Engagement

Again, the princess looked at me oddly. “Do I truly mean so little to you that you forgot?”

“No, I…” I pressed my hand to my forehead. Engaged? To the princess of a fantasy world? This was all getting to be too much. I had thought this escapade to another world would be a fun adventure. Well, I supposed this was a kind of an adventure too, but one that I felt very unprepared to be in. Why couldn’t I be slaying dragons and defeating necromancers or something?

Still, she was waiting for an answer, and daydreaming about a different fantasy world wouldn’t accomplish anything. I needed more information, but I couldn’t appear too uninformed. “Ah, well…remember that fall I took a few days ago? When you entered my lab to find me on the floor?” She nodded. “Well, I think I must have hit my head. Some things I ought to know are, er, hazy.”

“Perhaps you better see a doctor then. Or give yourself one of your nasty potions.”

I couldn’t have that. “No need for that. Just…remind me. How did we, um, end up…”

She shook her head. “Alchemist, you weren’t lying that day a year ago when you said there’s nothing in your head but alchemy. You really don’t remember?”

“No.”

“In exchange for the Potion of Youth you brew for him, my grandfather the king took you and your cousin in and promised you my hand in marriage.” Her voice turned bitter. “I always knew I’d be married off for political reasons, but to a scrawny, unbearable little—”

“I’m sorry about that,” I said, cutting her off before she could finish her insult. “I was young and stupid and I wasn’t thinking of your feelings.” Man, it felt weird to apologize for something I had no memory of. “Of course you would be upset to be forced to marry a man you barely know.” I paused for a beat. “And, well, I think I haven’t been the best fiancée this past year, either.”

She chuckled. “You were the worst.”

“Yeah…sorry.” In my original world, I had tended to get so caught up in whatever new project interested me that I would exclude everything and everyone else. For example, the machine that had sent me here was the latest hobby. And if the alchemist who had the same body as me was even the a little like that, I could imagine that would just make things harder for the princess.

As I was lost in thought, the dogman, who had impassively watched our discussion, touched the princess’ hand, causing her to shrug. “I suppose I ought to put a good face on it," she said with practiced calm. "There’s nothing to be done at this point.”

“Yes, there is!”

She was startled by my suddenly forceful words. “Whatever do you mean?”

“Isn’t the answer obvious?” She shook her head. “We’ll break off the engagement.”

Her mouth fell open. “Do you…no longer want me?”

“No, that’s not it, it’s just…” This was frustrating. These people in this world had such a different perspective on love and marriage; what was intuitive to me seemed odd to her. “We aren’t in love; like you said, we barely know each other. There’s no reason we should be married. So let’s break it off.”

She seemed stunned, barely unable to form sentences. “Are…are you sure, alchemist? You would give up all the influence that comes with marriage to the princess, just like that?”

“Yes!” I had to keep repeating to myself: different perspectives, different backgrounds. I knew in olden times and in fantasy worlds marriage was often purely political, but with my modern background I couldn't just accept that.

To my surprise, her eyes teared up, but they were tears of joy. She flung her arms around me in a genuinely happy embrace. “Thank you, alchemist, thank you!” She turned to her dogman attendant, who had been waiting patiently the whole time. “Gaz, go tell my grandfather that I and the court alchemist wish to speak with him at once.” The dogman nodded and ran off.

Even if it was my idea, it was a bit awkward to see her so happy to break up with me. To lighten the mood, I commented “so…now that you’re free, is there a man you do want to marry?”

I regretted the words almost as soon as I said them—like I had said, we barely knew each other so this was none of my business—but she seemed to take it in stride. “No, not now. And to tell the truth, alchemist, I don’t intend on marrying, even if I do fall in love with a man.”

I nodded sagely. A stereotypical rebellious princess archetype; staple of the fantasy world.

She continued “because I intend to become the greatest warrior in the kingdom. And when I do, I know I may very well die by the sword. I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving behind a husband and children in grief. Better to not make those attachments at all.”

Well. Not exactly the standard rebellious princess, then. I didn’t really know how to respond to that, so I changed the subject. “Oh, I do have one request,” I said.

“Yes?”

“Enough with the alchemist this and alchemist that. My name is Rei. Call me Rei.”

“I can’t do that. It wouldn’t be proper to address the court alchemist by his given name in public.”

“Fine. In private then.”

She smiled playfully. “How odd, that you assume we will spend time together in private even though we are no longer engaged.” She extended her hand. “If I’m to do this, please call me by my name as well. Arnya.”

“It’s good to meet you, Arnya.” I took her offered hand and shook it.

“It’s good to meet you too, Rei.” As we released the handshake, Arnya said “You really have changed.”

“Like I said, I feel like a new man.”

Her green hair blew in a sudden gust of wind. As she smiled fondly, I began to think that this particular fantasy world might not be too bad after all.