Chapter Text
He doesn't need anyone telling him that the decision has been finalized. One look at Enjin's face is enough to figure it out.
Zanka hears someone close the door behind him. He takes a step forward and stops just at the edge of the carpet, not to soil it with his training boots. Enjin stands to his right, prepped up by the marble fireplace. Next to Semiu's neutral smile and Gris' absentminded stare, his scowl is hard to miss.
Amo is standing beside Corvus, joined hands hidden by her long sleeves. She doesn't hide her curiosity, though. Zanka watches her gaze jump from him to people sitting in front of her Uncle: a young man, a woman and an old gentleman of impressive size and presence.
Follo, Eishia and Riyo stand to Zanka's left. The first two look at him with pity. Riyo looks unbothered, but he recognises the tug of her lips as a telltale sign of her trying not to laugh.
It's probably the way he looks. He was summoned in the middle of his training. His clothes are dirty and old; his boots leave muddy shoe prints on the floor. He looks nothing like a knight, much less a prince.
Nobody chastises him. Everyone is too busy looking either guilty or upset. Zanka tries not to roll his eyes.
'Prince Zanka.'
It's been a while since Corvus greeted him so formally. They only really use the titles around important guests. There is a playful glint in their King's eyes, and Zanka appreciates that at least one person present has some good humour to spare.
'Your Majesty,' Zanka gives a curt nod. His voice is steady and polite: 'I assume the decision on my behalf has been finalised in my absence. Could you please announce it to me clearly, for I wish to hear it directly?'
'It was not my intention to make a decision without you being present. We sent Lady Riyo for you, and she said she wasn't able to find you.'
Riyo did find him as soon as the guests arrived. It was Zanka who told her to pretend she didn't. He didn't feel like facing the drawn-out negotiations since he already knew everything important. He helped write the offer, after all.
He was also scared to hear it be declined. His pride, vicious as it was, would have handled it poorly, and he would have made a fool of himself in front of their sought-after allies.
Corvus plays the part of the authority capable of making important life decisions for Zanka quite well. Anyone would believe him to have his subjects in an iron fist, from how self-assured he sounds: 'We had to finalise it as soon as possible, as our guests are of little patience-'
'Do we have to stay for this?' the young man sitting in the middle slides down in his chair. He's been playing with his dreadlocks ever since Zanka came, and his leg kept jumping up and down: 'I have shit to do.'
Half of the people present start staring daggers at him. The short woman who came with the man sighs and discreetly tugs on his pant leg. Zanka sees him grip the arm of the chair, restless and annoyed. The fabric of the soft cushion looks seconds away from being ripped off.
The third guest tames the petulant displeasure. He whispers something to the prince, something so powerful that even the jitter in his leg disappears.
Not once does he acknowledge Zanka, only further cementing to everyone just how interested he is in this arrangement. Zanka feels a familiar spark of anger lit up inside of him, but doesn't let it kindle, determent to put it out as soon as it appears.
Corvus announces: 'The offer has been approved to the extent beneficial to both parties involved. You are now engaged to Prince Jabber and will enter his family as a high-ranking consort. This will secure the alliance established not only with ink but with blood, too.'
Zanka feels lightheaded all of a sudden. He thought he was ready to hear it, but he overestimated himself. No amount of preparation could've saved him from the shiver that ran through him once the words left Corvus' mouth.
It doesn't help that the king keeps talking: 'We are yet to decide on the date of the wedding itself. We would like to hear your preference on the matter.'
It was all outlined in the draft, but Corvus sees through Zanka and wants to give him an out to walk away. Zanka is happy to accept the opportunity.
'I see. Am I allowed to take some time to think, or should I make the decision immediately?'
That earns Zanka an annoyed huff from none other than Prince Jabber, who mutters: 'He's so proper, I might just throw up. Thank fuck I only have to see him every other week.'
Zanka bites the inside of his cheek and doesn't let the polite smile leave his face. He doesn't know who he is trying to impress: not a single guest pays him any mind. He is not surprised by the words spoken about him, but he does feel shame from being mocked in front of his family.
He wishes his fiancé left his feedback for when they are alone.
The anger rekindles, its flame scorching the bottom of Zanka's lungs.
'This is ridiculous.'
Enjin is offended on his behalf, and Zanka realises that he completely overlooked the need to fill the man in on the plan. He got carried away trying to be independent and mature. He hoped he would make Enjin proud, but he didn't account for the fact that their priorities in life rarely align.
Zanka should have told him everything, but he didn't want to sit through an hour-long argument about his plan. He wants to pay off the debt bestowed upon him by their kind hands, the one they've kept insisting never existed.
Hell, even His Majesty didn't want to consider it until Zanka caved in and shared a deeply personal secret to sway him.
'Corv- Your Majesty…I think…'
Enjin struggles to form an argument. He's probably used most of them by the time Zanka showed up.
'We have to think of a different option. Securing a trade, a relationship— Sure, the good-old option of joining families is convenient, but since when are we a conventional kingdom?'
It is a bit silly to mention conventional rules, considering the union proposed is between two men. Not exactly unheard of, but still very much "unconventional".
Enjin stops at the side of the table and puts both hands on it, leaning on them, getting into Corvus' face. He hisses: 'I did not get him out of that place to-'
Zanka doesn't want to hear it.
'Enjin,' he doesn't move a muscle. His lower back hurts a little from standing straight for so long. 'It's all right.'
Enjin searches his face for a lie or hidden fear but finds nothing. He seems disappointed and disheartened by it.
The flame of anger makes its way up slowly but surely. He just needs to finish this as soon as possible and explain everything to Enjin, before the man starts getting any funny ideas.
The door behind him opens with an offensively loud bang.
'Zanka!'
Zanka's face twitches, and his smile becomes so strained that his cheeks start hurting.
He tries to warn Rudo: 'Your Highness—'
'I'm against this! This is crap! Total crap!'
Rudo runs to stand in front of Zanka and shields him from everyone present, arms spread open. Zanka holds back an exasperated groan.
'Your Highness,' Rudo turns to him and stares up, eyes huge and filled with raw confusion. Zanka elaborates: 'Language.'
Rudo is infuriated by the remark: 'Really? I think we have bigger issues at the moment.'
Zanka is so desperate for Rudo to shut up that he doesn't call him out on his impudence: 'We will discuss this later.'
'No, we won't! I want them to hear this!'
That's the last thing Zanka wants, thank you very much!
'He's bad news. I've heard all kinds of shit about this guy! He's nuts!'
Rudo turned sixteen three months ago. Zanka thought he would be leaving behind a well-taught, at least decently well-mannered, crown prince. His assumptions were wrong.
He was hoping that Amo's presence would subdue Rudo's temper a little, but miscalculated in the same way he did with Enjin.
These two care too much. It is sweet, of course, but mostly infuriating.
'Your Highness, please use my full title with guests present and cease the screaming. We can all hear you perfectly well.'
Rudo growls: 'I don't think you hear me at all!'
The man sitting next to Zanka's fiancé laughs, amused by their bickering. Zanka closes his eyes in shame. No one steps in, because they are all swept away by the dramatic display. He is all alone in the vexing quest to stop his brother from destroying the remaining dignity of their family with his outburst.
Rudo adds, visibly flustered by his own words: 'You- you should marry for love. You deserve to have a choice.'
'This is my choice,' ironically, for once, it truly is: 'I agreed with His Majesty's wish and would like to complete my duty.'
Zanka is impressed with his own ability to keep his voice steady for so long. Usually, his brother makes him lose his temper much quicker.
'It's not your duty! You are free, and,' Rudo messes up his hair in frustration and puffs his cheeks, deciding he is done trying to prove Zanka wrong: 'Whatever. I'll do it myself. Let me get those stupid papers...'
He turns around and has the audacity to march towards the table to get his hands on the signed agreement.
He never makes it and never gets a chance to rip them apart, because Zanka finally snaps.
'Shut up, you lil' shit!' he hollers, all elevation and grace gone from his voice and posture: 'Get back here!'
The room falls completely silent.
Rudo freezes and looks at him the same way he does when he is caught stealing sweets before supper. Zanka feels the urge to tug his ear harshly and give him a piece of his mind.
He doesn't fight the urge. What's the point? These important people won't even look at him, and one after the other reasons for him to be mad keep piling up.
Rudo comes back to stand in front of Zanka, who grabs both of his cheeks and tugs them apart.
'How many times do I have to tell you to behave decently around guests? What business do you have barging into the room like this?!'
He looks the teen over and is mortified to discover an important thing missing: 'Where is the Crest?!'
In their formal wear, it is usually sewn in or worn like a pinned accessory; everyone is expected to have it on them at all times, especially when the foreign envoy arrives. That's pretty much the only real way to distinguish the members of the Royal Family from everyone else.
Otherwise, the customs of Arkha are so far detached from what people would expect of a conservative Kingdom, that guests often mistake Rudo for an errand boy instead of a prince, because he keeps forgetting to wear it.
Rudo drops his gaze and mumbles: 'Zanka…'
Zanka throws his head up and lets out a long, tortured groan of someone who has been dealing with a nuisance for so long it stopped affecting them, but persisted in being annoying nonetheless.
He tugs harder. Rudo's mouth is stretched so far he looks comical. The boy winces and hurriedly corrects himself:
'Prince Zanka!..'
'Better,' Zanka lets go, and Rudo starts rubbing his cheeks, glaring at him. 'Get out of my business, you twerp. You too, Sir Enjin.'
His past self would've been mortified at the tone of voice he uses when addressing none other than Enjin himself; his present self is too wound up to care.
'I am no longer a child and do not require a guardianship when it comes to making official decisions.'
Enjin doesn't seem convinced. He is still lost in his own assumptions about the situation: 'You…Listen, kid, you are not some property. You have the right to decide for yourself. This duty you're talking about-'
'I do not see myself as "property",' Zanka shudders at the mere implication of being perceived as such: 'You are being dramatic. Both of you.'
He looks around the room, observes the pity and the anger in his friends' expressions and sighs: 'All of you, actually. Why are you turning this into a soap opera? This is really not a big deal.'
The main character is terribly heartbroken over being wed to a stranger, while their family is supportive and sees it as a great opportunity. Doesn't it usually go like this? Is he missing something?
Should he be more miserable to even it out? Maybe that's the thing. Rudo's said he looks way too calm for someone in his position.
Honestly, what a mess.
'Listen, I know that in the past,' whatever he knows, Enjin decides to keep to himself, changing his argument midway: 'You can and should marry for love. This is unnecessary. We'll find a different solution to the whole— you know.'
'Yes!' Rudo perks up, happy to hear someone else support his outburst: 'This guy-'
Zanka shoots him a look.
'This prince,' Rudo's teeth are clenched, 'whatever he is, is not a good person. Aren't you worried? Haven't you heard the rumours? He-'
Zanka hears it. The ringing in his ears. His breath picks up, and before he knows it, he is screaming even louder than his brother:
'Shut up!'
He thinks of the ice-cold water in the lake in the courtyard of his childhood home and how it felt when it filled his lungs.
They burn the same way they did that day. He is not just angry anymore: he is mad.
'Shut up, both of you, shut it!'
Amo and Eishia gasp in unison. That's all he notices. There is more, probably, but he is prone to losing focus when this upset, much to his own dismay.
He and Rudo are not blood relatives, but they sure have similar issues when it comes to anger. His is just quieter now that he is mature and grown-up. He likes to think he has an iron hold on this issue, but some things still make the restraints melt away.
Someone steps to stand next to him and grabs his hand. He doesn't fight it, despite his awful mood.
He, instead, keeps screaming, pointing an accusing finger first at Rudo and Enjin and then in the direction of his fiancé.
'I should be worried? Me?!' Zanka scoffs: 'It's not me who should be worried, it's him!'
He means it. The position he's in must have warped the perception of his peers, and they forgot about the fact that Zanka is one of the most ill-tempered assholes in their Kingdom.
It's honestly offensive. They are the ones who spent the last six years of his life pointing it out and making him bite his tongue after being called out.
'Do you know how ridiculous you sound?! What, you think I'm some kind of damsel in distress?!'
Enjin furrows his brows, 'No, but-'
'Exactly. Just,' Zanka rubs his forehead with a free hand and pleads, anger lingering at the edges of every word: 'Let me do what I need to do, for fuck's sake.'
Just like that, the anger leaves him. It took its sweet time to surface, but didn’t linger for too long.
Zanka clears his throat and says: '...I apologise for my outburst, Your Majesty.'
Corvus looks unbothered, if not mildly amused. Well, it is good to know he will not be reprimanded for his dirty mouth this one time.
Who doesn't look apathetic and excited instead is his fiancé. Somewhere in the middle of Zanka's outburst, he stood up and finally looked at him.
His eyes shine with glee and something way too sinister to be considered playful.
The thing is, Zanka is well-trained and is on high alert at all times. He’s had his fair share of fights with both beasts and people. Thus, when Prince Jabber starts running at him, Zanka’s first instinct is to hit. Once the other is close enough, Zanka locks the man's head with his hands and shoves it down, hitting the Prince in the face with his right knee.
Prince Wonger falls to the ground. He turns to lie on his back and starts chuckling like a maniac, licking the blood from his upper lip. Everyone stares at them with various levels of shock, except for the people who came with the prince. They seem unfazed. Zanka is not sure how he feels about it.
Not too keen on being the subject of further attempts from Wonger, Zanka switches his focus to something else, ignoring the barely hidden laughter of Riyo standing next to him.
He looks at Eishia and gives her a warm, friendly smile. She jumps a little, terrified. He knows better than to think she is scared of him, of course. Miss Stilza is, in general, afraid of everything, including her own shadow.
'Lady Eishia, if it's not too much to ask, could you…'
'Y-yes!' she hurries over to sit down and take care of the man on the floor. 'Of- Of course!'
Wonger mumbles something, but Zanka doesn’t listen. He comes up to the table, picks up a pen, and signs the agreement to seal his fate. He then exits the room to escape the rest of the commotion. Riyo follows him quietly, but once they are far enough, lets herself laugh obnoxiously.