Wear Tear and Rust

Zack didn’t know about this arranged marriage thing. Sure, the kingdom needed the money. And sure, they had plenty of land that it made it an equal give and take to combine one kingdom to another. But did it really have to be done this way? 

He wasn’t even sure who was going to rule the combined country, him or his….fiance? That was a weird thought. He didn’t think he’d be too great at ruling. Concentrating was just too hard, ya know? Sitting still and reading through things. He just wanted to get out there and help people with his own two hands. And he did that already. A lot.

Between helping out the guard when he could and just going out and ‘touring’ the kingdom. Helping people with their chores out in that Gongaga countryside was great. All that stuffy royal stuff not so much.

But here he was, adamantly refusing to be stuffed into his ‘royal’ garb and instead opting for something easier to move in. Still up to his parents standards in terms of looks but definitely okay to get dirty. Which he always did. He was sure he would’ve caved if his….fiance….hadn’t arrived and his parents gave up and hustled off to greet the other family.

With a roll of his eyes, he waved off his parents. Barely greeting his soon-to-be in-laws (that was really weird to say) and heading into the room he was told to. Man Cissnei was probably going to get a laugh out of this one. He strode into the chamber, stretching his arms high above his head as he did so.

“So….I guess we’re gettin’ married, huh?” He said. First words out of his mouth. Not even a greeting. Man was he really not meant to be a royal. He wasn’t too put out.

Isae of course had been dressed for the occasion. Someone, somewhere, had agonized upon what outfit the young bride to be would wear to meet her betrothed. But to her, it was just what was laid on her bed this morning after breakfast. She wore a high lace collar, a gown made of a deep blue velvet, with full skirts. Her long dark hair was tightly swept up on top of her head, adorned with pearl pins which stood out against her stark dark hair.

She felt a little ridiculously overdressed. 

Especially when she saw her fiance come through the door, himself in some sort of comfortable fancy wear. He looked nice, of course, but he definitely looked a lot more comfortable than she felt. 

She blanched a little, wondering if she looked stuck up. 

Isae didn’t want to have a bad first impression on her fiance upon first meeting. Quietly she looked down and averted her gaze. Suddenly, she felt very self conscious. This is what she got for letting her parents pick out what to wear. It was what she got for letting them decide everything. 

“I-I guess so.” 

She was able to speak thankfully. Though she wasn’t entirely sure what she was supposed to say. She walked closer to the man, her heals providing a small click, click, click against the marble floor. 

He felt a little underdressed and his bride-to-be looked so pretty in her own fancy wear. He wouldn’t give up being comfortable and being able to move for the fancy outfit his parents tried to foist on him, though.

Without really thinking about it, he started doing squats. “So.” He grunted a little bit with the effort of the workout. “How do you feel about all this? Being engaged before we even met?”

Of course her mother and father arranged this marriage. It was a marriage of convenience for their two kingdoms. One that would solidify trade and borders at least for the time of their marriage. Isae, herself, felt fairly neutral to the arrangement. At least it would get her outside of this Gods forsaken castle. These old walls were haunted but not by ghosts or ghouls but by expectations and lectures. 

Alright, and a couple of ghosts.

She sat silently in the carriage ride over, her hands folded neatly in her lap. Her mother and father were just as silent. Their family was not particularly known for their lively family conversation. Isae watched out the window as the towns and villages passed by in a blur. Leaving her alone with her thoughts.

She wondered what her fiance might be like. If he would be kind, or if he would be indifferent to her. She didn’t quite know which she preferred. She just hoped he wouldn’t be cruel. There was no telling what kind of person her parents had arranged for her, just that he had a good pedigree. 

He wasn’t even sure who was going to rule the combined country, him or his....fiance? That was a weird thought. He didn’t think he’d be too great at ruling. Concentrating was just too hard, ya know? Sitting still and reading through things. He just wanted to get out there and help people with his own two hands. And he did that already. A lot.

Between helping out the guard when he could and just going out and ‘touring’ the kingdom. Helping people with their chores out in that Gongaga countryside was great. All that stuffy royal stuff not so much.

But here he was, adamantly refusing to be stuffed into his ‘royal’ garb and instead opting for something easier to move in. Still up to his parents standards in terms of looks but definitely okay to get dirty. Which he always did. He was sure he would’ve caved if his....fiance....hadn’t arrived and his parents gave up and hustled off to greet the other family.

With a roll of his eyes, he waved off his parents. Barely greeting his soon-to-be in-laws (that was really weird to say) and heading into the room he was told to. Man Cissnei was probably going to get a laugh out of this one. He strode into the chamber, stretching his arms high above his head as he did so.