Gwyn stood stunned.
A proposal?! What is he thinking? We had just met. This is too much. How do I respond? If I say yes, what does that even entail? What are the rules of marriage on Keceo? Am I subservient to my husband? Is he—
Gwyn's endless speculation was interrupted by an emotional firestorm.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing, Artero?!" Elise shouted, reappearing before the two individuals in front of her. "And that's not how we broke up!"
Artero fell backward but corrected himself.
"E-Elise… what are you doing here?!" He said, his voice shaking.
"We break up, and one week later. You are proposing to the first girl who reciprocates your attention?"
Gwyn felt her ears pulse from the loudness in her voice.
"Not to mention, it's the one person who has accepted me outside of yourself."
"What do you mean? I thought you two were just friends?"
"Friends?" Elise laughed. "We are more than that. She's my girlfriend." Elise grabbed Gwyn's arm tightly. "And she doesn't want to marry you."
She said the last word with disdain.
Girlfriend? I mean… I didn't recall making it official yet, but—
Artero, offended, placed his hand on his chest.
"And how do you know that? I have provided her with more than you ever could. Some girlfriend you are."
Artero seemed to revel in his insult.
Elise's mind raced, and she wondered if she should mention what happened between her and Gwyn last night, but she thought better of it.
"We have a connection, unlike you. She isn't interested in the flaunting of your wealth and familial connections." Elise suddenly stopped and stared at the Chosen One. "Right, Gwynnie?"
Gwynnie?
The Chosen One was completely lost in the fight, her mind a jumbled mess.
"Well…"
"See! She didn't answer you immediately. You don't even know what she wants."
"Of course, I know what she wants."
"Then what's her favorite color? Hmm?"
Artero said as if that was the smoking gun to the conversation.
Elise paused and lost her footing in this battle for Gwyn's affection.
"H-how is that even relevant?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Elise." Her name was now full of hate. "I thought you knew everything? The Bloody Princess can handle herself, right? She will do anything to feel a little control, right?" He suddenly broke his gaze from Elise to Gwyn. "Isn't that right, Gwynevere? Elise has to have control. Surely you aren't blind to this fact."
Gwyn didn't know what to think right now. This felt like she had been dropped into a soap opera.
"Well…"
She said again; it was the only word her lips let her form.
"If she really thought that, she would have said something."
"Enough!" A clanking of armor interrupted their argument. "Blasted hell, Elise, I can hear you from the barracks. What are you doing here?"
Elise suddenly lost her confidence and shrank to her usual self.
"Rodrick… I'm—"
He cut her off.
"You know the other families aren't allowed on another's property without explicit permission."
"I know, but—"
"And this can cause a real mess. The servants are already talking amongst themselves. Do you know the rumors this will cause? They've probably already sent out messages through their link. You'll be in the papers tomorrow morning!"
Artero stood smugly, feeling he had won this battle, but then he saw the look on Gwyn's face, and his feeling of superiority retreated.
"Rodrick," Artero said calmly.
The knight stopped his lecture and stared at Artero.
"Yes, Young Master?"
"There has been a misunderstanding here. Elise is my welcome guest, right?"
He held his hand out to the elf, giving her an opportunity.
Elise stared at him, unsure of what he was planning.
"...Yes," Elise said hesitantly. "Old feelings got brought up, and... I lost myself."
"See? Everything is under control."
Rodrick gave Artero a perplexed stare and closed his helmet.
"Whatever you say, sir. I'll quell the rumors before they start."
"No, no." Artero stopped him. "Let them speak freely." Artero shifted his eyes to Elise. "Perhaps this will be beneficial to us."
Artero quickly led them to the main manor, making a show of how he had invited Elise, like they were practicing for a part in an upcoming play.
"Were you impressed by that display?" Artero asked one servant.
"Y-yes, Young Master," the servant stuttered.
Gwyn thought it was interesting that the servants seemed surprised Artero was addressing them directly.
He led them to a room on the third floor of the main manor. He instructed Rodrick to stand guard outside.
"Wait outside, Gwynevere," he said her name in a loving tone, gracing her cheek with his palm.
"Oh… okay."
Why must I wait outside? Isn't this about me?
Elise and Artero then went into the room alone. They began to have a normal conversation. It seemed they spoke in whispers at first, but Elise's voice eventually grew louder.
"What do you think they're talking about?"
Gwyn asked, but Rodrick's ear was up against the door.
"Something… something… best… both…" He stood. "I can only make out some of the words; they seem to be communicating through the link now."
"Probably because they knew you would eavesdrop on their conversations."
Gwyn pointed an accusatory finger at the red knight. He seemed to look bashful at her remark and closed his visor.
"Who doesn't like a little drama?"
Rodrick said through a muffled voice.
"I do, just…"
Less when I'm in it.
Eventually, the door opened. To Gwyn's surprise, neither of them looked angry. Artero just gestured for them to come in.
"I'm trying not to be late for my final exam," Gwyn said.
"You won't be," Elise reassured her.
"Alright…"
She walked through the door and found a seat on a couch that seemed to encompass the whole room.
"Gwynevere Grim," Artero started firmly.
"Y-yes!"
Gwyn seemed to flush at how serious his voice was.
Why was he addressing her like that? Was he going to propose again, and Elise just gave him her blessing?
"We find ourselves in a bit of a predicament," Elise said coolly.
"We indeed do." Artero plopped to one side of Gwyn. "Neither of us feels satisfied if you date the other person."
"Exclusively," Elise said.
"What do you mean?"
Did neither of them want to see her?
Elise gave Artero a knowing look, and he nodded.
"We would like to enter a contract with you," Elise said, sitting on Gwyn's other side, but much more graceful than Artero.
"A contract? Are you putting me to work?" Gwyn asked.
"No, no." Artero chuckled. "Contracts are magic bindings that the constituents agree upon and are held within regard to whatever terms or boundaries are set in place."
Gwyn gave him a blank stare.
"We want to make a deal with you, and give you all the power," Elise said, more straightforwardly.
"A deal? What kind of deal?"
Gwyn felt her nerves teetering on the edge. Two of the most beautiful people she has ever seen are now making her an offer.
"A proposal, if you will," Artero said, chuckling to himself. "Not the kind I did a few moments ago, an offer that we hope you can't refuse."
Gwyn could barely breathe.
"What's that?"
"We want you to date both of us; whoever you like the most a year from today, you will make your official partner," Elise said.
Gwyn nearly fell backwards in her seat.
What kind of offer was this?
"I'm confused… why are you doing this?"
"Because..." The words caught in Elise's throat.
"Because…" The same seemed to happen to Artero.
Gwyn just stared at them both; they looked so embarrassed, as if they wanted to admit something. Rodrick chuckled at their discomfort.
"Because why?" Gwyn asked for them.
"We want to give you the best of both worlds," Elise finally said.
"Yes! That's it, we want to make sure you are both loved, valued, and protected while not having to limit yourself to just one of us," Artero said.
I wasn't planning on limiting myself to just one of you.
"What's the point of this contract, then? I don't see how it benefits me." Gwyn leaned back into the couch, crossing her arms.
"Well, we were hoping that you'd accept, and we wouldn't have to fight over you anymore." Artero looked bashful.
"I see."
Gwyn stood, and when both of the royals tried to stand, she gestured for them to remain seated.
"So do you accept?" Elise asked.
"No, no. I'm thinking."
Both of the royals just looked at one another, worried they had made a mistake by offering this so early.
Gwyn eventually spoke, washing away some of their unease.
"Alright, so the terms are that I 'date'," she air-quoted. "Both of you, whoever I like the most by the end of next year, I will officially date exclusively between the two of you."
"Or marry!" Artero interjected; Elise glared at him.
"Or marry," Gwyn said plainly. The young woman was deep in thought for another moment and then said. "Okay, I want to make two changes."
The royals looked surprised but happy that she wanted to accept their proposal.
"Change one. I reserve the right to end this contract at any point, having no obligation to either of you."
"Yes, we were going to mention that," Elise said, surprised that Gwyn thought of that protection for herself.
Gwyn gave a knowing nod and continued.
"Change two. I will remain loyal to you both, but I reserve the right to change my mind if I meet someone I like more than both of you."
"Well, that won't happen. I'll treat you better than anyone on Keceo," Artero said confidently.
Elise rolled her eyes.
"Third," Gwyn said, having to stop herself from giving an evil grin.
"Third? You said two," Elise reminded.
"I thought of it just now. I also reserve the right to stop the competition early if I have made up my mind on who I wish to be with."
Artero and Elise looked at one another, the realization dawning on them both. A competition that Gwyn could declare the winner of at any point.
They've made a monster.
"Do you agree to these terms?" Gwyn asked, a hint of arrogance in her voice.
Both royals stood and shouted in unison.
"Yes!"
Blue particles formed a line like a string; they flowed loosely from Artero, Elise, and then Gwyn. It seemed to pierce their hearts. Once it connected all three of them, the blue string pulled itself tight, then it faded away. The contract had been formed.
Gwyn gave an evil smirk and took both of them by the hand.
"Let's go then, my lovers."