her palace. You are going to meet her father and her husband who is, coincidentally, the King of Castonia. You have a complicated relationship with powerful people and you are going to their home"

Sylvie nodded slowly. She lowered her head. It was out of character for her to be this tamed.

"Stop worrying. You want to at least see the city right?"

She again gave a slow nod.

"You can"t avoid her forever. Sooner or later you will have to face her again"

"I know sire"

"Keep your head up and stop calling me sire" Erik pouted "You can address me like how you used to"

Sylvie grinned after he made that statement. Erik felt relieved that he was able to at least reduce her anxiousness even if it meant that Sylvie would again start calling him that embarra.s.sing nickname.

"As you wish my handsome Marquis" She said, maintaining her grin.

A laughter erupted from the side and Erik remembered that his mother was also in the room.

**********

Arthur sat on a stool inside a merchant"s warehouse. The warehouse was designed to accommodate silk from the northern parts of Vanadis. Now the building was cleared. Tables and stools were placed inside. Food and beverages were also served to them. It felt like being in a tavern.

His mother brought him to a group of merchants and n.o.bles. The said people congregated here- in this warehouse. He was shocked upon knowing that they were planning to overthrow Lucia and let him become the ruler of Vanadis instead.

He must admit, he was a bit happy that some people want him to lead. At last people found him useful. He will become the richest man in the world if they succeed.

But he was tired of wrestling against Lucia for the crown. He was lucky enough that Timothy didn"t execute him that one time he betrayed them. He had learned that Timothy was scary especially when angry. And Luci she"s not a fool. It would feel odd if this plan of the n.o.bles and merchants succeed. It was Lucia and Timothy they were facing. He had experienced first-hand how terrifying those two are. He doesn"t want to be part of this suicidal plan of theirs. He was already living a peaceful life and then they are dragging him to this.

"What"s the plan again?" he asked the silk merchant beside him. The merchant was the owner of the warehouse. There were also dozens of people inside the warehouse merrily chatting.

The merchant leaned closer to Arthur "We strike during the ball. The mercenaries are already waiting. We will oust that harlot from the palace and that arrogant husband of hers. We must prevent Castonia from meddling with our trade affairs. Those brutes don"t know the intricacies of trading"

"Yeah lad. For profit! To maintain Vanadis" place as the leading nation in trade!" Another merchant said with glee. He looked at Arthur "Oh and yes. Of course. To restore the rightful King to his throne"

Arthur rolled his eyes. They don"t care about him at all. They were just using him to give legitimacy to their actions.

"I suggest you stop now. You don"t know how cunning my sister is. You will all have your heads hanging on spikes after the ball. I bet she already knows what you will do"

"Lacking faith aren"t we?" The silk merchant took a bite from the roasted rib he was holding "That may be right but we must fear nothing because powerful people are on our side"

"What? Powerful people?"

"Yes" The merchant reduced the volume of his voice "I was doubtful at first. I mean, what he showed us was out of the ordinary. It took me a whole day to snap out of my shock. He is a beast Prince Arthur. A literal one!"

The silk merchant proceeded to laugh. The door was then flung open.

"Oh I think he"s here"

Arthur looked towards the door. A big hairy man entered. He was grinning proudly as if he was showing off his muscular body. His steps reeked of ego and the atmosphere was filled with a suffocating virility.

The hairy man turned his look towards Arthur. He smiled widely.

"You. You"re the Prince right? Look at this prince"

The man"s arms shook. And then they swelled. Claws erupted from his fingers and the hairs grew into a fur. Soon his arms looked like that of a bear"s.

Arthur"s jaw dropped.