Chapter Text
Bass had been more than appalled when he was told the the proposal to unite the kingdoms. While his father rambled about the war and the casualties, Bass simply sat straight faced, consumed with anger. He stood suddenly from his seat.
“I don’t care,” he growled. “This war could go on for years for all I care. I’m more of an asset as a fighter than-than whatever you’re insinuating,” he rambled. His father stood as well, a mirthless laugh escaping him. Bass kept the discomfort off his face.
“You silly boy,” the king began. “It’s not up to you. If Light wants to go through with a wedding to end this war, then let him. It’s more cost effective, and it gets you out of my hair.” Bass clenched his fists.
Bass was a fighter. A highly ranked knight. Not as high as his brother, but he was renowned enough throughout the kingdom for his skill. The thought of marriage? It repulsed him.
“Why not Zero,” Bass blurred out. He wracked his brain desperately to think of a way to get out of the arrangement. Wily rolled his eyes like he’d proposed they’d send his dog.
“Zero is much less...expendable,” Wily’s words send a spark of jealousy through him. “We need him here, he is the captain of the guard after all,” he continued. Bass boiled with hate. He didn’t know who he was to be betrothed to and he didn’t care.
“I’m not going through with this-“ But Wily send him a look that gave him chills. He found his mouth closed.
“You will not ruin this for us with your petty attitude. You will be married and all of this will end,” he said. Bass gave him one more look of defiance before storming off to his quarters.
Bass was used to being a soldier, but now was just a prince.
~~~
About a month after that, most of the preparations had been made between the kingdoms. And now here he sat, being shipped off to Light’s kingdom.
He was allowed to bring all of his things, not that he had many, a servant or two, and his dog Treble. He was offered a carriage, but he decided to ride ahead on horse. It felt much less demeaning.
A few guards trailed ahead of him, both for his protection, and to assure he didn’t run off. Bass glared at their backs intently enough to burn holes in their armor.
Bass huffed, adjusting the cloak on his own armor. He had no intention of looking presentable for his fiancé. The word burned in his mind. How disgusting he though, clutching the reins.
He hadn’t even met whoever he was to be engaged to, but Bass held a consuming hatred for them. He knew of Light’s four children, three of them sons. He had little desire to get to know any of them, and refused to hear which of them would be taking his hand. Mostly likely the daughter, he thought dejectedly.
He was snapped out of his thoughts by an announcement from the guards ahead.
They had arrived.
~~~
The castle courtyard was already bustling with servants, assisting the guards, gathering his things, leading the horses away. Bass stood in the middle of it all, not thinking of what to say. He had assumed the king would greet him, and had thought of multiple ways to tell him off without getting himself killed. But standing there now, he wasn’t entirely sure what to do.
An attendant walked over to him.
“You must be the prince, I’ve been asked to escort you to the throne room,” they said. Bass felt his stomach clench at his title. He wordlessly nodded in order to prevent himself from saying something he’d regret.
As he was lead down the grand halls towards the throne room, Bass couldn’t help but notice the more welcoming decor and atmosphere the castle presented. Bass felt some of the tension lift from his body. However, it returned the moment he stood in front of the towering doors of the throne room.
“You may proceed,” the attendant said. Bass growled and gripped the handle of the door and threw it open.
The throne room was intricately decorated, tapestries decorated the walls, intricately woven. Bass tried not to stare at the room as he walked down the hall. The entire royal family stood waiting for him. He felt very sick.
Studying all of them, none of them looked very pleased to see him. The oldest, X he recalled, stood tallest out of all of them. His face was set as neutral as possible, but Bass could feel the displeasure, even disappointed radiating from him.
He cast his gaze towards the twins. Rock and Roll he thought. They were young, but their faces were hard set in a frown. Bass looked away from the two.
The king cleared his throat.
“How fortunate you can finally join us here after all this planning,” he began. Bass remembered his place, bowing quickly. “I trust your journey wasn’t all too unpleasant?” Bass offered a curt nod.
“The weather was fair and the trails clear,” was all he could muster. Bass found his eyes wandering over the family again. He realized the fourth sibling was not among them. He almost scoffed. Perhaps he thought he was too good to be in the presence of someone like him.
“That is good, but I suppose we should get straight to it,” Light spoke again. Bass snapped out of it, nodding quickly. “Then I guess you should finally be meeting your betrothed,” he said. Bass clenched his fists.
He looked over the siblings again, but none of them met his gaze. Bass ground his teeth. He despised them. “Yes,” was all me managed.
Light nodded at an attendant, and they quickly rushed out of the room. Bass was confused. “Are they not-?” He began, but was cut short when the doors to the room opened again.
The prince worse a red cloak with gold trimming. When he walked closer it trailed around him, the woven gold wavered, sparkling like the sun on water. His auburn hair seemed to catch the light just so, and Bass kept his jaw clenched to keep it from falling open.
As the prince stood before him, Bass couldn’t help but notice how small he was. He was seized with the thought that if the price were under him, he might break. He would have slapped himself were he not so distracted.
“Prince Bass, meet your fiancé. My son Blues.”