The King's reasons

After the announcement, the guests went to the center of the ballroom and the musicians started playing their songs, putting everyone to dance in honor of the new future couple. While Roghan took Cecilie to dance and the King and the Queen followed suit, Riekan found himself being dragged by Adallis.

“Well, I cannot say I was expecting that,” his older sister told him as he twirled her across the room.

“Me neither,” Riekan agreed. “Reywan seemed to take it well, though.”

“Yes, but it makes some sense if you think about it,” the princess said. “Reywan never courted any lady and Roghan started it with Cecilie more than a year ago.”

Still, there must be a reason our father rushed with Roghan’s wedding instead of trying to find a bride for Reywan, Riekan mused.

The two siblings continued to dance until the song ended, the required skills having been something their parents stressed on them very early in life. Riekan had to admit Adallis grasped dancing with much more skill and grace than he did, though. As fate would have it, the song came to an end just as they were passing by Reywan and Tina. The handmaiden nodded at Riekan as they approached their oldest brother. Physically, Reywan was very similar to Riekan and Roghan, but his frail aspect made him quite different from his younger brothers.

“Oh, Reywan, I don’t know what to say,” Adallis said, squeezing her brother’s hand warmly. “I’m split between feeling sorry for you and happy for Roghan.”

The oldest of the Lionwell siblings smiled. “Do not worry, sister, it was expected if you consider my condition,” he said calmly. “I am sure Roghan will be a much better and stronger king than I would.”

Riekan tuned out the conversation as he noticed his parents walking away to one of the balconies. “Excuse me,” he said. I am going to get to the bottom of this.

The youngest prince made his way to King Albran and Queen Amalie. His father was like an older version of Roghan, tall and strong, although his brown hair was starting to see a few grey strands. His beautiful mother looked like a mature version of Adallis, the only difference being her hair color that had an auburn shade to it. Both were in their early-forties.

“Mother, father,” he politely greeted, quickly bowing his head.

“Son,” Amalie beamed. “That display you and Adallis gave us was quite inspiring.”

“Thank you,” Riekan chuckled. “It must have been much more inspiring from her part, but I will take the compliment.”

“Do not be so modest, my boy,” Albran replied, a small smile on his stubbled face. “Nevertheless, why do I have a feeling you did not come to discuss your dancing abilities?”

Riekan mentally grinned, that was his father, the King never beat around the bush. “You made quite the important announcement tonight,” he said before letting out a sigh. “Adallis and I were just wondering what it means for Reywan.”

Albran and Amalie exchanged a pointed glance and then nodded at each other before the King placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Let us not talk about this in the open,” he said. “Come with us, son.”

Riekan followed his parents to an adjoining room, noticing the weary look on their faces, one they assumed as soon as the three of them crossed the threshold of the ballroom. He sat beside his mother as his father began slowly pacing around the room, his hands clasped behind his back.

“I am gravely concerned with the future of our kingdom, son,” Albran said, a serious expression on his regal features.

The young prince raised a curious eyebrow, taken aback by his father’s tone. “Concerned how?”

“Sarine Crowslaw will most likely be crowned Queen of Falbrein the coming month. Once that happens, I cannot be sure of what her intentions will be. I am afraid this kingdom, by Alxer, the entire continent will not be able to withstand another war!” he explained, getting a little inflamed at the end. “Tolfin said he will try to persuade his niece to not take the crown, but frankly, I do not trust the man that much. If he betrayed his own brother in the past, who’s to say he would not do the same with us and the rest of the Alliance?”

“Still, father, it would be Falbrein against the rest of the Alliance,” Riekan pondered. “They cannot take on three nations.”

“That is presuming the Alliance will hold. Our relations with Arcans haven’t been the same ever since the Arcanites deposed the king and put that President in his place, I cannot say with certainty if they would back us up in a war. Sandhaun is like a magic fire spell waiting to explode, too unstable to be trusted, I can tell the Zabrar Clan is just itching for a chance to wage war on anyone, be it Falbrein or by turning their backs on the Alliance,” Albran said, his son and wife’s attentions completely focused on his words. “Who am I going to trust? Anglurea? Those idiotic elves never cared for anyone but themselves! They were ready to let the whole continent crumble on the war, and I know they would gladly do it again!”

The King’s outburst surprised Amalie and Riekan. While the Queen was privy to some of the information her husband was relaying to them, she didn’t know the situation was so dire.

“That brings me to your question, son, where does this leaves Reywan?” Albran inquired and then let the sentence hang. "Assuming my worst fears come to pass, and should anything happen to me, who would you trust to keep Kinwald safe? Reywan or Roghan?”

Riekan fell silent, pondering his father’s question. If the green-eyed young man could be honest in his answer, he didn’t think either of his older brothers were fully suited to the task of protecting the kingdom in an eventual war.

Albran grinned. “You must have reached the same conclusion as I did. Reywan, while a remarkable man, is simply too weak for such a burden,” he then shared a look with his wife. “Sadly, we also do not know for how long he will live.”

Riekan’s eyes widened and he turned to his mother, who let a single tear fall from her left eye. “His condition worsens every month and refuses to improve, the healers do not know what to do any longer,” she explained. “Alxer knows how much I have been praying these days!”

“As for Roghan, I am proud of his military accomplishments, but that is precisely the problem with him, he does not possess any diplomatic abilities,” the King continued. “He might very well start a war by saying the wrong thing, but alas, I have faith he would be able to defend Kinwald, should that happen.”

Albran then walked over to Riekan and placed his hands on his son’s shoulders. “That is where you come in, Riekan. You might not have realized yet, but you possess both of their qualities,” he told the youngest prince. “I need you to be the voice of reason on Roghan’s shoulder when he becomes King. It might not happen for several years, but I need you to promise me you will help your brother steer the kingdom to times of peace.”

Despite being in the presence of his parents only, the moment felt solemn for Riekan. He was finally being entrusted with something befitting of a prince, a task of utmost importance for the good of his home. He bowed and descended to one knee before his father. “I, Prince Riekan Lionwell, promise to not disappoint you, my father, King Albran Lionwell.”

Amalie hugged her son tightly, a few more tears escaping her green eyes. “Do not fret, my boy, your sister will also help you.”

Albran sighed heavily at the mention of his only daughter’s name. “Amalie, my love, in light of everything I have said here tonight, I might have to entrust our daughter with another task, one almost as important as the one I gave Riekan.”

The auburn-haired Queen turned to her husband, immediately understanding the meaning of what he was implying. “Please, do not tell me that…,”

The King nodded gravely. “Yes, I fear that perhaps I have postponed this too much, but I was discussing the matter with Radus earlier, this might be the time to arrange a marriage for Adallis.”

Riekan frowned, Adallis was twenty-two already, a little past the age a princess would get married, so they assumed it would never happen.

“To whom, Albran?” Amalie wailed. “There is not even a suitable candidate on this entire continent!”

The King ignored his wife’s outburst and turned to a window, where the Moon illuminated the roofs of the houses in Kinend. “There are three options. Count Boscair of Sollion sent me a letter last week asking for Adallis’ hand. If I consent, this will probably mean the end of Sollion’s claims for independence, which would keep Kinwald whole as it is today. If I refuse, I can safely say we will lose the lands of Sollion if we do not quash the rebellion with our army,” he told them. “Another option would be reaching out to Anglurea, they have a princess about our daughter’s age. It would be against our laws to marry Adallis to another woman, but it would ensure the elves would come to our aid in an eventual conflict.”

An appalled Amalie held her husband’s arm and shook it. “You must be getting mad! I do not even want to hear about your third alternative!”

Albran sighed again. “The head of the Zabrar Clan in Sandhaun,” he had to **** himself to say it. “It would keep Sandhaun in a short leash, in the Alliance. The combined might of the Crimson Lions and their warriors would mean a truly invincible army.”

The Queen hit her husband’s arm. “They are savages! What in Alxer’s name are you thinking?!”

Riekan felt like he was intruding on his parents’ upcoming argument, so he left the room, his mind reeling as his feet carried him back to the ballroom.