"Galcolian troops," the messenger relayed the information with a rather interested tone. "With the princess."

Narishian sniffed idly and looked toward the window nearby, his hands behind his back. "... I didn't expect to see them back here, ever."

Myrissa waved one hand from her spot on the throne. One leg crossed elegantly over the other as she looked back at the messenger. "Let them make their way here. We'll see what they have to say. After all, as much of a stick in the mud as King Josef is, that king isn't an idiot. He knows full well that we are more than prepared to go to war--and win."

The queen lifted one hand up, resting her cheek in her nimble fingers. Her silvery eyes trailed the man as he dipped his head and left to return the message to the captains.

"Prince?" The older red-headed man prompted quietly, touching Nolian's shoulder lightly, "are you okay?"

The young man's faded blue eyes trailed over toward the window and then up toward Narishian's gaze. A small pit opened up in his stomach as he shook his head, tossing creamy blond hair.

"What's wrong?" Narishian knelt down in front of his smaller throne, keeping the young man's hands in his own.

"I..." he hesitated and shook his head, "I don't want to go back," Nolian finally whispered with a trembling tone. "I don't want to go back there, I don't want to see her--I know what they think of me."

"Oh, my boy, my prince," Narishian shook his head, standing up to gather him into his arms again, "you won't be alone. I'm sending Captain Cyrus with you, he's a Messenger--which means no matter how far away he is, he can always send me a message--and I'll hear it."

Nolian's arms slowly lifted up, embracing the man. "What about you?"

"I will be here," Narishian responded gently. "But we will visit on occasion to discuss... treaties and the legal side of things. You don't have to worry about that," one hand ran through his hair, "just be strong, be yourself and don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Nolian's head lowered in a brief nod as he took his seat again as the guard mentioned that they were nearing the throne room.

Kayeni made sure not to show any of her feelings on her face. Here, the Faesian court would pounce on even the briefest weakness, especially after what happened last time. She couldn’t afford to make a single mistake - her father would most definitely not like it if she did.

She was escorted, alongside the captain of the guard that had accompanied her - really, she should learn their names before she forgot - into the Faesian throne room.

It looked practically the same as it had when she was shown into here a week or so ago. Red and black hung off everything, and the Queen still sat on her throne.

With one major difference. This time, Nolian was here, and sitting on what looked like a slightly hastily improvised chair next to them. Grand, red, black - but still looking a bit hasty. Kayeni swallowed every single thought that arose in her at the sight of Nolian, being treated like this. Oh no, this was most definitely not what she would have thought might have occurred because he ran away. Nolian accidentally freezing over in some inn, she might have guessed. But being treated like a royal in the Faesian court?

Now, that was something she didn’t expect.

“Your majesty,” Kayeni said, bowing slightly. Awaiting what the queen might say to her being here so soon after she left.

Myrissa tipped her head in return. One of her hands reaching over to set on the top of Nolian's throne--a silent signal that she was claiming the young man in front of the Galcolian envoy. That was her heir and she was letting them know exactly and without any words.

Narishian--in true Narishian fashion--stood at the other side of the thrones. He looked onward with no real emotion in his gaze--just emotionless. He seemed almost like a statue, aside from the fact that his blood red gaze swiveled around from side to side.

Myrissa tilted her head to the side, regarding the princess for a long moment before she finally spoke. "I assume that you remember well the details of my last decree concerning Galcolia and its occupants," her voice held no real emotion for most of her sentence. It wasn't until she tipped her head forward that it changed.

"I assume that, since you are here, you have come to rectify what was done wrong," Myrissa's voice lifted in the faintest hint of amusement and authority, "and accept my terms."

She stated the last bit--mostly out of a show of her own power. The problem with Myrissa wasn't the fact that she was slightly unhinged, it wasn't that she had gained the throne by her own force and strength--it was the fact that the knew exactly how powerful she was and used it against others.

Aside from Narishian--the only man and person who had gotten close enough to kill her. Not once, not twice--but five separate times. Instead, they formed an unlikely alliance and, now, of course, a blossoming romance.

The queen watched the young woman for a long silent minute as she stood straight up again and nodded stiffly. Though the queen remained rather still and unmoving herself as Kayeni relayed the information.

It was at least a minute or two--the woman let the princess stew in her emotions and discomfort--before her hand finally moved away from her cheek and toward Narishian.

"Your father," Narishian echoed dryly, "sent you here. I have no doubt that King Josef is a smart man, he knows fully that Galcolia is not fit to meet the standards of war that Faesia would bring."

He took in a deep breath and let it out for a moment or two.

"But I sense no sincerity behind your words yet," Narishian continued with a rather dry tone, "you are here because you were told to be here. Princess Kayeni Maddox, you are a crowned heir and unfortunately, I do not think you truly understand what that means."

Nolian's head whipped around to look at Narishian, his faded blue eyes wide with surprise. They were allowed to say that?! To her face?!

Myrissa dipped her head lightly. "I do agree," she said gently. "Kayeni, I had hoped to see you here because you had sent yourself to correct your own actions. To have your father sending you... means nothing. It means that you have no remorse and I'd go as far as to assume that if you had the chance, you wouldn't have ever come back. What does that say to your kingdom? Your country? What kind of person are you giving your people right now?"

Myrissa shook her head lightly and looked over toward Narishian. The two stood up and stepped into a different room, likely to discuss amongst each other what was to happen next.

Nolian fidgeted for a moment or two before looking back at Kayeni. There was a hard light in his faded blue eyes. "You promise you've changed?" He prompted finally, emboldened by the sharpness and bluntness of his queen and advisor. "I want to know you've changed for the better, Princess."

His expression soured briefly.

"I haven't forgotten what you said about me," Nolian added tartly, standing up from the throne to walk down the steps and stand in front of her. His faded blue gaze studied her expression and face.

"I want to know that you want this," he stated firmly, "not that you're doing this because you have to--again."

He hadn't forgotten what she had said--then doubled down on--and then repeated yet again. She had insisted--vehemently--that he was just some lying criminal and couldn't be trusted. He remembered those words and how his heart had twisted in his chest. How... it had hurt. He knew he wasn't any of those things but he wanted to hear it from her.

"I can leave at any time," Nolian added, "without an envoy following me. So I want to know I'm not going to be wasting my time."

Kayeni was wound so tight it honestly felt like a miracle she hadn’t snapped yet. But each word Nolian spoke - almost carelessly - had a much bigger meaning than he probably thought it did.

That was, unless somehow in the weeks or so he’d been away, he somehow managed to learn every single subtlety and nicety that the court had. Which Kayeni doubted, honestly, as the Faesian court felt more convoluted than even the Galcolian. So it was more of a lucky jab that Nolian had managed to say such words - they had meaning, deeper than what he thought.

But the first thought that she had had was… where had he been when she had been here last time? She didn’t know Nolian had overheard everything. This was… news to her.

And probably contributed to his current attitude. While usually she couldn’t have cared less about it, she did now. She hadn’t realized Nolian had overheard them, and - Kayeni could probably reflect now that might have contributed to the queen’s reaction.
But at least she could have given some indication that he was there. She honestly… probably wouldn’t have said as much if she had known.
Kayeni felt a bit of a stab of guilt at the thought. Nolian had overheard everything she had said last time, and was probably out for revenge.

Really, Kayeni still wanted to either snap, or get the heck out of there. But too much rode on this. And while she needed Nolian to be on her side, she hadn’t anticipated that he’d overheard everything.

While she wanted to do many things, they were all hidden behind her little shield protecting the outside world from her emotions - and she’d keep that shield up for as long as she could if it meant she could leave here with her job accomplished.

But what did she want?

Nolian’s posed question of what she wanted stood for a lot. Well, for one, she wanted to ideally get out of this kingdom as fast as her horse - it was still the horse that Nolian had picked out for her, as the stable hands seemed to think that was “hers” of sorts now - but she wanted many things.

Really, getting Nolian back was one of them. She didn't entirely want him as a suitor - but more for the motivation that her father would absolutely murder her if she failed at this.

But it was motivation enough for her to actually want Nolian back. Even if it was permanent, she’d take having to deal with Nolian permanently over her father’s wrath if she failed at this task any day.

And then after that?

She’d have to practically keep Nolian, and deal with his diplomatic disasters. But, if he was as special as her father and Henry had told her, according to her father, it’d be worth it. Somehow. Even if she hated it every single step of the way, it’d eventually convolute itself to be worth it.

But oh, how she hated that she had to make decisions for her entire future right now. Unlike earlier, it wasn’t like she could just get rid of him if she had to. The Faesians would doubtlessly do something about it if she went back on her word. She had to actually commit, and it’d remain in place as long as the Faesians wanted.

Which honestly might be forever. Kayeni didn’t know. But definitely for a long time - even if it was only to spite her. Because the Faesians knew and abused the right that they really could have crushed Galcolia if they wanted to.

So she had no choice. She wasn’t necessarily doing it because she had to - there was literally no other alternative.

But coming clean wasn't an option here - it was a necessity. Nolian's trust with her was practically nothing - even she could see that. Even with her shield, she couldn't exactly stay like this forever. She could most certainly try - that didn't necessarily mean she could.

So she had to say something. Right now. And most definitely before the Faesians came back from their discussion chamber.

"I don't know." Kayeni's brain couldn't think of anything else. "I... I never exactly wanted the suitorship in the first place." She looked away from Nolian. "All of this was forced on me before I even had a chance to understand it. And now, this - deal - I need to make with your guardians... it's properly permanent this time."

There. She needed to tell Nolian something that wouldn't make him leave at the first opportunity? He'd get what she felt.

"And my father will metaphorically kill me if I go back without you." Probably an even bigger reason for her attitude - she simply couldn't go back without Nolian. "He wants you back in Galcolia, and if it means that it has to be done this way, he's willing to pay the price." Kayeni hesitated, not entirely wanting to say more. But she was too far gone down the line now - saying nothing still wasn't an available option. "I just... can't leave Faesia without you, because I don't want to face what my father wil think. But it's not like I'm completely certain I want this suitorship either!" Her voice had inadvertedly rose throughout, and it was only at the point that she realized. Thank god that the two Faesian rulers hadn't heard it - they were still behind closed doors, and hopefully they wouldn't be out anytime soon.

She continued, a bit quieter. "So it's not like I have a choice. And this suitorship is permanent. It's not like the one we organized a month ago, where I still had some breathing room. Once the deal is signed, it's permanent - and I know there's no going back against the Faesians."

Was that truth enough? Kayeni honestly didn't know. She didn't know many things about how Nolian would respond to her statements.

But she needed his willingness to go along - even if it was only a thread. She just couldn't leave without him - and if it meant she had to actually say what she couldn't say, so be it.

Nolian's faded blue eyes studied the way Kayeni looked. She was dressed in Galcolian white and blue, in noble attire. She looked tight, wound up like a string. Her shoulders up and tight, her expression almost guarded but not well enough to hide her emotions. The uncomfortable look in her eyes and the short and sharp panic behind them when he had said that he had heard her the last time she was there.

There was realization behind her but the main emotion was wound tight, like a deer waiting to run off in the forest. There were gears turning in her head as she considered the question he had posed.

Finally, after a few minutes, Kayeni spoke. Nolian stepped back, listening wordlessly to her entire words. He wasn't going to interrupt her at all. He wanted to hear everything she had to say.

So she started off we telling the truth--her truth of course. It wasn't fully informed and clearly panicked and--much to his own chagrin--felt... childish. Narishian and Myrissa had talked to him a lot over the few days. He had learned what it was like in the Faesian courts, that he actually did have a choice in the matter. She did too but she didn't realize quite how she did.

Nolian exhaled quietly and lowered his shoulders before turning around to walk back up the stairs. His hands lifted up in front of him, bouncing as he collected his thoughts. Just like Narishian taught him. Collect his thoughts, think about what he was going to say and say it well.

"I think," Nolian said slowly as he turned around to look back at her. He stood in front of his throne--his seat--as he looked back at the princess. "I think I figured out that you didn't want this from the beginning. But what I thought was that we were going to make it work for the good of the kingdom. That even if we didn't entirely love each other, we'd work together. I left because I didn't get respect. I got snapped at, I was put down, I was ridiculed. Narishian has taught me that I did the right thing. I didn't deserve that at all--especially with what I am. I am an Enhancer," Nolian spoke the title with pride. "I am... I can help people! I help people with magic relics, with their abilities, with so much!"

He settled down again with a loose noise. "I'm sure that King Josef would like me back in Galcolia for one reason or another. While I don't understand it yet, I expect that I will learn why."

His expression shifted for a moment or two. "But I have a choice, Kayeni. It is not as permanent as you'd like to think. I'm not alone, I don't have to stay, I don't have to worry about whether or not it's going to work out."

His shoulders lifted, squared as he looked back at Kayeni. "Consider the suitorship... temporary in the meantime then. I will go with you to Galcolia again, we will figure out what all King Josef needs me to be there and then, once we solve that, we can figure out if we really should go through with the suitorship as a permanent route or if temporary was best."

His hands tucked in front of him.

"Thoughts?"