“You’re naming her Duchess.”
“Yes. We live in a world that pits us women against each other as it is. From the moment she is born, royalty, nobility, polite company or commoner alike, and from the moment she debuts, she is told to find a husband who is better than all the other husbands out there. She is forced to compete on a tilted stage and to perform in every single aspect of her life. In her appearance, in her jewelry, in her clothes, in whom she loves—Yet, from my very first moment here, Miss Agatha welcomed me into her private circle, despite being very much enamored with your son, who I was to marry. She was never once cruelto me. She taught me games. She taught me names and that is important. Every part of who Agatha has been is important. I value kindness; I value resilience. She has both.”
There was rustling from the audience.
“That parchment elevates Miss Agatha into Oreian nobility, which givesyoueverything you require concerning the Treaty, Your Majesty. Political influence. Power. Protection.”
He stared at me. Then he looked at Agatha.
I opened my mouth to reply, but she spoke first, nervous. “I will agree to marry the Prince in your stead if you allow me to adjust the terms of this offer. What say you, Your Majesty?” she asked.
I shifted, surprised but Elías nodded, near imperceptibly.
“...State them,” I said.
She worked her jaw. “I am elevated to Duchess regardless of His Highness’s acceptance of the marriage. And, in exchange,should Chalke refuse my hand,House Adeline pulls their support from House Azarii altogether, and serves your name instead.”
I was stunned. My gaze flickered to Elías. Elías nodded again, subtle.
“Yes,” I said. “I accept. We’ll make the change in wording.”
The King scoffed. “You can’t just?—”
Then Agatha’s father rose fromhisseat, cautious, but intrigued or somewhere in between. “I think this is a very advantageous adjustment, Aggy. Yes.” He came and stood closer to her. “Ialsoagree to these terms, Your Majesty. Agatha marries Prince Sameer, or House Adeline serves Oreia.”
I lost a shaky breath. “T-Thank you, Mr. Adeline.”
He nodded, slowly, studying me. He inclined his head, neatly.
King Azarii narrowed his eyes.
I stood taller. “Your Majesty, accept my original offer. You gain a partner for your son who is willing to risk everything for him,andyou guarantee his undying happiness for as long as he may live. There is no better deal I could create.”
“My son’s undying happiness,” he repeated. He looked at Sam. Then Agatha. Then he was silent.
Sameer looked at me. His face softened. He stepped closer, sighing quietly. “Svana… I don’t deserve this.” He followed my gaze to his friend, then seemed to understand. A small smile warmed his face.“It’s not for me, is it?”he whispered.
Willem’s brows were set in caution, but he was focused. He looked through me like I was made of glass.
I barely parted my eyes from his, readdressing the King. “Within the Duchy of Farham is a plethora of natural resources, including the minerals inside the mountain. Your son’s marriage to my Duchess would grant Chalke direct access to those things, thus leveling the field in trade and commerce, not just political power. Farham is larger than Dawne, and it comes with the bonus of belonging to the woman His Highness has chosen for himself. You cannot tell me you don’t believe that King’s should choose for themselves.”
His Majesty was quiet. He watched us both, then looked over the scroll once more. “And what doyouget out of this?” he asked. “If your father taught me anything, it’s to ask that question. There’s always a fine print somewhere.”
“There’s no fine print, Your Majesty. I get out,” I said. I half-laughed. “I get out of a marriage I did not want, I did not plan, I did not choose. A marriage that was decidedforme andwithoutme. I get choice. Just like Sameer.”
The Prince went to him, hooking his hand against his father’s shoulder. “Father,” he said.
The King waved him off.
“Listen to her,” Sam said.
“Nothing else in the Treaty changes,” I told him. “Your advisor’s daughter is elevated. Your son gains immense land access and influence in a region far nearer his home than what he would’ve gotten with me. That makes it easier to manage affairs, to travel between the Capitol and his wife’s manor. He gets to marry the woman he loves, and I get to decide my own fate. That is all I get out of this, sir. That’s all Iwantout of this.”
Sameer pressed him. “Father. Yes, say yes,” he said. When the King tried to dismiss him again, he was louder. “We accept!” he said to me. He reached for Agatha’s hand. “Miss Agatha and I will marry. Right now, if it pleases the Queen.”
“Sameer!” the King spat. “You don’t decide–”
“And why not?” he asked. Whyshouldn’tI decide?” Sam bristled, talking with his free hand. “It’s my future isn’t it?” He gestured to the room. “I may not be King this very moment, but I will be in time, and it ismyfuture that we are building together here. Yes? If Her Majesty wishes to be free of me, I accept her terms. I won’t force a woman to marry me. I won’t let you force me to force her. And I will not stand here in front of the woman I love and say that I do not wish for her, too.” He faced me. “Svana, you do me a great honor by refusing me. I think that speaks very well to our friendship. If you are willing to give me everything I want–willing to expose yourself to such scrutiny and danger as to challenge the Treaty and to spend such effort in devising a solution that serves my country and myself, all I can say is that I admire your tenacity and I wish I could be as strong as you. Thank you for giving me the chance to do that. Courage is the mark of a true leader. A leader I would behonoredto follow for the remainder of my days.”
