“We met Ella today!” Ralfe remarked when Tristan met up with him later that evening. The Terravalens were staying at a mansion that was offered to them by the high priests, a hospitality they extended to all the over envoys and attendants for the peace meetings.

“Your divine savior,” Ralfe added with an exaggerated emphasis as he followed Tristan down the hallway to wherever he was heading. “She also saved someone else today.”

Ralfe had survived the Battle of Maona’s Fury, as that infamous battle was now called, completely intact and unharmed. He was one of the lucky ones that weren’t swept away by the mudslides, due to his position at the front of the retreat. Tristan had found out that Ralfe blamed himself for Tristan’s supposed death and suffered from survivor’s guilt for a long period of time before Tristan came back to Terravale.

“You did?” Tristan was startled. “She’s still here in the capital of Elysara?”

“Indeed! You didn’t mention that she was a noblewoman, or that she was so beautiful! I’m surprised you didn’t take her to Terravale with you.”

“Don’t be so crude, Ralfe.” Tristan scolded him. “How was she? Is she still healthy? Did she look well?”

“Very much so,” Ralfe hid his knowing grin. “And the most astonishing thing of all was that she tried to protect a small girl from a mercenary almost twice her size. Who knew what would have happened if I didn’t step in to help? And here, she wants to return the dagger to you now that I’ve repaid your debt.” Ralfe handed over a familiar dagger. 

Tristan ran his finger over it, reminiscing the past where he had kept it by his side at all times. Even though his sword had gotten replaced several times, with his previous one getting lost in the mudslide, his dagger had remained with them through thick and thin. He was just starting to get used to the absence of it after giving it to Ella.

“She returned it?” Tristan asked in a low voice that barely concealed his disappointment. If the return of the dagger was a sign that his debt had been repaid, then the last connection between their meeting was gone. It was almost like they’ve gone back to being strangers.

“I offered to pay her back for the fifteen gold coins she loaned you, but she refused and asked that you pay that kindness forward to someone else.”

Tristan couldn’t help but chuckle at hearing Ralfe’s words. “Of course she did.” He could also tell from Ralfe’s excited demeanor that he wasn’t done talking. “What else do you have to say?”

“Well, the girl she saved today was actually the next oracle! She had jeweled eyes and possessed the ability to see the future. Even a high priest confirmed her identity! Isn’t that amazing? Ella didn’t even know why the child was in danger nor the fact that she was the next oracle, but she tried to help her anyway!”

Tristan grinned. “I’m not surprised. She also saved me despite not knowing who I was.”

“We, uh, told her you were our captain. I almost called you Commander in front of her.”

“I see.” Tristan’s response became curt.

“Are you planning to track her down tomorrow?” Ralfe couldn’t help but be nosy about his superior’s affairs. “I’m sure you can take a day off from the meetings. And why aren’t you more curious about the next oracle? Her presence is kind of a big deal!”

“I can’t,” Tristan replied bluntly to Ralfe’s first question. “We’re going back to Terravale tomorrow as soon as I send a former offer of marriage to the princess of Etheria.”

“Wait, what?” Ralfe froze in his tracks. “Marriage? Wait, the meetings are over? What is going on?”

Tristan paused in his steps as well. “The oracle believed that for the peace to last, something permanent must cement it in place. Since the war first started between Etheria and Terravale, she believed that it would be best to arrange a marriage between me and the princess of Etheria. Do you understand now?”

Ralfe sucked in a deep breath. “Gods, that is… something. And your parents are willing to accept this?”

“Since the princess will be coming to Terravale instead of me going to Etheria, they seemed more accepting of it. But this is only if she accepts my offer of marriage. I asked that her right to choose be honored in this case, even if the marriage was for the sake of peace.”

“I… see.” Ralfe’s tone was now uncertain. “And if she refuses?”

“There are other possible matches to be considered, not to mention, we also have Rowena as another possible candidate for a marriage alliance with them. Maybe they’ll marry her with their heir presumptive instead, although that’s highly unlikely for several reasons.”

“What do you know about your prospective bride?” Ralfe asked.

Tristan blanked. He was so focused on keeping his men alive and safe those last few years that he hadn’t paid much attention to the political and social movements of other kingdoms in a long time. He barely keeps on top of his own kingdom’s affairs.

“Well, I’m sure Rowena would know, since she hears everything from her gossiping servants. Maybe I’ll ask her.” Tristan resumed his walking again, this time, with a new destination in mind. By gossiping servants, he was actually referring to the animals. While Rowena’s ability may not seem like much, she was able to bribe birds and other small animals into spying for her with food.

Rowena did not receive her brother very enthusiastically. Much like him, she was also somewhat bothered by the events that unfolded in the most recent meeting.

“Are you worried?” she asked. “About the whole marriage thing.”

“How could I not be?” Tristan grumbled as he sat down in front of her. “The oracle made it sound like the peace of Mythina depends on the marriage going well.”

Rowena snorted. “I mean about what it could spell for your future. You know that the Terravalens will have a hard time trusting her. They might even think of her as the enemy. With a wife like that, you’ll have a harder time becoming king.”

“You know I have no desire to be king, sister.” Tristan snapped back. “So stop treating me like I’m a backstabber who wants to usurp your place.”

“On the bright side,” Rowena remarked. “I don’t have to worry about you marrying a power-hungry noblewoman who wants to become queen consort.”

“How lucky for you.”

There was an awkward silence between the two.

“I’m sorry,” Rowena finally broke the silence. “I don’t really mean that. I’m just worried for your future happiness. Marrying the wrong girl can make you miserable forever, you know that?”

“I’m fully aware of that.” Tristan nodded. “But if the oracle is right, many more people will be happier because of it. Some can say that it’s a small price to pay, don’t you think?”

Rowena turned to look at him again. “I don’t know how you’re so brave. I would be terrified of marrying a stranger from an enemy kingdom.”

“What makes you think I’m not? I wonder if my future bride will feel even more terrified than me. Unlike me, she’ll be traveling to a strange place she’d never been to before.”

“For a man, you’re so considerate of women.” Rowena grumbled. “Even my maids feel more at ease around you than me.”

“I’m forgetting my purpose for coming to see you.” Tristan suddenly remembered why he came here. “What do you know about the princess of Etheria?”

“The princess of Etheria, huh? You don’t even know the name of your future bride?”

Tristan became flustered. “No one mentioned her name in any of the meetings, so…”

Rowena laughed. “It’s nice to know more than you in this conversation. Her name is Amaryllis Euphemia.”

Amaryllis. That was the name of his future bride if she accepted his offer of marriage. Why is that name so familiar? Right, amaryllises were Ella’s favorite flowers. How strange, for everything to remind him of her even now.

“She’s the same age as you, and from the rumors I’ve heard, she’s been serving as a war nurse for the last several years.”

Tristan didn’t expect the last part. “A war nurse?”

Rowena cooly continued as if she didn’t hear his question. “I heard that she’s extremely kind and compassionate. Maybe you should consider yourself lucky.”

“Maybe.”

“Aren’t you going to ask anything else? If she is pretty or not, or whether she has any unpleasant rumors surrounding her?”

“Why is that important?” Tristan seemed irritated at Rowena’s attempts to incite him. “Not all rumors are reliable nor true anyway.”

Rowena seemed offended by this. “You think I would regurgiate false or unreliable rumors? For gods’ sake, Tristan, I am so much better than that!”

Tristan shrugged. “Well, do you know anything important? Like, her favorite color or her favorite flower? What kind of hobbies she likes or things like that?”

Rowena’s mouth dropped open. “You don’t have to go this far for a political marriage.”

“A political marriage is still a marriage, Rowena.” Tristan chatised her. “And all marriages need trust and effort to be successful.”

“Gods,” Rowena muttered. “You’re so… nevermind. I don’t know much since she kept a very low profile. I don’t even know if she’s pretty or not because Etherian girls always wear a veil in public. They say that she’s the one to start this trend, but I don’t know this for sure.”

Tristan sighed. It seemed like his sister wasn’t much help beyond that. “Well, since you’re also a woman, what can I do to make her feel more at ease when she comes to Terravale? I mean, if she comes to Terravale.”

For the first time in this conversation, Rowena gave him an approving look, a genuinely warm smile that made him nervous as he was more familiar with her prickly side. “You know what? I don’t think you have to do anything other than just being yourself.”