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Jealousy twisted inside him like a python.
It was unfair, simply, and utterly unfair. To have a man stand there and watch others do what he could not was torture of the highest order. Not even in all of his years being in Her Majesty, The Tsaritsa's service had he even entertained to use such tactics. Yet, Ajax stood, helpless and unmoving, as he watched his only love, draped in a white sarsnet dress, embroidered with silver thread stars, walk beside a man who was not him.
Ajax was no fool. He was just another noble with military honors, a mere third son of a duke and she, Lumine, was The Crown Princess of Khaenri'ah. The future queen of her nation and co-ruler once her wedding day arrived. Protocol demanded that she marry well, that she wed a husband of a high and refined birth. The yearly Season, held in the lands of Fontaine, was the perfect place for such a search.
Here the gentry of all nations came together, here a beautiful princess could hope to make a suitable match. Maybe a man who held a dukedom would catch her eye, or a principality, a kingdom perhaps? All of these better than a man who was only set to inherit a few acres of land (if any) all of these better than someone like him.
Why did the gods torture him so? Why did fate, so many years ago, send him to that distant land to be a playmate for the now King of Khaenri'ah, Lumine's twin brother Aether. He could've been spared the years in truly knowing her, he could've been saved from the heartache. He could've known life without her, yet, he couldn't imagine any other way to live. To Ajax, Lumine was the only one for him, he had been truly and utterly ruined for anyone else.
“Remember your place, my son,” his mother said as she adjusted one of her gloves, “this Season has produced many fine ladies to court. Many of them have had fine presentations and will be very agreeable as a wife. You best set your sights on one of them now, and not on The Crown Princess. It was hard enough to get the ton to allow you back into the fold.”
Ajax breathed out deeply and nodded his head mechanically. The ton, what a miserable bunch–at least Ajax believed them to be. He had begged his mother earlier that year not to appeal to them. He cared less for attending another Season, he thought the last disastrous one made it clear enough. Evidently, to his mother, it did not.
“You must find a wife this Season,” she told him, “I will not have any son be an eternal bachelor.”
An eternal bachelor would have been a more agreeable fate, Ajax thought, at least then he wouldn't deceive a poor girl into an unhappy marriage. Ajax's gaze drifted back to Lumine, she and her suitor were now under a gazebo. She had been courted by many suitors throughout the Season and over time it seemed that all had given up their pursuit of her. Except for this last one.
Kamisato Ayato, head of the Kamisato clan. A man who walked with such refinement that he must have been created solely to showcase the grandeur of Inazuma. He had been one of the first to vie for Lumine's affection and now he was the last one standing. It was expected soon for Lumine to receive his marriage proposal, the Season was close to ending after all.
Ajax felt his jaw tighten; he couldn't take anymore, this couldn't be how it all ended.
“I'm sorry mama,” Ajax said through his teeth. He then walked forward to where Lumine was, the warnings from his mother grew more and more faint as he approached. Lumine and her suitor turned their heads towards him, the commotion now grabbing their attention.
“Can we talk, Lumine?” Ajax said as he stood in front of the entrance of the gazebo.
“I beg your pardon?” Ayato replied as he stood up, “but this is improper. I must ask you to leave.”
“Lumine, please,” Ajax said, not giving the other man any attention, “spare me a moment of your time.”
Lumine sighed and she too rose to her feet. Her honey-colored eyes softened as she gazed at Ajax.
“He is a dear friend,” she said to the clan head, “he would not approach if it were not important.”
“But–”
“I will hear him,” Lumine said firmly. Ajax then extended his hand out to the Crown Princess and once she took hold of him, he whisked her away from the gazebo. Away from those who watched in anticipation for the now botched proposal. His words were for Lumine's ears only, not for the gossiping, wagging tongues of the ton, who Ajax now suspected his mother was trying to placate.
The two walked briskly until they found themselves in a secluded garden. Here Ajax let go of the princess’ hand and stood before her as if he were ready for a military review.
“Ajax, what is it?” Lumine asked, “why did you bring me here?”
Ajax watched as concern grew in those eyes that he loved so much. Was she worried for him or for what he would say? Ajax couldn't tell, but he knew he had to get on with it before she began fearing the worst. He swallowed hard and let the words finally tumble out.
“I know it's not my place, but I've loved you since we were children,” Ajax confessed, "I've wanted you for so long, it pained me at times. I knew our paths differed and I thought I had made peace with it long ago, but seeing you all Season long, courted by men who aren't me I couldn't stand by and allow my heart to stay unknown. If you do not feel the same, I understand. If you wish to never speak to me again, I will leave and you shall never hear of me again. All I wanted was to tell you what I truly felt,” he then placed a hand over his heart, “because this damned thing, this heart, will not let me be until I've told you.”
Ajax watched as Lumine's eyes grew wide with shock. Was this the best reaction he could hope for? Ajax wasn't sure, but as the seconds went by and Lumine did nothing but stare at him, he knew it more than likely wasn't good. He hardened his heart and prepared himself for rejection. Just then he felt arms go around his neck and felt a chaste kiss on his lips.
“Princess!?” Ajax cried out, doing his best to hold the woman safely in his arms.
“What took you so long?” Lumine said in the smallest voice she could muster.
Ajax looked down at the woman in his arms, “what took?...I don't understand…”
“I've waited all Season for you to say something!” Lumine said, now louder so he could hear her, “I've made a bet with my brother, I told him that if I could get you to confess to me then I should be allowed to marry you.”
“A bet?” Ajax said, “but Ayato–”
“Was helping me with the ruse,” Lumine explained, “he is already betrothed to another and his sister begged him to help me.”
Ajax stood there dumbfounded. His mind tried to grasp the information he had just been given, but it still could not understand what had happened.
“He was…you would be…you want to…” the implications then came crashing down on him at once, “but princess! Your station! The Court! They would never allow this!”
Lumine laughed at the man's outburst, “you think they would deny their Crown Princess her happiness?”
“They would more forbid my own happiness in having you,” Ajax admitted, “I have nothing of worth. I have no lands, I have no title, no influence. All I have is my military record and my countless stories.”
Lumine placed her hands on the sides of Ajax's face. Her touch was warm and Ajax couldn't help but rest his head in them.
“I only want you and only yourself is more worth to me than any land, influence, or title the others could give,” she said, “I also knew you would never want to hurt my reputation or my destiny so I had to find a way to make you act. Earlier this year, I told my brother this will be my first and last Season. I will not go through another, I refuse to so I had to make my time here count. It is you or no one.”
“But your birthright–” Ajax began to say.
“–means nothing to me if I can't have you by my side,” Lumine finished.
Ajax let out a breath he did not even know he was holding. His hands reached up his face and touched Lumine's gloved ones. He brought her hands down and began to unglove them. It was improper for her bare hands to touch his, but Ajax did not care, propriety be damned. He was euphoric and her hands fit so perfectly in his.
“I can keep you?”
Lumine smiled sweetly and brought herself closer to him. This time she kissed the corner of his lips, “yes,” she replied, “but I also understand your worry and I would not want our marriage to be marred by ill talk from others about you being a mere duke's son. So my brother and I have found a solution and we will create you a better title.”
Ajax tilted his head to the side, confused as to how Lumine would solve this social issue. The princess’ smile widened once more and her eyes sparkled at his confused reaction.
“Well then, future husband, will you stand beside me as Prince Consort?”