The captain's problem

The next day, the captain herself approached us at the guild.

"Well, well, I think someone's here for you," Ami grinned as she nudged my shoulder.

"Huh? What did I-"

"Don't jump to conclusions. Ami, I need to speak with you in private on a matter. Miss LaNorne... I guess she may be privy as well," the captain sighed.

Ami's grin morphed into a scowl as she got up out of her chair and headed to a back room. "So, gorilla, what embarrassment you want me to try covering up this time?" she growled once we all got comfortable on the couches.

The captain let out a low growl as she slammed a necklace down on the table. "Do you know what this means?"

"You got your hands on some rare gems?"

"No, this is an engagement gift."

Ami and I turned to face each other in shock.

"YOU GOT PROPOSED TO!? Well now I'm curious what gorilla-"

"Arranged marriage."

Ami's smile quickly vanished.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"LaNorne, you know the captain's full name?" Ami growled.

My eyes shifted back and forth. "Isn't it just, "The captain"?"

"Do not fault her, I deliberately hide my name as much as I can, but here, I believe I must come clean. My full name... is Shamir D' Ararat."

"Ararat? Like the province- WAIT! You're related to the duke that trades with Ova Sfongia!?" 

"Sadly yes, I am the only child of Duke Ham D' Ararat. As such, he's requiring that for the sake of the house, I marry an Ova Sfongian noble and produce an heir for him." 

My heart began to thump. 

"Fear not, I am a proud soldier of Blintz and pledge my life and well-being to ensuring it stands tall throughout eternity. Even if I am to wed a slimeball and never set foot in Blintz ever again, if it brings peace and prosperity to Blintz, I am willing and able to go the extra mile."  

"Badass incarnate right here!" 

Everyone turned to me. 

Oh... I said my thoughts out loud... again... 

"I appreciate your... support for me... Ahem, my father recently sent word to me that Duke Mannelig of Ova Sfongia has taken a fancy to me and wishes to wed me. As Duke Mannelig is a bishop in the Church of Sirupus and the lord of the territory directly bordering Blintz, angering him could lead to trade troubles, possibly even war. On that front, I'm willing to sacrifice my body to save Blintz. However, what has me hesitating is the timing of all this." 

"What do you mean?" Ami grumbled. 

"The list Talia provided us. Most of the names listed are of people from Ararat province. We've already made our move and arrested quite a few, which is why I have reason to suspect my father might be staging this marriage to try and derail the investigation." 

"Have the ones you've captured implicated him?" 

"Not explicitly, but given what they're saying, there's reason to believe my father is plotting to fully secede Ararat province from Blintz to join Ova Sfongia. Sadly, we lack the evidence and can't simply arrest him on suspicion alone." 

"Just have him chug a cool blue." 

"Commander Gabriel claims to have administered him one, and that he is clean, but I don't trust that man." 

"Why's that?" I asked. 

"Because he's the son of the Ararat family butler. Not to mention, him becoming commander of Ararat province was a demand by my father in order to appease him for keeping up ties with Ova Sfongia. That said, Gabriel is quite strong, mind you, so it's not as if he was purely a political appointee." 

"So you're saying there's a whole province worth of corrupt knights?" 

"Considering most are loyalists to my father, yes. Now getting back to the main topic, I'm told the wedding is to be held in 3 days at the Ararat estate in Impade. However, I'm to head home the day after tomorrow for a ball, where my engagement will be formally announced. My instincts refuse to accept that this is normal behavior." 

"I'll say. Even if you get married, the investigation continues, so what's the point?" Ami scowled. 

"Perhaps my father's health has worsened to the point where he wants to wed me to ensure house Ararat survives." 

"Then why are you even agreeing to get married? You ran away from home and renounced your title solely because you wanted to serve the kingdom and not your house."

"Um... What exactly are you talking about?" I nervously asked. 

"My father is a sympathizer of Ova Sfongia, and even embraces the Church of Sirupus openly. My grandfather, the previous Duke Ararat, was furious about this and cursed my father so that he'd only bare a single heir. As such, when I was born, he tried to mold me in his image, but my heart belonged to Blintz, so when I came of age, I fled my house for Traditsye and joined the knights. My father naturally found out, but was powerless to stop me. Especially after I became one of Blintz's most elite warriors." 

I slowly nodded as I began to digest things. 

"So Ararat's compromised, and daddy's throwing a ball and wedding the next day. What's the plan then?" Ami snarled. 

"That's why I'm approaching you. I believe my father is up to something, but I don't want to just return alone or ignore him all together," the captain frowned. 

"Well hate to disappoint, but the only thing I can think of is just hauling your daddy and Gabriel here and questioning them ourselves." 

Just then, Slavena entered the room. "Ami, you got a letter," she smiled as she walked up to Ami and handed her a letter. 

Ami's gaze narrowed as she opened the envelope and stared at the note inside. "Looks like I might've figured it out. Shamir, tell it to me straight; how often has your father referred to me by name?"

The captain cocked her head in confusion. "As in heaping praises or discussing your inventions?"

"No, I mean does he refer to me by first name only?" 

"Sorry, I don't follow." 

"Read the letter aloud." 

The captain raised an eyebrow as she took hold of the letter. "'Dearest Ami, great witch of the amethyst. You are hereby invited by authority of Duke Ham D' Ararat to an upcoming ball at the Ararat estate in 2 night's time. We shall send a commander of the knights to retrieve you the day of the ball. He shall arrive at the guild in Traditsye at nightfall. We look forward to your presence at our esteemed ball'. I don't see what the issue is." 

"Damn gorilla. Are you also expected to be picked up by Gabriel?"

"Yes, I was told at nightfall... at the guild..." 

My eyes widened as I caught on. "It's a trap." 

"Bingo. It takes about 5 to 6 hours to get from here to Impade where the Ararat estate is, unless of course we fly. That's why they're just sending Gabriel, but probably to ensure we actually come since I'm capable of flying myself. That means both me and Shamir have to be present. Pft, Hahahaha! Wow, I can't believe I actually get a chance to redeem myself!" 

I frowned as Ami's fist began to tremble. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, this isn't fear, it's excitement... LaNorne, we're gonna humiliate Pompi."