Lord Theodore's Favorite Ritual
Chapter 249: First Life, Alice. (16)

Chapter 249: First Life, Alice. (16)

The Meeting.

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The great hall of the neutral castle chosen for the meeting was adorned with the banners of both Firseria and Springton, each symbol of power and pride fluttering gently in the breeze that slipped through the high windows.

The tension was palpable as King Reginald of Firseria and King Albert of Springton took their seats at the grand oak table, their advisors and guards standing alert behind them.

King Reginald, a tall man with a regal bearing and a stern face, spoke first. "Thank you, King Albert, for agreeing to this meeting. The years of conflict between our kingdoms have cost us dearly. I propose we end this bloodshed with a marriage truce. My son, Prince Theodore, will marry your daughter, Princess Alice."

King Albert, a stout man with a fiery temperament, leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "A marriage truce?" he scoffed. "Do you take me for a fool, Reginald? This is nothing more than a ploy to weaken my kingdom from within."

King Reginald’s expression remained calm, though a flicker of frustration crossed his features. "I assure you, Albert, this is no ploy. Our people suffer, our resources dwindle. This marriage will unite our kingdoms and bring about a lasting peace."

Albert slammed his fist on the table, causing the advisors to jump. "Peace? You speak of peace while your soldiers skulk around my lands, gathering intelligence, preparing for another attack. This is not peace; it is subterfuge!"

King Reginald’s voice grew firmer, his patience waning. "Our people deserve better than endless war. This marriage is an opportunity to build a future free from conflict. Think of your daughter’s happiness, of the lives we can save."

Albert’s face turned a deep shade of red, his anger boiling over. "I will not be manipulated by you, Reginald! My daughter will not be a pawn in your schemes. We will meet you on the battlefield before I allow this marriage to happen."

The room fell silent, the weight of Albert’s words hanging heavily in the air. King Reginald’s eyes darkened, his disappointment evident. "If you insist on continuing this futile war, so be it. But know this, Albert—our next encounter will not be at a table, but on the field of battle."

The tension erupted into a heated exchange, both kings standing and shouting, their advisors stepping in to prevent physical confrontation. The guards on both sides gripped their weapons, ready to defend their sovereigns. Insults flew, and the room was filled with the clamor of raised voices and clashing ideals.

Theodore who was outside wanted to go inside and perhaps add a few threats to straighten the man but the guards wouldn’t let him.

King Reginald pointed an accusatory finger at King Reginald. "You will regret this, Reginald. Your arrogance will be your downfall!"

King Reginald’s voice was cold and resolute. "And your stubbornness and unneccesary greed will lead to your ruin, Albert. Remember that."

With that, the meeting came to an abrupt end. The kings turned on their heels, their capes billowing behind them as they stormed out of the hall, their entourages following closely.

The grand doors slammed shut, echoing the finality of the failed negotiations.

As they departed, the grim reality settled in. There would be no peace, no union through marriage. The specter of war loomed larger than ever, casting a dark shadow over both kingdoms.

Theodore’s heart sank as he watched his father stride away, knowing that the hope for a future with Alice had been shattered by the stubborn pride and unyielding hatred of their fathers.

The ride back to Firseria was somber, the air thick with unspoken fears and grim determination. Theodore’s mind raced, grappling with the implications of the failed truce and the inevitability of the coming conflict.

He resolved to find a way, any way, to protect Alice and bring about the peace they both so desperately desired.

Whatever channel it may be, he will secure a future for he and Alice.

*

* *

*

Late Afternoon.

Sorcerer’s Hut.

Woodside, Borderlands.

******************

"Theodore!" Alice squealed this day when she came to their location and she found Theodore waiting, he is dressed like a shepherd today and she didn’t hate it but with wide eyes he shushed her, "Alice, come, stop being so loud"

He pulled her confidently away from their usual spot and that’s when her heart accelerated, have they been caught? Is he going to leave her now?

Would they have to fight them off? Where’s his sword? Or a horse.

"Where are we going?" she asked instead.

"To a fortune teller" he grumbled. Theodore had decided they needed serious help after Alice’s father rejected the truce and he would do anything for Alice even if it meant consulting a fortune teller.

"A sorcerer?" she exclaimed, making him sigh.

"No, silly, I just told you" he retorted, his voice light.

"Fortune teller?" she scoffed, "That is a word you created"

"No, I am certain this person does no magic" Theodore defended as he helped her cross the small river they came by.

Alice walked closer to him when it started to get colder and darker despite it being afternoon, "Why are we going to see her?" she asked.

Theodore glanced at her, "It is a him, and we need to know what the future of our kingdoms say"

"It would say no to war" Alice predicted confidently.

"I know" Theodore said out loud but what he thought was ’I wish’

They reached and a chubby boy in a green cloak welcomed them showed them where to sit before going in to call the fortune teller.

"You have visitors from-" the fortune teller cut his apprentice off while coming out too sit on his designated seat.

His eyes met the young visitors and he froze, "My my, two─" the man frowned unable to complete his sentence.

"Ill fated relationships never looked this lovely" he mumbled while Theodore helped Alice sit down.

"Yes, our kingdoms are at war" Theodore confirmed.

"Your souls are in a battle" the man announced, a mirror sitting in front of him.

Alice glanced at Theodore in confusion before she asked, "Do you think our kingdoms would come to be at peace?"

The man sighed, "Sadly you and I have no power over what happens in and between the kingdoms"

"But we are the princ─ prince and princess, we are the future" Alice completed after getting the go ahead from Theodore when she was about to talk about their identities.

"The future is uncertain and dark" the man declared breaking hearts, but Theodore tightened his.

"We can fight it, can we not?"Theodore asked back.

The man held Theodore’s gaze for too long before blinking, "You have a strong will, stay behind, I have something for you"

"But-" Alice tried to protest, but the man turned to her sharply and said, "Wait outside"

She nodded immediately, "Of course"

Theodore shifted, the man really was a sorcerer like Alice had said and not a fortune teller, "What did you do to her?" Theodore asked, his stance defensive.

The sorcerer chuckled, "Relax, would you live for her?"

"I live for her, I would die for her" Theodore declared without blinking or a second thought and it made the man draw a deep breath, "That is profound, but dieing and never fulfilling ones heart desires is the worst of ends"

"Whatever do you wish to say?" Theodore prompted, eager to meet his girl.

"Like I hinted earlier, you and that princess have an ill-fated relationship"

Mmm. "Not the kingdoms?"

"The kingdom is merely a reason to help define how ill-fated you are, the world has shaped for your sadness to occur" he added and that sounded so scary that Theodore shifted in his place. "I do not understand" he confessed, his confusion palpable in his look.

"This war began the first day you met" the sorcerer let out solemnly. He was referring to soul fight. Spirirtual and sad.

"Should we have not met?"

"There was no avoiding that" the sorcerer assured, so it wasn’t a sin or an atrocity that they met because they were destined to meet but that doesn’t mean it isn’t ill-fated or uncared for by nature.

The sorcerer felt bad for this couple, he sighed before letting out, "I will give you something" he stood up and reached for something from nothing, he place his palm on the ground, feeling the sand and when he raised his hand they was a gem in it, "A wishkeeper amulet" he said.

Theodore blinked, "Why?"

"Nature instructs and we are merely its slaves" the sorcerer replied, a lie through his teeth, he simply wished to defy the vision. He felt inclined to help them.

"Mind what you wish for, Keep this and it will keep your last wish for eternity," he said as he offered it to the young prince. "Do not wrap it in anything, no matter what generation, you have to use it," he warned.

Generation? Theodore mused as he took it and instantly before he could ask any more question, the sorcerer disappeared.

Theodore left the place with a heart beating with too many information and burden.

He was still looking at the amulet when he reached Alice who was deligently waiting for him, inside, she had suddenly felt like she wanted to wait for Theodore outside because the sorcerer said the war wouldn’t cease. "What is that?" she asked Theodore as they started to walk back.

"An amulet" Theodore replied distractedly making Alice scoff, "Indeed that it is, I mean what is it made for?"

He grinned as he tried to brush her question off, "Why do you think it was made for a reason?"

"It appears magical, Theo, that is why" she glared at him lightly.

"It is a wishkeeper" he told her solemnly, he knew why the sorcerer had bestowed this gift upon them but he was willing to trust Alice and put their fate in her hands. "You should keep it" he added, warily, he looked too pale and he gazed at the amulet as though it was heavier than it actually was.

Sceptically Alice moved away to stare at his face, "Why?"

"Because I want you to" he answered with a shrug, she pouted thinking about taking it for reasons unknown, it was as though she knew this was an important amulet. "It is getting late" he announced.

She took it from him and they ran back towards the castle.

Their life has to be bright, he mused. He would fight nature if he has to.

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