Into the eyes of damnation

“Look! The prince’s carriage is here!”

“I’ve heard he is merciless.”

“I’ve heard he froze an entire village when he was only six!”

“How is he going to survive in our weather? Surely he would be much better back where he came from.”

“I reckon we would all be better off without that Asterian in our land…”

Inside the grand royal carriage, Regulus drew back the curtain from the window, protecting himself from the all-too-powerful sun. Back in Asteria, the sun was always hidden behind clouds of snow and Regulus had definitely underestimated how much of a drastic change this would be. This had all been so sudden, he had barely had any moment to actually prepare himself mentally, and ever since they had left the border and entered into hot, hostile land, Regulus had felt particularly sick. From across him, he could feel his brother’s eyes staring intently at him as if to try and read his mind, but Regulus knew better than to look at him. For to look at him would bring an ocean of emotions he wasn’t sure he would be able to repress, and this was not the moment to show such weakness.

————

“Where is the prince?! The families have arrived, the Black’s carriage is going to be here any minute now and he is nowhere to be seen! Before we have a diplomatic situations in our hands, people, find the bloody prince!”

Sapphire could feel the blood pumping in her veins, ignoring her throbbing head and alarming pounding heart— she had a prince to find and a war to avoid. She had served the Potters for forty years, and as the royal family’s governess, the other servants answered to her. They didn’t seem to fully grasp the urgency of the situation, what they could grasp, however, was the extent of her wrath. They all quickly scurried away before she could curse anyone of them.

With a sigh, she ran a hand over her face, trying to cool her nerves. Ever since the prince had been able to stand on his legs, he had been a nightmare to control. While he had been endearing as a young, innocent child, his innocence had quickly vanished and he had soon turned into a little hedonistic demon.

“Isn’t it a bit early for all that shouting Sappho?”

And here he stood in all his royal glory: hair dishevelled, his cream coloured shirt untucked and unbuttoned, lipstick messily smudged on his bottom lip and his cheek, smelling of strong, cheap perfume and intense incense. Sapphire watched the prince eat an apple with that unnerving, carefree, confident stance. She was on the verge of a mental breakdown, and he was eating a bloody apple! She snatched it from the prince’s hand, absolutely fuming.

“Hey! I was eating that!” James protested. (The nerves of the kid!)

“When are you going to behave like the heir to the throne?! You are getting married, James, right now! If the Blacks saw you like this…” Sapphire could feel pure rage bubbling in her throat. She should have known to look for him in a brothel— James was known to enjoy the lustful pleasures of the flesh, but she had idiotically hoped that for his wedding, the prince would have the decency to abstain himself. She had been wrong.

Sapphire’s disappointment was unbearable to witness and only deepened the pit that had grown in James’ stomach ever since he had been told he was to marry the younger Black heir.

He had been aware that he was testing the Queen’s and King’s patience as of late— he was more frequently seen frolicking than with his mentors at the castle, learning about geopolitics and war strategies, but how was he expected to sit through dreadfully boring lectures when he was a healthy young man that thrived in more sensual approaches of human relationships? They had warned him dire consequences would be taken, but as the sole heir to the throne, James hadn’t paid them much mind. Truthfully, he had thought they were having a laugh when they had announced a marriage had been arranged between him and the Ice Prince.

And so, James had laughed.

He was still laughing when he sneaked out of the castle to meet his current lover, because how could they possibly be serious? Phobos and Asteria were equally powerful kingdoms whom had been at war since the dawn of men. While there was a current fragile peace between the two kingdoms, everyone knew that it was only a matter of time before another war was declared. James himself had partook in the previous conflict, leading the armies on the battlefield and fighting alongside the soldiers. How could he have possibly imagined that he would be married off to his mortal enemy? That was absolutely ridiculous.

And yet.

The previous conflict had affected both kingdoms severely, and both had agreed on a more tangible, permanent peace. Many noble families had perished, and neither kingdom knew if they would survive the next battle. After tedious deliberations, both royal families had come to an agreement— James and Regulus were to be married promptly. Potters and Blacks had never been united through the sacred bonds of marriage, both hoped this would be the promise of a long lasting peace. Fleamont and Euphemia Potter strongly believed that marriage would forge James into a new man, a prince worthy of the throne.

On his hand, James saw this as a cruel punishment from his parents. Growing up, his mother had brought him up with romantic stories between princes and princesses, courtship and love. James resented his parents and had drowned himself in lovers and passion, hoping that they would reconsider. But the Deities had been consulted and nothing could revoke this vow. James was doomed to marry the Ice Prince.

“I will be in the throne room in twenty minutes.” James said, his tone grave.

Sapphire could barely believe what she was hearing. She had thought she would have had to fight the prince to get him ready, but he was surrounding without a fight. Perhaps the Deities were in her favour today.

————

“With this ribbon, your souls are bound.”

As the High Priestess talked, an Elder delicately wrapped a thick dark purple around the princes’ joined wrists.

The throne room was packed with noble families from Phobos and Asteria, all eager to witness such a historic event. The tension was palpable in the room for such a union was completely unnatural. Yet, here they all were, standing as one.

“According traditions, the Deities have been consulted and have blessed this union. May this marriage be an example to all and unite us under the same banner.”

James’s body was as hot as the sun. Regulus’s as cold as the icy lake in Asteria. Everywhere their skin touched, both prince felt a sickening revulsion for the other. As they turned to face each other, James’s eyes were as bright as a fire, Regulus’s as piercing as a winter’s night. They were staring into the eyes of their damnation while minstrels started singing about this blessed union.