Chapter 2: Rejected Marriage Proposals

Kabula returned to the Netherlands to discuss his intentions of marrying Princess Honoka of Japan with his family. He sat down with his elder brother, Patriarch Kanda, and their father, Kabasele the Elder.

"Tell us, son," Kabasele the Elder began, his voice heavy with skepticism. "How was your trip to Japan? Seeing that you've come back empty-handed, I assume it didn't go well."

"Empress Kasumi of Japan refuses to return Kimba's Crown to us," Kabula admitted with a sigh. "However, there might be another way for us to reclaim it."

"What way?" Patriarch Kanda asked, intrigued.

"Luzadi married Princess Esmee of the Netherlands, and because of that union, a Badilite will one day rule the Dutch Kingdom," Kabula explained. "Why don't we attempt the same with the Imperial House of Japan?"

"What?" Kabasele the Elder spat, eyes narrowing.

"Princess Honoka is set to inherit Kimba's Crown. If I marry her, our future daughter would inherit the Crown from Honoka. That daughter could then marry Patriarch Kanda's future son, thereby reuniting the throne and the crown of the Badilites."

"But for such a marriage to take place," Patriarch Kanda said firmly, "we Badilites would need to officially recognize the Namites as Badilites—something that could spiral out of control. There are many today with matrilineal ties to the noble houses of the Badila Family. If we recognize the Namites, all those others would demand recognition as well. It would be chaos. I'm sorry, but we cannot approve your plan. Even if, I must admit, it does sound quite strategic."

"Can't we just recognize the Namites without extending recognition to the others with matrilineal descent?" Kabula pressed.

"That's like saying, let's convict one thief but let the other go free," Patriarch Kanda sighed. "Both committed theft. So either both get punished, or both walk. Similarly, the Namites and these other families share matrilineal Badilite ancestry. We can't accept one and reject the others. It's either all or none."

"Then maybe it's time we accept them all."

"Don't be ridiculous, Kabula," Kanda shot back. "I know you're desperate to prove yourself to our father, always living in my shadow. But this—this isn't the way."

"What did you just say?!" Kabula snapped, his voice rising.

"Do not raise your voice to the Patriarch!" Kabasele the Elder scolded sharply. "Your plan is unworkable, Kabula. Find another way."

"There is no other way..." Kabula muttered, defeated.

Patriarch Kanda studied his younger brother carefully. "Don't tell me... you've fallen in love with Princess Honoka?"

"So what if I have?" Kabula replied, exhaling heavily. "Would that make you support my plan? Or would you rather see your little brother abandon the woman he loves just to prevent our maternal relatives from joining the Badilite ranks?"

At that, Kabasele the Elder burst into a booming laugh. Without a word, he stood up, grabbed his cane, and left the room. In Badilite culture, when an Elder walks away, it means the conversation is over. Nothing more is to be said.

Meanwhile, Princess Honoka also spoke to her family about her wish to marry Prince Kabula.

"Mother," she addressed Empress Kasumi hesitantly.

"Speak, my daughter. Say what you have to say."

"I believe I may be able to unite the Namites and Badilites," Honoka began, cautiously.

"Oh?" Empress Kasumi raised a brow. "And how do you propose to do that?"

"If you allow me to marry Prince Kabula... then—"

"WHAT?!" Empress Kasumi bellowed. "That scoundrel?! Marrying a Japanese princess?! Not as long as I draw breath!"

"M-Mother..." Honoka's voice trembled. She hadn't expected such a fierce reaction.

"What in the world has gotten into you, Honoka?!" Empress Kasumi raged. "I will never allow one of my descendants to marry a Badilite—not until they recognize our Badilite status! Is that understood?!"

"But maybe, if I do marry Prince Kabula, they will—"

"No! They won't! They'll never approve of such a marriage—and neither will the Namites!"

"B-but... Mother, I'm in love with him..." Honoka whispered, her eyes filling with tears.

Empress Kasumi stood stunned. "No... It can't be..."

Unable to handle the confrontation, Princess Honoka fled the room in tears. In the hallway, she accidentally bumped into her twin sister, Princess Hitomi. Honoka looked up, searching her sister's face for comfort, but Hitomi turned her gaze away—a silent expression of disapproval and helplessness.

Honoka rushed to her bedroom and frantically called Kabula. He answered immediately.

"Kabu-chan... Kabu-chan..." she sobbed.

"They said no, didn't they?" he sighed, his tone resigned. "I told you... You were being naive."

A few days later, Kabula returned to Japan in secret. He met up with Honoka, far from the eyes of their families.

"We tried, didn't we?" he said quietly, lighting a cigarette. This time, Honoka allowed him to smoke in her presence.

"I don't want to live a lie," she said softly. "You're the one I love. So I should marry you. I should be with you. I want to have children with you. I don't want it any other way."

"Hey, same here. But what can we do?" he sighed. "Listen, Honoka-chan... It's been fun. It's been sweet—and honestly, terrifying—to be in a secret relationship with you. But we can't keep going down this road."

"Kabula..." Her voice cracked as her eyes filled with fresh tears.

"My family knows. Your family knows. It's not a secret anymore," he said, chuckling bitterly. "We have no choice but to break up... and live a lie. Right? Or do you want to run off with me to some remote island and leave everything behind?"

"Yes," she answered without hesitation. "Let's do that..."

"Stop being so naive already," he said with a sad chuckle. "Enough is enough. Let's end this, okay?"

"You're just going to leave me like this..." she cried. "You jerk..."

Kabula closed the distance between them and kissed her, again and again, before gently wiping away her tears.

"I've made you cry so many times I've lost count," he whispered. "Let me make you happy at least once..."