Marriage

The court erupted into noise. Liana stood there, shocked into silence.

"Father!" Leo cried.

The king held up his hand, quieting the room. He looked straight towards Liana. She quickly thought things over in her head.

'I like Leo. How bad could marriage be? Then again, I don't want to be weighed down just yet. But if I don't agree Salencia will suffer for my own selfish desires.'

She raised her head, meeting King Erik's gaze.

"I accept."

Shock wound around the room. King Erik smiled.

"I shall look forward to welcoming you into our family."

Liana dropped into a deep curtsy.

"I am honored to be joining such a prestigious family."

"Go, child. And tell your father that I will recall my men immediately."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

She stood up and walked out of the throne room, her head held regally high. Just as she was about to leave, someone called out to her.

"Liana!"

She stopped walking and turned around to see Leo running towards her. He stopped a couple feet away.

"Yes?"

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you lie to my father?"

"Did you really think I'd embarrass both of us in front of your father's entire court with the truth of what really happened? Did you want me to say that I seduced you, got you into my bed, and then asked if you'd start a war with Salencia? And that you even agreed out of your wanting to please me?"

She laughed.

"No, I'm not willing to die just yet."

Leo sighed.

"What is it?"

"You shouldn't have had to agree to marriage, Liana."

"It's okay, Leo. It's about time I gave up on my ambitions anyway. After all, I am still just a woman."

"You may be a woman, but you have the mind of a man," he paused. "I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I've never stopped thinking about you. After what happened all those years ago, I never forgot."

"Nor have I."

"Though, I think, for a different reason."

"Perhaps," she agreed. "But Leo, as far as I remember, we got along really well. Though, we don't really know each other anymore."

"True, but there's time to grow, right?"

"Yes, there is."

She gave him a warm smile, and he returned it.

"I, I should go."

"Of course. Goodbye, Liana. I'll see you again soon."

"Bye, Leo."

They shook hands, and he palmed something to her. She opened her hand and looked at a small conch shell.

"I'll call you when it's time for you to come back."

"Alright, until then."

Liana turned around and walked out of the palace. Not knowing if he was watching her or something, she walked into the heart of Quennia. Once she had disappeared into the crowd well enough, she slipped down an alley and quickly teleported home.

She made her way to the throne room and pushed open the doors to fin Preston and Vander arguing with Harmon and her father. Her mother looked on helplessly.

"Oh for mercy's sake. Can I not be gone for one day before everyone starts a new war? I've just ended one and really don't want to have to deal with another."

"Liana!" Harmon called joyfully. "You did it? Did you really do it?"

"Yes, Harmon. King Erik has agreed to ending the war. Father, he told me to tell you that he's recalling his men immediately."

"Well done, my dear girl! Well done! I shall pull my men as well then."

"I can tell there's something more though," Harmon said.

Everyone turned to look at her, expectantly. She sighed.

"Yes. King Erik and I have already completely peace negotiations. He would only agree if I agreed to something else. Seeing as the war was my fault, I thought it best to end it myself. I won't let Salencia fall further. No matter the cost to myself."

"What do you mean, Liana?" Harmon asked.

"I've... I've agreed to marry Crown Prince Leo."

Everyone choked.

"What?" King Russell asked.

"Sister?" Harmon whispered.

"Liana?" Vander breathed.

"Really?" Preston pushed.

"Daughter, are you sure about this?" Queen Coraline asked quietly.

"Yes. This started with Leo and I. Now, we'll be the ones to end it."

"If this is what you want," King Russell said. "We will not stop you."

"It is."

"Liana, do not let guilt lead you into this," her mother advised.

"It's not."

"I know Leo. He's a good man. If you've agreed, then I have no objections."

"Thank you, Harmon."

"Well, it looks like I'm going to have to gather your dowry."

Liana laughed, "I suppose so, Father."

"I'm curious, what did you give King Erik anyways?"

"A crystal dove."

Harmon smiled. "Suck up."

They both laughed. Vander looked left out and got angry.

"Why, Liana?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you trick the mages? Why did you lie, to all of us?"

"I wanted to rule Sonic," she admitted. "I knew I had the power too. But now, I realize how wrong I was. My ambition had gotten out of control and has cost lives."

"Oh, like you've suddenly just changed," Preston remarked.

"I have changed."

"Prove it."

Fury flared in her eyes, but she kept her temper in check.

"I don't need to prove anything to you, Preston."

Liana and Preston glared at each other, neither one breaking eye contact. Queen Coraline spoke up to break the tension in the room.

"When will you go back to Vurstan?"

"When I'm called."

Everyone gave her an odd look. She groaned, but magically summoned the conch to her hand as she circled it upwards.

"Leo said he'll use the conch to contact me. All I have to do is wait and listen for the call. I've already linked the conch to my ear, so if he starts to speak through it, I'll hear whatever he says. Even if the conch isn't in my physical possession at the moment. I still have to respond back into the conch, but it's not hard to summon it to my person."

"Do King Erik and Crown Prince Leo know about your sorcery?"

"I don't know," Liana admitted. "I didn't tell them about it. But if they know from rumors, then they can make the connection themselves."

"Don't you think that's manipulating them?" Preston asked.

"No, just withholding information."

She grinned wickedly back at him.

"I'll tell them before the wedding, if that's any consolation to you. That way, they can decide whether or not Vurstan wants Sonic's most powerful mage in line for the throne."

~~~

Two weeks later, the summons came.

"Liana?"

She called the conch to her.

"Yes?"

"A royal envoy has been sent to get you. They'll be arriving within the week. We're to be married in two weeks' time."

"Okay. Thank you for telling me."

"Of course."

"Oh, and Leo?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you know... about me?"

"How do you mean?"

"Have you heard of the Mage Queen?"

"Yes. Why?"

"It's..."

All of a sudden, the words hitched in her throat.

'Do I really want to tell him?'

"If you're trying to say it's you..." Leo laughed kindheartedly. "Then, I knew that. Seriously, Liana Davies? I easily guessed it was you?"

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Does you father know?"

"Yes."

"And he's still okay with this?"

"He's the one who suggested it."

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Liana."

"Yeah?"

"I appreciate you being honest with me. Thank you."

"Of course, Leo. I'll see you within the week."

Then she lowered the conch and sent it off.

"Two weeks. In two weeks, I'll be married and the Crown Princess of Vurstan."

She smirked.

"Well, that's not long at all."