Garroth requested to see me in his study. It's been three days ever since we spoke about our last discussion.

His workload has remained the same as per usual, but he seems content doing it. 

By the time I arrive, Garroth's desk is cleared off except for a single slip of paper sitting in the middle of the surface. His eyes meet mine, and he motions for me to sit down. 

"Read the letter."

My eyes widen at his sudden command. He doesn't even greet me. Garroth went with his first words being a command. 

My stomach does a flip within my stomach. I feel as though something went wrong, and I'm receiving the repercussions for it. 

"It's an acceptance letter," I say, letting my eyes skim the paper. They slowly rise to Garroth afterwards, smiling. "Oh, Gar, they want Kandi's hand. She has a suitor!"

He's already staring down at me. During the time it took me to read the letter, he managed to rise from his chair and walk towards me. 

"You helped me find a suitor for my sister," he says, holding his hand out for me to grab onto. I reach for it, feeling him lift me onto my own feet. "If I had a to do list, that'd certainly be something I'd cross off." 

"What about inviting them for dinner?"

His hands slips down to my waist, lingering there before inching his fingertips to the small of my back. 

"It's already been taken care of." 

I never helped father with his politics. Never bothered with foreign affairs. I simply did as he told me, and Laurance was to stand by his side. 

"You truly are made to be a king," I tell him.

Garroth rolls his eyes at this, pressing soft kisses against the skin of my cheeks. "You're not too bad of a queen yourself. And to think we had our doubts."

Garroth feared that he wouldn't be a good king. He thought he'd be unsuccessful and would disappoint his father. Myself on the other hand thought I would never make it as a queen. Growing up, I assumed I would marry someone who would be least likely to inherit the throne. So when I was told I was going to marry an heir, I panicked. I thought I'd fail. 

He tugs me closer to him, causing me to gasp slightly at the sudden movement. I place my hand on his chest, moving the other to his cheek. His hands continue to rest around my waist, but the grip is firm. There's a look in his eye I can't quite decipher. 

I don't recall a time we've been like this before. 

"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother has requested Her Majesty in the drawing room."

Garroth looks towards the closed set of doors but refused to let go of me. "Tell my mother we're working on important business regarding Kandilyn's future engagement."

I look up at him, confused. He smirks, placing a finger in front of his lips to keep me quiet.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

It's strange looking ahead and seeing my husband staring at me. Meanwhile, the queen of Falconclaw sits next to me on one side while Kandi sits beside me on the other. Falconclaw's king sits closer to Garroth, the prince alongside him. 

Secretly the two kings are talking business to each other, and Kandi and Aaron create awkward chit chat under the table's watchful eye. 

"How has the past few months fared you and His Majesty?" 

I suppose it's time for chit chat with me now. "Garroth and I are still adjusting to marriage but also ruling. He spends many hours on end at his desk." 

She nods her head. Her attention is shortly turned towards her husband. "Derek and I had to adjust to that problem as well. However, we were lucky enough that he fell into the throne some time after we had married. We hope the same for the children."

Children. I'm still a child. I'm only nineteen. Aaron is older than me. Kandi too, by a few months. It's strange to hear talks like this while I am still so young. Garroth is only twenty-two. 

She notices a change in my demeanor and places a hand against mine. 

Garroth looks over at me, furrowing his eyebrows together at the sudden physical contact.

"You're not boring her with talk of children, are you Rachel? I'm sure she receives that talk often from the Queen Mother."

"Of course not," she says, dismissing the idea with a shake of her hand. "I was simply asking how their marriage was going. Being so young and in such a powerful position. . . it must be hard to find a balance."

I share an uneasy look with Garroth. His lips part slightly before he reaches for the wine glass in front of him. He brings it to his lips but pauses to speak. 

"Why don't we focus on Aaron and Kandilyn? That is why we're all gathered here today, isn't it? To speak of further arrangements?" 

This appears to please the king as he nods his head, sipping from the wine as if he were Garroth's reflection. The queen loses interest in my marriage, but it's poorly executed. Her gaze towards me is pitiful, but she covers it up with a smile when she looks towards her husband. 

"You're quite right," Derek says. "We should think of public arrangement first. Public outings. Marriage dates and settings. I assume we'll want it within the next year?"

At least the spotlight is off of me.