Right now, that meant that he and Senta, as well astheir brothers, Luther and Konrad, must marry their recent enemies in order to forge a peace treaty.
Of course they did not wish to marry those they had recently been trying to kill. But he and Senta understood the need for peace. The war had caused so much destruction and had greatly weakened Draconia. It had to end.
Gerard had fought, bled, lost half his eyesight, and almost died for Draconia. Now he’d marry for it.
They strode towards the rooms provided for the royal family of Draconia in the White Monastery. It was here at the White Monastery where individuals from the different kingdoms had gathered to create the peace treaty to end the war that had raged for twenty years.
Their cousin Albert walked down the corridor in their direction, alongside Lady Elke, a minor lady from Draconia.
“Cousins.” Albert nodded at them in greeting.
“Your Highnesses.” The lady bowed.
“Morning,” Senta said.
Gerard inclined his head as they passed.
Lady Elke glanced at Gerard’s face. Then quickly looked away. But Albert’s gaze lingered, scanning Gerard’s scars.
Gerard’s jaw clenched. But he kept his head high, refusing to let anyone make him lower his head in shame. As they walked away, he heard his cousin and Lady Elke whisper but couldn’t make out their words. His shoulders tensed.
Are they talking about me? My face?
“I wonder when Father will decide who we will marry,” Senta said, clearly not giving their cousin or the lady a second thought. “I wonderwhowe will marry.”
Gerard forced himself to focus his attention on her and her words. “I doubt Father will consult us much on the topic.”
Honestly, Gerard didn’t have a real preference. He had briefly met several of those who might be considered. But he had no inkling if he wanted to marry any of them.
Gerard just hoped they would behave with dignity. And he hoped they would not find his appearance … repulsive. He adjusted his eye patch.
Whilst he’d been temporarily blinded in both eyes, the left had recovered. The right had not. He also still bore the scars of the lightning strikes that had hit him. Scars caused by lightning sorcerers were so distinct that everyone who saw him would immediately know what a Voltarian had done to him.
“He will no doubt marry us to high-born individuals. No minor lords or ladies for his children,” Gerard said.
“And he won’t marry you, me, or Konrad to an heir of another kingdom. The three of us need to remain in Draconia.”
Gerard, the dragon warrior prince, would one day be grand dragon warrior and be in charge of the Draconian military. Currently his aunt had that role.
Meanwhile, Senta was his spare. If something happened to him, she’d take on the role instead. If Gerard didn’t die, she would be his second in command. And since Konrad was the crown prince and heir to the throne, all three needed to remain within Draconia.
Senta glanced around the empty corridor. “And since Luther is already betrothed to Warden Onyx from the Grey Mountains and Konrad will be betrothed to someone from Necros, that leaves someone from Botanial or the combined Kingdoms of Zephyrias and Voltaria for us.”
Gerard nodded. The plan was that four of the king’s children would marry someone from each of the different kingdoms, counting the Kingdoms of Zephyrias andVoltaria as one, as they were combined and ruled by one royal couple.
Gerard didn’t know how he felt about the idea of marrying someone from Voltaria. After all, it was one of their lightning sorcerers who had almost killed him. They would have killed him if not for Senta.
Senta had found him unconscious and half-dead. She’d flown off and brought a healer to him. They’d only just managed to save Gerard’s life.
Of course, even if he’d truly been opposed to the idea of marrying someone from Voltaria, he would not have voiced that to his father. His comfortableness should not be taken into consideration regarding who he should marry. He could tolerate being uncomfortably married for the rest of his life if that was what he needed to do for his kingdom.
“I hope I don’t marry someone who behaves like Luther. I want someone who I can respect,” Senta said. “If I get along with them, it’s a plus. If they’re pretty, that’s adefiniteplus.” She laughed.
Gerard chuckled even as his stomach sank.
No one had ever described Gerard as pretty. But once upon a time, he’d been thought handsome. Very handsome, in fact.
Not anymore, of course. Not since the lightning strikes had taken half his eyesight and all his looks. The scarring extended across half his face and down his neck. And across his torso and shoulder.
