Grant Me Your Grace

The marriage to the Kingdom of Hayad moved quickly. Less than a month after the envoys had traveled, the third prince who was to marry the Princess came to Baran in person.

“Here comes His Highness Prince of Hayad Miftah! Make way, everyone!”

The third prince of the Kingdom of Hayad entered the capital of Baran with a caravan of precious goods. 

The endless procession of pomp and circumstance dazzled the people, even the soldiers guarding the gates.

“Great Emperor of Baran, I dare to greet you as one who carries the name of the Kingdom of Hayad on his back.”

Hayad Miftah, the third prince of the Kingdom of Hayad, bowed respectfully before Khankundra.

Dressed in white silk and richly embroidered with gold threads, Miftah wore a sneer that gave him an almost despicable appearance.

His green eyes, the color of moss beneath his golden hair, were like those of a serpent, and his muscular body, skilled in the sword arts, looked more like a stealthy assassin than a stately general.

“It is indeed a pleasure to welcome you. In the name of Baran, I will keep a watchful eye on you while you are here.”

“The honor is mine, Your Majesty.”

Khankundra hosted a private banquet for Miftah. 

As they met with dignitaries from all classes, Miftah engaged them with eloquence.

His green eyes were as docile as they were skillful, and his quick-thinking intellect knew just how far to bend.

The occasional over-the-top joke tipped him over the edge, but he managed to keep it in check with just the right amount of wit and confidence.

Miftah could almost see the reason Hayad, the man most confident in diplomacy, was still in the vassal state. 

Miftah, however, seemed drunk on his wit as he continued, “The gift of the gods that I saw in the temple a little while ago was nothing short of marvelous.”

“It must have been mysterious to you as well.”

“Yes, especially those red eyes. If I had my way with alchemy, I dare say I would have made a ruby exactly like those eyes and offered it to your Majesty.”

“Ahaha, if you did, I would gladly set it in my crown!”

Of course, having been lavished with such flattery, Khankundra was very pleased with Miftah, who rolled like a tongue in his mouth.

“I have heard of your reputation for some time now, and I am very glad to be able to spend some time with you.”

“The honor is mine, Your Majesty.”

“You’re my honored guest, and I’m sure I’ll be able to send my noble daughter your way.”

The Emperor chuckled with satisfaction, and Saltar, who had been silent, took the opportunity to speak up.

“Your Majesty, I wonder if you would be so kind as to invite the princess to join us here to greet the prince.”

“The princess?”

Khankundra, who had been smiling merrily up until this point, twisted his brow slightly at Saltar’s suggestion. 

How dare he mention the owner of the blood so soon, when he shouldn’t have.

As if to keep it to himself, Saltar said with a furtive smile.

“Even a princess should prepare in advance, shouldn’t she?”

The crown prince never wasted any time. 

Raising a small eyebrow, Khankundra trusted him and accepted his suggestion.

“Fetch the Princess.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Saltar smiled wickedly as he watched the messenger make his way to the palace.

✨

Miftah was in the midst of bragging about the 1,000-foot bridge that the Kingdom of Hayad had recently built when an attendant entered to announce the Princess’s visit.

“Your Majesty, the Princess is here.”

“Let her in.”

Soon the doors to the realm opened, and the cloaked Dahlia stepped inside, taking each step with a deliberate pace.

The scent of sweet figs suddenly wafted through the stiff, heavy air of politics.

“His Majesty the Emperor.”

Dahlia bowed politely to the Emperor. 

Miftah watched with interest as her silhouette alone gave off an aura of mystery.

After receiving her greeting, the Emperor turned to her.

“The Princess will remove her veil and bow to the Prince of Hayad.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Dahlia pulled back the veil on her head to reveal her face. Her beautiful face was revealed in the bright light, a strange color that made Miftah’s green eyes sparkle.

The long, flowing, silken hair bounced with the slightest movement, and the dazzling white silk of her sheath skirt wrapped around her slender, sensuous body like angelic wings.

The lightly applied makeup complemented Dahlia’s fair complexion like a spice that maximizes the flavor of food in small doses. 

Even the colorful diamond hike around her slender neck would be overwhelmed by her beauty.

Even if the goddess of beauty were to be reincarnated as a human, she would not be more enchanting. 

Miftah curled the corners of his mouth, satisfied with Dahlia’s beauty. His eyes scanned her body with a blatant intensity.

“I am Hayad Miftah, third prince of the Kingdom of Hayad.”

Miftah bent down and bowed to Dahlia.

She was uncomfortable with the nakedness of his gaze, but she knew she couldn’t show it in front of the Emperor and Crown Prince. 

Keeping her eyes fixed on the floor, Dahlia introduced herself to Miftah.

“I am Baran Dahlia, Princess.”

The emperor was pleased with their appearance, and placed them both before him.

“What a well-matched pair you are.”

“’My pleasure, Your Majesty, to meet the Imperial Princess, His Majesty’s Royal Jade Lily.”

“Hahaha! A man of great prowess must have a beautiful wife. The Princess will be a good wife for you.”

“I will cherish and love her with all my soul, as much as your Majesty will allow me.”

Khankundra and Miftah laughed heartily and continued in their jovial mood. Beside them, Dahlia stood speechless, like an emotionless porcelain doll.

Next to her stood a man who, I was told, would be my husband in the future. 

But now that we were finally face-to-face, I felt a little intimidated by Miftah, who was staring at me with a smirk on his face.

Just as I was about to break the silence, I realized that I shouldn’t have.

“Since we’re going to be husband and wife, don’t you think it would be better if we took our time getting to know each other, Father?”

Saltar asked with a smirk. Dahlia looked at him warily at the out-of-the-blue remark.

“With so many people gathered here, I’m sure you’re wary of even making eye contact with each other, so please allow them to speak in private.”

Saltar turned to Kankundra and once again gave him a look that told him to trust in himself. 

The crown prince may not understand much, but he does not do foolish things. Khankundra believed him, and turned to the chamberlain.

“Give the Princess and Prince Hayad the reception room. They are to be married, and they should have time to talk in private.”

“Yes, Father.”

The unexpectedness of the situation forced Dahlia to speak. 

She thought she would simply say a quick greeting and leave, but instead she was asked to stay a little longer, alone with a stranger she hadn’t seen before today.

This was very embarrassing for Dahlia, whose interactions with outsiders had been extremely limited.

But before she could protest, Saltar urged her to leave.

“What are you doing, take the Princess and the Prince already.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The courtier turned around first, and Saltar saw Dahlia with a sharp glance. He looked at her as if he were wondering why she didn’t just take Miftah away.

“…May the grace of the Nuit Goddess be with you, Father.”

‘How could a mere Princess refuse the Emperor and Crown Prince’s command? ‘

Dahlia thanked them grudgingly and headed for the Emperor’s sitting room.

Saltar, pleased with what he saw, approached Miftah, who was about to leave, and whispered in his ear.

“Take good care of my sister.”

“Whether it is possible, Your Majesty.”

“As you please, my lord.”

“…”

Miftah’s green eyes widened at the words whispered in his ear. 

There was no mistaking the lust in them, or the fact that Dahlia would not accept them graciously.

‘The longer she keeps it up, the better.’

Smirking, Miftah nodded, not sure if it was a greeting or an acknowledgment, and followed Dahlia.

“Have a good time.”

Saltar, alone, watched as Dahlia receded into the distance and smiled wryly. 

He hummed a tune and wandered the Imperial Palace in search of something to pass the time.