Year 1705
"Mother! Father!" Aric stomped into his parents' office, catching them both off guard. "What is the meaning of this!?" He holds up the newspaper, which has already talked about their engagement, ironically, before he or Elira knew about it.
"Calm down, Aric, we were going to tell you..." The Duchess stands up, rubbing her son's shoulders and patting his head.
"Don't touch me! How could you do this to me? Marrying me off to... to that witch!"
"Aric." The Duke said coldly and slowly, sending a shock through Aric's spine. "Selene, let go of him. Don't irritate him more than he is already." The Duchess sat back down at his words.
[Grah! Why do I have to marry some demon! From our rival family, nonetheless! All the while, Kaelith, KAELITH of all people, gets to marry Serenya! I literally wear my heart on a sleeve for her, and they thought KAELITH would be better!?]
"Aric. I understand you're frustrated. Listen to me, so am I. I want that Veylen blood to stay as far away as it can from our household. Surely that girl will be sent as a spy," The Duke added, interrupting his flow of thoughts.
"Then why would you accept something like this from those bitches!?" Aric broke out in rage once more.
"Language, mister," The Duchess spoke condescendingly, looking over her paperwork.
The Duke lets out a long sigh. "It wasn't us. A royal decree from the king was sent. It's the king's order. Not ours, nor Veylen's. I assume it's to get our conflict under control in some twisted way... or even worse, it's to weaken us. But I doubt the King would do that after we've landed in his favor."
Aric pushed his hands into his hair, deciding to give up and letting out a frustrated yell as he stormed out of the room. As he left, he bumped into Serenya, who had arrived to take lessons from the Duchess.
"Ah... Serenya... D-do you... need the Duchess, perchance?" His face was practically red, from rage and roses.
"Aric... yeah..."
"In there."
"Oh... O-okay. Thank you."
With that, Serenya departed for the office, where Aric could hear some small talk already beginning. As Aric began walking to his room, he noticed his brother walking in the adjacent hallway.
"Kaelith?" Aric called out.
"Yes, Aric, is that you?"
"Yeah, it is."
"What is it?"
"Your... um... Fian- Serenya is here."
"Oh. Ok, I see. Anything else?"
"Nuh... no... that was all."
"Are you alright, Aric? You seem a little off."
"Ugh... It's nothing. Don't remind me. My future's fucked. That's all I'll say."
"Uh huh...." Kaelith looked at his brother suspiciously as Aric departed for his room. "I'll just ask mother about it later."
Once inside his room, Aric crumpled against the wall. "I... I wanted to have my future with Serenya... Kaelith doesn't even like her that much... he never shows his emotions when he's around her..."
He placed his hands over his face. "What's so good about him that makes me the one who has to marry that... thing..." He peels his hands off, sighing.
"What about my future?"