II: A Strange Arrangement

All I wanted was to go home after witnessing that horrible accident. But even though I rescued the gods damn princess of Steylia, I was treated like a criminal and forced into the back of a royal car. Also, I hit my head on the roof when the mean lady tossed me in the vehicle. That's neither here nor there but you can bet your ass I was bitter about it.

Pain aside, I'd been stuck in that car for nearly an hour. Given the nature of the situation, the roads had been cleared, and the only other cars on the road were the other royal vehicles behind and in front that comprised a small convoy. In that time, we had exited my home city of Valport and crossed over from the province of Fabrea to Freywich, also known as "Old Steylia." The change in scenery was quite drastic, with the tall, modern skyscrapers disappearing from the skyline in favor of cobblestone roads and traditional style buildings. It was like going back in time to a place I couldn't give any less of a shit about.

I should also mention that the entire ride had been uncomfortably quiet up to that point. Quiet might be my thing, but not the kind of quiet that involved being stared at the entire time by a man in black as if I were some kind of terrorist. After all, I'm the one who was there against my will!

BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ

My phone vibrated furiously in my pocket, but the agent sitting next to me grabbed my arm tightly before I could check why. I glanced at him, and he simply shook his head at me before releasing me from his grasp.

Yeah, I'm about to be killed, aren't I?

We entered the capital city of Alofast, and the grand castle quickly came into view. It looked as though it was constructed of pure light with the way it shined against the starry sky.

Gorgeous? Yes. Pompous? Absolutely.

Our convoy of royal vehicles crossed over the main bridge, and we descended a spiral ramp leading down below the castle. In a short while, we reached an underground garage and parked all the cars, including the one I was in. The agent beside me exited the car and rounded it, coming to my door and pulling it open before yanking me outside.

"Start walking." He and another agent ushered me through a metal door that led to a stairwell.

My family had dragged me to Old Steylia on vacation a few times as a kid to go see the castle, but we were never allowed inside. So, it was a bit jarring to see a more modern parking area beneath the traditional castle, but not unexpected. Lots of the places around the area likely weren't as old school as they appeared on the outside.

"Up the stairs." I did as I was asked until he grabbed hold of my shoulder at one of the landings. "Okay, through here."

Stop touching me.

That door led me inside the castle this time. The area in which I emerged appeared to be some kind of guard station. Magic rods, staffs, swords, crossbows, and other weapons lined the walls, as well as computers and a myriad of screens playing security feeds from both inside and around the castle. A sweet and bitter scent emanated from a coffee machine in the corner of the room as more men and women in black suits and sunglasses surrounded the device, chatting away. Their attention was drawn to me the second I entered the room.

Nothing to see here, clones.

"Let them know we're bringing him in now," the agent beside me ordered the others. A few of them mumbled something into their radios in response.

He kept me moving by obnoxiously nudging me forward with his shoulder, eventually pushing me out of the station and into the halls of the castle. Everywhere I looked, red, white, and gold surrounded me. Elaborate, red carpets? Check. Glistening white floors, handrails, and walls? Yep. Ornate, gold trim to frame it all? Of course. Additionally, every few steps, some kind of painting, sculpture, or statue greeted me.

It was a house of royalty, that's for sure. I just felt bad for the poor soul in charge of cleaning the ceilings in the place. That seemed like something that could qualify as its own extreme sport, even if you used magic to do it. But honestly, who cared about that? I was likely about to be executed for absolutely nothing, and those were my final thoughts? I really was far gone.

My long stroll through the halls finally ended in front of a giant pair of double doors. Two guards slowly pulled them open, and the agent shoved me inside. The doors closed behind me, and, thankfully, that handsy assclown stayed outside the threshold this time.

I hope he trips going back down that gods forsaken stairwell.

"Bow!" a woman's stern voice commanded, shocking me back to attention.

"What?"

I was so wrapped up in my frustration that I hadn't even realized that scumbag pushed me into the throne room, of all places.

"I said bow!" the aggressive woman barked again.

"Easy now, Helena," a deep, warm, male voice hums through a chuckle. "Can't you tell he's confused? Bring him closer."

The woman bowed her head and said, "yes, your Majesty." She took me by the arm and released me right in the center of the room.

My eyes fell upon several things at once. Three thrones sat atop a platform with stairs bookending each side. Much like the rest of the castle, each throne individually represented the colors red, white, and gold.

The leftmost throne was pearl white, engraved with gorgeous carvings of Elaris, the Goddess of Knowledge. The rightmost throne was a shining, crimson red, and engraved with carvings of Roxtris, the Goddess of Vengeance. Finally, the center throne was solid gold, engraved with carvings of Azotl, the God of Battle. The platform that held up these thrones was covered in a breathtaking mural depicting Idos, the God of Prosperity carrying the thrones above him on his back.

As spectacular as the designs in the room were, though, what captured my attention the most was sitting on the pearl white throne. Against all logic, there, atop that magnificent chair, sat a girl wearing a pristine white and pink dress. Her legs were crossed, and her hands lay rested upon one another in her lap. Golden hair flowed down her torso while a jeweled crown rested on her head. Her jade green eyes stared down at me disapprovingly and her pale pink lips pouted in displeasure.

It was the same princess I had saved just an hour and a half prior. Somehow, there wasn't a hint of injury upon her perfect skin. But what was with that glare she was giving me? If you ask me, that wasn't any way to look at the person who just saved her life.

Damn royals.

My eyes jumped past the middle throne to the crimson one beside it. A long, midnight blue dress covered an equally long pair of legs that hung over the edge of the seat, meeting the platform beneath it at the tip of black high heels. The woman wearing the dress covered in a black, dreamlily pattern also had blonde hair, tied elegantly in a fancy updo and complimented by a grand, silver crown. Her eyes were ocean blue, and they too glared down at me, but not only with mere disapproval, but also outright disgust.

Grr.

Finally, my eyes drifted to the golden throne in the center. Sitting in the chair was the man who had ordered me to the middle of the room. He wore a majestic red and black robe, while an impressive, full, beard adorned his face. Short, reddish-brown hair resided neatly beneath a crown grander than the other two and more gold than the throne beneath him. Creases like faults in the ground lined his forehead, and his eyes were the same jade as the princess. But unlike her eyes that radiated disapproval, his gaze carried an air of amusement.

"Tell me, what is your name, boy?" the man asked.

"Shinsuke Watanabe."

"Shinsuke, hm? That's a fine name." He stroked his beard and nodded. "I am the King of Steylia, Immanuel von Eisenhardt. It's a pleasure to meet you."

I wasn't anywhere near a fan of the royal family, but I have to admit that I was taken aback by the king's behavior. Any idiot in the world would know who he was, yet he took the time to introduce himself like an ordinary person. It was...bizarre.

Against my will, I found myself bowing. For some reason, this drew hearty laughter from the king. "That isn't necessary, young man. Not after what you've done tonight. This is my wife, the Queen of Steylia, Luitgard von Eisenhardt. And, of course, this is my daughter, Princess Cynthia Rose von Eisenhardt."

My gaze scanned Cynthia again from the tip of her heels to the crown on her head. From her toes to her golden bangs, not a single sign of injury existed. The king must've noted my reaction, because yet another laugh came booming from his throat.

"You're wondering how she's in healthy condition, aren't you?" He patted Cynthia's shoulder with his large paw of a hand. "We have the best healers in all the kingdom, dare I say the world. Both my daughter and the driver you pulled from the wreckage were right as rain in no more than three minutes."

I knew the royal family had access to superior health care, but it was staggering to see a girl who had been a bloody, unconscious heap of dead weight in my arms no more than an hour and a half ago now sitting on her throne, looking to be in better shape than yours truly.

"Hm, were you hurt during the ordeal, son?" he asked.

"Oh, uh, just my hands," I replied, holding out my palms which I had cut crawling over the glass shards.

"And you weren't treated?" the king asked, anger rising in his tone. He turned his attention to the woman who had led me by the arm. "Helena, fetch a healer and tell them that this boy's wounds are to be treated immediately!"

"Right away, your Majesty!" she replied. A hasty exit from the room followed.

Whoa.

"I'm sorry about that," he said, shaking his head. "Apparently, there is much incompetence I need to address. From the worthless police who neglected to do their jobs, to my staff who did not see fit to tend to your wounds, there will be many without a job come tomorrow morning, I assure you that."

"Oh..."

The doors swung open, and the lady returned with a man in a white cloak and gold trim. He hovered his palms over mine, and a pair of small, translucent orbs appeared. In seconds, my cuts and scrapes were gone. He turned to the king and bowed before the woman led him back outside the doors.

"Good as new?" the king chuckled. "Now then, from the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you, Shinsuke Watanabe, for saving my daughter's life. Truly, had it not been for your act of selflessness and bravery, I would have lost my precious baby girl."

"You're welcome, uh, your Majesty."

This was all a bit much, I thought. Yes, I had saved the princess' life, but did they need to kidnap me in the middle of the night just to say thank you? The whole spectacle could have waited until the morning, but I wasn't about to tell the King of Steylia that I'd have preferred sleep over accepting his gratitude.

"Isn't there something you'd like to say as well, Cynthia?" the king asked the blonde princess beside him.

"Yes... thank you," she said. The way she said it was less than enthusiastic.

"Please, Shinsuke, look at my daughter. Cynthia, please look at Shinsuke."

I obeyed the king, and so did she, allowing our eyes to meet in awkward fashion. Her expression was still quite unpleasant.

"Shinsuke, Cynthia, it is with great pride that I congratulate the two of you on your engagement!"

"Our what?!" Cynthia and I cried in unison. She shot up out of her throne as she expressed her confusion.

"Cynthia, sit. You are well aware of the terms of the White Knight Contract by now. I don't know why you are acting surprised."

"I'm sorry, the what?!" I interjected, my voice louder than I think it'd ever been.

"You don't know it?" the king replied, puzzled. "Do they not teach this stuff to the children of the kingdom anymore?"

"Father, that stupid law is outdated and hasn't been relevant in two-hundred years. Of course they aren't teaching it!"

"Can someone please tell me what law we're talking about here?" I urged.

The king cleared his throat and began to explain. "The White Knight Contract declares that any individual that saves the princess' life during a time of crisis shall be granted her hand in marriage as reward for their courageous efforts and as recognition of their worthiness of her hand. You, Shinsuke Watanabe, have proven your worthiness of my daughter's hand in marriage with your valiant actions this evening."

"But father—"

"Silence, Cynthia! And sit down, I won't tell you again."

The princess dropped down onto her throne with her arms crossed, wearing a furious expression.

"Tradition must be upheld at any cost," the queen said, speaking for the first time. "But really, now. The boy resembles Satan."

"Luitgard, where are your manners!"

"Look at his eyes and tell me I'm wrong." Her tone was laced with disgust.

"This is the boy who saved our beloved daughter's life, shouldn't you show him a bit more gratitude?"

"Yes, I am grateful for his actions. Especially because our foolish daughter should not have taken a detour home without our blessing." She paused to glare at Cynthia who turned her face sheepishly. "However, just look at him. Even without his horrible eyes, the boy is skinny as a rail, wears a collar like that of an untrained mutt, and has effeminate hair and stature. Is this truly the boy your want to entrust our daughter to?"

What a lovely woman.

"I understand your concerns," the king said. "But this boy has already proven his worth, and it is settled law."

"An unfortunate truth," the queen agreed.

"Is anyone going to ask what I think?" I cried in a fashion more agitated than one would likely recommend.

"Come again?" asked the king.

I pointed at the princess and said, "what about her? She clearly doesn't want this, and neither do I!"

Cynthia flashed a look of surprise at me but nodded vigorously in agreement. "That law makes no sense anymore! We're in a time of peace, father. Why would you enforce it?"

"Besides," I added. "I also pulled her driver out of that wreck, are you gonna make me marry that guy too?!"

"Silence, both of you!" the king yelled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Helena, bring the rings at once."

"Yes, your Majesty!"

Cynthia and I traded terrified glances as the woman rushed across the room to retrieve a small, black box. She first scurried back to the center of the room and placed a ring in my hand, then made her way up the stairs and placed another ring in Cynthia's palm.

"Bring Shinsuke up here," the king ordered. Helena obliged and positioned me before Cynthia. "Now, place the rings on each other's fingers."

"But—"

"Now!"

At the risk of drawing the king's ire even further, I took Cynthia's hand in mine and slipped the silver ring onto her finger. She took my hand in hers and did the same.

"Good," the king said. "Now, it's been quite a long evening for all of us. The two of you are exhausted and not thinking clearly. Shinsuke, a room has been prepared for you, Helena will take you to it. Cynthia, let the servants take you to your room and get some sleep. Tomorrow, the two of you will have breakfast in the garden and get to know one another."

Yes, after we have been forced into engagement, we will get to know each other. Makes perfect sense.

"Come on, this way," Helena said, guiding me out of the throne room.

In the most handsy way possible, of course, I was ushered through the halls and into a spacious bedroom with a giant bed and regal decoration everywhere the eye could see. My phone was going crazy in my pocket again, but when I tried to retrieve it, Helena snatched if from my grasp.

"No phone until the king gives his blessing."

Oh.

She pointed out the pajamas in my size neatly folded on the large bed's fluffy, plentiful blankets and stepped out of the room. With no other choice, I took off my clothes and slipped into the pajamas. They were cozy, but they weren't mine.

Fatigue, both mental and physical, rapidly set in. I was already tired back at home, but adrenaline had entered my veins multiple times throughout the night, and it was taking its toll. The forced, unpleasant social interactions and space invasion didn't help either.

I crawled into the unbelievably comfortable bed and held my hand up above my face, examining the engagement ring that had been forced upon my finger.

"I'm so screwed," I whined through a yawn.

As I drifted into the darkness of my eyelids, I thought of those innocent days of nursing a pudding cup, wrapped in warm blankets. How could they feel so far away when they were there just hours ago? Somehow, I was closer to having breakfast with a princess than I was to my ideal life, and that fact made me pray for death to take me before I could open my eyes ever again.