Baby, I’m falling. I hope you catch me when I land

"Just remember, no marriage proposals. You belong to me." Hayden mutters in my ear before taking a seat at the table and I shoot him an annoyed look even though I find it funny how hard he's trying to not let me get married again. He winks and I roll my eyes with a small smile and glance at the doors when Raya and Simon enters, they bow before taking their seats as well and it's not long before the guard opens the door again and we all stand up when King Nicholas enters.

"Good day, how was your travels?"

He glances between us "It was well"

I gesture to a chair "Well have a seat"

He nods and sits down before gesturing to another guy "This is Lord Matthew, he's my right hand"

"Pleased to meet you" I say with a small smile and Matthew nods as he takes a seat as well, I gesture to Hayden "This is Sir Hayden, he's my right hand. Lord Simon is my Commander-in-chief and this is Raya, my daughter and Royal Chancery"

King Nicolas raises an eyebrow "What an odd group. I do not know whether to be more concerned about a Sir being your most trusted person or about the fact that your daughter is in grown folks business"

I give him a tight smile "Thank you for concern about my council but that is not why I requested a meeting"

"I see. And why exactly did you request a meeting?"

Simon pipes up "The Queen is willing to give you and your kingdom anything you desire in exchange for soldiers and weapons"

"And undying loyalty" Hayden adds

Nicolas hums as he glances between us with a calculating gaze "A marriage proposal"

I practically feel Hayden stiffen and I put a hand on his thigh under the table to calm him down "I was under the impression that you already have a wife, Your Grace"

He scoffs a laugh "I do. The marriage proposal is not for me" he glance at Matthew and I tense but then he says "It's for my son"

I let out a sigh I didn't know I was holding and I feel Hayden relax too "Your son? I thought you might have many prospects for him, seeing as he is the future king of your kingdom"

Nicolas clears his throat and shifts in his seat "Well Prince Ronan is…..blind. And it's rather difficult to find him a match when parents do not want their daughters to wed a 'half man' in their words."

Oh. I don't know why the thought of a blind boy makes me sad of a sudden but it does, Hayden asks "And how many years is your son?"

"Thirteen."

We all go quiet and I stiffen when his eyes dart to Raya "No, no, no. I am not letting my daughter wed because of duty."

He shrugs "This is the only way to get my loyalty, soldiers and weapons."

I open my mouth to say no again but freeze when Raya says "I'll do it"

Everyone's eyes snap to her and I say "You are not wedding out of obligation, Raya"

She sighs "But you need this to go against uncle Lincoln"

I close my eyes for a moment before standing up and telling her "Let me have a word with you in private. Excuse us."

I walk out of the room and wait for her in the hallway, when she reaches me I say "Raya, you don't have to do this. As a matter of fact, you won't be doing this."

"This is the only way, mother and I want to help you." She takes my hand into both of hers "Let me do this for you, our family and the kingdom."

I let out a heavy breath before saying "When my parents married me off to your father, I hated them with everything in me because it's not something I wanted. I don't think I could live with myself if you ever hate me the way I hated them"

She shakes her head "I could never hate you, mother. You constantly put everyone above yourself, it's time we start doing the same for you"

I blink away tears and clear my throat before saying "Not everyone who has arrange marriages end up being happy, it's considered lucky when you wed a man who adores you"

"Father adored you" she points out

I huff out a laugh "Yeah, I'm one of the lucky ones but not all men are good men, Raya."

"I'll be fine and if Prince Ronan tries anything, I'll just hide away in the closet or something. It's not like he'll see me"

I gasp "Raya!"

She laughs "Okay, okay. I'm sorry"

I shake my head with a laugh before squeezing her hand "So you're really going to do this?"

"Yes." She pauses "Although my only request is that I wed him when I'm eighteen"

"Okay." I press a kiss to her head before we walk into the room again and it's dead silent, I would probably be guessing right if I said they haven't spoken a single word to each other.

Men.

"So it has been discussed. Princess Raya will wed your son" I say and Nicolas physically relaxes like a weight as been lifted from his shoulders "On one condition though"

"I'm listening"

"She'll only wed when she's eighteen"

His eyes narrow "Prince Ronan will be twenty-one at the time already."

I shrug "That's my condition. Take it or leave it."

Everyone waits with a batted breath as he glance at Matthew and they have a conversation with their eyes before they both nod and Nicolas says "We have a deal"

We all let out a collective sigh of relief and I say "Perfect. Should we discuss strategies?"

He nods "I'll send over hundred armed soldiers"

Hayden pipes up "We'll also need you to cut off access from the west, that way Lincoln only has one way to attack us."

Nicolas frowns "The kingdom on the east?"

"We already have their loyalty and discussed plans with them" I say

He hums and glance at me "I'm rather impressed with you, Your Grace. It seems perhaps this time around a Queen is better to sit the throne than a King"

I give him a small smile "Thank you"

I startle when Hayden squeezes my thigh under the table and I clear my throat as he asks casually "So can we depend on you to cut off access from the west?"

Nicolas nods "You can count on us."

We continue discussing plans for a few minutes before everyone leaves but Hayden stays behind and the minute the door closes behind the last person, he glances at me "Raya's really going to wed the Prince?"

"She is" I stand up and straighten my dress "She wants to help"

He stares at me up and down "I see."

He stands up as well before pulling me closer to him and I let out a sigh before saying "Is it forever going to be like this? Touching under tables and only holding each other when we're alone?"

"We don't have another choice"

I frown "I know but it's frustrating"

He's quiet for a moment before saying "I may have an idea"

I raise an eyebrow "Yeah? Let me hear it."

"Do you trust me?"

I frown "What's your idea, Hayden?"

He sighs and takes my face into his hand stares me deep in the eyes. "Do. You. Trust. Me?"

I swallow "If I were to ever follow a blind person, it would be you."

His eyes soften and he presses a gentle kiss to my lips before saying "I'll be gone for a few days."

I blink about a thousand times "What? Why?"

"I need to handle something, Soph. Trust that I'll be back for you. To be with you."

"I trust you" I say softly even with my heart ache at the thought of him being away from me and in possible danger. We haven't spent a single day a part ever since he started working for me ten years ago but I do trust that he'll be back. And I feel sorry for anyone who tries to block his way. "When you come back will you be mine?"

His eyes trail over my face "I'll be your sword and armour, I'll be whatever you need me to be as long as I'm yours, Sophia."

I let out a heavy breath and wrap my arms around him, breathing in his scent and it not only makes me feel comfort but also loved.