Bethany swept into the center of the hall, her posture impossibly straight, a living statue gliding across the stone floor. Her regal coral pink gown billowed out behind her, a cloud of expensive fabric marking her determined path.
The long wooden tables flanking her were silent now, all eyes drawn to the young princess. High above, on the upper balconies, the Kings and Queens leaned forward, a collective, silent pressure emanating from their ranks. Below them, the princes sat on cushioned seats, while King Eldrawn, the current supreme ruler, occupied his throne directly at the lowest level.
The noise of the hall, once a muted murmur of anticipation, had snapped to attention.
Patrick had barely finished announcing the time for presentations before Bethany took her space. She executed a deep, practiced bow to the sovereigns, the movement a graceful dip that made the mass of her gown swirl around her.
"Your Majesty's. I have secured an exclusive lucrative deal for the Vitae-Tincture. For the Beastman Kingdom—specifically Prince Lindon." Her tone was soft yet unwavering, infused with the quiet confidence of a diplomat who believed she had just won a war.
She smiled, feeling extraordinarily pleased. She had focused her efforts, bringing back a deal that completely monopolized a well-needed remedy, an elixir known to soothe the savage souls of beasts.
Lindon's reptilian eyes watched her from his seat. They were a mask of neutrality. He gave a single, slow nod in acknowledgment. His voice, like velvet and alluringly smooth, was an immediate command for attention.
"The contract you made was reasonable. But you did not try to better the deal. If anything, you muddy the water." He casually crossed one leg loosely over his knee, a movement as cool and uncaring as only the truly exceptional could pull off. "Elixirs are potent and dangerous. One integral ingredient missing could be a devastating poison. An ingredient too much, something entirely different."
He paused, letting his gaze drag across the expanse of the hall before settling back on her. "You turned a potential partner into an enemy and an adversary. You turned a potential partner into a slave. Because of your lack of foresight and diplomacy, every single elixir would need to be tested prior to use. That is money, resources, and time."
With that final judgment, Lindon's gaze flicked away from her, a deliberate and unmistakable act of dismissal.
Bethany's shoulders tensed momentarily before she turned on her heel, her exit sharp and contained as she retreated to her seat. All around the room, other princesses shifted uncomfortably, their minds racing. Had they made crucial missteps? Had they left a negative impression that would sour the commerce between kingdoms?
Taking a deep, calming breath, Bella stood. Her legs felt shaky, but she pushed herself up, determined. This was new territory for her—she was a lady, bred to be powerful and to carry offspring, not to bargain for commodities. She had learned the intricacies of various kingdoms, but diplomacy was meant to be her husband's concern.
She dropped into a deep, low bow, hoping the deference would offset any offenses from the previous evening. "I have acquired the spores of Miranda and the Ragsome Weed. In favor of Prince Miguel." Her hands clasped tightly behind her back, twisting her knuckles nervously.
"Your mind was in the correct place, Princess Bella. What you did not do was try to get a better deal. Nor did you understand the products you purchased." Miguel leaned forward, his tone measured and instructive.
"Ragsome Weed does suppress the overwhelming hunger of wendigos. But when you stop ingesting the weed, the hunger comes back worse than before. It is a good wartime product, but it doesn't have practical day-to-day use."
He gestured with an open hand, palm up. "Miranda spores do give a bountiful harvest. Only once. They are self-destructing spores. Once it absorbs all the nutrients of that area, nothing will ever grow there again. I thank you for your contribution to my kingdom."
Bella dipped her head in acknowledgment, the sting of his critique a sharp, hot blush rising on her cheeks. She returned to her place with a much less steady pace than Bethany's.
Daniela would normally have waited, allowing a few more princesses to either fail or succeed, but the intensity in the room was too thick to endure. Her hand rose to rub her temples, a fleeting gesture of fatigue amidst the mounting tension.
She didn't move so much as stride, her back rigid with purpose, cutting a seam of defiance straight through the hall's silent judgment and walking directly to the center, her signed deals held loosely in her hand.
"I have made a few deals!" she announced, her tone utterly nonchalant, as though she were discussing the weather.
King Eldrawn, his voice an undercurrent of irritation, addressed her from his throne. "It would have seemed as if you are eager to make any and all deals. Regardless of the Kingdom you intend to join."
"Honestly, the sheer gall of that girl…" a voice murmured from the upper balconies, quickly shushed.
"She's stolen three of my kingdom's targets!" a King hissed, his chair creaking as he shifted angrily.
"She's doing this to poison the market for all of us!" another King declared, red-faced, grinding the stem of his wine glass beneath his heel.
"I am undeclared. I never chose a prince. I made deals for various kingdoms," Daniela countered with a polite, fixed smile, then bowed to the sovereign.
King Eldrawn, still a picture of thoughtful benevolence, nodded. "She was such a thoughtful young thing."
Daniela shuffled through the various deals, her eyes scanning the gold parchment before pulling one out. "I made a deal for Binding Paper. It ensures all deals are fair and just. For the Beastman Kingdom. For Prince Landon."
Prince Landon's beast-like ears twitched with a visible, excited energy. He nodded for his manservant to approach and take the agreement.
"Oh, you misunderstand." Daniela's smile became genuinely cunning. "Every contract that I have signed has been assigned to me. I am allowing the sovereigns' sons to barter with me for this contract."
The hall erupted in angry, frustrated protest. Kings and Queens, abandoning their stoic silence, now grumbled and spoke over one another, the sound a low, ugly roar of indignation.
The gathering princesses, holding their breath, watched like spectators at an execution, hoping that this act of audacious greed would finally see Daniela kicked out of the marriage market.
Patrick's staff crashed on the ground three times, the loud, rhythmic thud forcing an instant, unnatural hush. King Eldrawn stood from his throne, his harsh eyes narrowing on Daniela.
"Patrick, escort the princesses out of the hall."
With well-practiced ease, Patrick moved to usher the princesses away, his regret palpable. He wished he could be a fly on the wall, to witness the history she was clearly making.
"You show so little respect for your King!" Eldrawn's voice was loud, resounding around the hall in a direct attempt at force her submission.
"I see myself as quite charitable, Your Highness." Daniela stood her ground, yet executed another deep bow, her eyes never leaving the stone floor. "It is clear to all that Prince Jasper and I are connecting. Yet I thought of the prosperity of other kingdoms. Kingdoms that will soon be adversaries to my own."
She lifted her head, her words ringing with unshakeable logic. "In my bit of kindness, I feel as if it's only appropriate to require payment. As to not offend the kingdom I will eventually join."
"I appreciate Princess Daniela's generosity, and the Beastman Kingdom is willing to negotiate for the Binding Paper. Name your terms." Landon was sitting on the edge of his seat, his forearms resting on his knees as he stared down at Daniela.
Daniela rose straight once more, giving Landon a polite smile. "I'm not well-versed on what my future Kingdom would need. So I would only ask for a year to decide. If I cannot think of an appropriate payment within that year, you may still keep the Binding Paper deal free of charge."
Landon grinned, nodding his head in approval. Daniela's maid was quick to step forward, resting a portable writing desk on her hip as she drew up a cursory contract for Prince Landon to sign.
"My legs are quite fatigued, may I sit?" Daniela asked the King.
He nodded, waving for Daniela's maid to bring a chair. Ida moved a sturdy, high-backed chair next to Daniela, who settled into it, making it clear she was not to be treated as lesser than the sovereigns who were currently judging her. High above, a Queen snatched her fan up to hide a sharp gasp, and a King momentarily launched forward in his seat before his elbow hit the armrest, halting him. The simple act of sitting down was an act of defiance.
"I acquired Obiv Root. For Prince Miguel. It is known to increase the birth rate in Wendigos. Are you interested?"
Miguel nodded, but remained silent.
"I want ownership of one of your mineral-rich mining sites!"
The Royals were sent into a flurry again, an angry whirlpool of whispers and gasps. The jump in the value of the goods exchanged was staggering.
"My kingdom will not give unnatural resources to the Demon Kingdom to plunder," Miguel stated frankly.
"You misunderstand me. It wouldn't go to the Demon Kingdom. It would go to me personally." The wicked smile remained.
"And if you become their Queen?"
"The assets I acquired before marriage are my own. They will never transfer to any Kingdom."
"I'm unwilling to give up full ownership to a mineral site. But I can offer—"
"This isn't a negotiation, Prince Miguel. My price is final." Daniela absorbed the hateful glare sent her way, unmoving.
"I reject your terms."
Daniela nodded, acknowledging his decision with an air of understanding. She tucked the gold parchment away and immediately moved on, snapping the parchment shut with an audible thwack that echoed in the brief silence.
"I have Freudent Gems. They allow for conversations to happen between reflections and shadows over long distances."
"I require 3,000 ships."
Prince deacon knew how hard it was to acquire the gems. He looked up to his Queen mother and father, who both gave him nodding approval. "Your terms are acceptable."
Daniela had her maid again bring over the parchment for Deacon to sign.
Daniela's eyes raked across the silent balconies, a silent, confident dismissal of their opinions. Her eyes finally landed on Jasper. His lips were already pulled into a smile, his finger lightly tapping on his plump lower lip.
"Soul Steal, what is it worth to you?" she asked, her own smile genuine for him.
"What more could I give?" He knew the truth: anything Daniela wanted from him, she had already achieved.
"I want a castle! All to myself," she joked.
"It will be ready by the time we go home." His words were confident, laced with meaning, a declaration to the entire hall that she was his Queen.
Home. The word settled in Daniela's mind, a soft, unfamiliar weight. She hadn't thought about having a home. Her lifetimes had been spent running and hiding, always moving, always seeking refuge. She had forgotten that 'home' was supposed to be a place, a sanctuary, not a state of constant vigilance. What she had with Jasper was chaotic and dangerous, a dance on the edge of a blade. But maybe, just maybe, it could also be home.
Looking away from him, she continued her negotiations. She would not be cheated. Her movements were now minimal, the intensity contained in her unwavering gaze and the finality of her words. She sat in the center of the hall, a still point of utter dominance.
Daniela reached for her final parchment, holding it up. "I have secured the Yuzx Pill. It stabilizes the mind of immortal creatures."
She directed her gaze to the far end of the princes' seating. "This is for Prince Eric."
Prince Eric, who had been watching the spectacle with a detached, almost bored air, was visibly startled. His posture straightened, a flicker of genuine hope replacing his mask of neutrality. He stared at the parchment, then at Daniela.
He knew it. He knew Daniela could never just simply let their bond die. A profound excitement welled inside him. She still cares. She is offering us a way to reconnect.
Daniela's smile was polite, but her eyes were flint-hard. "This resource is exclusively mine. I have the absolute monopoly on it."
The Prince's excitement was infectious, but he managed to compose himself. "Name your price, Princess. We are willing to pay."
"I require a Royal Pardon," Daniela stated. "No matter what I do, I will not be held accountable for my actions in the future."
The entire Hall fell into a stunned silence, even thicker and colder than the one that had followed Patrick's staff. All eyes, from the princes to the Queens high above, were frozen on the small figure sitting in the center. A pardon. Freedom from all future consequences.
"A pardon?" Prince Eric asked, curiosity warring with his earlier hope. "Why would a Princess require such a thing?"
King Eldrawn leaned forward on his throne, his interest piqued but not overly concerned. He assessed the girl—small, crippled, and about to marry into the Demon Kingdom. What could a girl like her possibly do that would require such a blanket pardon? He knew the royal law was on his side. It is safe to give a girl like her a pardon.
"The price is steep, but the resource is integral," King Eldrawn announced, his voice booming over the sudden quiet. "The pardon is granted." He was pleased that the best deal was saved for his kingdom. It seemed as if she had some Monica respect for true royalty.
He held up a commanding finger, fixing his gaze on her. "However, the pardon is for you, Princess Daniela, and you alone. It cannot transfer to your future King. It is only for her deeds."
King Eldrawn glanced deliberately at Jasper, a clear indication of whom they all knew would ultimately be her king, before looking back at Daniela.
Prince Eric, eager to finalize the deal, began, "Father, if you allow me to negotiate the terms—"
"No negotiation is required, my son," Eric's royal father declared, rising slightly. "Her terms are accepted. It is for her and her alone."
Author's note:
Daniela's plan is coming together! I wonder if anyone will be able to guess, how she gets her revenge.