"…Engagement?"
Darian muttered dumbfoundedly, unable to believe the king's words.
The situation was too absurd for him to process.
How could they suddenly engage him?
The question kept ringing in his head, over and over again, refusing to make sense.
King Alfred responded with a neutral expression, "Yes, you are engaged to the second princess of Drakholm."
Darian stood there, his thoughts in complete disarray.
Engaged? To a princess he had never even met?
His mouth opened, then closed. No words came out. His mind kept searching for some kind of explanation, but the situation was simply too absurd to grasp.
Mustering what little courage he had, Darian couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, is there any particular reason for this?"
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't come up with a logical reason for this sudden arrangement.
It wasn't as if they were concerned about his future. If that were the case, they would have at least checked on him after he woke up.
So why now?
Darian clenched his fists, his thoughts swirling.
His gaze flickered toward the king. Then what is it? Politics? An alliance?
Alfred looked at Darian for a moment before turning his gaze toward his advisor, Milen, who gave a small nod in response.
Shifting his attention back to Darian, the king took a brief pause before speaking.
"It's a request made by their princess."
Darian felt his breath hitch. The princess of Drakholm… requested this?
No matter how hard he thought, he couldn't find a reason why.
Do darian have any past connection with her? Darian pondered, his brows furrowing.
If so, why was she acting on it now—when he was the one inhabiting this body?
A frustrated sigh escaped his lips before he even realized it. This situation made no sense.
Noticing Darian's dissatisfied expression, Alfred spoke again.
"In return, they have agreed to transfer one-third of their mines to us and form a military alliance. This will be of great benefit to our kingdom."
A pleased expression crossed the king's face. How could he not be satisfied? Under his rule, the kingdom was achieving great feats.
Even so, the question remained—why had Drakholm proposed such a deal?
And more baffling, why had they chosen Darian of all people?
It wasn't as if he held any political weight. By all accounts, he was utterly inadequate for such an arrangement.
All the officials nodded in response. Though surprised by Drakholm's proposal, they saw no reason to object—after all, the benefits were undeniable.
A military alliance and a share of Drakholm's mines? It was an opportunity too good to pass up.
Whatever reason the princess had for this request was of little concern to them. As long as the kingdom gained from it, that was all that mattered.
Darian gritted his teeth. He wanted to argue, to demand an explanation—but deep down, he knew that in the face of royal authority, his protests meant nothing.
His fate had been decided for him.
Alfred muttered a sentence that seemed to hold a hint of sympathy before declaring,
"The contribution you will be making to the kingdom is undeniable. So in return, I will grant you a wish—anything you desire, as long as it does not go against the kingdom's interests."
His voice carried the weight of authority, but to Darian, it felt more like a consolation prize than a reward.
"Alright, you may leave now," Alfred said, leaving no room for negotiation.
Darian stood there for a moment before lowering his head in a bow. Without another word, he turned and left the courtroom. His steps felt heavy—his body drained of all strength after what had just transpired.
"Let's calm down for now… After all, nothing can be done at this moment."
There was no point in resisting. Not now, at least.
Besides, he had other matters to prepare for. His return to the academy was approaching, and with this engagement looming over him, things were bound to get even more complicated.
********
At the castle of Drakholm, inside a beautifully crafted room, a woman of striking beauty sat before a mirror, her long hair being gently combed by her personal maid.
The soft glow of candlelight reflected off her golden eyes—mysterious and unreadable.
"Ami, do you want to ask something?"
Through the mirror, she caught sight of her maid's doubtful expression.
"…N-N-Nothing," Ami stammered, clearly uneasy under the woman's piercing gaze.
The woman chuckled softly, a knowing smile gracing her lips. "Just ask away."
Ami hesitated before finally gathering her courage. "Princess… why are you so adamant about this engagement?"
It was hard for her to understand why the princess—respected, admired—would propose such a thing. And with him of all people.
The widely infamous prince.
The woman's golden eyes shimmered with intrigue as she spoke.
"Ami… would you believe it?"
Ami blinked, confused. "What?"
She raised an eyebrow, doubt clear on her face.
"Fate may be written in stone, but even mountains erode under the ceaseless push of an unstoppable force."