Honestly?
It would have been easier if he had just pushed through with becoming a physician.
Sure. He'd be dealing with diseases, broken bones, mystery fevers, dislocated limbs, phantom pains, and likely even the expected death.
And sure. There would still be heartbreak and loss. Lots of it.
But that wouldn't be new to him. Didn't he also have that and more with his current job? At least as a physician, he wouldn't have to face Orc royalty throwing peace treaty-ending tantrums over marriage. Or the lack of it.
That way, he wouldn't have to invent the most random excuses that even the Imperial princess wouldn't buy.
Because really, what could he possibly say to a raging Orc King who clearly wouldn't accept "irreconcilable differences," or "incompatibility," or the very simple truth that the supposed fiancé didn't even show up?
This was clearly a matter of utmost importance and could possibly spell the difference between peace and an impending war.
