THREE | OF IRON AND CROWNS

"WE LEAVE TOMORROW," Gabriel told him, slowly stepping into the terrace where he'd been enjoying the view of the palace gardens. "Are you ready?"

"For the journey, or what comes after?"

"Both."

"I'm doing it for my country," Stephen said, straightening, "and Princess Irina isn't that bad of a choice for a bride."

"She's rather domineering," Gabriel reminded. "And she doesn't seem all that pleased with the prospect of marrying you, if I must be honest."

"No one likes being told who they have to marry. But she knows she has to do it, the same as me. It's our duty. We're born royal children, so this is the least we can do."

Gabriel let out a sigh, pushing his fingers through his head of dark brown hair, storm-grey eyes taking in the evening scenary. He was a general, a soldier, and it was clear in the way he walked, the way he stood, the way he spoke. "Being a royal really isn't the best life, is it?"

Stephen said, "I think the best life is to be born as a relative to the royal family. Not that close, but close enough you still get a title and plenty of riches and status. But with none of the responsibility."

"Unfortunately for you, you're the Crown Prince."

Stephen winced. "Unfortunately."

"And therefore you're stuck with a rather... unwilling bride, if I do say so myself." Gabriel winced. "Princess Irina doesn't want this at all."

"I'm afraid she doesn't have a choice. Even her bloody chambers are ready. Decorated to her fancy, which is the Saian fashion. It looks odd, in my opinion. Arecian architecture with Saian interior... It seems cheap."

"It's a poor imitation," Gabriel said, stone-faced. "I wouldn't be surprised if she asked for it to be completely renovated soon. Though she's probably bringing a lot of her own things over, so it shouldn't affect her too much."

"She's Irina Gu Longyu," Stephen reminded. "Known for her love of perfection. She's going to be spitting tacks."

"She's still a princess," Gabriel said. "That means she has been taught courtesy and manners, and she's going to be in a foreign court. She won't dare step too out of line. And beyond everything she's always been known to be polite and a diplomat. Not as much as Prince Ruge, but still fairly good at maintaining relationships. At least you're not getting a bride who doesn't speak Arecian or something along those lines. And, well, she's pleasant to the eye."

"She's beautiful," Stephen said flatly. "But beautiful does not make a good bride. I can't tell if we are going to rip us into pieces, or if she's going to tear us apart first. Either way it won't be pretty."

"I feel the need to stress, again," Gabriel sighed, "that she is a princess who is well-educated. And your father is not going to tell you to marry a girl who's going to tear his kingdom apart. And it's not as if you haven't already met her. She's a fine girl."

"Her right-hand woman, not so much?"

Gabriel bristled. "Don't know what she has against me."

"Not sure either," Stephen had to admit. "But then again you don't like her either, so you can't say much at all. She's coming, by the way."

"I assumed so. I'll just avoid her. Shouldn't be too difficult."

"It would be, if you're always next to me and she's always next to the princess. Try to curb your worst impulses."

Gabriel raised one brow. "I always do," he said, crossing his arms, turning his gaze to the faintly-lit gardens. "You should get some sleep, honestly. We leave very early tomorrow morning. And it's a grand procession. Some people aren't happy, you know, that the first wedding happens in Sai."

"She's going to be staying in Arecia," Stephen pointed out. "What, are we supposed to get her here, go to Sai with her, and then come back again? It doesn't matter anyways. There's going to be two weddings."

"Cannot wait," Gabriel smirked, "to see you in traditional Saian clothes."

"Same goes for you," Stephen muttered, shooting him a quick glare. "So I wouldn't be so happy if I were you."

"Yes, but I won't be the person the entire court of bones is staring at, will I? That's you. Me, I'll just be standing to the side, completely invisible. That's perfectly fine with me. Yes, they'll snicker, but I'll be forgotten about by the end of the day. You will not receive such a wondrous treatment, I'm sorry to say."

"If my father sent you here to calm my supposed nerves, you're doing a horrid job of it."

"The King did send me here to do that," Gabriel said, looking mighty pleased. He was always so cold around everyone else, it always caught people off-guard when he showed off this side of himself. Playful. Teasing. "But since when have I been good at calming nerves?"

"How's my father?" Stephen asked, tilting his head. "Excited? Invigorated?"

"He's very fond of Princess Irina from what I've heard. Thinks very highly of her, constantly praises her. He could not be more happy with his soon-to-be daughter-in-law. If you treat her wrong, I think you'll be dealing with his wrath and the powers of Sai."

"Great," Stephen snorted, shaking his head, scratching his light brown hair. "Is Frederick ready?" Freddy, his younger cousin, was to accompany him on this trip again, as he had during the engagement party last year. The fact that everything important was happening in Sai first had to mean something. But to be fair, the Saians had been far more proactive in the war against the Meliqueans than the Arecians, so it seemed like a fair trade. And the Saians were the one giving more up for this alliance rather than them.

They only had one princess, after all.

"Young Prince Frederick is positively giddy with delight at the prospect of returning to Sai. He seems to have become great pen pals with Lady Luciana Ying, and is looking forward to seeing her again."

Luciana Ying... "The viscount's daughter? The one in the Princess's entourage?"

"Her precisely," Gabriel said, looking mighty pleased with himself for having dug up this piece of information. "They seem to be quite close."

"Two Saians in the family?" Stephen asked, incredulous. "I'm not sure how Mother and Father would feel about that."

"Oh," Gabriel wrinkled his nose, "I wouldn't jump that far yet. Just know something is going on there. But if it's going to happen, it's going to happen, with or without your support. Or your opposition. Whichever is your choice."

"Frederick is smart, he can choose what to do by himself. No point sticking my nose into his business."

"And the Cousin of the Year Award," Gabriel said slyly, tilting his head, "goes to Prince Stephen Ralloyn of Arecia, for his ability to stay out of young Prince Frederick's business. I applaud you, truly."

Stephen scoffed as he moved away from the terrace and back into the office where he worked, "You mock me, Stoneworth."

"That I do, my prince, that I do."

"Go now," Stephen huffed, glancing at his friend. "I'm sure you have more important things to do than stay here and calm my nonexistent nerves. Your stuff is packed?"

"Obviously," Gabriel said, sounding offended Stephen could even suggest different. "I'm a soldier, Stephen, I'm a master of packing."

"Was just making sure," Stephen muttered. "Don't get yourself all angry now. I'll see you tomorrow morning, I'll retire soon, don't worry."

"I'll tell Dawnson to make sure you go to bed early." Dawnson was his valet. Stephen scowled. He hadn't been planning on sleeping early—what was the point? The moment he got on the ship, all he'd do was sleep, sleep and get more sleep. But if Gabriel dragged Dawnson into this, there was no chance he could stay in his office much longer. Or manage to somehow sneak the things he was working on—the latest bill he wanted to propose, one that would lower taxes for those earning under a specific wage—into his chamber. Because Dawnson had the eyes of a bloody hawk.

Gabriel knew very well what Stephen intended of course, because they'd known each other since childhood and were always attached by the hips. The general smirked, giving a small bow. "Good night, Your Royal Highness."

Stephen swore under his breath. It only made Gabriel's smile grow larger. Stephen made an impatient shooing gesture, and Gabriel obeyed, shutting the study door behind him. No point in this, then. The bill would have to wait until he came back from Sai. He glanced at the papers of his desk, lips pursed tightly together, and shook his head before putting them all in a locked drawer.

There was a knock on the door. "Come in!" he ordered, turning towards the opening door. A young brunette walked in, her dress a velvet blue. Lady Katharine Morenshire, one of his close friends in court. Another one of those he'd known since he was a young child. Katharine was the daughter of a duke, and someone who'd be going with him to Sai.

Katharine raised her perfectly sculpted brow, head raised as she curtsied. "Prince Stephen."

"Katharine," Stephen smiled, walking forward to help her up. "What on earth are you doing here at this hour of the day? You should be getting some rest."

Katharine nudged her chin at him. "You're not resting either, why should I be?"

"We have a long journey ahead of us."

Katharine waved her hand in the air. "Oh, it's not like I'm not perfectly used to those. I pretty much travelled to and from Hrishna to Arecia for half my life, Stephen, I'll be fine." Katharine's mother was a Hrishnan noblewoman, and therefore her dark complexion, and she'd spent half her childhood here in Arecia, and the other with her mother's side of the family in Hrishna—the Duke had been an ambassador in Hrishna, which was there the two had met.

He frowned. "Sai's a bit further away than Hrishna, isn't it? We have to sail all the way past Kon Ria."

"It is," Katharine said, "but the point is that I am used to long journeys, my prince. You, are not. The bill?"

"Not nearly as completed as I'd like."

Katharine sighed. "It can wait. It does not matter if you postpone the proposal by a couple weeks. But the fact is that we're leaving for Sai tomorrow for your wedding, and you must be prepared and ready."

"You are the third person to have come tonight to inform me of this. Dawnson and Stoneworth have already come to tell me I need rest. I am planning on resting soon, Katharine. Do not fret."

"Ah," she said, "that's why I passed by General Stoneworth on my way here. He seemed rather pleased with himself, I must say. You gave into his demands?"

"I was just putting my papers away," Stephen said smoothly. "You, Lady Katharine, ought not to remain here unchaperoned for any longer. Don't worry, Dawnson will have my hide if I do not retire very soon. You should get some rest, as I've stressed again and again. You have much to do tomorrow, and for the next few months. Princess Irina will need to be taught our customs and rules."

Something like unwillingness and annoyance flashed in Katharine's eyes for a moment. She didn't like Irina much, thinking the Princess arrogant and haughty. She wasn't completely wrong. But so far Katharine had hidden her dislike perfectly well, and Stephen hoped she'd keep it that way.

But she curtsied. "Of course, Your Royal Highness. Good night to you, sir."

He certainly hoped that was his last visitor of the day. He leaned back into his chair, letting out a sigh, covering his face with both hands as his eyes peeked out at the ceiling. This had all been quite a stressful little while. So much to do, too little time. Too late now, though. Tomorrow he embarked on his journey to Sai. And when he returned, he'd have a bride by his side. A rather unwilling one, who probably would be quite hard to deal with, but the advantages in situations like these heavily outweigh the negatives. It was probably why Princess Irina had agreed to it in the first place.

Mingxian Huancheng Gongzhu. The Noble, Virtuous Returned Princess. The Saians were always extra with their titles. The first two words were just courtesy, the same way they'd call someone the Honourable and the like in Arecia. It was huancheng, which translated to "returning to the city", or just "returned" as officially translated, that always puzzled him.

Returning from what?

Such a mystery. Perhaps he'd ask. He highly doubted he'd get an answer. Princess Irina was... cold. She didn't much like to talk, it was clear in the way she held herself, even though she'd always been responsive in their conversations. She'd gone out of her way to spend more time with him, getting to know him, and he'd done the same. But you could always look at her and tell she was holding herself back, trying to keep herself in line with propriety and what courtesy demanded she be and did. It was a defensive shield. Despite the few days they'd spent together during the engagement party last year he felt like he didn't know her at all.

She spoke more often through her entourage—General Justine Lan, whom Stoneworth disliked and vice versa, for example. Lady Myrina, Countess of Li Han was another one, serving a more traditional role, the lady-in-waiting obeying her every command. Sometimes she spoke through another countess. Lady Asteria, the future Duchess of Shui Xiang. It was the things that came through their mouths that felt like Princess Irina. Instead of the cool politeness and such that Irina said to him and the other Arecians.

Worth a thought, he thought to himself. But if they were to be married, Princess Irina couldn't seal her true self off forever. That was what he worried about. What if they truly did not mash well together?

Stephen was no romantic. This was for political alliance and for that only. But it was still a marriage, and that meant they had to get along.

There was very little known personally about Princess Irina to the mass public. The golden child of the Saian Imperial family had always been her cousin, the Crown Prince. He was the people's favourite. People cheered for Princess Irina, but for her contributions to Saian politics rather than a true liking for her. She rarely went to talk to the people, do charity work or go on diplomatic trips like her cousin. No one seemed to truly know anything about her. Word on the street was that she was cold and callous, haughty and arrogant like Katharine thought her to be. But when they'd interacted she'd always been courteous, polite to a fault. It was puzzling, how someone's reputation could be so different from what she seemed to be like.

Oh well, he'll figure it out soon enough. And as he'd said again and again, and been reminded off, she was still a princess, trained to be good at what she did. Even if it was a facade, she'd have been taught to keep it up at all times, never letting it down.

Being royalty was, in his opinion, a balancing act of the highest and most difficult kind. You had to be a politician, a diplomat, a nobleman and a ruler all at the same time. You made the rules. If everything fell into pieces, it was all your fault. The people's blood would be on your hands. Their guns would be pointed at you when they looked for answers, and there was no way to wiggle out of it. It was a precarious position, as all high status roles were. It was so painfully, painfully easy to fall and lose it all.

So far the Ralloyn Dynasty had been doing just fine. Stephen intended to keep it that way. Hopefully he would be able to do so, or he wasn't really sure how he'd face any of his ancestors. Or his people.

But now. Rest, before someone else came along and he had the same conversation yet again, which he desperately wanted to avoid.

He rang for his valet. A moment later, Dawnson, a young man a few years older than he with a crop of black hair and blue eyes, appeared at the door. "Your Royal Highness?"

"I believe it is time to retire." Stephen stood. "We have a long journey ahead of us."

"Yes, sir," Dawnson said, straightening. "Would you like a bath, Your Royal Highness? Or would you like to go straight to bed?"

"A shower would be nice. Not many opportunities for that on a boat, I'm afraid," Stephen rubbed his forehead.

"Of course, sir. I'll go prepare it right away." And off he went. Stephen made his way to his bedchamber, which was relatively close to his study for his own convenience. He contemplated, for the slightest moment, going back to get his papers. But then decided against it.

Perhaps it would be best for him to get some sleep. It wouldn't hurt anyone. And he doubted he could get that much done for the bill tonight. Katharine was right, it could wait.

He shut his eyes as he pushed his door open, then sighed. Yes, some rest would be nice.

He had a feeling it was going to be a tiring few weeks.

👑

IN SAI, MEANWHILE, everything was going to shit.

It wasn't particularly anyone's fault, not exactly. It was more the fact that things were happening far too fast and no one could react. Irina stared down at her dress. It was a glorious piece of artwork, she gave the tailors that—the red silk was gilded with gold, layers upon layers of gossamer and expensive materials, precious gems laced into the hems. It reached the ground with a train that led behind, her shoulders wrapped by two armour-like guards, gold and black in colour, spreading out almost like tiny wings. They were taking out the pieces for her hair now.

She didn't think she could walk by the end of this.

She turned her head to an amused Myrina while she still could. "I'm going to collapse and fall. Not even the dress for my ce feng li—" title-giving ceremony "—was this heavy, Myrina."

"Says a lot," the countess replied, "about the importance of marriage for a girl compared to gaining a title, doesn't it? Of course it's heavy, Irina, I'm pretty sure there's a few hundred gemstones stitched onto that dress. Those are heavy."

Then the stylists walked back in, and Irina clamped her mouth shut, not wanting to risk angering any one of them. Here she was not Mingxian Huancheng Gongzhu. Here she was just another mannequin, another model, for them to prod around and style however as long as the end product was beautiful. No matter what happens to her. It was a brutal world.

They held the golden diadem that she was to wear, the golden chains tipped with diamonds and sapphires and jades dangling and clinging against each other as they moved forward. Her hair was going to be done half-up, they'd told her. Irina glared at the diadem, as if it was the source of all of her problems. She asked, gingerly, glancing at the two tailor apprentices holding the crown, "How heavy is it?"

The tailor grimaced as she took it out of their hands. "Not heavy at all."

Irina continued, "Why do I think you're lying?"

The tailor looked affronted. "I would not dare lie to you, Your Highness."

Irina decided not to put out the fact that the tailor was struggling to bring it towards her and set it on her head. Instead she offered, "I could sit."

The tailor shook her head. "The quality is... better if you remain standing, Your Highness. Allow me to..." Irina was far too tall for the tailor to be able to place it on properly.

Myrina suggested, "A stool to help you, perhaps?"

"Yes, yes," the tailor nodded, "that would be great. Mo Tao... Yes. That stool, good girl." The maid in question, Mo Tao, pushed over a small step stool from the side of the room. The tailor stepped onto it quickly, using her newfound additional height to navigate the diadem into Irina's head. Pure gold, it had to be, and the gemstones encrusted on it felt like it weighed a whole ton. Irina physically winced when the tailor released her hand, but she didn't say anything. Not the first time she'd worn something like this, not precisely, but bloody hell did it not hurt every time.

Once it was secured, the tailor started with doing the back of her hair. Half-up, so she brought and winded the pieces together and then frowned. "Someone else will be doing your hair, of course," the tailor said after pinning a few locks of hair all around. "But for now, this will do. Just a rough draft of everything."

"Is there any weight to make this more convenient and comfortable?" Irina requested.

"Beauty is pain, Your Highness, it's just for a little while anyways."

"I must say," Myrina frowned, "I can't see how she's going to eat in this."

"There is another robe for the after-wedding celebrations," the tailor said. "I'm not in charge of it, but I believe it should be done sometime soon."

Irina said, stone-faced, "The fitting is in two days."

"Yes, yes," the black-haired tailor nodded. "That's it. That is more comfortable to work around, very lightweight. Not as glamorous but still well-made. Very, very traditional. My, the wedding is so soon."

"A bit too fast," Irina said.

Myrina flashed a small smile. "The princess is a bit nervous, you know. It's not every day one gets married, after all."

The tailor nodded. "Of course, of course, understandable." She was unmarried as well, most likely.

Myrina continued, murmuring, "We're trying to calm her nerves."

Irina decided to very quickly change the topic before this turned into some long and unneeded conversation about confronting her fears and calming herself. "Well, the Prince and his Arecian cohorts arrive quite soon. Are you in charge of making their clothes for the ceremony, or is that someone else?"

"Someone else," the tailor confirmed. "I'm afraid my talents lie solely with feminine clothes. The masculine, I've never quite gotten. Must be because I studied at a school that only accepted girls and mainly socialised with them rather than anyone of the opposite sex—ah, but I digress. I wouldn't want to bore your ears off, Your Highness."

"Oh no please," Irina said mildly, "continue. It'll take my mind off the crown currently crushing my head."

The tailor laughed awkwardly. "Oh my, Your Highness. If you so wish..."

Myrina nodded earnestly and encouragingly. "Please, go ahead. The princess is fascinated by the lives of the common people. Always been one of her interests, you see."

"Oh," the tailor said with a smile, "if that's so... then."

Irina shot Myrina daggers. She'd wanted the tailor to start talking, but now Myrina had just broken a dam that could not be fixed. And damn the countess, she clearly knew what she had done as she flashed Irina the blandest smile. Irina tore her gaze away before the tailor and her apprentices noticed the little interaction occurring right beneath their noses and began asking questions.

Answering questions was one of Irina's least favourite things to do. It tested her patience the most, because people never got it immediately. She had to explain and explain and explain, and by the second time she usually wanted to smash someone's head in. It wasn't a nice feeling.

She'd always been short-tempered and impatient. Ryan told her it was her biggest flaw. His greatest strength, or one of them. Among the two, Irina was the one with the explosive brilliance, while Ryan played the long game. Different styles, and they balanced each other out perfectly. The Emperor and Empress had begun slowly lending power to the two of them a few years ago, and so far they'd done an excellent job as far as Irina was concerned. Sai was stable and its economy was booming. The war with Melique had been handled well, and she was going to get herself married for an alliance's sake. She'd say she'd contributed fairly much so far.

Perhaps it was why she surrounded herself with people who also possessed an excellent temper. Because she knew her weaknesses and realised she needed people around to curb her more... impulsive side.

A bit more difficult said than done, but still. People were often too afraid to point out your flaws, especially knowing you were of a far higher rank and status than you were. She always had to take care in selecting her advisors. Her circle of herons, as she used to call them when she was younger and thought it had sounded cool, was the most elite group of the people she trusted. Leaders and the top of their respective fields.

And the tailor went on and on as the gown was removed and a literal weight was removed from her shoulders. Irina let out a quiet gasp as she felt the crown being lifted, shaking her head slightly. Still talking, the tailor removed the pins from her head. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders, and Irina subconsciously dragged her fingers through them, quietly pitying her roots. Myrina smiled through it all, as any young, educated noblewoman would.

"And that's all for today, I think," the tailor frowned as she regarded Irina up and down, and back the other way. "What do you think of the dress, Your Highness?"

Irina swallowed back the many complaints she had and said, "It'll do."

"Excellent!" The woman beamed. "I'll add a few altercations for it to better fit you and things like that, of course, to prepare it for your final fitting."

Irina nodded. "That's... how many days before the wedding?"

"Three days before, Your Highness."

Irina mentally added that to her schedule, because she swore she hadn't been informed about that beforehand. Myrina was frowning too. She said, "I have to check the schedule... I'm quite certain we have a rehearsal for that day."

The tailor said, "Oh, the official told me they'd made sure the time wouldn't clash. The fitting is in the morning, the rehearsal after lunch. It should work, I think, yes?" Her eyes darted between the two of them, not quite sure who she should be referring to for the arrangements.

Irina decided to let Myrina take charge. Myrina said, "Well... I'll still have to confirm it. Will get back to you, Madam Huang."

The tailor nodded. "Of course, of course. I will be awaiting your confirmation, Lady Mai."

"I think we can wrap it up for today, then." Myrina glanced around. "I'll have one of the maids show you out. Bing Yi! Show the tailor and her apprentices out, please? Yes, to the Palace gates." Myrina nodded. "Thank you, Madam, for your help today. The dress is simply splendid. You truly are the best tailor in the entire country."

The tailor blushed. "Aiya, guojiang le!" You overpraise me. Irina thought Myrina wasn't, not precisely. The dress was a work of pure art. It was far too impractical, but practicality hadn't been on the list of requirements for the dress. It was what it looked like that mattered, not what it felt like. And the Saian court would not employ anyone but the very best, which was what Madam Huang was.

"No, no," Myrina was still smiling as she accompanied the Madam and her apprentices out into the yard. She came back a few minutes later when the voices finally silenced, and Myrina let out a quiet sigh.

She glanced ruefully at Irina, who was finally sitting down after god knew how long. Irina met her eye. Myrina said, "So much to do. Have you finished packing yet? Please tell me yes, or I'll have to take matters into my own hands."

"I've packed what I can right now."

"Good, good," Myrina nodded. "I'm all ready to go too. How long do you want me to stay with you? Though I can probably get winter clothes there if necessary. Six months?"

"I was thinking less," Irina said casually.

Myrina said, "So confident of yourself and your ability to get used to Arecia?" But she was pleased, Irina could see it. She didn't want to leave for so long. She was far more comfortable here in Sai than anywhere else she could be. But Irina knew that the moment she'd come back, she'd lock herself in that country estate of hers and never come back out again. She'd find a way to kick all her relatives out of it.

Irina had another purpose for her.

Irina said, "I want you to help with Sai."

Myrina froze. "Whatever do you mean?"

Irina drawled, "Well, I won't be around to help Ryan anymore. So I thought you could."

Myrina let out a surprised bark of laughter. "Whatever makes you think I'm capable of that?"

"You've been around me for what, the past seven, eight years? You know everything I do. All my duties. I don't need you to take my place, but for the first year or two, help Ryan out with things. It won't take much. Just give him tips, help him arrange things and keep everything in line."

Myrina said, "He hates me. And I'm not you. It'll never work. Come on, Irina. Ryan will be fine."

"Will he, though?" Irina questioned, tilting her head. "Eventually, yes, but not immediately. Shi ying qi, hao ma?" An adjustment stage, alright?

Myrina shook her head. "It won't be necessary, I assure you. Prince Ryan is more than capable of handling himself."

"I'm his cousin," Irina sighed, "and I think he'd struggle. But whatever. We can discuss this another time."

Myrina opened her mouth, almost as if she was about to argue, but then she stopped and shook her head. "Whatever. But it will not be needed. I'm sure of it."