and it wasn’t passed on to one of her brothers since they were all still young.
“Because the sons could be young, yeah, I understand,” I told him.
“Not just because of their age, but also if they don’t have an heir.”
Oh!
“I see. But, what does that have to do with you being ‘kind of’ engaged?”
“Well, my father’s younger brother is the next potential king if things get to it, and it’s for all of our benefits if we marry our cousins.”
Excuse me?
“I’m sorry? Your cousins?”
“Yes, it’s not forbidden in my religion to marry your cousin.”
Oh!
And…Eww!
“That uncle of mine has a daughter named Talia. She’s appropriate for me to marry, her age I mean, and it’s an unspoken rule for us to get married.”
“Hmm…And what kind of benefits would you get from marrying each other?” I asked.
“If I become the next king, it’d mean that her son could be the next king along with her being the queen. If her father becomes the next king, it would mean that I’ll still rule a state for the rest of my life. It’s better than just having the title of being a prince.”
“That’s complicated,” I said.
He raised his eyebrows as if to say ‘Didn’t I tell you that?’ but said nothing.
“Marrying me … your chance of ruling is lower now, isn’t it?” I asked. I’d never give him an heir, but before anything, I wasn’t royal to keep him ruling a state.
He nodded with thin lips again. “I told you I’d do anything for my sister.”
It was my turn to nod. “It’s uh, …really kind of you,” I stated.
“I didn’t do it out of kindness.”
I nodded again in understanding, and then we lapsed into a few moments of silence before I asked, “Were you in love with her?” The question was going to choke me to death if I didn’t ask it, though my need to know the answer was a mystery to me.
The prince locked his eyes with mine for a second before he stood up and walked to the round table in the middle of the room, his fingers touched the flowers in the vase that was sitting on it, his back to me when he answered.
“I’d like to keep the answer to myself,” he said with his eyes on the flowers.
I chewed on my bottom lip some more. The answer was clear, he was in love with her, could still be, who knew.
I stood up and took a step towards him. “How long is ‘eventually’?” I asked him. I understood his reasons for wanting to wait, but honestly, I sort of didn’t care. It was their own drama and their own foolish rules that put them in this situation in the first place. Plus, if he divorced me soon, he could marry another and have that heir like he wanted, right? It’d be a win-win deal.
My chest tingled for some unidentified reason at the thought of him marrying another. I was lost as to what it could mean, but figured it might be something along the lines of hope or happiness.
Maybe …
I decided that escaping and fighting would mean more stress for me, and given how protected the women were in this country, I knew it would be near to impossible to get away from this palace, let alone the whole country. So I had to go along with what he saw as better for the both of us, even though my better would only come when I’m far, far away from this hell-hole.
“I’m not sure,” he said after he turned to face me. “We have to wait a decent amount of time before it seems like we’re struggling, then some time trying, then we can get the divorce without any problem.”
God!
“How long would this take?” I asked impatiently.
“A year, maybe.” He shrugged.
What. The. Heck?
“You’re not being serious, are you?” I asked with wide eyes.
“I think it’d be believable this way.”
“No way. Too long!”
“Eight months,” he huffed.
“One month.”
“Are you being serious? That’s not long enough at all.”
“Three.”
“Six months, no less.”
Too frigging long!
There was no way I was going to go along with this.
“Fine, I agree.” I lied.
“Good. And thank you.” he said. “Is there anything you need?”
“Yes.”
“Anything.” He offered.
“My things, I left them in that room we first settled in,” I told him.
“Clothes are what you need? I think there are enough clothes in here for you.”
“I still want my own. I need my cellphone and laptop, as well.”
He shook his head. “I can’t bring you those.”
“Why the heck not?”
“We’re supposed