For Us

Marissa Braun

The warm air reminded me of how much I missed home. It was comforting. It felt peaceful. It felt like home. Raising my head I looked up at the sky as I lay on the grass near the garden. I close my eyes from burning from the scorching light that shined. The silent whispers that the warm air gave reminded me of the fields I enjoyed running through. The fields that have heard me cry as well as laugh. It didn't feel like I was on school premises. It felt just like the fields I enjoyed.

"What's wrong?"

"Leave her alone, Rissa is enjoying the warmth."

I smile laughing before opening my eyes. Their bickering faces make me laugh even more as it reminds me of a mother telling her son not to say such words.

"You are finally smiling." Theon cheered.

"Huh?" I asked him confused.

"You have been sighing all day today and it was quite gloomy being around..."

"Don't pay attention to this peanut. What he meant is that you looked down." Latie expressed interrupting Theon.

"I'm sorry. I'm just tired today." I tell them smiling brightly.

"Theo, go buy us juice or something." Latie ordered giving him money.

He tries to object and she glares at him. He pouts and droops like a puppy who has been punished. I giggle as he walks away all sulky and sad. He would probably be a Golden retriever if he was a dog.

"Theo is so whiny." Latie whines as she lays down next to me.

"Doesn't he remind you of a golden retriever?" I ask her as I lay on my side facing her.

"He does give the vibe of a golden retriever, and it scares me." She replies as she also changes her position to face me.

"Because of how soft he is?" I inquire as I laugh.

"Exactly." she groans frustrated before laughing too.

"But what's wrong with you? Ever since you came back from meeting the Crown Prince, you have been all droopy. Did he upset you? Should I get rid of him for you? I'd do it in a heartbeat and no one would know who it was." She displayed excitedly.

"No. Please don't do such a thing. It would hurt me to see him gone." I voiced out as I sat up straight.

She sighs heavily before sitting up straight to. I laugh as I stare at her thinking really hard.

"The Prince did nothing. He just told me something." I tell her as my laughter dies down.

"What? Did he say something mean? Did he hurt your feelings? Just say the word and I will short him out as fast as I can and he will never be able to say anything again." She excitedly said.

"Relax. And what did the Prince do to you?" I asked her curiously.

She attempts to say something before she closes her mouth. She stays quiet for a while before she says something that catches me off guard.

"It's my birthright."

"I don't have to be nice to my best friend's boyfriend as it is my birthright to find faults in him." she adds smiling proudly.

Nothing had prepared me for this. Latie has said the craziest things I could ever imagine but this...This was beyond my imagination. She sounded like my father who had told my cousin that he was not worthy to be his daughter's debutante.

"Father? Is that you?" I teased her as I smirked.

"Yes. Yes, it is your Father, my sweet Rissa. There's no man that is worth having you, not even a royalty." Latie mimicked my Father's voice.

We stare at each other for a quick second before erupting into laughter. Tears were running down her face as she rolled on the grass clapping her hands. If it was still school hours, we would have been in a lot of trouble. We would probably even be in detention.

"So what did he tell you?" She asked wiping her tears.

"Oh, Well there was a board meeting discussed a few weeks ago and there was a condition placed forth." I mumble out sighing.

"God! These trashy nobles!" She shrieks out.

She angrily gets up and starts stepping on the grass real hard while screaming insults at the grass.

"I hope they lose that goddamn disgusting small titles!"

"Those conniving Bastards!"

"How dare they!"

"They should focus on fixing the womanizing habits instead of who the prince marries!"

"They are lucky that they even get to have you as their Queen!"

"How dare those Fu...Freaking Son of a Bi... cunts say such things!"

"The Goddamn audacity!"

I stare at her as I try to keep in my laughter. She would be one heck of a strict mother if she were to have kids in the future. She'd probably scare them all the time.

"What did they say would happen if the condition is not met?" She asked me after a few minutes of her screaming in frustration.

I snap out of my thoughts and sigh as I hear her question echoing in my head.

"I have to form an alliance with the word Kingdom, but I must do it with someone close." I mutter looking at my fingers.

***

A few days ago...

We were sitting in the Garden talking about what we liked and what he disliked. The water from the fountain rushing down and splashing at the bottom made it seem as though we were walking on the shore.

"Rissa, there is something I want to tell you." He tells me.

His voice sounded droopy and off. I looked at him and he had a look that I've seen so many times. It was guilt that always made my stomach churn in disappointment.

"There was a meeting regarding my marriage a few days ago." He explains.

"Oh." I mumbled shocked.

What did I actually think would happen? I'm not fit to be his wife nor would I be a good and fit Queen. I would probably mess everything up. The empire would probably fall into devastation. We were probably not meant for each other.

"Well I guess we would have to end our relationship." I joked as I lightly hit him with my shoulder.

"What? No!" He exclaimed shocked.

"Rissa, We are not and will never end this relationship." he said as he gently grabbed my shoulder.

"Even if we do, this damn ungrateful-filled noble empire will lose their King. In fact, I'll sell them all into slavery if our relationship ends because of them." He declares.

His eyes were filled with determination which made my heart flutter and made my body shiver in fear. The thought of him selling the empire into slavery made my body shiver in fear.

"So what did they say?" I inquired, scared of how he would answer.

"They want you and Latrice to form an ally with the Eros kingdom." he answered.

"The Eros Kingdom?" I inquired shocked.

He nodded his head before he laid his head on my lap. The Eros kingdom is known for its inequalities between men and women. The Eros Kingdom doesn't believe that women are equal to men and they are treated badly, that's what is written about them. This is something that I wouldn't be able to achieve even if I was Queen. A queen is just an accessory that the king carries around that's what they believe. Women are there to make their husbands look good and to show the good sides of their husbands. I do think I would be able to achieve it. I would mess it up. The nobles really don't want me to get married to him.

I sigh as I stare at him. The past two months have been great. I learned so much about him. He always listens to what I say and what I think. I don't want to fail him just because of fear. He is willing to sell away this empire for me and I will do all I can for him. For the man that I love. Nic, for us, I can try even if I fail because I love you and I want to be with you. I might mess up but I have to try.

"When do I have to do this?" I asked him.

He has a part of me that I can and will never give to anyone else.

"After Orisis and Latrice get married." He responded as he stared at me.

"Nic, I will do my best." I tell him as I caress his cheeks.

"You mean WE, WE will do our best." He stated as he raised his head kissing my cheeks.

***

"When do we start?" Latrice asked.

"After your wedding." I mumbled.

Latrice laughed as she sat down.

"Can you say it again, for a moment I thought I heard you say after my wedding." She said as she stopped laughing.

I didn't look at her I just nodded my head as she groaned.

"I swear to God, I'm going to kill that ba... that Man!" She angrily exclaimed lying down.

I felt bad that she didn't get anything from this deal but I will make sure Nic compensates her however she wants to be compensated.