Prelude: How did this happen?

Warrior princess POV:

You can't be serious? I said to him. "Well, you need protection, and you are trying to obtain the throne to become queen, I see no other logical answer to your dilemma, young warrior princess" he said to me as he drank his wine, sitting there on the seat before me.

"What you're asking me, is to give up my empire over to you freely" I said in self-defence. "Did you not hear what I said? I didn't say I want your kingdom, or your empire for that matter….. All I want is allies and resources, and if we join forces, we will be unstoppable, and should you require my army, all I have is yours, and all you have is mine… and I will not interfere in the affairs or matters of your Kingdom, if you don't interfere with mine…. The only time I will become involved is if there are threats that threaten both of our mutual interests….What I am suggesting is the only option for your situation… Marry me and I will ensure your protection and you become queen…and we both get what we want… sounds like a good deal, wouldn't you agree?" he grinned at me as he walked closer, closing in the space between us as he held my chin tenderly looking into my eyes.

"And of course, this is a contract of mutual agreement, no love or feelings, just a proposition between two Kingdoms…." He grinned holding my chin tenderly as he looked into my eyes. His eyes are so beautiful, I could gaze into them for an eternity if I could. I quickly shook my head to come back to normal.

"My… your Majesty… I have my own requirements for this contract if I do decide to go with your proposition…" I said to him as he removed his hand,

"I am listening" he grinned as he turned his back on me and sat down in his chair facing me, as his robe was dishevelled exposing his full-bodied torso. He was extremely handsome.

I almost couldn't concentrate as I looked away, "What is it?" he asked me. "Could you at least cover yourself, it's distracting" I said blushing.

He chuckled as he grinned, "Do I make you nervous?" he teased me, "Just cover yourself!" I grunted blushingly. He laughed and chuckled as he covered himself as he sighed, "I am the King of my Kingdom and yet a warrior princess tells me what to do, it's fine" he grinned as he covered himself and leaned his face on his knuckles as he stared at me tenderly.

"Please proceed" he smiled as he let me lay down my own rules for this contract relationship.

"Ok, now that you are covered, I can concentrate…" I blushed. He chuckled shaking his head at me, "well, firstly…. I want to control my Kingdom how I like, and it must be done my way and my way only, with no interference from you" "Ok" "and as you said, we will share each other's resources and most of all…. There must be no physical intimacy between us…. Because of course, this is only a contract of mutual respect and joining our forces and Kingdoms, we do not love each other as you say, therefore I do not see the importance of us having any physical relations…" I told him, almost too boldly and confidently for my own good.

He had a poker face expression, and his smile went slightly sour as he looked to the side, "Of course there is no such thing called "love" as you put it, rather women are only tools used in my games and you just happen to be smart enough to understand the situation. Of course, warrior princess, I will agree to your terms of this contract if that would put your mind at ease and you have nothing to fear from me - I will not target you for my physical needs." He grinned and winked at me.

"Is there anything else?" he asked me. Honestly, I didn't think it would get this far. "I guess that will be all for the moment… my lord…" I bowed to him.

At this stage, I was in no stage to negotiate anything else.

He laughed evilly as he got up from his chair as he walked towards me, "alright, warrior princess, it is settled. Say you will marry me, and I will arrange for things to be prepared for our marriage" he grinned walking towards me and put his hands on the desk that I was leaning against, as he loomed in closer to my face as I looked up into his eyes.

I swallowed a breath as I looked into his eyes as I took a dep breath for a moment before I gave him my answer and closed my eyes. "…."

How did this happen?