It was not out of love that their parents had arranged the marriage. His right to the throne would be cemented by it, and her family would receive a suitably large (and much-needed) amount of wealth.

Such concerns were immaterial to him at the moment, however, for it was nearly their wedding day; there would be time enough in the days to come to worry about politics and rulership. He closed his eyes and leaned back in his well-cushioned chair, envisioning her face, trying to imagine how it would feel to have her for a wife. It seemed to him that he could grow to love her.

Map

Directory