What is Marriage?...
Some say it's a sacred union between two people who are destined to be One. A union orchestrated by fate
Others view it as a Contract of sorts, a way to support each other mentally and build a family so their bloodline can continue.
For some, marriage is religious; say it's decided by the Divine and not just two individuals.
Marriage is also a way to make relationships to consolidate ties between two families or for political reasons.
And then there's those who view marriage as a journey of personal development to experience life a journey where two individuals experience the ups and downs of life together.
But for Alistair Marriage only means one thing
That is...
'Annoyance'
The responsibility of looking after someone or supporting someone, especially for whom he does not care about and has no feelings for is extremely annoying to him
He would rather Destroy a country than build relations by Marriage.
At least destroying a country won't disturb his Sleep
"Wait a moment now that I think about it what if I threaten Duke Eiswald to continue being friendly without this marriage... Heh Actually, that sounds fun"
Alistair thought as he rubbed his chin with a scary and Bloodthirsty expression; his eyes glowed in a scary light.
Currently, he was lying on a couch in his room after he left his father's chambers to decide on his future actions regarding this marriage.
And possibly thinking of a plan that might just remove a poor nation from the map.
It seems like he is quite dissatisfied with the decision his father made regarding his future.
"Al, don't joke around like that Besides, you know why his majesty made this arrangement, right?"
Eleanor sat in front of him and called him by a nickname she uses only when they are alone together, though her face housed a sad smile.
It seems like even she does not like this arrangement as well, but it was necessary... For both of them.
"Yes yes, I know that and that is especially what's making me even more pissed,"
Alistair replied in a cold voice devoid of any warmth as he continued.
"It's as if I am fleeing from a fight I know I'll win
...argh whatever, I'll sleep, so don't disturb me".
He turned silent after that and closed his eyes trying to take a nap.
Alistair is angry.
And It's not strange for him to be pissed after all the reason his father, Alexandre, made this arrangement with Eiswald kingdom
Which is further north to keep him away from the eventual fight for the throne.
He wouldn't have done so if Alistair had any interest in the throne.
But alas...
Alistair views the throne the same as Marriage
'Annoying'
And because Alistair doesn't have any interest in the throne, Alexandre can't risk letting him stay in the kingdom or else...
Either the kingdom gets destroyed or Alistair dies.
King Alexandre can't let either of that happen so the best thing to do is to keep the bomb away.
"Couldn't His Majesty think of a better Idea... If he wanted to keep Al away, why couldn't he just exile him and Me, and we both could have lived the life of a married couple together HUMF!!"
Eleanor bit her lips and whispered in a low tone venting frustration silently.
Hearing her troublesome words, Alistair cursed his hyper-sensitive ears.
"Woman I feel like your only desire is to make me more infamous in a bad way with those stupid Ideas of yours"
Alistair spoke as he opened his eyes and looked at Eleanor with Deadpan eyes
"Who cares about our reputation if we have each other, together we can build a happy family. How about 11 children that's a perfect number isn't it"
She said with excitement, already imagining a life where only two of them, along with countless Little angels, existed.
Alistair was tired of her antics but felt somewhat curious about her Idea.
'Maybe it can help,' he mused inwardly.
"Ignoring that absurd number, mind telling me what reason could be enough to make a prince with excellent military achievements at that to be exiled"
He said with an interested expression.
"Hmm. How about this? Just knock me up, and it would be enough to exile you. I will report to his majesty that you violated me and made me carry his legacy"
She said with a sweet and cheery tone as if she didn't say anything bad
Alistair felt growing irritated by her words as he rubbed his forehead and sighed in tiredness.
"Woman, if you treasure your life, stop your tongue, which only spouts the most stupid ideas; you'll get yourself killed if you do that.
Don't underestimate royals when it comes to keeping dignity"
Alistair's veins bulged in anger and annoyance as he barked at her with an angry look
Alistair's anger is justified.
After all, If such a word gets out, not only will her life be in danger due to tarnishing the dignity of a royal, but she will also become a target for the princes greedy for the throne, who seek to control or eliminate him.
And Eleanor despite knowing that suggested it, signifies her desperation towards him.
She is afraid of being forgotten or discarded after his marriage.
"Humf, It's not like it's not true other than the impregnation part, but since I am just a man,d who cares about me," Eleanor Said with a pout,t, but her eyes were laced with sadness.
'I don't want to be forgotten but I don't want to become a nuisance for Al....'
She bit her lips in frustration, but upon looking at Alistair, she realized something.
'Ah, it seems I am already being a nuisance. Then, if that's the case, I'll try to distance myself.'
She prepared herself and apologized in a polite voice.
"I apologize my lord I overstepped my bounds"
Her voice was calm, but Alistair could feel it she was about to cry.
Alistair looked a bit complicated by her apology
'It seems like I still feel guilty about that mistake made years ago
Though I know it was the reason Eleanor stopped being insecure and cold.
A mistake that made us both experience a feeling we didn't know existed.
And I guess Eleanor fears that one day I might forget her. Such a childish thought, but considering her past... Ahh! That's why I hate relationships It disturbs my rest
Now I'll need to comfort her or else she'll be grumpy for a few days and considering the situation and reason I think she won't be satisfied unless I think of a permanent solution
Alistair finished sorting his internal chaos as he grabbed her hands and pulled her towards him
At first, Eleanor was confused as she was made to sit on his lap but then realized, 'Ah, he's about to comfort me.'
She thought and smiled softly but as she was about to tease him playfully,
Such as 'not being able to resist her charm'.
Her lips were sealed...
"Mmhmm"
She let out a surprised muffle as her lips were tightly locked without any warning.
Alistair firmly dominated Eleanor's lips, he softly bit her lower lips and hugged her tighter.
Eleanor, in response,, didn't' resist and moved her lips along with his own while both of their tongues intertwined together, creating a sloppy mess.
As they kissed their hands explored each other's body.
Alistair rubbed her bare stomach which was somewhat toned due to training every maid has to go through to become a personal maid of a prince.
With his second hand, he cupped her huge breasts and rubbed them affectionately.
Eleanor wasn't Idle either. She unbuttoned his shirt and caressed his hard abs brimming with power.
Both looked like a couple who hadn't touched each other for ages and were hungry for affection.
If this scene was seen by others, it would create a huge uproar as the Devil of the Kingdom is actually showing affection.
That unfeeling cold Monster.
...
...
After a minute of intense making out...
The usually mischievous but elegant maid looked like a total mess now.
But it's not enough, she wants more.
Eleanor wanting to feel more loved pressed her body more against his and rubbed his sleeping dragon which for some reason wasn't awake at all
Despite the disturbance
But she couldn't continue as Alistair pinched her waist with enough strength to make her release a painful cry
"Mhm...ahhh~"
But for some strange reason, it sounded like a moan
"Al!! Why did you pinch me, it was finally getting more interesting"
She pouted and asked in an aggrieved tone as she rubbed her waist, which might have gotten red due to that hard pinch.
"So Finally done with Lord Alistair now my grumpy princess"
He said as he ignored her aggrieved look with a smirk and kissed her cheeks
Though inwardly, he breathed a sigh of relief, "That was close. I was this close to release the seal on my dragon'.
Eleanor didn't know that if Alistair had not put restraint on his dragon, she wouldn't even have to touch it for it to awaken.
"Unfortunately for you El we have to leave I believe our carriage has been prepared by now"
Just as he said, someone knocked on the door and said in a polite voice.
"Lord Alistair preparation for your journey to Eiswald Dukedom is Finished I hope you are ready to depart"
Hearing the words of the butler, Alistair should have a different reaction.
Alistair calm.
Eleanor annoyed.
"Leave. I'll arrive there in a minute," Alistair said in the usual cold voice he uses towards people other than his close ones.
Hearing him the butler standing outside shivered in fear and left after acknowledging his words
"As you wish my Lord," he acknowledged in polite obedience.
But.
Even as the Butler left Eleanor looked grumpy.
She mentally cursed to strangle that butler who interrupted her sweet time with her beloved prince.
'Arghh Couldn't that Bastard come a bit later I was just this close to getting....' Eleanor thought of countless ways in which she could have been spoiled by Alistair
But alas her romantic moment has been disturbed.
"Heh It seems like you feel disappointed my dear how about this— I'll let you do as you please after we leave"
Looking at her angry look Alistair smirked as he whispered in her ears about something that made her drool and hug him tighter in excitement.
"Really!! Are you sure, like really sure I can do whatever I want, Like seduce or kiss you or yes, Marriage? I want to marry you..."
She spoke out in excitement as her eyes sparkled in joy and anticipation thinking of countless Fantasies.
"Calm down I'll let you do all that but for marriage, I need to prepare some things...tch stupid custom"
Alistair tried to calm her and let out his dissatisfaction with the nobles' customs and traditions.
"Al I really really love you the most in the world no the most in the universe I love you Love you love you Love you love love love love love love love"
Alistair closed his eyes and turned off his remaining senses as Eleanor finally lost herself in excitement.
'Sigh... That's why I didn't want to do this I knew she'd turn crazy due to excitement like this but if I didn't She might have killed that Future wife of mine
Alistair Sighed internally and thought of a possible chaos it might create even though it seemed interesting
'heh'
He smirked at the thought.
After an hour...
'Hmm is she normal now' he tried opening his eyes then saw the same cute but disturbing scene
'yep she's still the same actually it looks cute as long as I don't hear what she says that is'
He thought with a weary smile. After all, he had an idea as to what she was thinking, possibly locking him up and letting him laze around. No kidding, she won't let that happen.
No, she might be thinking of how many children she could make.
That cute number of 11 pales in comparison to her other crazy ideas of a hundred children.
'when was the last time she turned crazy again? Ah, the first time we...' he shivered at recalling that particular memory.
Just remembering that is making him shiver.
It's not like he doesn't like her being obsessed with him but
If it comes at the cost of future trouble and being sleep-deprived then have him out
He may love Eleanor but he loves his sleep equally
Yes, equal love.
After another hour...
"Al why aren't you saying anything half alright I'll decide on my own"
She pinched his cheeks and pouted in mock hurt
'ah she's normal again'
Alistair realized as his senses returned.
"Ah sorry what were you talking about I kind of didn't pay attention"
He said with a smile that looked unlike his bored or scary expression
It seems like he is putting efforts into being human because of Eleanor
"Seriously you idiot I am asking which name is better Elia or Nora"
She said with a tone laced with absolute seriousness.
Alistair was prepared for the worst but he didn't expect this.
"And here I thought you'd ask me to decide on a hundred instead of one. Why the change in decision?" he said, his eyes looking at her with curiosity.
He thought her final conclusion after a bout of craziness would be to decide on a hundred names for children.
But it seems quite tame now.
"Ahh! Dummy I already gave up on that After all pregnancy is not that easy... especially for me"
Her final words had a bit of sadness which made Alistair again feel complicated
'Ah it's because of that... wait why am I feeling complicated why damn these feelings, this desire to protect and care'
He inwardly swore in frustration whenever he deals with this woman; his emotions get spiked.
'This woman will One day turn me into a normal man... Please let me be unfeeling and cold These emotions are troublesome'
"So what's your answer? Hmm," Eleanor questioned, curiosity evident in her voice.
"How about both we can have twins," he thought of a stupid solution as Deciding which name is good for 'his' daughter is definitely not something he can do.
'arghh, This is giving me a headache.
This decision won't bite me back in the future right,
No, who am I kidding? It definitely will.
He sweatdropped at the thought.
Eleanor kissed his cheeks and cheered up forgetting her earlier sadness.
"It's decided then but umm I guess we need to work hard then"
She smiled with a blush and Stood out of his lap to prepare her things.
Leaving Alistair alone to ponder his future, which might not be as peaceful as he hopes.
'I regret my decision now maybe should have waited until a few more years damn that shitty old man to make me escalate things'
"Sigh...I think this journey might be more troublesome than I thought"
Alistair sighed in frustration as he looked at her retreating figure.
'but at least she is not sad anymore'
He smiled warmly as he looked at her cheerful expression.
He stretched and Stood up from the couch and ready himself for the long journey ahead.
"Alright then Off to Eiswald and my Future wife"
His eyes glowed in a faint golden light.
'Let's see what Fate has Stored for me shall we".
As such...
A new chapter opens for Alistair
The beginning of his life as a Duke of the Eiswald kingdom.
And perhaps the end of his Lazy life...
To be continued.