Chapter Text
Marriage is many things.
To the noble classes, marriage is a business transaction. It is the contract that binds the lands together. It creates alliances that last for dozens of years and bring peace to the citizenry. It’s also a tool to control the transfer of property.
The right marriage can have enough political power to unite a kingdom under one ruler.
In just a few days, one such wedding will take place.
One hundred forty eight years ago, the kingdom of Mondstadt was shattered after a peasant uprising. All but two families of the noble class were driven out of their lands by the common folk. Those families, the Ragnvindr house and the Gunnhildr house, are beloved by their subjects, who find them to be noble in their morals in addition to their blood. Both houses are admired for producing strong, brave knights that serve the common folk in peacetimes and have, historically, defended them valiantly in times of war. They have also treated their common citizens with more respect and humility than other clans who were chased out of the kingdom all those years ago.
After the success of the rebellions, however, the entire feudal hierarchy was a decentralized mess.
The Ragnvindrs and Gunnhildrs hatched a plan to reunite their beloved kingdom, starting from the roots all those years ago. Their actions as barons led them to gain more lands and become counts, then dukes, until the two families had claimed the entire kingdom in their names. The last step of their plan, seven generations in the making, is to install their young heirs, beloved by the common folk, as the new centralized rulers: the first king and queen of a new Mondstadt.
The wedding will be a festive period of time for the realm’s nobility and common folk, but it will also be a diplomatic opportunity for neighboring nobility who wish to form bonds with this new kingdom in its infancy.
One such opportunity comes in the form of Duke Ragnvindr’s second son.
Marriage is many things.
To Ajax, it is something he never expected to worry about. He was born a commoner in a small fishing village so far from the nearest castle that he thought he would never live to see his own Count’s estate. Of course, now has his own dukedom to rule over and he works for Her Majesty the Tsaritsa as Her Personal Champion, Master of the Hunt, and a commander of Her soldiers, but he was still under the impression that he would get married in his own time and of his own volition… Until this council meeting.
“Before we decide who will be attending the Mondstadtian royal weddingー” Pulcinella stands from his place at the table. “I would like to propose something.”
Pierro raises a suspicious brow. “What kind of proposal?”
“I propose a marriage between our courts. A sign of…” he waves his hand like he’s trying to drum up the words. “Good faith, an alliance, something to make the young king and queen more confident on their new thrones. They’ll feel so very grateful to have our support, that this may be a lifelong alliance.”
“Do you have a happy couple in mind?” Pierro asks.
“From Mondstadt, Lord Kaeya Ragnvindr.”
“The bastard?” Columbina laughs. “I guess they’d be grateful to get him off their hands, but we can’t expect him to inherit anything of worth .”
“Who’s his blushing bride?” Pantalone asks. “If they’re going to accept, his suitor has to be an unmarried, landed noble.”
“And there’s exactly one of those in our court.” Pulcinella states proudly. “In fact, he’s in this room.”
Ajax looks around the table, trying to deduce who the hell Pulcinella is talking about.
Married.
Married.
Betrothed.
On a mission.
Has grandkids .
Marriedー
ーto each other.
Married.
Widowed.
Widowed…
And himself…
…
He must have missed somethingー
Married,
Married,
Betrothed,
On a mission,
Has grandkids,
Married to each other,
Married,
Widowed,
Widowed, and…
…
Himself…
His eyes travel across everyone seated at the table twice before he realizes everyone is looking directly at him.
Then it clicks. “Wait.”
“There he is.” Pantalone deadpans. “I wasn’t aware he was listening.”
“No.” Ajax says.
“What a splendid opportunity for young Childe!” Dottore says louder.
Columbina giggles. “I think that’s a wonderful idea. Don’t you agree, Arle?”
“He could come to the royal wedding.” Arlecchino muses. “They could go on little dates around the castle.”
“I think it’s terribleー” Ajax tries to interject, but the other harbingers are all talking over each other.
Signora starts bitching about noble blood belonging on the throne.
Columbina muses loudly about their compatibility to Arlecchino.
Pantalone lists off the economic boons they could extract out of the proposal, and Dottore nods fervently and says something about their population of peasantry.
Ajax loudly asks “aren’t arranged marriages supposed to yield children?” with no response from his fellow vassals.
Pulcinella clears his throat to get everyone’s attention again. “All in favor of betrothing Duke Tartaglia to Lord Kaeya Ragnvindr?”
Everyone in front of Ajax raises their hand.
“All opposed?”
Ajax raises his hand.
“The vote passes.” Pulcinella declares. “Another one of us should attend the royal wedding with Tartaglia, of course.”
Pierro volunteers and the council continues planning for the wedding they’ll be attending and the betrothal they’ll be proposing. All the while, Ajax sulks in his chair over being outvoted.
After the meeting, Ajax flags down Pulcinella to ask why he should get married to Lord Kaeya.
“It’s all political, Childe. It’ll secure an alliance with Mondstadt.” He explains off-handedly.
“But why me? Why him?”
“You two are available and similar in age, that’s all.” Pulcinella waves him off. “Now, hurry up and make preparations to leave.”
Ajax is left alone in the corridors of Her Majesty’s palace. He wonders what waits for him in Mondstadt.
Marriage is many things.
To Kaeya, it’s been a source of anxiety for a long while . Before he was Lord Kaeya, it was something that he somewhat dreaded because he already knew that it wouldn’t be for love. After escaping to Mondstadt, though, he had the slightest bit of optimism that, if he were to survive long enough, he might find a nice boy to marry and live a happy life.
But then he grew older and realized he’s still going to be used as a political piece in the grand scheme of things. The good news is that he’s not as important of a piece as he was destined to be when he was young. The bad news is that it’s not likely to be a very exciting wedding, whenever it happens, but he can settle for enjoying Diluc’s wedding while it lasts.
Diluc catches up with him in the corridor. “Any idea what this is about?”
Kaeya shakes his head. “I was hoping you’d know.”
“No. Haven’t seen him since breakfast.” Diluc says. “It must be important, court’s supposed to start soon.”
The urgent issue their father called them to his study for was, in fact, infuriatingly thematic to Kaeya. He takes a deep breath as he processes the news.
“This must be a joke.” Diluc says flatly. “I’ve never even heard of this Duke Tartagliaー”
“Our intelligence says he’s an accomplished soldier who was granted his dukedom about a year ago.” Their father explains. “He hasn’t been involved in any international diplomatic affairs yet.”
Diluc looks more puzzled. “And he’s coming to the wedding?”
“He’s arriving with his fellow Szezhnayan vassals today.” Their father admits.
“Awfully short notice.” Kaeya points out. “Either he’s quite rude, or this is calculated.”
“How do you mean? Are they up to something?” Diluc asks.
“Father, who sent the proposal? Was it from his court? Or the Tsaritsa’s?”
“Proposed by the Tsaritsa’s council on her behalf, but approved by Her Majesty.” Their father hands over the parchment.
To the Honorable Duke Crepus Ragnvindr,
With your permission, On behalf of Her Majesty Anna Alexandra Yelizaveta Sofiya Helena Anastasia Katarina Aleksandrovna Mikhailova, We the council of Snezhnaya would like to propose a betrothal between your son, Lord Kaeya Ragnvindr, and Duke Ajax Tartaglia of Vistulania.
It would be an honor to negotiate an alliance while our representatives attend Lord Diluc’s Wedding.
Please expect Duke Pierro and Duke Tartaglia To attend the wedding along with Marquess Arlecchino and Marchioness Columbina.
Regards,
Marquess Pulcinella of Mareztenok
Duke Pierro of Novogrod
Her Majesty the Tsaritsa Of Snezhnaya
Several questions run through Kaeya’s mind:
Why is this coming from the Tsaritsa’s council instead of the Duke himself?
Why are they concerned with Kaeya of all people?
If they want him because of his connection to Diluc and to Mondstadt, then why are they even concerned with Mondstadt?
And why now?