Chapter Text
Lizzie was happy. Not joyful, just happy. The kind of happy that comes from deep inside, and only when you are peaceful. Calm. Relaxed. Which Lizzie was just then.
Until Martyn came along. Her older brother had a permanent crease between his eyes from all the frowning he did. Being the royal advisor was no small task, but he managed it all just fine.
But today, he wasn’t looking for peace or relaxation. He had a message for Lizzie.
“Council chambers, now. Do you know where Pearl is?” Martyn asked frantically.
Lizzie shook her head. “No, but she might be at the post office. Why?”
“Scott has an... interesting idea. You’re both needed at the council chambers. And I need to find Pearl.” He ran off, back down the path to town.
Lizzie quickly packed up her blanket that she had been laying on and rushed down the path after Martyn. She knew he didn’t just stress over nothing, but she wondered why it concerned her.
She soon arrived at the low building that was the Council Hall. Stepping inside, she noticed that it seemed very dark. Her gills slowly flattened against her neck, a small instinctual movement that helped protect her neck.
Reaching the end of the hall, she knocked on the door to the office and was bid enter.
Stepping inside, she was surprised to see Jimmy, her little brother, sitting on a stool. He looked up and flashed her a smile, then went back to fidgeting with the tassels on the edge of the cloak he wore.
Scott, sitting behind the desk, looked up as she entered. He motioned for her to sit, then went back to the document he was reading.
Taking a seat next to Jimmy, she fiddled with the webbing between her fingers. A moment later, the door opened to admit Martyn and Pearl, who was wearing her Postmaster uniform. They both took seats as well, Martyn slipping behind the desk next to Scott. Scott looked up from the document at that, putting it off to the side.
“So,” he started, “I know you’re all curious about why I’ve summoned you here.”
There was an affirming chorus of yeses from the group. Scott waited for them to die down before continuing on.
“The thing is, the other two kingdoms on the continent, Crastle and Watchener, would like to make marriage alliances with us. However, I’m the only royal, and I have somebody else in mind.”
Jimmy colored faintly pink at Scott’s words, but it soon disappeared.
“But,” Scott continued, “They are willing to marry families with high appointments. And you are the only ones who are the right age. I’m not sending the Lord of the Southlands to marry a teen. So here’s my proposal: There are two candidates. They’re both coming at the end of the week. Once you’ve met them, you can decide who’s marrying who. Please?”
He finished the sentence with a question, but all of them knew they would accept the offer. Scott was their closest friend, and they would do anything to help them.
They all nodded.
Scott was still standing, a smile on his face. Of course, he had known they would most likely accept, but there was still the small chance they would say no. He sighed, sitting down and reaching into an open drawer behind him.
“Thank you so much. Now, here are their profiles. Crastle is sending one of their close guards, and Watchener is sending their Princess. Crastle and Watchener also have a planned marriage alliance, so we’ll all be gathering in a few days to discuss. Okay?”
They all nodded again, Lizzie and Pearl moving forward to look at the profiles. Internally, they both knew they would be the ones to get married, since Martyn was too busy to get married and Jimmy had something going on with Scott.
The first profile had a photo of a brunette guard with a green streak in his hair. The profile said he was 17, the same age as her. She liked the cocky look he wore. The second profile had a picture of a ginger-haired princess, with monarch wings behind her.
Pearl seemed drawn toward the princess’s photo, while Lizzie liked the guard’s. Fine by her, now they didn’t have to fight over the candidates. Scott watched them with a knowing smile, then motioned for them to get out.